Gloucester Station - facilities, incidents and developments (ongoing discussion)

[whole diary]

[ReWind]

To be pedantic, the long platform is actually 0.3740655 miles long!

( 602m according to Wikipedia )

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Gloucester Citizen:

Vandals have decimated the underpass at Gloucester Railway Station in the wake of a much-needed spruce-up.

In November last year, council chiefs installed CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) cameras and the underpass was given a lick of paint and new lighting to deter gangs from gathering there.

Before the clean-up, graffiti was scrawled over every inch of the tunnel, and now scruffy tags have once again been sprayed over the paint.

In March 2003, the then seven-year-old Pollyanna McIntosh-Hurst launched a campaign to get the underpass cleaned up, collecting 276 signatures on a petition prompting an anonymous donor to give ^2,000 to clean it up. She devoted her half-term holiday to the campaign because she found the subway "scary".

Now, almost 10 years on, the 16 year-old, who lives in Lincolnshire, was gutted to hear the latest news. She said: "How awful! It seems like some people don't have anything better to do with their time. They need to find something to occupy themselves instead of vandalising public property. This subway is not just an eyesore for the residents of Gloucester, but also for the people that visit Gloucester."

Councillor Jeremy Hilton (Lib Dem, Kingsholm and Wotton) said: "It is considerably disappointing that, having had it cleaned, vandals have gone in and sprayed it with their graffiti. We need to nip it in the bud now before it gets out of hand."

Mr Hilton has informed Network Rail, the council and Gloucester Police of the problem, and CCTV footage is now being looked at in an attempt to identify the offenders.

"If somebody who uses the underpass knows when it appeared there, they should contact the authorities," added Mr Hilton. "The long term solution would be to use anti-graffiti paint in the underpass. We also need to make sure the cameras are being used properly and there are no blind spots."

The underpass leads from the station through to Great Western Road.

A spokesman for Gloucester Police said: "We have advised Network Rail to get rid of the graffiti as quickly as they can."

[bobm]

Unusual use of the word "decimated" .....

[JayMac]

Indeed. That's quite some vandalism if they've actually manage to remove or destroy a large percentage of the suibway. 

[TonyK]

In Roman times, it was every 10th soldier. Have they destroyed every 10th subway?

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Western Daily Press:

Gloucester railway station to get ^2m makeover


Gloucester railway station is in line for improvements costing ^2m

A ^2 million revamp of Gloucester railway station is on the cards. It has long been criticised for not being up to scratch and giving off a bad first impression of the city. But the frontage and the approach to the station are set for a major overhaul after a successful campaign for action.

Network Rail chief executive David Higgins said: "We are pleased to confirm that we are already in discussions regarding proposals for improvements. I understand that both Network Rail and First Great Western have committed some support. We will therefore continue our discussions regarding the city of Gloucester's aspirations for the station."

The comments were made in a letter to Gloucester City Council leader Paul James, who wrote to Mr Higgins asking that action be taken to sort out the station.

Some works have already been carried out, including the installation of a new lift to provide step-free access to platforms. But a major makeover is needed in time for the Rugby World Cup in September 2015, councillors have said. Mr James said: "I am keen that when we have the Rugby World Cup here we present the best possible image for the city."

[trainer]

If you are unfortunate to arrive at Platform 1 in Gloucester, your first impression is that you got off the train too early.  It is a very long walk to Platform 2 and the exit.  Perhaps a narrow gauge track could be laid on along the platform. 

[JayMac]

Nice archive picture in that WDP article. That footbridge has gone, as has the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) who's logo is on the sign.

I passed through Gloucester today and also noticed that the canopy beyond the new overbridge on Platform 4 has been removed. Whether for repair, replacement or permanent removal I know not.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Gloucester Citizen:

"Gloucester railway station is letting the city down and needs a face-lift," says MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Richard Graham



Gloucester's eyesore rail station could receive a major facelift under plans by city MP Richard Graham.

Changes to the facade, a landscaped forecourt, a new waiting room and covered bridge are just some ideas that Mr Graham has put forward in his submission to a consultation on the future of the First Great Western railway.

He believes the station is letting the city down and will be even more of a blight when the Kings Quarter and bus station projects are complete.

Mr Graham^s vision also includes another entrance and exit from the station onto Metz Way to alleviate the dreaded rush hour tailbacks.

^The travel experience at the moment is not a pleasant one,^ said Mr Graham. ^Trying to get out of the station at rush hour is a nightmare and there is plenty of room for improvement in terms of the appearance of the station. We need a station that we can be proud of and one that will give visitors arriving to enjoy our heritage, and before long our city centre shopping too, a great starting experience. I believe we can show the Government and operators alike that it is time to have more services and better station infrastructure at Gloucester.^

Mr Graham^s plans also include using the empty car park as a long term car park, enabling the forecourt to be used as an open space. He has also proposed better cycling routes out of the station and re-cladding the facade in a classical style similar to the Station Hotel with a new colonnade running the length of the entrance, recycling the slim pillars stored from platform 4.

The idea has been welcomed by commuters in Gloucester.

Tina Edwards said: ^The station looks horrid and drab. With so much going on elsewhere in the city it is about time something was done about the station.^

Steve White has been travelling through the city on his journey from Cheltenham to Newport for the past 25 years. ^In all that time nothing has changed,^ he said. ^It is very run-down and it needs some money spent on it.^

The outcome of the Department for Transport^s consultation will have a bearing on the future of the First Great Western franchise.

^Because not one organisation has responsibility for the train station it needed someone to try to come up with a vision and then fly the flag for something to be done,^ said Mr Graham. ^If reaction is positive we can sit down with the people involved and make a real plan. This will take time, but our case is much stronger now because our passenger growth last year is up 4.2 per cent, ahead of the national average.^

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Gloucester Citizen:

Derelict land to provide 220 new car parking spaces for Gloucester Railway Station after deal struck


Gloucester MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Richard Graham by the derelict land

A deal has been struck for Great Western Railway to develop unused land beside Great Western Road into a new additional station car park.

It will have room for 220 spaces and have access to Gloucester Railway Station for the first time from the south side.

Gloucester MP Richard Graham has been campaigning for this to become a reality for some time and last year he won the support of the Department for Transport and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in the latter's three year franchise extension.

Now the land sale has been agreed by the Ministry of Justice with the Gloucester City Council, following many months of talks with the City Council's Regeneration Team and further questions by the city MP to the MoJ, after an earlier Westminster Hall debate on the issue.

Working in partnership with GWR, Gloucester City Council expects the car park and access will be finished by the end of 2017.

"I'm delighted we now have a definite go ahead and GWR has a planning application in," said Mr Graham. "It will be good for rail passengers, traffic flows, access to and from the hospital and overall city growth and regeneration. I'm very grateful to all those involved for their hard work in making this happen."

Matthew Golton, commercial development director for GWR said: "This is excellent news for our customers, and brings a new car park with more than 200 extra spaces for Gloucester station much closer. We have submitted a planning application, and will continue to work with Gloucester Council, the Department for Transport and Richard Graham MP to deliver this much needed improvement for our customers."

City Council Leader Paul James said: "We are delighted that we have been able to play a central role. This represents major investment in our city, and underlines the importance of the railway station to Gloucester and nearby residents. Linked to the new bus station this part of Gloucester is going to be transformed."

[Charles T]

If you are unfortunate to arrive at Platform 1 in Gloucester, your first impression is that you got off the train too early.  It is a very long walk to Platform 2 and the exit.  Perhaps a narrow gauge track could be laid on along the platform. 

Really? I went to Reading from platform 1 today, I prefer it due to the waiting room that has heating in.