Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 16:15 28 Mar 2024
* Passengers pleaded with knifeman during attack
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
- Jet2 launches first flight from Liverpool airport
- Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR (link)

Train RunningCancelled
13:28 Weymouth to Gloucester
15:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
15:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
16:04 Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood
16:51 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
17:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
17:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street
19:33 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill
20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington
Short Run
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
15:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
15:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
16:19 Carmarthen to London Paddington
16:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
Delayed
13:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
13:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 16:19:05 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[142] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[80] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[56] Return of the BRUTE?
[46] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[43] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[34] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2]
  Print  
Author Topic: Easier interchange at Taunton  (Read 4077 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #15 on: April 08, 2018, 18:27:59 »

Ooops sorry - I misread the map on Nationalrail.co.uk, and thought that the ticket office and main car park was on the north - up - side of the track. Google maps suggests some station access on north side - is that right?

The northern side access that I know of is through the lower level ticket hall / office and barriers - although there are no tracks to cross, use of a lift or stairs is required to platform 5, just as it is to platform 4 - the difference being you a few yards to walk the tracks to get to that lift and stair case.

I thought I was the cynical one. I don't think Starbucks would have such control over railway operations!

As I said, from 21st May the up Royal Duchy is due to call platform 4.

I recall that historically all trains had to stop at Swindon for 10 minutes so that the refreshment folks could sell them refreshments, so there is a precedent.   And if I was looking to invest in a franchise, I would want some sort of assurance / guarantee that my landlord and other clients of his weren't going to make changes that would route the passing trade away!

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18894



View Profile
« Reply #16 on: April 08, 2018, 18:39:40 »

I recall that historically all trains had to stop at Swindon for 10 minutes so that the refreshment folks could sell them refreshments, so there is a precedent.   And if I was looking to invest in a franchise, I would want some sort of assurance / guarantee that my landlord and other clients of his weren't going to make changes that would route the passing trade away!

I'm confused now. OP (Original Poster / topic starter) starts with a passenger friendly suggestion to make interchange easier. Then, when it's confirmed that's what is happening, you express concern that Starbucks might lose trade.  Huh

I think Starbucks on platform 5 will survive despite potentially losing a bit of trade when the up Royal Duchy switches its call to P4. If the loss is too much, if they are concerned that Royal Duchy passengers won't get their caffeine fix, they can always lobby Network Rail for a small unit to be built on the island.  Wink
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #17 on: April 08, 2018, 18:48:19 »

I'm confused now. OP (Original Poster / topic starter) starts with a passenger friendly suggestion to make interchange easier. Then, when it's confirmed that's what is happening, you express concern that Starbucks might lose trade.  Huh

Not concern from me - an asking if Starbucks might be.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18894



View Profile
« Reply #18 on: April 08, 2018, 18:59:34 »

I don't think they'll be trembling in their boots in Seattle.  Tongue Wink Grin
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7156


View Profile
« Reply #19 on: April 08, 2018, 19:49:20 »

It's not an obvious track arrangement, is it? We are used now to the practice of only installing the S&C (Settle and Carlisle ) needed for normal operation, and not valuing flexibility, but it's hard to see what normal operations it was built for. I mean, if P6 is for terminators to or from Bristolwards, why isn't is accessible off the Down Lines? There was a half-plan to do that ten years ago, but no sign of it in the last Route Study. And if all four through tracks need to be signalled in the Up direction, why are only two available the other way?

And as for the track names - if the third track south of the Up and Down Mains west of the station is called Down/Up Relief, and the P5 track is the Up Relief, why is there no path between them? Very odd, and hardly a Victorian hangover as it was only four-tracked less than 100 years ago.
Logged
4064ReadingAbbey
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 455


View Profile
« Reply #20 on: April 08, 2018, 19:53:38 »

I would agree concerning facilities on 5 v facilities on 4 though.  Perhaps it's part of the refreshment franchise agreement that through train must use that platform (and two fingers to passengers who are connecting!)

I thought I was the cynical one. I don't think Starbucks would have such control over railway operations!

As I said, from 21st May the up Royal Duchy is due to call platform 4.
The proprietor of the refreshment rooms at Swindon certainly did in the days of Isambard Kingdom...

...so there is a precedent.  Grin

Added in edit: Oops! I see that Grahame got there before me. It's these 10 minute pauses that throw the system...
Logged
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 9809



View Profile
« Reply #21 on: April 08, 2018, 20:57:38 »

I don't think they'll be trembling in their boots in Seattle.  Tongue Wink Grin

Wonder if they will be "sleepless"?
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18894



View Profile
« Reply #22 on: April 09, 2018, 00:30:55 »

The proprietor of the refreshment rooms at Swindon certainly did in the days of Isambard Kingdom...

...so there is a precedent.  Grin

An arrangement that IKB (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) was none too pleased with apparently.

And, even if the Starbucks at Taunton station may lose out on a few Venti, sugar-free, non-fat, vanilla soy, double shot, decaf, no foam, extra hot, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with light whip and extra syrup orders, they are at least serving real coffee.

The 'coffee' in the Brunel era refreshment rooms at Swindon was of questionable quality. IKB complained to the proprietor about it:

Quote
Dear Sir,

I assure you that Mr Player was wrong in supposing that I thought you purchased inferior coffee. I thought I said to him that I was surprised you should buy such poor roasted corn. I did not believe you had such a thing as coffee in the place; I am certain I never tasted any. I have long ceased to make complaints at Swindon. I avoid taking anything there if I can help it.

Yours faithfully,

I K Brunel

Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 [2]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page