Great Western Coffee Shop

Hey,

Does anyone know what I can expect when the new customer information systems are installed at FGW stations (New departure screens, etc?), and will it be exactly the same as at Slough and Oxford, or is it going to be totally different?

Also just to let anyone know who is interested, have heard Teignmouth is due its new system between mid august and beginning of september!

Cheers Louis  :)

Whenever it is, it can't be soon enough. Travelling from Nailsea to Bristol TM on Friday mid-morning, the CIS at both stations wasn't working. Both the Great Western and Wales & West systems are showing their age and becoming increasing unreliable and I believe that all the different systems are going to be replaced across all FGW stations.

There's a good mock-up of the CIS, CCTV and help point system that's going to be installed at Yatton in the listed building consent application which is available to view here (CIS & CCTV) (http://wam.n-somerset.gov.uk/MULTIWAM/findCaseFile.do?appNumber=10%2FP%2F0816%2FLB) and here (help points) (http://wam.n-somerset.gov.uk/MULTIWAM/findCaseFile.do?appNumber=10%2FP%2F1062%2FLB). In summary, FGW are planning to rip out the existing CRT screens on P1, P2 and the booking office and each replace them each with a TFT Departure Board plus there will be a 3-line Next Train Indicator on each platform and a Induction Loop for hearing aid users on P2. The CCTV cameras will also be replaced and some additional cameras fitted, including some dummy housing fixtures which the planning application (rather helpfully to some, no doubt) details!

Cheers,
Mike

Now, I thought this almost unbelievable - but Mike is quite right: those planning applications actually include specific details of the exact location(s) of the dummy camera(s).

Words fail me.

C.  :-X

Well, lets hope they don't compound the situation by doing this:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/MOBAcamera.JPG/800px-MOBAcamera.JPG)

 ;D

Very interesting documents there Mike! Thanks very much for sharing them! Does shed some light on what I can expect at stations with the new system fitted!

It could not come soon enough down here too! The system down here is as useful as a chocolate fire guard  ::)

I don't know the exact dates, really.  The only thing I know is that every single station must be done by the end of the year.

For what I've been told by one of the managers involved in the project, Telent is now delivering the projects for every station and FGW is signing them off.  Planning application should have gone through by now, it could be some case with permission rejected, but I'd be very surprised if that's the case.

For what I heard, Dawlish will have one departures board on each platform, 2 3-line indicators on the up platform and 1 on the down.  Should be 1 or 2 boads downstair in the ticket hall area, but not sure where.  And hopefully will add some computer with TRUST in the platform office.

CCTV was originally included in the project, but I was told that due to money issues it's not decided which stations will have it replaced or installed, if any...

And see if anybody can guess the answer: do you know how much each helpoint costs???

As it happens, a listed building consent application has been made for Dawlish - the plans for the CIS are here (http://212.104.136.173:8080/PlanApp/jsp/RDgetAllAppDocs.jsp?PlanningApplicationNumber=10/01379/LBC) and for the help points here (http://212.104.136.173:8080/PlanApp/jsp/RDgetAllAppDocs.jsp?PlanningApplicationNumber=09/03736/LBC). Basicly, it's a 3-line Next Train Indicator for each platform and a departure screen for Platform 2, in ticket hall and another in the ticket office. In addition there is a 2 button help point on each platform. As Nibat said, no details of any CCTV changes & as CCTV is

Cheers,
TLM

Thanks for the links to those documents
Any idea, who the announcements are due to be provided by? Will it be the same as at Slough/Oxford or will it be the same as at Paddington?

Cheers
Louis

According to the press release issued by the contractor Telent (http://www.telent.co.uk) it's going to be Atos Origin's CIS software as used by South West Trains. How that compares to the existing systems at the stations you mention, I don't know but the systems at Slough and Oxford should be replaced - a major aim of the project is to have the same system across the FGW network.

Cheers,
TLM

But Slough and Oxford have recently just had a new system, exactly the same of what appears to be going in at other FGW stations.

Slough and Oxford were the trial stations as far as I know, the CIS at stations should be the same as Slough and Oxford unless this has changed since I last saw anything about it.

That was my understanding aswell! Hope it has not changed since then, The trial systems there were a big step up from the old ones!

And see if anybody can guess the answer: do you know how much each helpoint costs???


^10,500

I assume that's the version seen here (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3582.msg32009#msg32009) with the inbuilt departure screen rather than the standard two button versions? I think I read somewhere (but can't remember where) that these are to go into the larger small stations without a CIS e.g. Clifton Down. To be fair, I would think that these units would cost a lot less than installing a full CIS and still give a good level of functionality.

Cheers,
Mike

Stations on the SVB Line have been kitted out with these CIS for some months now. A couple were stolen soon after installation though!!!

Would make sense to install them in Cornwall and on the Cotswold line, mainly because of the the manual signalling, the full CIS would not operate to its full ability, we shall have to wait and see!

Does anyone know how many stations are due the full CIS and what are they?

There is a (long) list - just about every station is getting something....

Basically they are copying SWT then! They have something at every station!

Probably following best practice - both of them!

The two at Redland and Montpelier were stolen in February.  I believe that in their current design, the units aren't fit for purpose.  They are easily stolen (as proven) and also easily damaged (the screens were regularly scratched or covered in graffiti).  The best solution would be overhead screens (like the sort of thing they have at most larger stations, e.g. Temple Meads) hanging from the canopy (where available) which are contained in some sturdy cage to prevent damage and theft.

And three times the price - which is why they weren't put in....

And you would still have needed the basic non-screen model with information an emergency buttons.

Ok, here goes the answer:

- The two button pill style helpoint costs ^2,500 before installation
- The same with the screen costs ^7,500 before installation

Not bad specially when you consider it's just a mobile phone with a speaker!!!

Most station are receiving something.  The people that are installing it told me that they haven't seen any with the screen yet, apparently FGW has not paid for them or approve the final design, yet.  And, to be honest, nobody seems to know what are they installing where...

Here's one that was installed at Shirehampton. Not working after local scrotes had had a go at it:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCF0057-1.jpg)

So what's this about the final design not being approved?

The helppoints with the CIS screen were installed as a trial.  As far as I can remember, FGW installed 3 different models in several stations: the one you mention, a different model at I think Ivybridge, and a third model I think at Saltash (not sure about the stations, I might be wrong as I haven't had the chance to see any of them).

There are also another two models: the one with two buttons (emergency & info) and another one with three (emergency, info & next train announcement).

Talking to the installation gang they told me that at the moment the only system they have installed is the one with two buttons, they haven't installed or seen any of the webCIS ones yet as Network Rail has not aproved them.  Network Rail has only passed the two button pill, none of the others at present, so nobody in the country has them (apart from the trial ones, of course).  Network Rail is meant to aprove them as they will keep them as owners of the stations, as well as paying some of them.

Sorry if I had it wrong earlier, I made a small mistake.

First, the pilot systems at Slough and Oxford were linked into the existing FGW CIS servers - it was the quickest way of upgrading these stations. AFAIK, a separate decision was subsequently made to replace the three CI systems in use by a new one - the ATOS system. For Slough and Oxford, this means a change of the central server that drives the system - the hardware at the stations will not change, although the look and content of some of the screens might. The ATOS system is said to offer more features, so there might be a further improvement.

Second, I understand that there has been a contractual delay in installing the WebCIS help points (but not with Network Rail), but this has now been resolved and installation should proceed apace. There is one installed somewhere - Shiplake possibly?

I'm not sure what the criteria were for deciding which unit should be fitted, but I am aware that support from Oxfordshire County Council means that most, if not all, stations in Oxfordshire will receive WebCIS units. Trial units were also installed at Hanborough and Radley.

Will this mean a change of Voice on the PA announcements, or will that stay the same?

I would guess not, but in plenty of stations there is more than one voice used anyway. One example among many is Oxford, where a male voice (Phil Sayer) announces up trains, but a female voice (Celia Drummond?) announces down trains.

I'm pretty sure that SWT use Phil & Ceilla on their Atos system so I'd guess FGW would use them as well.

Well its not just SWT who use the Atos system, 1 or 2 of the other TOCs who use the Atos System, have Sarah, the same as at Paddington.

I would imagine they would keep Phil and Celia though, being that FGW seem to like to be able to have 2 voices in use at one station, and also the fact they use them at their HSS stations.

Celia!!!  ;D  Sarah  ::)  Phil...... er Btline?  :-X

Sadly, the Radley one is defunkt already and its removal has been requested....

The unit at Radley was a pre-production trial version and not covered by a maintenance contract.  It was installed to try out the technology with the old Help Point being kept availabale if neccesary.  It is being removed to allow a new more robust permanant version to be installed as pat of the FGW project.

Hmmm - not quite.

The old help point had been turned off - it is now switched on again.
The trial version is being removed simply because it doesn't work & the manufacturers aren't keen to repair it (fair enough, no contract)
There will be another fitted, but no date yet set.

Having just read the minutes from the Customer Panel London & Cotswolds meeting on 13 May 2010.

Have noticed it says "13 stations are complete, 6 are partially complete".
Does anyone know what stations these are? And what they actually have had installed/upgraded?

Cheers
Louis

Noticed today a covered up new helppoint at Dawlish Warren. Anyone know if this one is one with a screen, as i cant imagine dawlish warren having a full system installed?

I hear that the new help point at Radley is up & working.

Lympstone Village & Exton on the Exmouth Branch have had help points with screens installed.

Do you know if all stations on the Exmouth Branch are due to have these fitted?

I would expect so, the Info/Emergency button one has been put in at Exmouth too.  A place has been earmarked for Digby.

Some have been put in on the Barnstaple line also, although the non-screen versions.

I see, suppose Exmouth does not require a screen, as its only a terminus stations which requires a timetable to work things out easily.

Do the ones on the Barnstaple line contain the extra yellow "next train announcement" button?

I would of thought some of the busier stations on the Exmouth line would of had the full CIS put in.

Exmouth already has a CIS screen which may or maynot be replaced, so not required on an info point.

Yes, Barnstaple line info points have the yellow button, with Paddington woman yacking away.

The info point screens are more than sufficient on the Exmouth line, as there is very little tracking of train location.  (Tracking done via phone at Exmouth, and then track circuits at Topsham and on approach to Exmouth Junction.)  There are no track circuits on the Barnstaple line after Crediton, (just manual token exchange at Eggesford), so certainly not value for money putting screens up there.

The station cafe at Barnstaple has it's own departures screen:

Oh yes there are.  There are four at Salmon Pool level crossing, four at Eggesford level crossing and two at Umberleigh level crossing.

mad thing is this is actually the best departures screen i have seen, i remember thinking that last time i was up there

The information screen at Exmouth will be replaced, as that is currently being ran through the old system.

Also, the system does not necessarily need any way of tracking a trains location, as announcements, etc can operate on a timer.

The current systems at Wessex/Thames stations operates on a timer, and approaching announcements (Or "The next train to depart" in Thames areas) are triggered when a train hits a Train Describer in the signal box for the station therefore triggering an arrival report on Trust. (This is why you dont get approaching announcements within Cornwall/on the North Cotswold line)

The old Wessex system, and Thames Trains system does not have its own way of tracking trains it just feeds directly off Trust, that is why it was so unreliable when dealing with delays, because it just knew when a train had departed/arrived at stations, and not how far it was/where it was/whether it had stopped in between stations. The current system at Ex-Great Western Trains stations, and the new system have there own tracking system linked in with signal boxes, which generates a map and allows it to monitor trains. Of course this will not work on areas with mechanical signal boxes, like within Cornwall and on the North Cotswold line.

Hope this explains all! (Open for correction of course)

Louis

The old Wesswex/Arriva CiS used to work on timers, at least in Devon and Cornwall.  I don't know the situation at Cornwall, but in Devon is different now.

The CiS sytem is not anymore link to Arriva, and it is getting all the information from Genius.  It is loink to the train describers for most of the announcements, but some still triggered by timer (that's why you can sometimes here the "the next train..." announcement more than once, one is the timer and one the describer).

The delays are now automatic most of the time, again that's why keep changing all the time...  They are still working on it with changes coming all the time, it's been about 3 weeks with the system showing 1, 2 or 3 minute delays.  It's not showing the number of carriages for every service at the moment, don't know why.  The formation of the HST's was suppose to be automatic, but Genius doesn't seem to report properly.  Some problems still with XC services, some not being announced as CrossCountry at all, just as "trhe next train to arrive is the xx.xx service..."

But hey, still better than before!!!  All changes in preparation for the new system some time soon!

Yes i noticed there were a few changes! Also i notice that the "When boarding the train..." bit of the announcement that Arriva use has also gone! CrossCountry is a strange one, its announced it as XC appologising for a delay, but didnt announce it as Crosscountry service in the announcement!

Have never been to Teignmouth once and heard the "The next train..." Announcement more than once for a train, but I have at Exeter Central!
But something makes me think that the staff may of triggered some of the announcements there.

Have heard Teignmouths new system should be fitted anytime within the next few weeks, but of course that could be delayed!

You're too kind :D

well as well as the regular information, the arrival time for each station on the route is a great idea and the bus info on the side is very usefull

Yes: it just goes to show how much very useful information could be provided on departure screens across the region, if only the 'powers that be' had the vision and imagination demonstrated by the providers of the Barnstaple Station cafe departures screen.

CfN.  :-X

I've noticed changes recently to the CIS at Westbury.  For example...

'The train now approaching platform x' and 'The train at platform x' announcements are now far more consistent than they were before - activated automatically?

A through train warning announcement was given - first time I've ever heard one broadcast at Westbury.

Advance warning announcement of disruption to services because of weekend engineering works.

Delays of 1, 2 and 3 minutes to services now being advertised on the screens - was always 4 minutes and greater previously.

If this is the 'software' side of the new CIS completed at Westbury and is the system to be rolled out across the rest of the network, I wonder how Digital Dorris will cope at large stations like Temple Meads and Reading!!!

The changes you have noticed is just to make the current older system more reliable and bearable until the new one is fitted. "The train now approaching" announcements are now automatically triggered, compared to before where they were manual, and i believe "The train at..." announcements are still manually triggered.

Advanced warning of engineering works, was something ATW used at their stations, I think that is something that has always been in the system, but FGW/Wessex have never used it.

I have been in contact a member of the FGW Customer Panel, and stations due the new CIS and PA will be having a complete change from what they currently have, including a change of content in the announcments aswell as a change of voice. At stations such as Westbury, with more than 2 platforms, the PA will have 2 voices, 1 male and 1 female (Like at larger FGW HSS stations i believe).

Also stations will recieve '3 dot line matrix' which can be seen at FGW HSS stations, These show the first, second and third train to arrive at each platform.
In addition at Westbury FGW want to put in a screen to show the next fastest train as well - these screens will list the 20-25 most popular ticket destinations, their time and platform. (This system is yet to be confirmed).

Also Westbury station is due its upgrade between 1st September and the end of October.

All in all this new system sounds a huge step up from the current one at Ex-Wessex and Thames Trains stations!

Louis

Why is it taking FGW so long to install Ditra at its stations? :o

As far as I'm aware, all SWT stations have had Ditra screens and auto announcements fitted for ages. And this includes brach lines and rural stations. However, many FGW stations have woeful displays (i.e. those giant TV screens that don't actually work) or none whatsoever! Even Oxford, which has been FGW for years and one of the busiest on the network, only had it installed relatively recently. The currently system (e.g. at Westbury) is inadequate and repeats unnecessarily - unlike Ditra which gets it just right.

The same with FGW's trains. SWT's refurbished 158s have screens and auto announcements. FGW's refurbed 158s have neither (except the noise pollution of that stupid "safety" announcement that seems to cut in at random). FGW also didn't install screens on their HSTs.

Stagecoach are showing First up in investment levels!

I think they are installing all the help points first.

Ditra is only the announcement side of the system, the displays are controlled by the ATOS CIS system. I doubt the FGW network will have the same amount of LED screens/announcements fitted stations as SWT have done, even though it would be good if they did!

I notice how FGW are putting help points with screens in at many of the stations instead of the LED screens like SWT, whether these will also have announcements too, i dont know, we will have to wait and see.

All i know is the contractor have until the end of the year to have all stations with the new equipment fitted, and working correctly.

I do also agree First dont seem to put the same level of investment into their customer information systems as Stagecoach, but then you have to rememeber South West Trains does not have the same level (If any?) of branch lines as what First Great Western do.

Louis

But SWT has a larger network. Swings and roundabouts. You could argue that FGW's excess of branch lines and stations in the middle of nowhere warrants the installation of better systems, to encourage more passengers, etc.

The LED screens are better than the help points. Less likely to be vandalised and give platform info.

Suppose you could argue that, the LED screens are much better than the help points! If i had my way all FGW stations would have Ditra announcements!

the setup at whimple is perfect.... and its only a little station !

Having been there recently, I agree! That is exactly what the busier stations on the Exmouth line need to be like! stations like Polsloe Bridge, Digby and Sowton, Topsham and Lympstone Village! Infact I think some of those stations are busier than Whimple!

I believe the Gunnislake line is ment to be having a CIS with announcements, which will be controlled longline from Plymouth, abit like Whimple is controlled longline from Honiton(?).

Are you losing your touch TJ...? Its own departures screen surely?!

Looks like the same software that the Prince of Wales pub just across the road from Didcot Parkway has on a big screen (makes a change from Sky Sports I suppose) - not quite the same as the NRES live departure boards but obviously from the same source. Is that a subscription service that companies who want to show a departure board can pay for or is it offered free?

No-one's impressed, you know.  :P


The LDB data is available as a webservice: http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/ldbws/ (http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/ldbws/). You just need to know how to stitch it together :)

Nailsea & Backwell Station now has the posts for the new system installed - and in much more sensible positions than the old ones:

(http://a.imageshack.us/img833/4151/035tf.jpg) (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/035tf.jpg/) (http://a.imageshack.us/img833/1350/029kt.jpg) (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/029kt.jpg/)

... and the old ones weren't working yesterday:

(http://a.imageshack.us/img338/8823/031ha.jpg) (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/031ha.jpg/)

confused dot com

i

Hi Chris,

I believe that newly installed post at your station is for one of the new help points.

The points recently installed at Maiden Newton and Castle Cary each have a solar panel mounted on the top!

Yes i believe they are, we have loads of stations down here with posts, but no help points yet!

Few of the stations in cornwall have solar panels mounted on top aswell, think Liskeard does!

Gentle reminder folks, please don't use "quote" unnecessarily, and especially not with photos! Thank you.

Thanks, James - you make a very good point there.  :-X

And, as the 'owner' of those photos, I've taken the opportunity to remove them from those previous 'quoted' posts - but only to reduce the amount of space taken up by this particular topic, on this forum!  ::)

I really don't have any problem with anyone using any of my pictures elsewhere, by the way: if they're useful, in any reasonable way, please do feel free to use them!

Chris.  ;) :D ;D

No - you also need the time to do the job, an appropiate Soap client (is that a child with sticky hands?), and the motivation.   I have the latter two, but not the former, at present.   

Thanks for posting this.  I didn't know it existed and can finally get round to writing the program I've wanted for several years (a personalised live departure board which stays hidden in my computer's taskbar until a problem occurs, e.g. a delay).  Will report back when I've produced something useful ...

Would you like a copy of the PHP source for mine?

Yes ... I would love it, thanks.  Something (else!) to do over the Bank Holiday weekend  ;)

Having been in contact with a FGW customer panel member, can confirm that the announcements will not be provided by Phil and Celia, as at current HSS stations.

However I can confirm that the male voice will be the one played in the engineering announcements currently at HSS stations, this being a member of staff who works in Reading Control. Who the female voice is going to be is still unknown!

:-\  Any reason why it can't be Celia ?

Surely if it was going to be Celia, the Customer panel member would say, the female voice currently used at Larger FGW stations?

Yeah, I've heard him, he sounds like Phil Sayer junior!

As for the female voice, I expect it will be that Anne women.

No doubt they would, I was just asking if there was a logistical reason why it couldn't be Celia?  Is she an Amey maintained systems girl only?  And I have no doubt it'll be the "Paddington drone"... (I'm sure she's a lovely person, just not a voice I would like for my wife  ;D)

Yeh, he does sound like Phil Sayer, very much! Which makes me think now that it could be Phil and Celia, if Phil can be misheard for him? and the reason for not commenting on the female voice because its staying the same? Have enquired, will keep you updated!

Received by p.m. - MANY thanks.   Weekend project ;-)


I'll bet that's one of the more unusual requests that the panel member has had.  I don't suppose that (s)he expected his/her time would be occupied with such lines or questioning when (s)he signed up for the role  ;)

Don't be surprised when I tell you that I've received stranger ones than that from customers / passengers!

Have recently heard from a friend who works at Plymouth, that the HSS stations are due to have alot more investment put into them than the LTV and Wessex stations, this being because Network Rail is funding for the new systems at these stations.

This will include brand new speakers, new next train indicators, and also instead of departures screens, they are due to have LED boards, just like at busy london terminals.

It is good to see that its not just the Ex Wessex and Thames stations are getting a referb, as much as they do need it, so do the HSS stations where the next train indicator covers are starting to rust, i'd imagine this will include re-wiring of the CIS, so to bring all stations upto the same type of fitting, and not have there being a difference at HSS stations because of the fact they had everything already.

Can we have a south facing departure screen at the south end of Newton Abbot please?

Countless times have I sat at the benches at the far end with no idea of the progress of my train!

Why don't they just install Ditra a la SN and SWT? It works, and minimises noise pollution. _{(and it uses Phil...  :P )}

And D/M, the people who put in the PIS screens never use their brain - the amount of poorly positioned screens I've seen, where a 10 sec look around by me finds a much better site...

we'll have to wait and see! Too many people are saying too many different things regarding the voices of the PA.

I'd imagine it is gonna be Ditra for the PA system, seeing as FGW do currently use it at their HSS stations!

Will be passing through Teignmouth tomorrow, so will see if the new system has been fitted there yet, as it is due within the last and next few weeks.


We need some east facing departure screens at Plymouth aswell!

The only platform to have east facing departure screens is Platform 7, and i dont see why it cant be on the others aswell, is such a pain in the bum!

Hmm.

We used to have an east facing screen on platform 2 at Nailsea & Backwell - and, as the platform is raised above the surrounding land, and the sun shines directly from the east in the early morning - nobody could read a word on it!

CfN.  :o ::) ;D

Is it any surprise? it is Wessex who installed it, and they chose the bad idea of installing screens instead of next train indicators like Thames Trains did.

Also Chris just to let you know, Nailsea and Backwell is due the full CIS, including Next train indicators, departure screens and announcements, so should see a vast improvement in customer information!

and also you know the pictures you uploaded showing the new help point posts, and the information monitor not working, do the current announcements come out of the red speaker thing above the monitor? As i know at Liskeard announcements also come out of a speaker thing like that.

Has anybody or persons on the forum got any updates on how the CIS upgrade is going?

- Any stations with the new help points fitted,etc


Thanks

Louis  ;D

You could catch a train to Melksham, to see a rather historic development there: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7597.0

CfN.  ;D

Sounds like fun! Just gotta hope the trains are not cancelled, or i could be stuck there overnight!

As to Nailsea & Backwell: the old Wessex CIS were still blank yesterday - and there were no announcements from the red public address speakers, either.

The white pillars for our new information points are still in their cellophane wrappings.

There was no sign of our 'station staff' member at Nailsea yesterday (when he was apparently due back).

And our two TVMs are ... out of action - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7609.0

Does that help with your question, Louis94?  ::) ;D

You dont seem to have much luck with your system at Nailsea! (and i thought the systems at certain ex-wessex stations down here was bad!)

The installation of the help points does seem to have grinded to a halt at certain stations, but then again not at others (Melksham ::)) The new full CIS was ment to of started being put in at stations already, and i dont think even 1 station has had it fitted! (open for correction)

And as for the state of your ticket machines, they really need to put a sign up saying "this machine contains no cash", would save FGW a lot of bother, hassle and money!

Thanks Chris!  8)

Louis   :D

There's two different ways of reading that, so I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I can assure you that there are many places (including fairly major stations like Oxford and I think Slough as well) where Thames Trains installed a tin-pot system that was based entirely around screens, had no "next train" indicators, peddled information that was plain wrong but that didn't really matter because it spent most of its time o.o.s. anyway... FGW only rescued Oxford from that mess in the last 18 months, and not before time.


Quite. If this sort of mindless conjecture about such key issues to the FGW franchise continues we could have a full-on wildfire of speculation on our hands, triggering consequences too terrible to imagine. It must be stopped forthwith  :P

Does anyone know where to find a station-by-station list showing what kind of spec the replacement CIS will have for each location?

There isn't one.

Through contacting FGW I have got a list of all station due the full CIS system*. These being:

Acton Main Line
Barnstaple
Bath Spa
Bedwyn
Betchworth
Bicester Town
Blackwater
Bodmin Parkway
Bourne End
Bradford-on-Avon
Bramley
Bristol Parkway
Bristol Temple Meads
Burham
Camborne
Castle Bar Park
Castle Cary
Charlbury
Cheltenham Spa
Chilworth
Chippenham
Cholsey
Cookham
Crowthorne
Dawlish
Didcot Parkway
Digby and Sowton
Dorchester West
Dorking Deepdene
Dorking West
Drayton Green
Ealing Broadway
Evesham
Exeter Central
Exeter St Davids
Exmouth
Farnborough North
Filton Abbey Wood
Frome
Furze Platt
Gloucester
Gomshall
Goring and Streatley
Hanwell
Hayes and Harlington
Henley-on-Thames
Highbridge and Burnham
Iver
Kemble
Keynsham
Kingham
Langley
Liskeard
Maidenhead
Marlow
Moreton-in-Marsh
Mortimer
Nailsea and Backwell
Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newquay
Newton Abbot
North Camp
Oldfield Park
Oxford
Paignton
Pangbourne
Par
Penryn
Penzance
Pewsey
Plymouth
Reading
Reading West
Redruth
Romsey
Sandhurst
Shalford
Slough
South Greenford
Southall
St Austell
St Erth
St Ives
Stonehouse
Stroud
Swindon
Taplow
Taunton
Teignmouth
Thatcham
Theale
Tilehurst
Tiverton Parkway
Torquay
Totnes
Trowbridge
Truro
Twyford
Warminster
West Drayton
West Ealing
Westbury
Weston-super-Mare
Yatton
Yeovil Pen Mill

*Full CIS meaning: All stations due to have Next train indicators, Departure screens and announcements, although i have been made aware that some of these stations may not get next train indicators if they obstruct the view of the signal on platforms that are not very wide.
Also be aware that the setup at all stations will not be exactly the same, some stations may not get certain things, etc.

Bicester Town.....hmmm.

One platform, one track, very few trains.

Suspect this may have changed now it's also heading to Chiltern. Why 'waste' the money when it'll be Chiltern's weithin 6 months...?

One thing i forgot to mention was that this could change, as some of the councils are reviewing their input into the project.

and also I think FGW are going by town size, and not by how many trains, although number of trains will be taken into account. Such a Dorchester West, quite big place, but few trains.

Station size, actually. Which makes me doubt Bicester Town.....again

Thanks to Louis94 and ChrisB - guess we'll just have to wait and see what's going to go in at Bicester Town then, but if correct the full list is quite impressive and is a very positive investment.

With all of the current spending cuts, I can imagine the council funding needed could be withdrawn for some station, this could mean some stations losing out!

Update on the situation at Nailsea & Backwell, as at two days ago:

(http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1303/0052za.jpg) (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/0052za.jpg/)

CfN.  ;)

Yay - and double yay! We could certainly do with something more informative and more reliable at AML!

I would rather keep the current system at Tiverton Parkway! Its wonderful there! I am there all too often!

Well be careful with it - I have legal ownership of the station (at least on the Foursquare Iphone/web application anyway!) - same with Acton Main Line, but I am fighting for Paddington at the moment! ;D

Have noticed that the announcement content and number per a train has changed at Teignmouth. Its now 1 per a train on approach.
"platform X for the xxxx FGW service to C. Calling at: a, b and c"
Any changes elsewhere?

Common sense does indeed seem to have prevailed, as Bicester Town (along with Islip) have been fitted with the combined help point and train running screen as seen at Hanborough, Radley, Melksham etc.

Yatton now features Digital Doris Mk2.. she now announces trains passing at speed and a slightly revised "next train" notifier.  ;)

Has it been revised in the same way i said Teignmouth had?

As my memory calls, she made three announcements:

2x "The next train to arrive at.."
1x "The train now standing at"

She also omitted to notice that a train had been out the station a few minutes before making another "The train now standing at" announcement to an empty platform.

The passing at speed announcement was done twice though.

noticed that teignmouth's has already been trashed!

however for those who use this station on a regular basis..... ;D .... surprise!!

coome junction halt now has the system and it is in full working order :-)

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/relex109/5028068370/)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5028068370_85f8b9ddf0.jpg)

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/relex109/5028090918/)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5028090918_34969fb36a.jpg)

Ah i see! Thats completely different compared to Teignmouth (Except for the passing at speed announcement, which goes off on platform 1 twice and platform two once.)!

Does anyone know how long the current setup at Teignmouth has been in place?

What did Yatton used to have? Was it just 1x "The next train to arrive" and then 1x "The train now approaching"?

I noticed while at Liskeard on sunday ;), that there was only 1 announcement made for every trains, not good considering there used to be 2!

Those new help machine features gave me an idea...

Prospective passenger: pushes blue button.

Operator replies: 'Hello caller what I can I do for you?"

Passenger: 'There don't seem be any trains'  ???

Operator: 'Have you pushed the yellow button sir, they won't come if you don't'.

Operator to his mates:  'Another happy customer'   :D

Paul 

Nice one, Paul!  ;)

(http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/coffeescreen.gif) (http://www.millan.net)

Dawlish warren now complete with 2 help points with screens.

Are the Nailsea one still covered I wonder? Perhaps 'chrisfromnailsea' can shed some light!

Chris from Nailsea can indeed update you on these points: as of an hour ago -

(http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/4562/007ql.jpg) (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/007ql.jpg/)  (http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3681/002zes.jpg) (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/002zes.jpg/)

Platform 1 - machine uncovered, but nothing happened when I pressed the Information button; Platform 2 - machine still under wraps.

CfN.  ::)

Shall we take a sweepstake on how long it'll be til they're trashed?

Help Point machines at Redland, Montpelier and Teignmouth have already been ... erm, trashed.  >:(

Which is odd: they obviously contain no cash - indeed, they have nothing of particular value, outside their working environment.  Seeing inside one of the machines at NLS, while the chaps were installing it, I was rather surprised at just how little hardware there is, inside those big white circular cases!

CfN  ::)

Shirehampton's also out of action yesterday. Now sporting quite a collection of dents and etchings.

I've not had a close-up look at them, but hopefully the front panel is modular and could be replaced fairly cheaply when damage has been done?

Hmm.  ::)

You would perhaps have thought so, IndustryInsider - but, after several months, neither of the Information Points at Redland or Montpelier have been repaired / replaced.

CfN.  >:(

Redland and Montpelier's help points were both stolen in February.  No sign of any replacement yet. 
This is what remains:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brucebolt/4656313408/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brucebolt/4656308396/

I believe it is a very serious design fault if the devices can be removed from the wall by vandals/thiefs/etc?

Has anyone got any information as to if any station have started having the new Full CIS fitted yet?

Not noticed any during my travels.  Lots of clocks gone though...

Not good! Surely the screens are alot wider than the clocks, so would require the bar of which the clock used to hang from to be made longer?

new bars, I suspect...

Why should FGW shell for new machines repeatidly when they along with the TVMs ar just being constantly trashed.

I should magine that they have been severely put off of installing further machines as they are just being mindlessly vandalised. It must be loosing them ridiculas amounts of money in both purchase and installation costs.

People should not be having a pop at FGW for not chasing around like idiots repairing smashed up machines, they should be going for the scrotes that vandalise the machines in the first place.

And as for the comments about how the machine has a design flaw of being able to be removed, what a load of tosh, why should everything have to have tonnes of extra money spent on it making it essentially bomb proof? They are supposed to be a standardised cost effective PIS system, they should simply not be vandalised in the first place. The focus on  society now is so wrong, it seems to be a case of protection not prevention. Takes the pi$$!

Station users/local residents have no one to blame for the OOU machines in their area but some of the local residents. I suggest that you consult your local neighborhood watches or PCSOs etc to try and tackle the problem. Or failing that, just electrify that cases of the Help points so that if anyone touches anythng other than the buttons, they wont know what hit them.

I would completely agree with this.

You've made some very valid points there, Sprog.

The installation of the various PIS/CIS/TVM bits of kit is, I believe, a franchise commitment of FGWs.

One wonders whether it is only the installation that is a commitment and not the upkeep?!?

Rub=n of the mill upkeep, like breakdown, yes - but I doubt repairing wanton vandalism is seen in the same light.

Plymouth now has a new help point on platform 5/6, still under cover though.

I noted 4 of the CIS on the Severn Beach Line were out of action on Friday 8th October. The one at Shirehampton is still, just about, intact, but someone has had a good go at removing it from the wall. It's in a sorry state and a disembodied voice was saying, "Please wait", over and over. The 'Information' button wasn't working either. Didn't push the 'Emergency' button obviously.

At Severn Beach the screen was blank, although the 'Information' button was working. The nice man in India wanted my full contact details to log the fault so I decided it would be easier to report the faults/vandalism at Temple Meads.

I also noted that the screen on the CIS at St Andrew's Road was showing a Windows pop-up and nothing else. The screen at Clifton Down platform two was also blank.

So with Montpelier and Redland's missing CIS that's 60% of the the screens out of action on this particular morning on the SVB Line. (Excluding Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.)

Shirehampton:
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCF0351.jpg)

Severn Beach:
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCF0355.jpg)

I wonder, considering all the changes, are National Rail going to be sending round Mr orange jacketed photographer again for the 'Stations Made Easy' photos to show all the upgraded equipment at stations receiving it?

Out of interest, does anyone know who answers calls on the "Emergency" button?

Swindon Control, I understand.  They will then liaise with whichever emergency service(s) and / or Network Rail team needs to become involved.

After travelling along that line yesterday, can confirm the sorry state of affairs was exactly the same!

Also noticed that the help point at Bedminster was also showing a blank screen.

And yet again the system at Teignmouth was broken, strangely enough the system at Dawlish was working fine. Must be some kind of fault with the ageing equipment at Teignmouth.

The constantly repeated "Please wait" has now been silenced at Shirehampton. Someone has come along and made a half-ars*d attempt at keeping the CIS attached to the wall. However, I fear that red and white tape isn't going to be good enough. The local scrotes have already started to peel it away. At least the 'information' button was working tonight! ::)

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/SHHCIS.jpg)

The Help Point on Platform 1 at Bedminster was working this evening, at about 18:05.  ;)

It would appear that my cynicism was unfounded re: the CIS at Shirehampton. Back in working order today
(13/10/2010):

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/SHHCISworking.jpg)

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know whether any FGW stations have had the full system fitted/started to be fitted yet?

The project now nearing 2 months before the deadline, is it going to be completed on-time with still some 100 stations still requiring stuff to be installed or setup. Also does anyone know the reason for the delay in the installation of the new system?

Louis :)

Filton Abbey Wood must've had a new Help Point installed sometime during the week, as I couldn't help but notice those large white machines when the Cardiff -> Taunton train I was on last Thursday slowed into the station.

What 'deadline' is that? I wasn't aware there was one. Just that it was being completed...

The FGW Franchise Agreement specified 4 years from the franchise commencement (1st April 2006) for Help Points to be replaced or installed and 51 months from commencement for replacement of 299 CIS monitors.

Would it be feasible to suggest some of the planned installations will not go ahead now because of incoming budget cuts?

Nailsea & Backwell Station now has two Help Points - one on each platform - and new screens (dot matrix, to replace our olde Wessex ones!) are due to be installed next month.

My understanding was that everything was supposed to be finished by the end of the year, or so I was told.


Please post pictures Chris when the screens are installed!

It is possible to obtain dispensations from these dates, which I guess FGW may have got as they have passed?


Nope. This is money FGW contracted to expend in exchange for the franchise. Unless they agree a change with the DfT, the work has to be done.

Some of the money towards the new information system at some stations is being funded by local councils, and at current it is being reviewed or so i was told by customer panel member.

Dunno if anyone can answer this but didn't fgw's franchise agreement only specify a certain amount (27?) of stations had to have customer information systems, etc renewed?

Louis94. The details of the committed obligations that FGW were specified to carry out can be found in their Franchise Agreement Appendix 11, para. 2.6 (page 49 of the agreement). As ChrisB said, it would appear that the dates have been extended as all the work has not been completed. I'd imagine there was also some flexibility with funding if local authorities and community station adoption schemes in some locations were contributing.

EDIT. In addition to the committed obligations, further text was inserted into the the Franchise Agrreement on 17th March 2008:


http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/publicregister/current/fgw/fgwagreement.pdf

Off topic, but one commitment FGW appear to have failed getting anywhere near complete is:


Unless there is an amended document somewhere which has substituted the words 'Zifa ticket checking stampers' for 'any old biro'.
 ;D ::)

---

FURTHER EDIT: Subsequent discussion of the merits, or otherwise, of Zifa tickets stampers has been moved to a new topic which can be found here:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7835.0

Indeed - this was added as part of the 'fine' when the DfT called them over their crap performance in 2008....

A small army of Telent staff were installing a new train departures screen on the Oxford-bound platform at Kingham this morning.

Do you have any pictures willc?

Oddly, they should look like the others already posted here....

Not entirely impressed with the muzak feature of the system, the selection being broadcast from the info point at Trowbridge last Sunday was awful.

White metal poles up at Filton as previously reported, took about a week.

Very similar to the LED style ones at Oxford/Slough.  One's working and the other not yet switched on.  Seems a strange place to start, Kingham, but I suppose you have to start somewhere!

Muzak?! Good Lord!

Is this what we have to look forward to at AML?

Which may have to be turned off on 23rd November:

If it is like the screens in the various catering places at Southampton, surely it'll just be part of the station's normal CIS system, which FGW almost certainly have a licence for?

I think the news is more to do with external parties using the data feed without a licence...

Paul

It's not. The Barnstaple station cafe system is a private initiative on the part of the proprieter (not FGW) to provide a service to patrons, much like the similar service in the Prince of Wales, just across the road from Didcot Parkway. It would be a sad and retrograde step were ATOC to insist on payment for these systems, since after all they're providing a service to rail passengers at no cost to the TOC given that the data are already available.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7283.msg74005#msg74005 for a sample of the cafe screen at Barnstaple.  ;)

I'm going to say this again.  The current HSS CIS is only 10 years old, does it really need replacing?

Not necessarily, but put it in context:

a) Both the ex-Thames and ex-Wessex systems have got to the stage where they are, for the most part, steaming piles of poo that don't work. I don't think anyone would argue against replacing them.
b) The HSS system is actually fitted to a relatively small number of stations overall (i.e. only those ones that were managed by the "original" First Great Western - don't know the number for sure but I'd guess it as maybe 20-30 or so, certainly a small proportion of the total number of stations to be fitted with the updated system).
c) It undoubtedly benefits the franchise as a whole (which, remember, is likely to run for another 6 years or so) to have a standardized system fitted across its territory as far as possible.
d) Given the scale of the task of fitting the system (whether full for bigger stations or scaled down for smaller stations) across all FGW's stations, the additional cost of replacing the older HSS system at the small number of stations that has it is probably marginal as a proportion of the overall bill, andthe additional expenditure may be considered worthwhile for the sake of having a standard system across the franchise. Look at the length of that list, further up this thread, at which the "full" system is apparently due to be installed.

You are so correct, that's exactly my argument, just introduce it at other stations.

Systems that currently have this system are Plymouth, totnes, newton abbot, Exeter St davids, tiverton parkway, taunton, pewsey, reading, didcot parkway, Swindon, Bristol parkway, Bristol temple meads, bath spa and chippenham. Also although not original installs but are connected to the same system, Oxford and slough.

Just a thought, but why would you want to install any kind of computer system right now that's 10 years old...? It just means that even though you've gone to the expense of buying and fitting it you're already 10 years further down the road to obsolescence and lack of spares etc than by installing a new system. Yes, it's a very good system but in computer terms it's already ancient (I don't suppose any of you would seriously suggest "retro-fitting" a new PC with Windows 98). Louis94, if you're correct then the number of stations that actually has the system fitted is even smaller than I thought at 14. FGW manages 210 stations, according to Wikipedia. So if they're embarking on a major re-fit across the board with a brand new, up-to-date system, it seems entirely sound for them to spend a little extra money and also bring the remaining 14 stations up to the same standard. THe suggestion that all those stations should have a system that's more than 10 years old fitted is crazy!

Surely just as anything it can just be updated, new computers installed, etc , I believe some stations have had a new computer installed during the 10 years of operation.
As far as I'm aware not all of the stations I mentions even have a computer for the system. And according to FGW and NR HSS stations are all going to have a slightly different setup to everywhere else. Something to do with NR funding it. The supposed advantage of this being the installation of new speakers and also a network rail style concourse and also LED departure screens instead of TFT screens.

Let's hope this system does not go as badly wrong as the new capital connect system, which is supposed to be the same system I must add! It is currently announcing and showing trains that don't even exist!

I'm with Blakey on this one, although to be fair the stations that are fitted are large ones, and places like Reading and Bristol TM probably use up the same total amount of equipment that would cover whole routes of smaller stations.  Some of the CRT monitors are starting to look a little out of date at places like Reading.  Worth also bearing in mind that the the former Thames Trains system is only 13 years old - it was just based on inferior software as it was the first or second such system to be installed.

Telent were back at Kingham today and both platform displays were working.

Can't see any reason why there should be any problems with the new system. In my experience it has performed faultlessly at Oxford since its installation there.

Not quite faultlessly - issues with the departure of the Bicester trains via the new Down Jericho route are an example - but certainly a huge improvement on what was there before.  Ealing Broadway, Maidenhead and many others will benefit massively from the new system.

The system at Oxford isn't the new system it's connected to the old one (HSS), same with slough.

I always thought at large stations like Bristol that Paddington style departure boards would have been better than just a bank of monitors repeating the information displayed on the platform.

That's what the new system has, at least in Oxford, although space limitations in the booking hall at Temple Meads might be an issue if the new system was installed in the same location as the old system since the ceiling is not very high in that location (outside Smith's, adjacent to the barriers).

Actually 10 years isn't as bad as what they did at Paddington.  They replaced the solari there with new plasma screens in 1999 but they only lasted 5 years until 2004.

Okay, there may have been the odd issue with the Bicester line - presumably due to the oddities of the working arrangement and explaining that to the software designers and/or driving it off Oxford's ageing signalling kit - but what I meant by faultlessly was that it doesn't tell you a train is hideously late as it rolls into the platform on time and doesn't fail on a regular basis but does do its basic job of conveying information to passengers clearly and reliably - and as a passenger, I would rather have it than the Thames or HSS systems any day.

Since I have only observed the Kingham set-up from passing trains, I've no idea what is in the booking hall instead of the old Thames Trains' system's VDU screen. Hopefully a flat screen like those at Oxford. Certainly looks like something new is going to go in the booking hall at Moreton-in-Marsh, as there was much measuring up going on one morning the other week around the existing VDU. Any ideas, Insider?

Hopefully that is what should happen when the new system is installed.


The system at Oxford IS the HSS system although through new monitors, etc.

Do I really have to spell out that what I meant was how it delivers information to passengers out on the platforms, in booking halls, etc. Couldn't really give a monkey's about what the software driving it is, so long as it works.

Absolutely agree willc - the new system at Oxford has been in place for well over a year now and is absolutely fantastic from a customer's point of view. Big flat-screen displays giving info about next fast trains to various places, as well as full calling information for all trains due on the station concourse, backed up by LED-screens on each platform with info about the next three trains plus strategically placed flat screens giving summary details of the next hour or so's scheduled departures. The preceding system was a horrendous mess - a very limited number of VDU screens that spent much of the time out of service when the system crashed. Quite honestly towards the end I think they were unserviceable more often than they were working (which was mitigated more or less effectively depending on which shift of station staff were on, and whether they bothered using the "manual" PA system), which sometimes made it tricky to catch the right train even for those of us who knew the station well. How the hordes of non-English-speaking tourists managed I have no idea, it can't have given them a very good impression of our illustrious rail system!

I'll be very, very happy to see the same system across the FGW network, and like you I really don't give a flying **** about the rivet-counting detailed of where the information is coming from.

Yes, an LED style display on each platform, with a flat screen in the booking halls (the standard size ones would be fine, rather than the long ones on the platforms at Oxford) would suit the Cotswold Line stations perfectly - especially if the one in the booking hall is still visible from the outside when it's closed. 

Still, it should be remembered that whatever system is installed on the Cotswold Line it will still struggle to show accurate information as it still relies largely on manual inputs from signal boxes.  That situation will improve when the revised signalling comes in post-redoubling, but I can still see trains entering the Moreton area going missing with regard to delays, and places like Hanborough and Pershore occasionally being inaccurate when a train's sitting at the end of the double line section waiting for something to come the other way.

Will be exactly the same in cornwall, liskeard downwards. Hopefully the signallers will be more prompt with putting information into trust, although they don't do bad now. Main problems on Cornwall will proberly be at stations which currently give no report (redruth, st austell, bodmin parkway) as the system won't be able to tell when the train has departed.

In the case of Redruth it would be a bit difficult as that station is in a long AB section.  Unless you got the station staff to update the system.



Edit Note: Quote marks amended, for clarity. CfN.

Yep thats what i mean, they need to get staff to put reports on to keep the data accurate. Bodmin Parkway and St Austell both have had reports in the past, so i dont understand why they dont have reports all the time.

Installation is now under way at Moreton-in-Marsh. All the old screens had been removed by this evening with a new scrolling display in place on platform 2 and a small flatscreen (about half the size of the Oxford screens) in the booking hall in place of the old Thames Trains monitor. Neither was switched on. On platform 1 the mounting for the VDU has gone as well. It wasn't suitable to be adapted to support the scrolling display unit. There is a stack of sacks of cement and sand in the car park, so I assume its replacement will be going in tomorrow.

As a nearly daily traveller from Moreton, it'd be useful to hear how the system performs over the coming months compared with the old CIS, Will.

To be honest, ever since we have had the web-driven screens on the Cotswold Line, the quality of information has rarely been a problem - most regular passengers just seemed to have given up on the Thames system. There were a few problems with the web system during the snow, when the signallers were probably focused on simply keeping trains moving but I would expect that once redoubling is completed, with axle-counters everywhere and digital panels at Ascott and Evesham, that details should be up to date most of the time, with some sort of digital checking most of the way from Oxford to Evesham (and even Moreton may not need manual updates in future, given the large container of electronics now sat behind the signal box).

Three days in and all the screens are in place at Moreton, though still switched off. Chris in the booking office said Telent had told her they hoped to have it all working today. One grey area is whether or not it will announce the bus departures from the car park, which the system at Kingham is apparently set up to do.

I might disagree with this Will, an ongoing problem with the new screens at Charlbury is if a train is delayed past its expected arrival time it vanishes off the screen unless it is manually updated....I suspect all to do with the infrequent updating along the cotswold line. Not been much of a problem with the improved reliability and punctuality but still there inherent in the system.

Oh God, I remember those plasmas - they were useless, they got too hot so had to be switched off regularly if I remember! Whose idea was that?

Railtrack.

I will concede that can happen and that at Moreton we do have the advantage of a double shift in the booking office, so there is usually someone there to ask what's going on, but there are still way fewer problems than when the only thing available was the Thames screens. The late-lamented bell at Moreton-in-Marsh linked to the level crossing activation treadle at Chipping Campden was more reliable. And as I say, from next year, manual entry will presumably be pretty much be limited to the Worcester end of the line and perhaps Moreton.

And sadly, I spoke too soon about them switching on at Moreton today. All still wrapped in plastic this evening. That is now a week each to equip Kingham and Moreton. At this rate, they might just finish all the stations by the end of the FGW franchise. I dread to think how long Bristol Temple Meads will take if they need a week to install two scrolling platform displays and one small summary screen.

Took a trip out to Kingham and Moreton to see the new screens briefly this afternoon.  Kingham was quite impressive, the down train showed up 1 minute late, just as it said on the screens and the connecting bus was duly announced as people were getting off.  Less impressive was the 16:21 to Didcot being announced as the next train on the up platform over half-an-hour early and with the 15:51 to Paddington just entering the long straight before arriving at the platform.  Teething problems hopefully!

The screen at Moreton on the up platform isn't exactly well positioned with the roof of the waiting shelter and an 'Information' sign blocking a clear view from both directions.  Hopefully the sign will be moved/lowered at the very least.

Do you know who the announcements were by IndustryInsider? Male or Female?

I don't think there's anything much else they could do, short of sticking it some distance down the platform. The shelter - really it's big enough and weather-tight enough to merit being called a waiting room - is wide and low, with a canopy as well, so like Thames Trains before them, they have put the screen somewhere you can see it while staying out of the rain under the canopy, though not ideal, I admit.

And what is it with people and the voices doing the announcements? I just don't get it.

NO, nor me. What *does* it matter?.....

Haha - for those that do think it matters, it was a female - the same as used at Oxford and Slough I think.  ;)

Each to their own. Interest in railways and their operation can have its niche hobbies. Some folks might 'not get'  forum topics dedicated to the redoubling of bits of railway in the Cotswolds.....

True, although having once been forced to shelter under the small canopy outside when the waiting room was closed and it was raining like hell one Sunday afternoon, perhaps 'shelter' is sometimes a more apt description?!

Noticed while passing through Ivybridge this morning the new help point was not working, just a message scrolling along saying "Currently not able to provide realtime information". However the new help point was working at Dawlish Warren.

FYI, Ivybridge working fine late morning/this evening.

Dodgy internet connection early perhaps?

While passing through Aldermaston and Midgham yesterday around 19:30 i noticed that both new help points were working fine on the eastbound plats. Kintburys westbound screen appeared to be plain white not operational.

Full system at Moreton-in-Marsh was still not working yesterday. This is getting a bit ridiculous now.

Just heard from those nice people at ATOC that we're getting a licence and token. Woo-hoo! (http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/hapydancsmil.gif) (http://www.millan.net)

Furze Platt has had its Help Point for a month now, it has a handy "next train" button which boldly informs you that the next train at Platform 1 if for ........

I look forward to the day we get a train from platform 2  :D  ;D : :) :P :D ;D why oh why could not just say the next train from the platform is for ......

and whats more it has survived so far the school kids and the hoodies that loaf about

Do you know of any other stations within the Thames Valley area that have help points with a "next train" button?

I would expect all the stations on the Bourne End / Marlow line will have because it is unlikely they will get CIS display screens

All working at Moreton-in-Marsh now, though for some reason, there is a bit of masking tape stuck over the current time at the bottom of the summary screen in the booking hall.

Finally! Anymore information on any other stations in the area?

Interesting sideline there is an interesting letter in the Maidenhead Advertiser today complaing about the removal of the Chris Green clocks from the station.

They've gone from most local stations but we don't have new CIS yet.

I wonder if it's affecting timekeeping especialy with DOO.

Well we all do wonder... I set my mobile phone clock to the same as that at Paddington.. I'm still not quite sure what time the rest of FGW (well FGW without clocks currently) set their time to.

Incidentally at Slough the other afternoon I noticed that the main indicator board on platform 4/3 was about half a second faster than the clocks on the platform indicator boards.. weird.. :)

Very strange! Normally its quite good for the clocks! Although the HSS system can freeze and then skip loads of seconds!

Something else, Does anyone know what if the old silver help point at Camborne is still working, as I believe some in the bristol area have started being disconnect (or conveniently out of order when i'm there)

New screens at Charlbury froze then blanked out this morning with a failed connection, just what you need with a 19min delay and other trains also delayed.

Cant see a system relying on a web based connection working reliably for long periods, ours seems to need manual rebooting or connecting on a regular basis
and given that the office is only staffed part time it is often not working during the evenings.

On the subject of customer information screens but slightly off at a tangent.  Can someone please explain the "next fastest train to..." screens on the main concourse at Paddington.

They appear to alternate between two screens, alphabetically listed destinations but only as far as about "L".  Haven't quite worked out is there is a M-Z screen elsewhere.

Are we talking about Next train indicators, train departure summary screens or help point screens?

What do the screens say when they blank out?

"Welcome to Charlbury" or "First Great Western Customer Information System" as the current screens at HSS stations says.

Also do you know if Charlbury has any form of announcements from the new system?

The charlbury screen is a slave computer monitor (we have 2) with a summary of the next few departures. Usually when it fails it goes blank or shows a windows error message about the secure host disconnecting or unavailable
and even gives the web address which I keep meaning to write down.

We dont have a screen in the help point as Hanborough does but it is a similar screen. We dont have the next train displays (as at Oxford) yet.

I see! If you do manage to write it down, please share it, could come in handy!

There is a M-Z should flicker between the 2. Will check when I'm next in Paddington and see in case it's froze or something.

Charlbury is on the list for the 'proper' system as at Kingham and Moreton isn't it?  Though I expect they'll wait until the new platform is built before installing it.

I'd imagine FGW will wait until the new platform is built, as the system will need configuring to know there is 2 platforms. I would imagine the current screen is a temp until the new system has been configured.

How long is the rollout expected to take? No sign of anything new at AML so far.

I think Louis94 said that it was supposed to be completed by the end of this year, though there's no chance of that happening - there still in the process of installing the help point monitors at some stations - for example, Tackley has just had it's monitors installed but they're not working yet.

Does anyone know if, apart from Oxford, Slough, Kingham and Moreton-In-Marsh, anywhere has got the new full system installed yet?

Yes. Listed building consent was obtained earlier this year. See http://www.charlbury.info/cgi-bin/dnews.cgi?id=642 for a drawing, showing the scrolling display in the same place as the existing monitor.

Yes, I did, although even in August i could see it not happening by the end of the year! FGW clearly dont have the "get up and go" like FCC have!
Apparently the system is/was being delayed by something, I have no idea what, but must be something serious to stop installations going ahead as planned!

My view on the whole installation would be that they are waiting for after the reading diversions at certain stations, as I would imagine Reading would be installed during the time, when the station will be empty, I would imagine they are replacing some of the Thames system as that is a totally different system to what is being installed, where as the wessex system is just an older versions of the new system we are getting, except with extremely old hardware, which is what makes is unreliable, although recently it has not been doing to bad.
How does everyone else think the wessex system has been recently? its supposed to have had work done to it, to make it more reliable.


I do wish that the planning documents were more openly available!

Have you tried Werst Oxfordshire council's website?....

Are FGW fitting new PIS displays and comms facilities at Dean and Mottisfont/Dunbridge (or even at Romsey where they at least call regularly)?

IIRC a couple of years back someone suggested one of the main reasons SWT didn't want to take over the stations was the cost of integrating the PIS into SWT's. 

Paul

Was refering to more down here in Devon and Cornwall, but still no I havent, have looked through Devon and cornwalls various councils websites, and have only found Dawlish.


Romsey is due the "full system" consisting of announcements, next train indicators and departure summary screens I believe.
I would imagine Dean and Mottisfont/Dunbridge will get new help points with a yellow 'next train' announcement button.

But in most cases involving the CIS, there is no need for planning applications, as the railways can pretty much do what they like on their own property - courtesy of 19th century Acts of Parliament authorising their construction. It is only in cases where there are listed buildings, such as Charlbury, that they have to make a formal application.

A case in point some years ago was when the Severn Valley Railway was refused planning permission to build a large carriage shed with all the architectural merit of a portakabin. They were able to go ahead and build it anyway because of the powers given to railway companies by those legal instruments that willc mentioned.

Ah I see! Thanks for explaining that willc.

Telent were at Worle earlier doing some work.. apparently to do with the new CIS according to some guy I overheard talking to the workmen.

Well, I was wrong about delaying the installation at Charlbury as it's up and running already.  Honeybourne and Ascott have also received their shiny white boxes with integral train running monitor, so a further visit will be required to all three stations when the new platforms have been built.

When you say Charlburys system up and running already, do you mean the next train indicator is on the platform?

and surely having a Help Point with a screen is over doing it abit at Ascott, with only 1 train each way a day?

Yes.

No. Not when it will be getting several more trains a day each way from next year, and hopefully some reinstated Saturday services as well.

Oh right! Sounds brilliant news!

No CIS (Old style) Taplow this am.

Chris Green clock long gone.

Only "Official Time" in booking office. Whch you can just about see through the door when closed.

The help point is ready, but doesnt contain a departures screen, the only departures info we have are two screens in the ticket office facing out through windows, these are similar to the newer ones contained in some help points (eg Hanborough). We are promised a system similar to that at Oxford (orange next train scrolling displays) and they have removed the old VDU on a post near the goldfish pond but not installed its replacement yet.

Erm, yes they have!   ;)  Identical to displays at Moreton/Kingham, and in the position of the old CRT monitor.

Oh no they hadnt.....yesterday anyway! Will check on way home today, didnt check this morning as I was running late.

Honestly, Ian - it was working at 7pm last night.  I'd only had one pint!

I thought it was at least another few weeks before panto season started....  ;)  :D  ;D

TLM

Sorry, I meant that I only checked yesterday morning, on my way home it is dark and in a rush to get home (1 mile walk). Will make special effort to check tonight.

......Ohhhh yes it is, glowing away in orange. Sorry to contradict you!

However departures screen failed connection again, got a picture of the error screen if I can work out how to get it off my camera and onto here.

Looks like work could be beginning soon at AML,
there are boards down next to the current info points with cones on top and red and White tape around them. Also the current CIS setup hasn't been working properly the last few days.

The LED displays are now up at Weston-super-Mare.. not turned on yet though.

Thanks posting, do you know if any other stations in the wessex area have any new hardware installed? Worle, Westbury, etc?

And also has the voice on the announcements changed, or has that remained the same?

Well, there were engineers from Telent at Worle last week apparently starting works, so I assume something is happening there. As for the voice, I'm not sure. Digital Doris has certainly been modified at Yatton/Weston (among others) to start including non-stop announcements, and changes with the "Next train" audio.

Ah yes, FGW have modified that system quite heavily recently, strange really, as its being upgraded soon.

Do let us know when the boards become active, will be interesting to see whether any other ex-wessex stations get them, or whether they are prioritising stations like Worle, which are in need of screens/Next train indicators, and currently have just a help point.

Noticed this morning that Information Point posts had appeared at Acton Main Line overnight, poor guys must have been working in the night on icy platforms, but they were nicely gritted this morning, not that there was much ice as amazingly any snow that had settled seemed to have melted pretty much!

Pictures will follow but having reception issues with my IPhone at the moment so will post them later.

Weston-super-Mare now has the new scrolling LED next train boards and FIDS inside the booking office. All active and working.

Not sure if there is a new voice or not.. I didn't stay long enough to find out.

As promised - Acton Main Line:

(http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2024/95788895.th.jpg) (http://img254.imageshack.us/i/95788895.jpg/)
(http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3876/80602155.th.jpg) (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/80602155.jpg/)

WSM scrolling boards now working, announcements haven't changed.

Thank you for confirming that Donkey Guard

As I suspected, nice new shiny display units, crap information in, crap displayed. This morning 0940 at CBY the brand new scrolling next train display was stuck showing the 0726 to Paddington as cancelled, missing the 0835 which was by then over 60min late and showing the 2nd train as the 0939 to HFD on time (correct) and the 3rd train as the 0952 on time (incorrect). so three pieces of incorrect and misleading information and only one useful piece of information. FGW really have to have a way of manually updating the screens in times of disruption.

I think at the moment the new system is not active yet, I think all the new hardware is still connected to the old systems. This will obviously be the reason for the incorrect information.

However if the screen is connected to the new system, then this would be a common problems, as I notice that the same thing happens with the new auto-announcement help points, I have pressed the button and it has just announced a cancellation from 2-3 hours before, I think the new system requires the cancelled trains to be removed manually, compared to automatically at time of departure with the current HSS system. Not sure about the Thames system, but I know the ex-Wessex system requires this, as I have seen a number of cancelled trains still on the screen at Teignmouth, hour after they were due to depart. Also the new system is basically an upgraded version of the ex-Wessex system with new hardware, etc.

Now the old VDU displays have gone, we are left with two systems, the brand new orange next train display and the small flatscreen computer displays similar in information displayed to those in some help points (except ours are in the waiting room windows).

The latter displays have reverted to error messages almost every evening recently (when the office is closed).

Interesting that the two systems seem to have a consistent two minute offset when showing that a train is delayed, the new orange screen being exactly two minutes
more optimistic about the eventual arrival time.

May be deliberate to make sure that passengers are ready 2 minutes before the train arrives.  Safer than being persemistic which risks passengers wondering off and then missing their train.  Of course absolute accurancy would be better, but under the current signalling arrangements noone knows exactly where the trains are (and how fast they are travelling) for most of their journey.

Whilst on a train earlier I saw a poster at Southall (well either there or Hayes) saying that the clocks had been removed ready for the new CIS.. But that the new CIS had been delayed.. And they hope to install it as soon as possible..

I haven't seen a similar sign at Maidenhead but there could be one I guess.. no sign of any new CIS that's for sure..

PS (old) information boards at Maidenhead made it till 8.30am this morning before giving up the ghost... That must be a record.. Obviously after that the usual confusion reigned.. ::)

This morning at 07:00 they were stuck at about the 06:30 departures. The last one on the board was the 07:08, incorrectly showing reverse formation. That led to a lot of grumpy first class pax. Must have been reset later on.

Wouldn't it just be easier to set up a PC onto the Live Departure Boards website and slave the output onto all the monitors at the station? If I can get accurate departures on my cheapo Nokia phone, surely this is possible?

 

Teignmouth now has 1 new Next Train Indicators on each platform. Not sure about any summary screens.

The latest Maidenhead-Marlow Passenger Association newsletter says that Maidenhead's system has been delayed until next February.

marvellous.. maybe we could have our clocks back meanwhile...

Speaking of clocks, the ones on the new CIS system at Oxford, supposedly linked to the National Physical Laboratory time signal in Cumbria, have been about 50 seconds fast the last few times I've noticed them.

That would be the reason I was dispatched early last week.

Slough is also running about 30 seconds fast as well.

I have one picture of slough being over an hour out!

comes from 2009

With respect, out of interest are users of Maidenhead forced to relinquish their mobile phones/watches/time pieces on arrival at the station?  ;)

Whilst we do all carry the time in some form or other. I haven't worn a watch for 25 years but now have a mobile phone but whether it's accurate I wouldn't bet on it.

The whole point of the Chris Green clocks was to give "Railway Time" consitently over the whole of NSE. On manned stations all staff were working to same time time whilst on DOO routes such as the Thames Valley it gave the driver a check that they were departing "Right Time" without having to rely on their own timepiece.

I've seen an increasing number of occasions where the 'white screen of death' is displayed on the new circular white help points with integral departures board.  It apologises that live train running information can't be displayed, and whilst it's nice that a default screen does come up rather than the screen staying blank, I do hope it will not become too common!  Anybody else noticed them?

Every time I have been on the stopper from Oxford, the Finstock helpscreen has been white. The Charlbury departures screen (same as in the help points) is white most evenings and some mornings.

Hmm... maybe this is the case at Acton Main Line as well, as certainly nothing seems to have happened since the Help Point posts were put in.

I spotted a Telent van at Nailsea yesterday morning but no signs of anything having gone in yet.

TLM

Telent engineers were installing the new orange information screens at Weston super Mare on Monday.  ;)

Well no.. But are we all expected to set our respective timepieces to Paddington time regularly so that we know that the time we think it is is also the time the traindriver thinks it is? I happen to do that (I'm sad like that  ;)) but a lot of people don't..Or do we leave Maidenhead when the last passengers watch/phone etc gets to the time the train is due to leave  :D

The other day I was buying a coffee at 9am as the 9.03 pulled in.. The man behind me was about to leave the queue coffeeless until I told him he had 3 minutes.. He was a bit dubious that the train wouldn't just leave early due to there being no clocks.. I convinvced him he'd have time to get his coffee and he did (I did breath a sigh of relief though that we didn't get left behind  ;D)

Freshford up and running this morning, not sure how long for as I don't normally bother looking out of the window at this time of year. And that's it for me and FGW till 2011.

The first of the inner LTV stations, by which I mean not the Cotswold Line, to get the treatment is..... wait for it.... Pangbourne!  Another slightly strange choice, but two sparkly LED next train indicators are installed, but not yet commissioned on the two platforms.

Last day this year for me using AML after a few days of getting lifts due to icy conditions, it would seem the new info points are in, but still wrapped in plastic. Sadly it seems we're just getting the bog standard two button ones with no built in screen. No sign of any new screen by the ticket office or new platform matrix displays yet. However, as I stared into the morning gloom up at where the clock should be, it did look like that had disappeared and all that is left is the blue arm. Hadn't noticed until today!

That would be right, you either get the help point with integral screen if it's a small station, or the help point with no screen and new shiny blue LED displays and summary monitors if a larger station - Acton Main Line does qualify as a larger station, just!  Both systems are being installed separately, and although the help points are well ahead of the full systems, there's still several stations still to be fitted out.

Have been on the B&H today and the new platform displays at Hungerford were working and displaying the correct information!

Just out of interest does anyone know whether FGW took the opportunity while Reading was closed to replace all the screens/departure boards there? As I thought it would of been a perfect chance to do this without causing problems to passengers, but then again this is FGW we are talking about  ::)

Also does anyone have any other stations to add to the (slowly) growing list of stations that have had the new hardware installed for the full system, these stations currently being:

Charlbury
Hungerford
Kingham
Moreton-in-Marsh
Pangbourne
Teignmouth
Weston-super-Mare

Still the old system (no clock) at Maidenhead.. But at least the old system has been mended and is currently working after weeks of being rather flaky (which really does help a lot)..

Nowhere to add yet, but I'll keep my eye out.  After weeks of being too fast the clocks at Slough and Oxford are finally showing the right time.  Radley and Culham screens have been out of use for weeks now though.

--and it was all being connected up to-day and working when I caught the 1517 to Rdg! Obviously Pangbourne got priority for Gordon the Blue Engine (and maybe MD FGW as well!).  One good new feature (bearing in mind RL's are 90 mph - or is it 110?) is the warning message - both on the screens and on the PA - to "Stand clear - the approaching train is not stopping". 

But the euphoria was blunted when I returned at 1632 to find the down platform, stairs and subway in total darkness with no lights working.  I hope Telnet didn't trip a breaker accidentally.

 

No, they didn't. Or at least, the "old" system was still in use on 5 Jan. But I can't imagine that Reading is top priority for the new kit since it's already got a comprehensive system that works very well.

I suspect that FGW probably decided they had enough to think about during the Reading blockade without tinkering with an information system that honestly is not in urgent need of replacement, plus the fact that for much (or all...?) of the blockade the station wasn't fully closed anyway but had a reduced service running.

No lights does that mean trains are not stopping at Pangbourne?

We stopped, and everyone was feeling their way down the stairs and through the subway, which was pitch dark.  It was only a 3 car so I suppose the driver could see ok to close the doors.  Would the driver have phoned Gulag Didcot to report it and get it fixed?

Well seeing as the information system was being installed by a contractor, I would not of through it would of been that hard to arrange. The only day it was totally closed was the 25th and 26th, with buses operating on 27th - 30th, can't imagine the system being needed for the buses, nor the platforms being open.


Was it still the old thames trains lady, or have they put someone new in?

Relief's are 100mph.  Good point about Pangbourne's most important resident - perhaps that is indeed why it's been done early!


They certainly should have reported it, and in the case of Pangbourne where steps and an underpass are involved it could well mean that trains are unable to call until repaired.

These new systems can't come quickly enough really.  All stations between Reading and London Paddington (except Slough) had failed at some point during yesterday with screens locked up showing trains that departed long ago.  I wish FGW would prioritise the roll-out - let's face it Pangbourne could have waited until much later with its standard interval service and generally good punctuality throughout the day.  Much more pressing are stations like Maidenhead, Ealing Broadway, Hayes and Southall with their frequent services to a wide number of destinations.

As an aside, the new integrated monitor + help points at Radley and Culham have been out of action for a month now.  They're just showing the white out of use screen.  Hopefully just a few initial problems with the system that can be sorted out, otherwise if they are this unreliable then it's questionable whether the investment was worth it.

I personally think Twyford and Maidenhead should have been a priority - not just because I use Twyford - but because it is well known how often the current system fails or is just showing old information.

Also because of branchlines - particularly at Twyford where you will sometimes have a Henley service depart from Platform 4 instead of 5 - not good if screens not working - and train is on platform when you get there..

Yes, Twyford and West Drayton would have been next on my list.

The web based info screens at Charlbury are now showing a white failure to connect  screen more often than not at the moment, very grateful for the newer orange dot matrix display.

Slightly surprised you still have them at all Ian, as the one in the booking office window at Moreton-in-Marsh was removed the minute that the new system was working.

Teresa Ceesay tells me the new system is being installed at Evesham this week.

Well, they were completely turned off this morning, so perhaps they will vanish. It would be a shame as they offer more information than the dot matrix (delay at last recorded point).

Was it not Gerard Fiennes who, when a passenger complained at paddington that the clocks all showed different times, responded "what's the point of having several clocks, Madam, if they all show the same time?" (Probably apocryphal, but taken from his biography, by memory).

Ian does have a point there, although the LED screens are based on the delay where the train was last reported (minus any recovery time), it is useful knowing that your train was reported 5 minutes late leaving Oxford (for example) rather than expected at xx:xx which on occasions is wrong if some of the automatic reporting points have failed.

Mind you, the exact same information is available on the internet, so anybody with a reasonably modern mobile would be able to access it should they wish.

Someone had revived the web screens later on, as all were working at about 3.15pm when I called in at Charlbury to photograph the track.

The automatic announcements at North Camp are a joke. There have been no screens working for some time, but the voice twitters away happily giving duff information. The 08:04 to Gatwick is announced as being 21 minutes late every morning, even if it's on time.

Really FGW should just shut down the system. It makes them look really amateurish!!!

This is the old system still I take it?  Things were pretty bad again this evening between Reading and Paddington with virtually all the systems locked up at various times during the day and screens advertising the wrong calling points as a result - the second time in a row that I've taken the time to check them this week.  General confusion all round.

Yes it is the old system. To be honest I do think it'd be far better to just admit defeat, switch them all off and put up notices apologising but stating that new systems are on the way.

I tend to agree, though the reason I was given when I suggested that was that FGW would be in breach of their franchise agreements if they did switch them off.  So, it's better for them to have a system switched on but completely wrong rather than switched off.  Sounds about right!  ::)

The screens at Dorking Deepdene and West also haven't been working for a long time.

Was at Henley yesterday. The new display has been fitted but not yet in service.

Evesham now working.

 A new (different type) information display at Charlbury, a colour flat screen housed where the old indoor CIS VDU was located, seems to be consistent with the new orange dot matrix. We also still have the web based screens (3 of them) facing inwards or outwards of the windows of the ticket office but this morning there were showing the 0952 as being on time but starting from Oxford rather than showing cancelled at CBY, later before the 1008 departed (late) the web based screens failed.

well, the two newer screens were useless this morning, missing the 0835 CBY to PAD completely. Older web based system was not only working but showing correctly that it passed Ascot a few minutes late and was on route to CBY with 8 carriages.

I'm sure the fact that there was an article yesterday in the Maidenhead advertiser (after two letters on the subject last week) about the lack of information at Maidenhead for the last couple of months bears NO relation to the fact it was working this morning for the first time in ages (it's a pity the trains weren't though)  ::)

Bramley on the Reading-Basingstoke line new CIS were installed yesterday and all working at 0610 this morning. We also have a new PA system pre-announcing the train twice and as it arrives. Not sure how the people in the houses next to the station feel about this !

Also the location on Platform 1 (from Basingstoke towards Reading) of the CIS sign makes no sense - hidden behind both a lamp post and the new PA system ...it's also down the far end of the platform  ???

Interesting placement, Is there any signals in the station area, as I could be so it does not block the sighting of the signal.

I thought Bramley always had a PA, or was it recently turned off? Any ideas who the voice is?

Yes, and another very strange choice of location.  They seem to be deciding where to put them by pinning the tail on a donkey with a FGW route map tattoo!

Henley now up and working today.

Was told by platform staff at Maidenhead that they don't expect the system to be installed there until March !

That tallies roughly with what I was told, but I suppose it's nearly February, so it could be up and running in just over a month.

It seems that station on the Didcot patch are getting done might have a lot to do with that having new computerised system where as Slough Panel is electromechanical relays with hybread bit added over the years

Sorry to go off topic, but would you mind explain what the overall difference is, and how it effects the information systems, and also what is a hybread bit? Hope you dont mind explaining  :D

I was told by FGW customer services it'll be Spring for Maidenhead.. So let's hope it's early Spring.. We've been quite a long time without proper information.. ;D

I know of some people who just send a text to a member of FGW staff to ask what's happening :P

Isn't spring when the clocks go back?  ::)

Ahem!!! we wish  ;D ;) ::)

Some people just don't know the time of day, do they?  ::)

Aha I don't mean in a bad way - doesn't bother me :) I get people texting me about trains all the time lol

Some good news for the good folk of Radley and Appleford as their help point monitors are now working again at last after showing an error message for the last three weeks!

CIS (customer information systems) takes data from the signaling system to display up to date information on trains, each train has a unique code the CIS uses this Didcot with its new computerised system will be much easier to interface the CIS to the signaling system where as Slough has much older signaling system this may take longer to interface the new CIS.
I could be wrong and they may be some other reason

There has been some (slight) movement at AML in recent days, but not much.

The new Help Points have had their plastic wrapping taken off, but I don't think they are 'live' yet - the old ones still remain.

Not a lot else to report on the CIS side of things - existing platform matrixes and screen by ticket office have been useless in the last few days, displaying incorrect departure information and then on Friday were off altogether! Do hope the new ones aren't too far away!

BUT - and something I don't think was part of this planned work (although I may be wrong) - in recent times the station lighting seems to have improved vastly IMO, with the stairways and platforms now fully lit with lovely bright white lighting, certainly makes things feel a little bit safer!

A new Customer information/Help Point has appeared at Digby & Sowton.

Back on the trains after my trip overseas. Two of the three web based train information screens at Charlbury have now gone, the remaining screen was turned off.

The new customer information screens have been installed at Par. The LCD screens are currently not working. The LED system on platform 1 (Penzance) is working but not on platform 2 (Plymouth & beyond) or 3 (Newquay). The engineers have been at Bodmin Parkway but currently no evidence of new customer information systems being installed.

All screens at Par now switched on and working, as of this morning!

Taplow's new display on the up platform was switched on for the first time today.  Engineers working on site to sort out the other displays.

In keeping with the odd choice of locations, Taplow is the quietest station on the whole of the suburban route from Reading to Paddington, with the exception of lowly Iver.  I expect that'll be next.  ::)

Shipton also now has fitted and working mini-display's after lagging well behind the rest of the Cotswold Line for some reason.  Just Heyford's up platform to fit with these displays for the LTV area now I think - though Tackley's screens haven't been working for weeks and are showing the out of service white notice.

Last time I was at Evesham a few weeks ago the system wasn't working properly

Any idea where Telent are with these works? Nothing seems to have been going on at Acton Main Line for ages. No change since my last report on January 30th. A lot of users of AML getting browned off with lack of reliable train departure information as screens have not been working for some time and I believe the new information points are still not active.

I realise there were some delays with installations back in December but there was also some assurance on here that things would start moving again this month.

Also heard some rumours that there are plans to move the ticket office at AML? Anyone know if there's any truth in this?

The new screens are now working at Crowthorne but they do seem to have a drawback.  I arrived at 9.30 this morning to catch the 9.45 to Reading and noticed on the opposite platform that the display was showing the "please stand clear the approaching train is not scheduled to call" notice.  It showed this for the whole 15 minutes until my train left and I assume it was for the 9.34 ex Reading which passes through about 9.50.   That's an awfully long time to show the warning and in the meantime there is no information about trains which actually will call at the station.

When I got back tonight it was the same story on the other platform and I noticed the message remains for a good five minutes after the train has passed.

I also didn't hear a verbal warning announcement - although on both occasions I wasnt on the platform when the train actually passed through.

Seems a bit of attention is needed to the system.

Yes but Taplow is the best station between London and Reading!

Got called to the station this am to open the TRUG office so that the engineers could remove the bolts fixing the orginal TV screen departures board.

Can confirm platform 4 fixed.

There are some signs that the work is picking up a bit of pace - Tilehurst's new screens were switched on for the first time today and being tested by the engineers.  There are an awful lot of locations for them still to do though, so it'll be many months before the whole job is completed.

As for Acton Main Line, this is an extract from the crossrail.co.uk (http://crossrail.co.uk) website:  'The existing station entrance will be closed and a new ticket hall constructed with an entrance opposite Emanuel Avenue.  The existing platforms will be extended to the west and a new emergency escape footbridge constructed.'

Telent were at Westbury today installing the new displays and starting to remove the old orange CRT monitors.

I expect they'll be removing the old ticking digital clocks next :-(

I expect so. The one on Platform 1 hasn't worked for ages and the one on Platform 2 is only accurate to 10 seconds as the last digit is stuck on '0'.

Project Update from FGW Newsletter

Help points Installed last week: Plymouth and Shipton (As already mentioned)
Help Points planned for this week: Starcross, West Ealing and Yate
Improvements last week: Par CIS Installation
Improvements planned for this week: CIS and PA system at Taplow and Tilehurst, CIS system at Shalford and Westbury.

Can confirm Westbury had Telent Engineers working at this a few days ago fitting the new screens.
It also appears the new PA is only being fitted to Thames Valley stations at the moment, I have a clip of the new voice from Bramley, if anyone wants a listen drop me a PM with an email address and ill email the recording to you.

Telent are currently installing something at Exeter Central aswell.

Taplow installation finished running and being tested this a.m. Am off to Reading this p.m. will report later.

WE seem to have got male and female annoucers, male on 3 and female on 4. Don't know whther tha was a test but they seem to separate circuits as at one stage they were both talking at once.

We have also got two summary screens with about the next 10 trains displayed at both entrances so if you come from the South car park for Reading you don't have to traipse over to platform 4 to see if your train is late. Would have been good for my wife when she used to come and pick me up from work and the train was late.

Have any of the other stations got the same problem as I reported at Crowthorne with the "Please stand clear" message being displayed for 20 mins at a time.  It effectively makes the system a step back on the old CRT monitors as while the message is being shown no other departure information is available.

That will be the same as is at Slough, each side of every platform is on a separate circuit.

That will be because of the big signalling sections causing the train to appear to be approaching according to the Train Describers however is still miles away where the previous signal is, am I right in thinking the Stand Away message dosen't disappear until 5 or so minutes after the train has passed? I would imagine some other stations where the signalling sections are big between them will have that problems too, shame the screens can't be like SWT where the stand away is just displayed on the bottom 2 lines where the top line shows train information.

I think the stand clear warnings are generally OK on SWT's routes, but as said it's a feature of the signalling section lengths.  I have seen the opposite problem though, a while ago (maybe still are) up trains through Southampton Parkway were already at the platform end just as the warning started - which could possibly be a bit too slow.

What is a bit daft is that there are wide variations in the actual message, and different warning tones sometimes associated with them, across different areas. 

Isn't it the sort of thing you'd expect would have national standardisation?

Paul

Would make sense to standardise them, but you'd never be able to get every system to announce/display the same thing, due to the fact different systems work in different ways of finding out when a train is approaching, some use train describers on their own systems map (Like SWT), and other are fed straight from Trust finding the head code is approaching and adding a log, of course no good if the station dosen't provide any reports because of big signalling sections. However the findings at Crowthorne is very interesting as it dosen't provide a passing log, yet still shows non-stopping trains on the screen, might just be that our new system is not connected to LDB yet.

They need to look at the situation at Crowthorne. There isn't much point it warning of non stop trains for 20 to 25 mins at a time. If it is down to the signalling perhaps they could teach it to count to a thousand or something after getting the info before displaying it?

The old CRT monitors have been taken away at Farnborough North. The Gatwick-bound platform announcements at North Camp have now been fixed (no longer announcing everything as 21 minutes late), but the CRTs have been given up on I think.

The SWT system at Ash always seems to advertise FGW trains as 3 minutes late, even if they're on time. An interface issue perhaps?

Probably due to the long signalling sections, as its hard to estimate when they are going to arrive when the previous report was 15 minutes away at Wokingham!

Hopefully FGW will set the CIS up like SWT and it will provide report for all stations, when it passes the next signal after the platform however far down the line it is, this is why stations like the ones inbetween Wokingham and Ash get No Report at the moment because Trust does not relate passing the signals as departure from the stations, because of the distance, where as the CIS can estimate what time it departed from stations between signals judging by the time it passes the next signal.

I was pleased to see that, with Tilehurst's installation nearly complete, Next Train Indicators are being installed on all four platforms.  When Thames Trains' system was installed back in 1997 they only thought it necessary to provide them at Ealing Broadway, Slough and Maidenhead.  Hopefully this will be the case at all other stations where there are main line platforms in use.

OK, there may not be any scheduled trains a day that use the main line platforms at Tilehurst, but in the event of service disruption or engineering work (such as today) they prove very useful in making passengers aware of platform alterations in conjunction with announcements, and even when trains aren't calling it's no bad thing to have warnings that there is a through train approaching - at 125mph!

Visited Exeter Central yesterday appears all the wiring for the new screens is in, now just needs to be connected up to the equipment!

Looks like they're starting with Cholsey now.  Also, I spotted a couple of the 'help point with departures screens' which seemed to have a different display layout - slightly smaller text with a maximum of three lines of calling point information (with extra lines scrolling if necessary).  Didn't have chance to have a proper look, but the display did seem to be a little more organised looking.

Installation of the new CIS has most certainly sped up recently, with stations with new screens/PA being:

Ex Wessex:

Par
Teignmouth
Westbury
Weston-super-Mare

Thames Valley:

Blackwater
Charlbury
Crowthorne
Evesham
Henley-on-Thames
Hungerford
Kingham
Moreton-in-marsh
Pangbourne
Taplow
Tilehurst

Any updates to the list are most welcomed!

Burnham now fully operational.  Looks like West Drayton next on the Thames Valley list.

Still waiting for it, or any sign of it,  at Maidenhead.. Still.. it's not a busy station... oh...  ::) ::)

Kintbury is now properly equipped.

Exmouth now has the new CIS screens, and new working PA announcements - provided by Miss. Dreary who does Paddington.

I've also noticed a new software look to the Help Points with screens around the Exmouth & Barnstaple lines recently - and the fact they all work instead of the "white sorry screen of death".

Yes, they started changing a couple of weeks ago, and the new display is much neater, and similar to the style used on the main CIS Systems.

not a fgw station but while i was at honiton yesterday i noticed that swt are using identical help points, infact honiton is having alot of work done, overhead display, 2 info points new booking office new footbridge new waiting rooms......how does this line get so much funding??

Much of what is being fitted for the first time on FGW stations was done on SWT's stations some years ago, certainly Honiton had modern PIS and help points well before the current work started.

The round white help points were put in to all SWT's stations quite a while ago, and at some stations they've already been replaced with newer versions.  The type with an integral display are generally only used in SWT carparks from what I've seen, but there have been a few in use for a couple of years.  I can't really remember when three line LED PIS displays were put in for the first time, .

No idea why it is all coming to FGW so late though.

Paul

What type of CIS screen is it, LED showing calling at patterns or a LCD Screen with just the times,destinations and expected? And did Exmouth have PA announcements before?

The SWT PIS displays were installed sometime between 2001 and 2003.

The Telent team had descended en masse to North Camp today- by this evening they had dug a hole in platform 2, I guess this is for the wiring etc for an LED display.

w/commencing last Monday......

Help Points installed last week: Avoncliff and Dilton Marsh.
Plus Copplestone, Morchard Road and St Ives (changes to Web CIS)

Improvements last week: PA and CIS at Castle Bar Park

Installations planned this week: CCTV, CIS and PA at Yeovil Pen Mill,
CIS at Exmouth and Paignton, CIS and PA at Worle and Thatcham, CCTV
at Highbridge & Burnham, and CIS and CCTV at Digby & Sowton

So what'll happen at Dean and Mottisfont & Dunbridge - no FGW service there, so if new PIS and help points are fitted, should they link to SWT's control for train running display and info, but FGW's for emergency and security?

Paul

I don't think they'tre being fitted.

Can we expect another 'breach notice' for FGW from the DfT to add to their collection? The installation or replacement of various types of information systems was supposed to be completed within 51 months of the start date of the franchise. With some types of equipment to be installed within 4 years of the start date.

This Friday sees the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the Greater Western franchise and still they haven't completed this franchise commitment.

I'm sure they've got an easement....

Last I heard it was an extension until Dec 2010. It's now nearly April 2011. Did they get another easement?

Quite likely as they're not likely to have breached this.

So, sod the contractual obligations then and string the DfT along eh? That's going to look good come franchise (any, not just FGW) award/renewal time.

The DfT are unlikely to have approved it, unless there was good reason.

Some changes to what you'll see on the CIS.....brought about by comments received about terminating trains on single, end-of-line platforms - not needing to tell customers that 'The Next train terminates here', but then broadened when quick turnarounds were happening at some stations, and a need to have the CIS showing the destination / stopping pattern well before the train arrived.

Not all of the slippage in the new CIS system is down to FGW, there was a mistake in the ORR funding to NR for NR's part in the CIS system

I hope they can also look at the "Please stand Clear.  Train now approaching is not scheduled to stop" message.

I mentioned before that at Crowthorne this is displayed for about 15 minutes before the train passes and five minutes after it is gone and it was suggested this is down to the signalling. That was on weekdays.

However I noticed on Sunday that it displays for over an hour!  It seems once the previous stopping train has gone the system displays the above message as it is the next "event".  As there is a two hourly service on a Sunday it means the message is displayed for nearly 60 minutes before the train passes, at the expense of real arrival information which is only displayed once the fast train has been gone over five minutes.

Hmm ... I wonder what "meeters and greeters" will think of this.  I appreciate that those 'in the know' can usually see how the incoming train is doing based on predictions for the outgoing one, but glancing at the Barnstaple timetable as an example I see one service that's scheduled to sit there for over half an hour.    So ... if it's running 20 late (inbound) there will be no clue about this for anyone picking up at the station, right?

Better the vast majority wanting cofirmation of destination/stops get that before their train arrives, than the odd meeter & greeter waiting for a late train, surely?

The former applies to every train, whereas your situation applies only if the odd train is very late. Theres also the help-point for their use.

That makes complete sense, this was not a problem before on ex-wessex stations as the monitors only used to show departures anyway.
I wonder if the PA will still announce the terminating trains.

Surprised Westbury isn't on that list, but then I guess the signaller will change the Headcode quite quick. Hayes & Harlington is a bit of a strange one as nothing seems to terminate there.

LED showing calling pattern... like Teignmouth.  Exmouth had the ex-Wessex PA announcements although I know the new PA system was put in/old one removed due to the location of the speakers compared to the phone to the signaller the driver uses to report.

Digby & Sowton has also had LED overheads put in, although not active yet.

Ah yes thought so! Ah I see that makes sense of why to install the new PA!

Yes I saw Digbys screen getting lowered into position on Saturday, Telnet man said should be active by tomorrow hopefully, apparently some sort of problem with the electrical cabinet.

If there are problems at Heathrow, the Connect services tend to terminate on platform 5 at Hayes. I've noticed this a few times and this happened to me last year with only a few minutes notice. Can't remember what the problem was but I was planning to get off there anyway. Prior to the introduction of the Heathrow Connect, several peak time trains were timetabled to terminate at Hayes & Harlington.

Without quoting that long list again, I presume what is being referred to here are the scrolling displays on  platforms. In many cases there will be a summary screen in the booking office area which will alternate between arrival and departure details, and meet and greeters will be able to refer to those - and in cases where there are barriers, they wouldn't be able to see the platform screens anyway.

To my shame there have been many occasions on which I've been reading the arrivals board and it's taken me several seconds to work out what's happened to my departing train...  :-[

The departures board at 30th Street station (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandc/4048611206/) always confuses me as well because it's listed as TO...FROM. For some reason my brain always expects it to be FROM...TO.  ::)

As of late yesterday afternoon the CIS equipment was in place at Digby & Sowton but had not been activated. Additional CCTV cameras were also being installed.

Correct.  Exmouth does not show Terminating Trains, however there is an Arrival/Departure Screen separate.

Sad times may indeed be upon us at Bath Spa. High Vis people climbing over the information screens with measuring devices at the station today. I hope they're not getting ready for the new CIS.

I do a lot of travelling to/from Bath and the systems have never let me down. Plus, I can't imagine arriving at Bath without Phil announcing that "This is Bath Spa".

I'm presuming the software which runs the screens as well as the announcements are being replaced? No more silly little animation when information is updated?

I've read through the thread but I'm still not certain. Is the new system the ATOS system which is being sadly rolled out everywhere, along with Anne?

What does Bath currently run on? I think the voice announcements are Ditra, but what is it coupled with for the screens, or does Ditra do both? Seems a shame to replace a perfectly working system, but I've never liked change!

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, NotScheduled!  :)

This week's update from FGW.....

At the moment there are 3 different parts of the HSS CIS, The announcements (Ditra), the next train indicators/departure screens (Amey) and the controlling software (Amey), and there is rumour that Phil/Celia is to remain at these stations according to Network Rail staff. What I would imagine will happen will be the controlling software/information screens will be replaced with ATOS stuff, with the announcements getting a update to the software so it would sound similar to Slough/Oxford. Talking about Slough they have had the new screens installed however they are still using Phil/Celia.

Also in the HSS CIS booklet it said Network Rail are installing a like-for-like system at HSS stations 2011-2012, have to wait and see what FGWs definition for "like-for-like" is!

Thanks for the welcome, chris! Nice to step out from being a lurked :-)

Thanks for the info, Louis94! That's really interesting. Is Amey what SWT use, as I'm sure it looks the same as what they seem to have? Is there anywhere I can learn more about CIS systems? You mentioned a HSS CIS handbook, but I guess that's private? Thanks again for the information! I get fascinated by a different part of trains and railways each month, this month it seems to be CIS systems!

It looks like the new systems are being installed at Westbury. The old screen is bagged up and a new but inactive one appeared behind it.

SWT system is a bit strange they use a mixture of Amey and ATOS for the screen software, Ditra for the announcements and the ATOS controlling software. Unfortunately the handbooks are private.

Westbury has had its new screens installed already, you might be getting confused with the old clocks which are bagged up I think. Westbury at the moment still has Ruth announcing (Ex-wessex announcer) although this is rumoured to be changing soon.

The overwhelming majority will be waiting for a departure, not an arrival.

I can only speak for Barnstaple, but the existing audio announcements used to cause no end of complaints because they didn't announce the next train leaving until after the train had arrived in the platform. Passengers waiting for the (say) 10.43 to Exeter/Exmouth would get confused by announcements for the 08:53 from Exmouth; having a visual display that says '10:35 Terminates here' is unlikely to help.

In any case, there is still a working Help Point, and they can get the current running information from that.

The CIS installation at DIG is now fully operational - and for the avoidance of confusion the audio announcements refer to '...the next train at Platform 1...'

Thats good news, be interesting to see how the system operates in times of disruption seeing as its on a single line! Is the PA voice male or female?

An answer from FGW.....

Least you got a reply!

Do you know anymore on this, does it look at the booked timings, or expected timings? and would it do exactly the same for freight or special services?

Also is the reason it shows 15 minutes before partly because the station does not have a timing point on trains that run non-stop, so it does it from the previous timing point to the next?

SWT don't seem to have this problem and they use ATOS as well, so would be interesting to see how SWT get around it, mainly in the North Downs area as the signalling is modern so should be able to generate reports, but for some reason all the stations, even the ones with starting signals don't provide a report.

Also the SWT system can generate reports for all stations even if they are on single lines, is there a way FGW could link the new system to LDB to enable it to do this like SWT system can do, this would mean that stations that previously would not get any log would get one, and enable the screens to update according to realtime information and not the timetable.

I haven't yet seen the displays at Crowthorne show anything other than on time. However to date there hasn't been any late running when I've been there.

I've noticed this weakness on the Live Departure Boards website as well. I usually check LDB for North Camp on my phone before I get out of the car. If the train is 3 minutes down on leaving Wokingham, the expected time at North Camp will stick at 3 minutes late, even though due to ample catch up time arrival at NCM will be on time. Therefore there seems to be no trigger point at all between Wokingham and North Camp.

Am I right in thinking that North Camp is the boundary between Wokingham signal box and the Guildford signalling centre?

I guess that is the reason the signal you can see after the junction at Wokingham heading towards Crowthorne stays at red for 10 minutes after the train has passed it.

The boundary is at MP54 between Blackwater and Farnborough North according to the Quail map.

Paul

The signalling headways between Wokingham and North Camp are 6 minutes for fast trains and 11 minutes for stopping trains, the route takes a bit longer than this to complete so suggests there must be more than 2-3 signalling sections, this is why I don't understand why there is no reports at North Camp and other stations, there is even a signal on the Reading bound platform so surely this must be able to provide a departure report. I'm sure several other stations on the line must have signals near by too

Well, it didnt last long, after removal of the temporary CIS flatscreens the new orange dot matrix 3 line display has gone back to displaying a default screen of "Welcome to Charlbury station" and the time. No train information whatsoever. Been like this for two afternoons and one morning at least (may be longer but I wasnt on the trains at the start of the week).

I'm wondering when Spring officially finishes.. Since the new CIS screens were due by the end of last year and then this date then revised to "Spring".. I'm hopeful it might be soon for Maidenhead.. Although no sign of it yet..

At least they seem to have mended the old system at the moment..

I spoke to a FGW station supervisor at Charlbury this morning. Seems a delivery lorry associated with the track redoubling at CBY took out an overhead BT cable. So no train information or credit/debit card purchases at the ticket office or ticket machine purchases until the line is repaired.

w/commencing 4 April - from FGW

Cholsey's were up and running today.  A good two weeks after work was started.

From FGW.....

Technically it's either 20 or 21 June, I forget which!

Oh good.. Only two months at the most till we get our new system then.. maybe.. ::)

The new systems seemed to be being set up at Warminster as my Portsmouth Harbour train went by. All up but still in packaging with engineers around.

I looked at the new ones at Westbury (what seem to be the standard new installs). They look quite cheap and tacky compared to the older HSS systems. Looks like typical ATOS naming, from the people that brought FCC 'Kings X', I saw my train was headed to Southampton ctl and Portsmouth & S (that really is quite a poor attemp for Portsmouth and south sea...). A limit on how many letters per name?

Why are the old clocks being deactivated?

Seems like they've pulled the station names from the fares system.  This is how those stations appear on a ticket.

Which itself is quite a poor attempt for Portsmouth & Southsea.   ;)

Support poles now up at North Camp for CIS display on Reading-bound platform.

w/c 18/4/11

Help Points installed last week: Dorking Deepdene
Improvements last week: CCTV at Devonport and Dockyard, CIS at Torquay, CCTV and CIS at Bodmin Parkway

Improvements planned for this week: CCTV, CIS and PA at Warminster and Castle Cary, CIS and PA at Hanwell and North Camp, CIS at St Austell, CCTV at Bruton and Dorchester West

Went Devonport the other day, and the new system is alot more helpful than the old croaky blue box- The next thing we need now is reasons for delays  :o

A point at Taplow, as you know we have no Sunday service. The screens just say "Welcome to Taplow" no incication that will be no trains until Monday morning.

Have to raise it with FGW.

North Camp up and working as of this pm.

Got back from a week and a bit away in Devon last night, forgot to post while I was away that I noticed on 21st April that Tiverton Parkway had had its help points installed (ones without built in screens). Didn't notice anything else new though.

All help points should now have been installed, just a small matter of the majority of the CIS and PA systems to go!

They may have been installed, but does that necessarily mean they are up and running and working? Last time I was at AML just before the long holiday break it was still the same situation - new information points not yet wired up, old ones still standing next to them (also not working) and still the same old worn out dot matrix display screens on the platforms saying they are currently out of use. I don't know if anything is likely to have happened over the Easter break, but I know the residents posting on the Acton Community Forum are growing increasingly fed up of the poor service at Acton Main Line.

Just spotted your signature, James.   :D

From FGW, w/commencing 25 April (last week)

CBY's new systems had failed again this morning

And that franchise commitment 'completion date' slips further and further behind...... ::)

The DfT must have given them an extension on this - they would be on their back otherwise.

Well, my FOI request should, hopefully, shed light on that. If the DfT can get sniffy with Chiltern (and fine them) for a few failed franchise commitments, and express displeasure at XC for failing to install Wi-Fi in accordance with their franchise, then here's hoping that FGW are, at the very least, getting their butts kicked behind the scenes.

'Spring 2011' doesn't end until June 22.....

So, you think that the DfT have the Summer Solstice as the cut off date before they start publicly kicking FGW's butt?

June 21st by the way.

 ???

BST started at the end of March...

Edited to add...
Crafty get, changing your post whilst I was responding ;)

The seasons tend to legally follow the equinoxs & solstices.


No, I think they've been given an extension actually - the DfT / ORR just didn't feel it imortant to tell you....

Hmm...

I'm not aware of any 'legal' instrument that refers to seasons.

Yes, I know. I'm a pedant.

Yep that is one way to define seasons. Another way is meteoroligically which defines Spring as March, April and May. But it would be a bit harsh to argue over 21/22 days.

So, either way, FGW are still within their deadline, without any extension?

You may well be right, ChrisB. But there is nothing in the public domain from DfT (as far as I can see) that would confirm the extension to 'Spring 2011'. If there is, and you can provide a source, then I'll graciously defer.

In the meantime I'll wait for my FOI response.

Are extensions usually published by the DfT?

Well, they gave one to CrossCountry re: WiFi. With dire threats that they failed to follow up on. But then there was a change of Govt. in the meantime.

I know they got one, but where was it published?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/7983047/CrossCountry-fined-for-lack-of-train-WiFi.html

Apologies for not finding a direct link to the DfT, but I've no reason to disbelieve The Telegraph. After all, their journos don't, as far as I'm aware, publish stories based on unsubstantiated internet forum chatter.  ;)

Exactly. I don't think the DfT do put these types of extension on their website, so the FGW one won't be there either. Not everything is.

But I agree your FOI should produce one, if they think 'Spring 2011' is in the past.

Was at Twyford today and plenty of telnet people working.

The old system has been removed and they were working on fitting all the new cables and brackets.

Hopefully should be up and running soon!

Hopefully. The old system at Twyford hasn't been working for a least a couple of months. It has caused problems in the evening when the relief lines have been closed and people didn't realise the need to use platforms 1 and 2 until the train pulled in.

As I came through Twyford this evening at 22:22 noticed 1 screen up on Platform 4.

Also just outside by ticket office entrance there is what I assume will be a summary screen.

So definitely taking shape :)

This week's update....

That's one of the good aspects about the new system, instead of just being a like-for-like replacement, ALL platforms are getting Next Train Indicators, which will benefit places like Twyford where there were no such displays on the main line platforms.

Southall also has new displays installed, but not yet switched on.

North Camp plattform 2 display and all PA broken. PA too quiet at Farnborough North.

Well, I've got my FGW response on this one at least....


Which bears out my thinking that May is considered to be part of Spring 2011

Have I understood that incorrectly or is Maidenhead, and the many other non-HSS stations yet to be touched, supposed to be finished by the end of this month?

Supposed to, yes. I am meetinmg the CIS manager next Tuersday & will get another uopdate then.

OK, thanks - the phrase 'Two hopes: Bob Hope and no hope' springs to mind...

There were several vans with "Telenet" or something like that on the side parked at Maidenhead this morning which was very exciting.. I thought perhaps they were going to start work.. No sign of any people doing anything though so will wait and see.. :)

Could be a long wait, given how long it seems to take to complete a basic two-platform installation.

And still doing remedial work on earlier installations. Telent had opened up the scrolling display at Charlbury this morning and looked to be doing some rewiring, following a visit to look at it last week.

Telent have been back to North Camp- the Reading-bound display is now fixed, but still no PA.

No sign of anything when I got back to Maidenhead tonight.. no sign of a new system.. no sign of the old one working..... oh well.. No information always makes it so much more exciting as no one knows what's about to happen next  ::)

The displays in the booking hall were missing when I got back there this evening...

Jo when my train went past this afternoon Telent were removing screens from what I could gather.

From FGW w/c last Monday...

Spoke to platfrom staff at Maidenhead.  Said it would be a four week job to remove all the old system and install new one.  This is first week of four.

Not by the end of May then  ::)

New System is up and running at Penzance, with some start up issues, like killing St Erth, Camborne and Redruth OLD CIS systems, however error recovered.

FGW know something Cornwall Council doesn't,

The Andos units often say Welcome to ST Penzance.  ;D ;D

Cheer up it's happening... you might even get a clock  ;D

Ha ha that was a bit tongue in cheek  ;D ::)

They've removed the old displays in the ticket hall now and were bricking up the holes that were left earlier when I was at the station.. No sign of any work upstairs on the platform yet but if it's going to take four weeks I guess there is lots to do..

I imagine the station staff will be glad when it's done as meanwhile, now the old system has gone, they are having to manually announce every train... :)

[Tongueincheek] You've had improvements already then?  ;D[/Tongueincheek]

 ;D ::)

Have you received a more realistic completion time-scale, Chris?

Meeting's @ 5.....

New system at CBY not working AGAIN this morning, wonder if it is to do with adding a second set of displays for the new platform?

Quite possible....

Yup - end of calendar Quarter 3.....

And before you harp - there were changes agreed with the DfT over scope detail, and they agreed an extension completion date of the end of 2011. So, well within.

This weeks work....

The reason that the Maidenhead works will take so long to complete is that the wiring is shot & needs replacing too.

Many thanks, Chris.  That date does at least seem achievable given the current level of progress.

I concur. That's what the DfT told me in response to an FoI request. Responded by email rather than full FoI disclosure though.....

If the scope details meant we get such a plethora of monitors on all platforms then the small additional delay will have been well worth it.

The new System at Slough was broken at about 9.30am yesterday.. I do hope that doesn't mean it's as unreliable as the old one  ::)

I then ended up (I don't know how) being "Chief Information Officer" with my daughter on the phone looking at the NR website as we were all hoping to get a the non-stop train to Paddington.. I even ended up giving out some tube advice to for a Frenchman trying to get to St Pancras.. I did have to explain that there was no way he'd get there in 15 minutes which is all he had..

Hhmm... sorry I digressed  ::) ;D

I've done it in reverse in that time - but in the late evening....

What St Pancras to Slough in 15mins? Clearly wasn't by train and tube then.

Oh, I thought Jo meant 15 mins from the time that train got to PAD.....ooops

Sorry.. I wasn't particularly clear  ::) but yes I think 15 minutes would be the quickest you could do it from Paddington to St Pancras (at a very quiet time) as that bit of tube line is particuarly slow.. Also that doesn't count the getting to the tube platform at Paddington and also then getting to your train from the tube at St Pancras which is a bit of a trek too.. ;D

I did my trip in a taxi......

Wouldn't dare try it by tube in that time!

Has anyone found any Youtube vids of the new PA yet???

If so, could you post links please???


Thanks,
Jim.

Langley now working, Twyford partially working and Southall imminent.  An LED display is now also mounted on Maidenhead platform 1 (but not yet in use) - not sure if any others are up yet?

.

I can't tell you how many times I've had  to do this at Acton Main Line recently , Jo, with the information systems still being out of use there including the new information points which are standing there waiting to be wired in. If they take any longer about doing it, it'll hardly be worth it as they'll be making changes to the station for Crossrail!

I've had many a grateful passenger thanking me for my information when they've been waiting for trains thanks to my access to the National Rail IPhone app while the information systems are out of service,  Sadly the chap in the ticket office (who is there for about 4 hours every weekday!) doesn't seem to put the effort in when it comes to offering good customer service, although he has been observed contributing to the station in a small way by gritting the platforms in the recent harsh winters, though I guess this is a priority and he'd get into serious trouble if it wasn't done.

I'm not entirely sure FGW would fully appreciate my assistance though as I've cost them a few customers when telling fellow passengers a train has been cancelled, they will then take alternative routes such as heading to North Acton tube - but a few hardy souls will wait it out for the next train, sometimes we don't have to wait too long as we are treated to a rare stopping Heathrow Connect if the Greenford line is up the spout!

To be honest, I think I'd do a better job at running Acton Main Line, at least I'd be able to give people a little more information than is currently available!

Well yes.. It's almost worth them installing a computer screen with the national rail website on (set to the arrival/departures board for that station) at each station isn't it... ::)

Oooh, the FGW help-point?, maybe?

Not having seen one working before (honest).. How do they work? Do you have to talk to someone or is the info all there for people to see? I don't know if the Maidenhead one is working yet or not or I'd take a look  ;D

Depends on the location...sometimes there's a National Rail website-style screen displayed, in other places there's no screen but you can push a button for a recorded announcement. I think all such help-points have two other buttons, one so that you can make a call for train information and another that you can press in emergency.

Don't know what, if anything, is installed at Maidenhead currently but it sounds like ChrisB should be able to inform us in the light of his previous comment.

There is a picture of the departure board screen at Melksham in the revolving pictures at the top right of the forum screen. They are random so you might have take pot luck when it appears.

... or you could see a picture, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7597.msg75722#msg75722  ;) :D ;D

Nah.. no screen on the help-point..I looked this morning..

So, as I said before.."It's almost worth them installing a computer screen with the national rail website on (set to the arrival/departures board for that station) at each station isn't it...?" That way if lots of people need information on different trains they don't have to queue up to press the button on the help-point to talk to a real person..

You only get a help-point with a built-in departures screen in it if there are no scrolling displays at a station. If those are fitted, then the help-points provided just have the buttons.

the help points with web cis screens were paid for by local councils. if the coucil wanted one at a particular station, then they stumped up the cash for it. they are situated at the following locations:

Aldermaston
Appleford
Ascott-under-Wychwood
Ashchurch for Tewkesbury
Bedminster
Bere Alston
Bicester Town
Cam & Dursley
Carbis Bay
Combe
Crediton
Culham
Dawlish Warren
Devonport
Exeter St Thomas
Exton
Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Town
Finstock
Freshford
Gunnislake
Hanborough
Hayle
Heyford
Honeybourne
Islip
Ivybridge
Kintbury
Looe
Lostwithiel
Lympstone Village
Melksham
Midgham
Penmere
Pershore
Radley
Saltash
Shiplake
Shipton
St Germans
St James Park
Starcross
Tackley
Topsham
Torre
Umberleigh
Wargrave
Weston Milton
Yate

some do seem rather strange - why exactly does melksham need a web cis screen for 2 trains per day!? it is blank for the majority of the day, but the council wanted and paid for it, so they got it.

Err ... 06:40, 07:17, 19:11, 19:47 ... I make that four  ;) ... and there are even three on Sundays.  These new screens are expected to last for a number of years, and I understand that the consideration of the screens related not only to current traffic and service levels, but also to anticipated and latent need.   Melksham's a town of around 24,000 people, and could do with some more trains.  This is being seriously worked on, and it's logical to have screens in place, together with more space for parking cars for park and ride at the station, and a supporting rail partnership too.   

By the way - your analysis of the funding may be correct for some stations, but I don't think it's the case across the whole lot of them.

I know.. It was ChrisB who suggested the help point would be useful after I'd suggested a computer screen with the NR departures site on it at each station.. I was pointing out that the help point isn't as useful as that  ;D

One of the new departure screens at Dawlish was showing "On Tim" as opposed to "On Time"  :D

Slightly OT, but I was amused today to see the 1551 SWT Bristol TM - London Waterloo listed on the departure screens thus:

1551 London Waterloo 
   continues to Waterloo

So, would that be a reverse at London Waterloo, along the old route to the Channel Tunnel and onward to Belgium?

 ;D ;D ;D

... where it would become the 1815, obviously ...  ;D

Mon dieu.

I see the new screens at Westbury yesterday had the first train, then underneath a message regarding the disruption between Reading & Pad.

You mean 1812 by any chance?

Battle of Waterloo was 18th June 1815. 1812 has a connection as the Overture of the same name was written after the French army marched towards Russia and although they reached Moscow were forced to retreat through lack of winter food.

Do we have another update yet, ChrisB?  ;)

Last week's update contained no CIS info unfortunately. Hoping this week's does....

I'll confirm that Twyford, Langley, Iver, Southall, and Hanwell have all recently received their new CIS systems.  Stations not yet fitted/fully working in the Thames Valley are Goring & Streatley, Maidenhead, West Drayton, Hayes & Harlington, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway and Acton Main Line.

Maidenhead has had a team of contractors work at it for the last few weeks.  New cable tray on Plat 4 (up in the roof) new PA loudspeakers strewn (to a plan no doubt) about the platforms

Does that mean they're working on a line by line basis and those that haven't had the full upgrades completed will see them in the not too distant future?

I suspect the CIS work at Goring and Streatley is being held back pending completion of the repairs to the footbridge, which is used as a cable route. A temporary footbridge has been erected to allow renewal of the decking on the permanent bridge.

Seems totally random to me, with a slight bias towards the smaller stations first.  Common sense would have dictated that the likes of Maidenhead and Ealing Broadway would have been towards the top of the list, but sadly not.  Still, not too long to wait now, and I repeat that the specification for the new system is excellent with plenty of displays on all platforms.

Oh is that all they are doing ? I thought they were replacing the whole thing due to the clearance for electrification ? Not that they actually seem to have done anything for the past several weeks mind you ...

As for the CIS, considering it hardly ever worked and was wrong when it was working, its hardly a loss not having it at the moment!

I thought it was being done for increased clearance fir freight?

There was installation work going on at Dorking West yesterday; nothing though at the better-used Dorking Deepdene.

Bodmin Parkway - nice new LED now/next display on each platform plus a large summary board outside the ticket office BUT the voices  !!!!
I don't recognize the girls voice at all...she announces St Germans as S A I N T GEEER MANS  and Lostwithiel as Lost whistle...utterly inexcuseable but only to be expected these days - I've got  Ipod guides to Cornwall & Devon which equally mangle place names. 

Have confirmed that work on G&S footbridge is only refurbishment. Clearance for the freight route was not needed - was not an issue. Nothing being done in this work for electrification clearance - probably far too early for that.

I'm told that the refurbishment work is uncovering a few problems. I'm not surprised - it certainly seemed to me in need of urgent attention. This will no doubt delay the installation of ther new CIS.

This week's update -

I traveled through G & S on my way to Didcot during the bank holiday, my carriage was right under the footbridge ........... there did not seem to be much in the way iron left in a lot of the structure.  I would have thought with such a major refurb the opportunity would have been taken the get the electrical clearances, of course it may well be ok without being raised

Maidenhead has a new departures board in the ticket hall that is actually working, and some up on the platforms that are still covered in plastic.. So hopefully won't be too long. And when I got back this evening I heard the new "bing bong" type of announcements.. Sorry I know that's not the technical term but it sounds like the ones at Slough as they've had the new system for a while.. ::) ::)

Was this new 'bing bong' in the style of Ruth Madoc from Hi-De-Hi?  :P ;) ;D

 ::) ::) erm... maybe?  ::) ;D

The whole bridge is knackered - when everyone piles off of there at the evening, the whole thing bounces like crazy - although no where near as bad as the lovely sway the temporary bridge has! I can't believe they are not taking the opportunity to replace the whole thing though.

When I got off last night, there were a two elderly couples just in front of me, and they were commenting how slow its all going, but how they are looking forward to the new bridge. I think everyone is expecting it to end up like Twyford!

There will be a lot of bemused people if we just end up with a new floor methinks :(

The new style of announcements have started this week at Twyford and apart from the new 'bing bong' I've noticed that the announcements include the length of the train which is useful, and also the origin station which seems a little superfluous maybe? I've noticed too that the announcements on Platform 3 are male while those on Platform 4 are female.

Are they announcing how long it is until they arrive ? The PA at Maidenhead used to do that (expected in x minutes), but I noticed last night the new PA didn't include that, it instead said where it came from (which as you say, seems some what needless). I agree with the carriage count being useful as it gives you a chance to position yourself in the right place.

The PA on Platform 2/3 at Maidenhead is male, not sure about 4/5.

They also seem to have fixed the cock up with the platform through train announcements for platforms 1,2 & 3 at last!

I agree the origin of the train is more relevant at places like Reading.

The number of coaches is useful as is HSTs being in reverse formations. I assume this has to be entered manually and it is prone to error. More than once I've had to scurry down a platform because First Class was at the other end. Once I've even had to go back the other way when a train advertised as being back to front actually wasn't!

Are they using the same voices as at Reading/Wokingham/Bracknell?

Nope, the female voice is the same as at Paddington, and the male voice is a member of FGW staff at Reading who was recorded (He does lots of engineering announcements at the bigger FGW stations, like Reading, Plymouth, Exeter, etc)

Hopefully it gets done a bit more quickly than Radley - that had a temporary footbridge for months or possibly even a year whilst very little happened.

Are there issues with the bridge at Goring being listed or otherwise historically significant?

I'm not aware of any historical significance for the bridge at Goring & Streatley. I took a look at it today, and could see some issues. The decking has all been removed. The main beams look to be in reasonable condition. There are about 8 cross beams that support the decking. Four of these have been replaced. At least three of the others must also be replaced - in places, there was more air than ironwork! As a regular user of the bridge, the apparent condition was something of a worry!

Some of the diagonal stretchers also look in need of replacement. The vertical members that support the side panels also need treatment, and the side panels are mostly rusted away at the base - not structural, but does not look good!

Work is carried out overnight, with two of the four lines closed to allow work on half of the bridge to take place.

I had it confirmed today that the new CIS could not be implemented until the bridge work was complete, hence the posting in this thread.

Romsey Station has some contractors this week putting in new platform LED boards (looks like 2 lines and a clock). Also today they were putting up what looks like a departures board on one of the platforms (I assume there will be another on the ticket office side. Can't wait to wave bye bye to the old fuzzy departures CRT monitors which are nearly impossible to read at the corners (the most useful bit where it says how late the FGW service WILL be).
Hopefully poor speaker for the audio announcements will be replaced as well. And I hope that having the time so obviously in the platforms will encourage FGW to try and keep to it rather than always running a few (if your lucky) minutes late.
Does anyone know if the quality of the information shown on the new system will be different (i.e. will they have a new back end?) as the current one seems very inaccurate compared to those at SWT stations.

Thank you for those observations ajdunlop. I hope someone will be along shortly to answer your specific points.

In the meantime, let me extend a very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop!  :D

As far as I am aware the back end of the CIS will remain the same, as I understand the current CIS there is of an older version of the new CIS we are getting which has been upgraded already, however I would imagine that the installation of the new hardware will allow the system to work better with the upgraded software. As far as I am aware the audio equipment will not be replaced however the voice will change and should make the announcements sound a lot clearer.

To revisit something I may have posted a while ago, Romsey and the other two stations on the way down from Salisbury are obviously a bit of an outpost of FGW's network.  If the PIS displays and announcements are (in simple terms) driven by the signalling system - then there's no reason why the info shouldn't be as accurate as SWT's info is - because trains are running in an area already under the control of Eastleigh and Salsibury.  But I still have my doubts because I think it will be run remotely by FGW - even if they use the same basic info that SWT would use.

With the current trend towards NR route devolution, and integrated TOC/NR control rooms, this asks an obvious question about what happens when it all goes pear shaped, and manual announcements have to be made, should these come from the Wessex ICC, or from Swindon (or wherever FGW are centralised)?

There is obviously some sort of cross linking between all these PIS systems, because the computerised voices at Southampton can and often do deal with reports of signalling delays in South Wales just as well as they deal with congestion in Yorkshire; but is what they are doing the very best solution?

Paul

The information regarding delays in other areas is inputed manually by South West Trains control, each TOCs CIS system are separate, and require manually updating by the relevant TOCs control to ensure the data is correct on both their own trains and other operators. They all may read off the same systems (Trust/Signalling), however information such as expected delays, formation and reason for late running must be manually added by each TOCs CIS control, an example of this is when a SWT service is expected to leave Salisbury later than booked, SWT will input it on their system, and FGW will have to do the same for Romsey to show the delay.

That's loopy, I can understand that sone of the first systems put in place would be incompatible but new ones! Surely given the amount of flack TOCs get following major disruption about the lack of clear info given to passengers there would be a case for expanding the current systems to support entry of disruption information into a central system which all CIS run off?

You'd think they would of, however it appears they havent. I know that certain companys can edit each others CIS, such as XC can edit EMTs system, but i guess it all depends on whether various operators have systems that are compatiable. This again is another issue of privatisation, every different operator wants a different system.

This week's FGW update -

The new LICC system that is currently be rolled out across FGW network, does take a feed from the Tyrell system. This means that when Cross Country amend, cancel or delay a train and assuming they "page" that info out via Tyrell then the LICC system automatically updates without any user intervention.

This is also the same for FGW, in that when the FGW team "page" out the relevant information the CIS automatically updates. This is only on the LICC system which is being rolled out. This feature does not work on the original LTV system or the Amey Datel system at the major FGW stations.

All TOC's are going this way with much more integration and automation with regards to CIS and other applications such as journey check. It should also be noted that the NRE powered features (such as live departure boards) are also updated in the same manner.

Shame they find the need to change the announcements when surely the announcements at HSS stations would be fine (Ditra), seeing as SWT seem to have no problem using them with their LICC system. Its all about money apparently, Ditra are charging to much, so instead FGW have gone for value instead of quality with the announcements. Lets hope they don't have as many problems as FCC did!

If this has been mentioned previously, please excuse me, but unfortunately it would mean having to go through some 36 pages as I have not been folllowing the topic thoroughly..
I wonder if anybody has any info on Bristol Temple Meads as the screens on the platforms are unsatisfactory.     The line up screens (Not the ones listing trains at each  platforms) are difficult to read, especially in sunlight   My main bone of contention is that there is only limited space and this, due to the frequency of services, does cause problems.    The example of this is that when a passenger (I prefer the dictionary term of somebody being conveyed rather than the word customer which in many circumstances can sound odd) requires to change trains they require to know from which platform their train departs and they find the screen has not yet scrolled to their service even though only a comparatively short time ahead, even as low as 20 minutes at peak time frequency. Definitely a case for new CISs here.   I did E-Mail FGW some months ago to enquire and eventually received a not too convincing affirmative reply.

Can you quote that reply here?

Unfortunately Deleted and Recycled now.    Apologies.

Thanks for the above background info - clearly a very complex system, all things considered.

I guess a good example of how it all integrates is that on the vast majority of occasions, SWT's PIS get's XC's services exactly right, eg 4 or 5 car, direction of travel etc.

Paul

Agreed, I often get off Cardiff trains (from Portsmouth) hoping for a quick connection onto a Taunton stopper since they are unadvertised connections so it's a bonus if I get one. The screens are not particularly quick for looking up this platform info plus you can't view them from an angle.

And confirmation that new CIS is up and running at Nailsea and Backwell:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/nlscis-1.jpg)

Is that a PA speaker on top of the screen?

Yes. Male voice, very clear enunciation: much better than the female Wessex announcements!  ;)

On both platforms?

At NLS this morning, there were four Telent vans, one Network Rail one, and - rather bizarrely - a motorway maintenance one, all with their attendant orange clad engineers swarming all over the station.

It appears they are installing the full kit of new CIS, PA and CCTV on both platforms: I shall check tomorrow whether there's a different voice on the PA on platform 1 for you, Louis94.  ::) :D ;D

Don't they limit the multiple voice systems to the very busiest stations (especially useful where there is more than one train leaving at exactly the same time like at Southampton)?   I expect there's some sort of cut-off level of traffic below which you only get one system, maybe 2 or 3 tph each way?

Paul

Not really, Southern have 2 voices at stations with just 1 tph, its not a separate system, its just the way the audio equipment is setup to divide the station into "zones". I understand Warminster is divided to have 2 voices, and i'm sure Nailsea has a few more trains than Warminster!

It was two different voices when I was there yesterday late afternoon. As if to prove the point, there were two "next train not stopping" announcements almost simultaneously for each platform.

The Telenet people were still there installing the CCTV cameras, including one pointing directly at the TVMs, especially for Chris I think!  ;)


Yep.

Cheers,
TLM

Does anyone have any news on the installation of the new CIS and PA at Exeter Central?

due to be completed this month

Exeter Central has had all of its Next Trains Indicators fitted, all working except the ones on Platform 3, few PA speakers have been replaced on the footbridge, and also up the end of P1/2 however these ones don't work yet. No summary screens yet, I'd imagine due to be completed next week. Even Platform 1 which rarely gets used has a Next Train Indicator!

When is platform 1 used?

Nothing is booked, however when the line between St Davids and Central is closed on sunday mornings some trains start there.

Telent were all over Goring & Streatley this morning, looking at all the wiring to the PA and other areas.

Still doesn't look like anything more has happened to the bridge though, maybe the need the cables in place to hold all the rotten framework together :D

I just red in Northern's in house magazine about their scheme on the Esk Valley. Will this help some of the Devon and Cornwall branches

It might, if we knew what it said!

It's been in one of the rail mags as well, IIRC it uses GPS and conventional mobile phone technology to report a much more accurate unit position to the TOC control room, effectively bypassing the signalling system, and the control room then push the info out to update the station displays - which I think are cheap and cheerful devices based on mobile phone technology as well...

Found this using Google:  http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2011/06/northern-rail-trials-gps-to-track-trains/

Paul

Hmmm - do they not realise that vast swathes of rural England have no mobile reception still? And thus this won't work in those areas....

Isn't the North York Moors a good example of one of those areas though?  Presumably why (as the article explains) it uses more than one network provider?

Paul

But no network provider is usually the case....for example, go survey the Cotswold Line....

This week's update.....

I holiday frequently in the North Yorkshire Moors. It is virtually impossible to get signal, especially in the Esk Valley, so I don't quite understand that.

Oh and sorry for not putting a link to it. I can't find it online.

The GSM-P telephones in the cabs of Turbos use Vodafone as the network provider and there is virtually nowhere on the line of route, save the depths of Campden Tunnel, where at least one bar of signal strength isn't available.  I wouldn't be surprised if Vodafone had to make sure that was the case in order to win the contract, but what's to say that might not happen on other lines too?

Is that proper GSM(R), or the portable IVRS - which is having to be used because of the new axle counter train detection? 

I didn't think the mainstream commercial operators had anything to do with GSM(R)?

Paul

Sorry, getting my letters mixed up - GSM-P I meant.

Heard from a Vodafone worker that reason for good signal, particularly Paddington - Newbury is because of Vodafone workers travelling between the 2 sites.

This week's update....

Yesterday sitting at Maidenhead wait for the 16:40 Donkey to depart I was watching the Platform 5 CIS display giving the next train, 2nd and 3rd interleaved with a message about the disruption great  :) excellent  :)  only problem who ever typed it in had the day as Thursday 28 June!!!!!!!  also the Donkey was delayed by 10 mins to allow a London and a Reading to connect but the CIS switched to next train 17:46 no hint that the 16:40 was in fact delayed.

I'll not knock the CIS too much as it is miles better that the old screens

By major gripe with the platform displays at Maidenhead especially on platform 3 & 4 these could really do with more screens along the platforms

Yes, I'm tempted to wait until the system is completely installed, but it looks like only one display is being provided on the two relief platforms.  There should be two, especially on the up relief, but this is the only location where I've thought the provision of screens a little stingy.  When you think that both Twyford and Slough Up platforms have two displays and Oxford a rather excessive four displays on its platform 1...

How many HSTs do you get?
And how many at Oxford or Slough?

I think that explains it....

Think I'll write to the Home Secretary and complain

No, I don't think that explains it.  There's no HST's booked on the Up Relief platform (with its two displays) at Slough as far as I know - which is shorter in length than the one at Maidenhead where you get one or two a day (I think), and certainly just as many 5/6 car Turbos.  I think if the one screen had been positioned more centrally it would not be such an issue but, where it is, it's very difficult to read from where the front of a 3-car Turbo stops.  Not ideal! 

As for Oxford, I think three would have been sufficient, but you won't find me arguing about over-provision!  And you never know, perhaps a second display will be appearing at Maidenhead in the next couple of days, but it looks like Telent have pretty much finished there now.

I agree with you there IndustryInsider.. I noticed that too.. Definitely need one more on platform 3 (but may be too late now)..

Yesterday afternoon the one indicator board on platform 3 was blank too.. Not good for a new system..

When I went through Twyford today, and on my return, screens were all displaying "no service from this platform"

All announcements were manual.

Not ideal for first day of Henley Royal Regatta.

They were still like that at 07.00 this morning!

And at 08.00!

Its not just additional screens that are needed, they also need to address the diabolical positioning of the main "tv" screen on platform 3 as well. It's WAY to high up IMO, which means the angle it is at causes all of the white areas around the stairwell to reflect onto it - making it hard to read. But combine that with the direct sunlight you walk into as you travel up the stairs, it basically means its useless.

I don't remember the old screens suffering like that, but maybe I just hadn't looked at them for so long as they were always playing up anyway :-)

The displays sure look nice, but they are far from perfect in location. I really have to wonder who decides where to put these things, because it is definitely not people that use them!

More positively it's nice to have an indicator board back at both entrances to Maidenhead station now.. When they refurbished it a while back they removed the one at Shoppenhangers road.. And anyone who was running late didn't know which platform their train was running from (for example most London trains go from platform 4 but in the rush hour some go from platform 2.. and sometimes they swap them around to give us all some exercise going up and down the stairs  ::) ::))

At Bristol Temple Meads this evening (at about 17:15) all of the screens were out of action: the new LED ones merely displayed a cheerful "First Great Western Information System" message - and the old green ones were just blank.  ::)

Sterling work by the local public address announcer, and many staff with clipboards and worried expressions, frantically answering passenger queries, saved the day.

New Screen went up today at the London end of Platform 4 at Maidenhead just by the DOO screens. Not yet connected though.

yes that reminds me I did see telent back at the station in force this morning.. So maybe platform 3 will get another board too.. We'll see.. :)

Well when I went through Twyford at about 11:00 this morning the screens weren't operational at Twyford.

And when I returned about 21:39 they were working :)

Excellent.   :)

I'm wondering if they're going to put up a Platform 5A screen - the current Platform 5 screen never shows the 0741 Bourne End - London Paddington.

I think Trowbridge has had a new PA system... The audio sounds much louder and better over the past couple of weeks :)

Does anyone know a timescale for Worle to gain it's new spangdangled TIDs?

Then again the prospect of a smash up by the local yoof might make it a non-priority.

On the other hand, the replaced TVM at Worle seems to be surviving well ...  ;)

No new equipment, nor any sign of any.  PA today so quiet that it was barely audible on Bristol bound platform.  1016 Cardiff full & standing on arrival

this week's update.....

Worle is not due any CIS or PA. Hence the 3-button help-points with automated info instead. The only upgrade as part of this project was the new CCTV, which is now complete.

Obviously the local transport authority for Worle is not prepared to put any funding in to pay for CIS enhancements. Here on the Cotswold Line Oxon C.C. put money in and even tiny halts such as Combe and Finstock have CIS screens thanks to a supportive LA. Not much chance of further financial contributions however due to the budget cut backs.

Filton up and running this eve.

Trowbridge still a lamp post forest with no signs of new screens. They must have been doing something with the PA as it certainly sounded different the other day.

Is there any chance we might see the Information Point Telephone team being Moved from India to Burnley? ;D

What has been fitted at Filton?

Only if NRE relocate!

Platforms 2 and 3 have their own displays, but platform 1 just has a general information display for all platforms, so there's no information about route stops and train lengths on that side.

Edit:  They're putting in one now.

Telent were making a bit of a mess at Trowbridge yesterday evening...

They all seemed to drive off just before 22:00 and left a wheelbarrow, shovel and pick axe on platform 1... Errr gents... This is Trowbridge! :o :-X You're not in the land of fluffy ducks and successful yoof experiments :o :D ;)

This week's update....

Platform 1 working this evening at Filton, chainsaw taken to the lampost forest at Trowbridge, HST still remembers to stop.  Filton has a bigger Metro box. All the old Filton CRT displays have now gone.

APCOA advise that they're sending an email shot at midday today with all the info - number & start time of 5am Friday.

Test messages are going out at 5pm this evening with the same info.

Romsey...

Good & useful.  New 'three line displays' on each platform and the adjacent 'listing screens' that alternate between the next few trains and a 'first train to' showing all the relevant stations.

Bad idea.   ::)   The 'information' signs on each platform, immediately above the windows where the old CRT displays were located, are still in situ.  A probable case of 'not my job guv', I expect - and removal would have taken about 5 mins while they were there with the ladders and tools...

Paul

Such Issues are what you get with Contractor working.
First: It's extra work not specified, so another visit and another Dollar (well $150)     

Second: For a Contractor to do NONE specified work is a Sackable offence.

Third: Ever asked a Contractor on a Station for advice Re Trains?
If you are lucky "it's not my job"
If you are unlucky the air turns BLUE  ;D

Last week's update....

Thanks for your updates. I note that there is no planned installation of full train information boards at Worle from a few posts ago, can anyone explain why? Is it actually a local authority funding issue, or is it just deemed unnecessary given the comparatively fewer passengers when compared with Yatton/Nailsea/WsM?

North Somerset Council would need to foot the cash if they wanted a fancy screen next train display thingy.

Presumably they have opted to not put up this cash as knowing Worle, it would be money wasted when it is smashed to pieces by the locals!

Hmm.  :-\

The ticket vending machine at Worle still seems to survive, despite negative comments on this forum.

And I'm due to install some local school artwork in poster cases there, as part of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership's work in that area.

Are you telling me I shouldn't bother?  :o

Chris.

The current Customer Information project has involved the relacement of old eqipment with new. Worle never had a CIS system in the first place, so there has been nothing to replace. Local authority funding does not come into it.

The earlier Help Point project did however involve local authority funding - if they stumped up the cash the help point would have been upgraded to the type with an embedding WebCIS screen. Worle got the middle option - 3rd button with automated train info. Milton got the WebCIS. Don't know the whys or wherefores, but I'm sure there's a logic to it.

Somewhere like Digby & Sowton never had anything before, but now has the full installation of CIS & PA.

This week's updates.....

I see, thanks for the input.  ;)



Definitely not Chris- you should, I don't doubt your efforts will be welcomed!  :)

Chris, why are the installations so random? Dorking West's new screens were finished 5 or 6 weeks ago, but Dorking Deepdene, by far the busier station, is still awaiting the new screens.

No idea, sorry.

Steve, have you tried addressing your question to the FGW Customer Panel? You might get a slightly more helpful response there.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=98

ooooh.....I'm sorry. I told the truth - I was asked a question & I gave my answer & apologised. It was early, I didn't have time to type anything more. It was civil.

As a Global Mod, you ought to be setting the example, Phil. Most on here know I'm a Panel member....

Having checked, there will be a multitude of reasons - which apply to which station is anyone's guess. From availability of crews to availability of particular parts to how old / working the current equipment is; also one person's priotity list will always differ from anothers....etc etc.

Specific to the Dorking stations - my guess is either parts availability (is one getting something the other isn't?), or that Deepdene's current kit is still working & thus less of a priority than elsewhere where it might have packed up?....

Telent have finally arrived at Hayes & Harlington to start the installation there - old screens now removed.

Are you really? Good grief. In that case, my apologies, Chris.

Down in PNZ the new screens, seem to have a glich.

In the Buffet the Information screen (show as Staff Departures) only shows the 3rd departure onwards, in otherwords the next two out trains are NOT listed.

In the Booking Hall the Screen is Broken (it was installed broken) No sigh of a replacement.

I see the PISG are undertaking a survey about passenger information across the network. I've spent some time diligently filling it in with Melksham as my starting station...

[link removed]

I think that reference on the end of the url is linked to your details phil. 

I don't think just anyone can fill in these sort of surveys, they have to be invited - did the link arrive in a personal email?

Paul

Thanks, Paul - can't find the link now. It was something I saw on Twitter this morning but my timeline moves so fast that it's too far back to find it again now. Never mind!

It would seem that there may finally be some movement with the CIS situation at AML.

Many emails have been sent back and forth by members of the ActonW3 community forum to various departments - FGW Customer services, the Customer Panel member for the Greenford line and lately London Travelwatch, who have it on authority from FGW that the system will be fully installed by the middle of September - this will be some NINE MONTHS after work started with the installation of the new help points!

We shall see if their word is kept... I await the day when ChrisB's update includes the words "Acton Main Line"!  ;D

This week's update.....out of luck this time, James!

Oh dear.. Platform 3 at Maidenhead has given up giving information out and is giving out a migraine inducing flashing light sequence instead..The new system didn't last long then..  ::) ;D

Its been like that for a week at least now Jo, possibly longer.

This week's update....

Telent were at Digby & Sowton today installing additional PA equipment - there are now 3 sets of speakers.

More speakers?! As far as i was aware there was already 3, one up the Exmouth end, one near the entrance, and one at the end of the shelter at the Exeter end. Also 2 more above the screen.

Hi, just to let you know Anne's now at Paignton and Dawlish, but Torquay still doesn't seem have any system working at all, Not even Ruth! :S

The old Thames Valley PA's used to announce the "XX:XX  First Great Western nnk service...." (as in Link but without the Li). Surprised that the new one speaks it in exactly the same way. Sounds as though they tried to remove the word Link completely but failed.

Caught the service from Dorking Deepdene to Redhill this afternoon. The on board PA system tells me "the next station is Bletchworth" but the display shows correctly that it is Betchworth.

I've always thought it still sounds like First Great Western Link... That might explain it :-)