Replacing Swindon bus station

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Not sure what others think, the replacement for the current bus station looks to be something more in the nature of the transport hub at Bristol Centre, bus stops distributed along the roads, though with hopefully less non-public-transport traffic. Would it have been good to make the area buses only... I'm imagining their visual but with stationary queues of cars added to the mix...

The new bus station does make for longer hikes for people changing buses, and also many of the stops are going to be around twice as far from the railway station as before. The entire thing's going to depend on good signage and information, and it would be good to see a robust provision of loos, given that many of the buses see journeys of an hour or more.

Historically, the new facility will be very much on the route of the North Wiltshire Canal, and interpretation boards will probably be very much in order.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.2&lat=51.56334&lon=-1.78582&layers=117746211&b=1

On the good side, the previous bus station will vanish and we'll finally be able to say goodbye to the mystery-opening-hours toilet, and that venerable pigeon corpse. If you know, you know...

Mark

https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20136/transport_strategy/1089/fleming_way_improvements

[bobm]

Before the work started there were effectively two bus interchanges in Swindon.  Services operated by Swindon’s Buses largely operated from Fleming Way while Stagecoach, National Express and other local operators used the bus station a short walk away.

When work started some Fleming Way services were transferred to the bus station while others began using street side stops around the town.   That has been further refined in the last week with the closure of Corporation Street until at least Christmas. 

When the so called Bus Boulevard is completed it should actually be less distance to walk between services as all will pick up and set down in the same area.  Unfortunately it will still be a five minute walk from the Railway Station which will need some decent signposting. 

One bonus - as part of the alterations I have a temporary bus stop 50 yards from my house.  Just a shame I’m not there to use it!

[Bmblbzzz]

I've only once in my life used Swindon bus station. That happened to be a rainy Monday this June. It struck me as being very like bus stations I remember from the 1970s, and that is in no way a compliment. I didn't pay any attention to the opening hours of the toilet, because that also would presumably be like a public toilet of the 1970s, with pools of pee and piles of poo on the floor, pages ripped out of pornographic magazines, and dodgy geezers standing round with dubious intentions.

Besides, I was on my way to catch a train, where all would be much more pleasant. On which, I wouldn't say the two stations were especially close now, nor is the train station well signposted from the bus station. I'm not sure about the other way.

In short, if they're going to knock it down, that's good.

(Oh, and there were lots of good things about the 1970s, but bus stations were not among them.)

[ellendune]

Historically, the new facility will be very much on the route of the North Wiltshire Canal, and interpretation boards will probably be very much in order.

I think it is partly the Wilts and Berks as well, the junction was in the area outside the old Debenhams store near the underpass that is being demolished at the moment. 

If you use the fade on this map you will see

[CyclingSid]

Whatever will be better than Reading years ago who decided to replace their bus station with no bus station

[TaplowGreen]

Ahhhhhhh, fond memories of the sign that said "Bus station - (buses)", which I guess was needed for clarification! 

[Mark A]

Historically, the new facility will be very much on the route of the North Wiltshire Canal, and interpretation boards will probably be very much in order.

I think it is partly the Wilts and Berks as well, the junction was in the area outside the old Debenhams store near the underpass that is being demolished at the moment. 

If you use the fade on this map you will see

+1 vote for Ellendune to be involved in the text for the interpretation boards.

Mark

[Mark A]

"Local Studies Swindon Library & Information Service" has nearly 10000 photos on Flickr, this is the search term that reveals the 57  photos connected with the canals through Swindon.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=39771107%40N08&view_all=1&text=wilts%20and%20berks%20canal

Mark