Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
This station, near to Dingwall, is due to be re-opened in the near future. How many platforms will be provided and will there be any car parking facilities provided.
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Conon Bridge station re-opening.
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PaulLothian
Member
Useful info here - http://www.caithness-business.co.uk/article.php?id=3547 It states: The project will include the construction of a new 15 metre platform, a waiting shelter, passenger information systems and cycle racks and lockers at the station by Network Rail and ScotRail, while The Highland Council will construct the car park and enhance the road access and street lighting at the station.
Highland Council is contributing £100,000 towards this. Also see http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Conon-Bridge-Station-to-be-reopened
Highland Council is contributing £100,000 towards this. Also see http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Conon-Bridge-Station-to-be-reopened
JohnB57
Member
"A new 15 metre platform"? Fifty metres, surely?
Frothy
Member
There were problems with the local residents objecting to the station road being tarmac'd. Have these been resolved?
Blindtraveler
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I was under the impression that this was only temperary while work on the Kessock Bridge was0undertaken. If so0a Tarmack road surely wouldnt be a problem? Corrections on any of this welcome.
PaxVobiscum
Established Member
Elsewhere I have seen mention of a "4 coach platform" for Conon Bridge.
JohnB57
Member
So 115 metres perhaps.
PaulLothian
Member
This (http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CC4B8BFA-428F-42B6-849F-527351F123E4/0/PLN00713.pdf ) rather suggests it is 15 metres! In particular see the diagrams at the end.
I cannot see any logic in spending money on a 4-coach platform when Far North trains already have selective door opening (in use at Beauly)
I cannot see any logic in spending money on a 4-coach platform when Far North trains already have selective door opening (in use at Beauly)
Yep, looks like a copy of Beauly. Good to see more reopening in Scotland.
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Isn't it just local door, rather than SDO?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Isn't it just local door, rather than SDO?
PaxVobiscum
Established Member
Yes, it would appear you are correct Paul. Now that I have had a chance to look properly, there are photos of the new Conon Bridge station on another forum and it is tiny. The expected opening date is being quoted as 8th February. I expect it was wishful thinking on someone's part to say it would be 4 coaches worth.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Steve Montgomery, the managing director of ScotRail, says that the new station at Conon Bridge will underpin their commitment to connect even more communities by extending rail services.
Councillor Drew Hardy, Leader of The Highland Council, says that a figure of £100,000 (in addition to other funding) was specifically ring-fenced to ensure that the upgrading of the car park and peripheral road connections to it was committed.
MidnightFlyer
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For anyone wondering, all trains on the Far North / Kyle lines will serve Conon Bridge 7 days a week, minus the 0812 slightly-express Wick-Inverness service M-Sa.
(Timetable here http://www.scotrail.co.uk/timetables-routes/1831)
(Timetable here http://www.scotrail.co.uk/timetables-routes/1831)
lancastrian
Member
There is a picture of the new platform in the February Issue of TRUK, page 17. It is being built opposite the old platform, which to me looks as though it could have been renovated and reused.
Although the picture is somewhat an end on picture it only looks to be a very short platform, so 15 metres seems to be right. I personally feel that this is very short-sighted, but if it get the station open, that's good. After all from evidence of other re-openings with short platforms, it only costs 3 to 4 times as much to extend them than it would have been to build them long enough at the start.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
I think that as the station opening is only about three weeks away and there seems to have been no recent mention of your query, I can only suppose that this matter has been resolved,
alexf380
Established Member
For those of you who have yet to see a picture of the new station:
http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/13267/
http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/13267/
lancastrian
Member
Now do I detect a note of sarcasm there Lancy?
You think?? I was hoping that it would have been obvious as dripping sarcasm myself. What really surprises me is the COST of these short platforms.
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Well this is a better picture than the one in TRUK, but it really shows how short the platforms are. My question is how long before 'elf n safety' take one look at them and complain that people could fall of the ends of them at a busy time and that they need to be extended?
Personally I would have renovated the usable length platform on the other side of the track. They managed to do it quite well at Beccles.
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I imagine that given Beauly was allowed to open with similarly short platforms it'll have been treated similarly in terms of safety standards. Even wth the most optimistic projections of usage, I can't imagine the communities served by Conon Bridge would generate so much traffic that the platform would become overcrowded!
Also, I'm making the assumption that the platform has been placed that side of the line for ease of access- using the opposite side would require either a footbridge with lifts which would cost £millions, or a foot crossing which would presumably be more of a H&S issue than a short platform.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
If you see the plans that were submitted, the platform which was situated on the opposite side to the current one was not considered, as the existing site of the new platform abuts the car park area, which in itself is an extension of the current road that serves the houses on that side of the line.
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I think it's an anti-trespass measure. Not sure how that works myself, but what do I know...
lancastrian
Member
Maybe, but this is just a guess, I think even the yobs in the Highlands have worked out how to use steps. Personally I think that is is probably a cheaper option than a ramp.
Railsigns
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Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
The matter of the actual length of the intended railway station platform surely would have been shown on the sectional drawings that were submitted with all the other papers for the planning approval meeting.
really doesn't make sense, ramps have been used for years, why the sudden worry about "vandalism", if anything, putting steps in makes it easier for vandals to get onto the track!
PaxVobiscum
Established Member
Just noticed this news item on the ScotRail website:
http://www.scotrail.co.uk/conon-bridge
May have been there for a while but I hadn't noticed it until today.
http://www.scotrail.co.uk/conon-bridge
May have been there for a while but I hadn't noticed it until today.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
I must confess that a sum of only £5.00 for a 7-day Season Ticket from Conon Bridge to Dingwall seems remarkably good value for money.
Did anyone see Michael Portillo on "Great British Railway Journeys" this week?
He got off the train at Beauly, and it took him 17 paces to walk from one end of the platform to the other.
The platform is small, but it seems to be able to cope, and I think people would rather have a new station with a 15 metre platform than no station at all.
He got off the train at Beauly, and it took him 17 paces to walk from one end of the platform to the other.
The platform is small, but it seems to be able to cope, and I think people would rather have a new station with a 15 metre platform than no station at all.
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