Confusing departure board at Crewe

[Old Yard Dog]

The 1929 Crewe to Chester extended to Swansea via Shrewsbury and Cardiff today. The departure boards at Crewe simply said Swansea P10 with nothing to suggest to normals that it was in fact going to Chester. Meanwhile Shrewsbury passengers were directed to rail replacement buses. And I heard no tannoy announcements. The signs on P10 were at least correct. I hope nobody missed it. Poor show Crewe.

 

[trainophile]

Crewe seems rather shambolic on occasions. Couple of weeks ago (10th June) we were on Platform 12 waiting for the 11:09 Edinburgh, which was showing as "On Time" on the boards, despite there being a WMT for Euston already in the platform, that was not due out until 11:13. I asked two catering crew (they had a loaded refreshment trolley), who didn't seem to even know which train they were loading onto, and they didn't know what was going on either. Eventually with three minutes to spare there was a platform alteration announcement, and we all had to scoot over to 5. Luckily the Edinburgh train was running a few minutes late or I'm sure some less mobile people would have been left behind. One of those occasions when even RTT isn't much help, as the evidence of our eyes disputed that the Avanti would be leaving on time from that platform.

 

[Sheridan]

Have you raised this with either TfW or Avanti (who run the station)? I’m sure they’d agree with you that a ‘via’ descriptor would be useful in this scenario.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have you raised this with either TfW or Avanti (who run the station)? I’m sure they’d agree with you that a ‘via’ descriptor would be useful in this scenario.

It is kind of surprising that with Crewe being a major interchange it doesn't have an "all trains, all stations" board anywhere. It might be worth feeding that back in case it can be addressed when the system is next upgraded. There isn't anywhere sensible for a "big" board but there are other options like A-Z destination lists.

 

[AndrewE]

Crewe seems rather shambolic on occasions. Couple of weeks ago (10th June) we were on Platform 12 waiting for the 11:09 Edinburgh, which was showing as "On Time" on the boards, despite there being a WMT for Euston already in the platform, that was not due out until 11:13. I asked two catering crew (they had a loaded refreshment trolley), who didn't seem to even know which train they were loading onto, and they didn't know what was going on either. Eventually with three minutes to spare there was a platform alteration announcement, and we all had to scoot over to 5. Luckily the Edinburgh train was running a few minutes late or I'm sure some less mobile people would have been left behind. One of those occasions when even RTT isn't much help, as the evidence of our eyes disputed that the Avanti would be leaving on time from that platform.

do you mean 5, or 6 - which is more likely?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

do you mean 5, or 6 - which is more likely?

It was platform 5. There was a Holyhead->London Euston (Avanti) train stood alongside platform 6 for the best part of 25 minutes.

Multiple delays / late platform changes that particular morning!

 

[AndrewE]

It was platform 5. There was a Holyhead->London Euston (Avanti) train stood alongside platform 6 for the best part of 25 minutes.

That is really unusual (northbound WCML from Pfm 5, not the Holyhead Euston being a nuisance!) and for pfm 11 to be blocked as well is bad luck. Maybe they kept 11 for the xx.22 Liverpool-Birmingham train. Surprised that wasn't put through 1 if everything had gone Pete Tong and the Manchester local had left at 16 past the hour.
Looking at RTT for that day it was a real mess. but Crewe don't seem to be the smartest operators!

 

[47296lastduff]

I was caught out at crewe last month, wanted a train to Chester. Departures board included a train to Shrewsbury, no interest to me. It turned out that the train was for Shrewsbury via Chester as I found out too late.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I was caught out at crewe last month, wanted a train to Chester. Departures board included a train to Shrewsbury, no interest to me. It turned out that the train was for Shrewsbury via Chester as I found out too late.

Presume the issue is that the departures board at Crewe only shows each train's intended destination, and you therefore also need to see the scrolling information displayed at the respective departure platform(s), for all the intermediate calling points?

 

[AndrewE]

Presume the issue is that the departures board at Crewe only shows each train's intended destination, and you therefore also need to see the scrolling information displayed at the respective departure platform(s), for all the intermediate calling points?

They can do it for the "Class 9s" - London-bound via Birmingham. They really should be able to show Shrewsbury via Chester as just "Shrewsbury" will inevitably catch people out.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Crewe is a very badly run station, no surprise they have found something else to get wrong.

 

[voyagerdude220]

There is/was one individual departure screen positioned between platforms 3 and 4 at Preston (by the Subway ramp) which often got the information literally jumbled up.

E.g It once claimed a xx24 departure to Colne was going via Birmingham New Street.

If it's since been fixed, it was definitely like this for several months, if not longer. Maybe it's an Avanti thing..

 

[SCDR_WMR]

They can do it for the "Class 9s" - London-bound via Birmingham. They really should be able to show Shrewsbury via Chester as just "Shrewsbury" will inevitably catch people out.

It has been raised by Avanti reps to the relevant people after Sunday's issues. One would hope it is something that does get dealt with. Platform staff certainly copped a lot of flack for it!

Crewe is a very badly run station, no surprise they have found something else to get wrong.

Care to elaborate? Staff on the ground do raise complaints further, but it you have specific areas that can be improved, do tell so they can be passed on.

 

[Trainfan2019]

I use Crewe station a lot and agree, it does need improvement on how it is run. Information updates on non-avanti services can be lacking at times, station staff not seeing the smokers , frequently closed toilets on platform 5, flooding at Weston Road staircase etc. Yes, it's an old sprawling large station but I think there's definitely room for improvement.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Care to elaborate? Staff on the ground do raise complaints further, but it you have specific areas that can be improved, do tell so they can be passed on.

I've complained many a time to Avanti.

The general state of the station is very poor, but appreciate there is a lot of cost and work involved to resolve, plus they were waiting for HS2 to come before doing anything...

But main complaints are rude and unhelpful ticket office staff, rude barrier staff who are very unprofessional (listening to music and on their phones) plus they don't have a good knowledge of ticket restrictions, toilets and lifts are frequently out of order. But the worst one for me recently was the Weston Road entrance being closed with no notice on journey planners or on the doors themselves, which then caused me to miss a train because of the need to run around to the Nantwich Road entrance, they then dispatched 3 minutes early and the disgustingly rude dispatcher threatened to call BTP on me when I politely but firmly made my opinion of them known after he verbally abused me.

So yeah... I am not a big fan of it at all.

 

[Sheridan]

I was there today and from what I could tell LNW had split the Birmingham-Liverpool service at Crewe. Possibly due to late running or possibly just to mitigate issues with the weather, both of which are fine. But when I arrived at Crewe the station announcer made multiple declarations that the next train to Liverpool was 1332. In fact the next train was the 1326 Avanti service. I realise that some people would be on operator specific tickets, and equally some people would be travelling to the intermediate stations which Avanti don’t serve. But ultimately it was still incorrect information. Was this a case of Avanti trying to avoid overloading their own services, or just a misguided attempt to be passenger-friendly?

 

[6Gman]

I've complained many a time to Avanti.

The general state of the station is very poor, but appreciate there is a lot of cost and work involved to resolve, plus they were waiting for HS2 to come before doing anything...

But main complaints are rude and unhelpful ticket office staff, rude barrier staff who are very unprofessional (listening to music and on their phones) plus they don't have a good knowledge of ticket restrictions, toilets and lifts are frequently out of order. But the worst one for me recently was the Weston Road entrance being closed with no notice on journey planners or on the doors themselves, which then caused me to miss a train because of the need to run around to the Nantwich Road entrance, they then dispatched 3 minutes early and the disgustingly rude dispatcher threatened to call BTP on me when I politely but firmly made my opinion of them known after he verbally abused me.

So yeah... I am not a big fan of it at all.

I've always found the booking office staff at Crewe to be polite and helpful, but the barrier staff have a bad habit of standing chatting in a group rather than watching the barriers. Which means that I am left standing like a lemon holding up my ticket (which will not scan for very good reasons) until somebody notices me and then ambles over to let me through.

 

[Re6/6]

It is kind of surprising that with Crewe being a major interchange it doesn't have an "all trains, all stations" board anywhere. It might be worth feeding that back in case it can be addressed when the system is next upgraded. There isn't anywhere sensible for a "big" board but there are other options like A-Z destination lists.

Recently on arriving from Chester at Crewe on an Avanti train and wanting to catch a train to Manchester I couldn’t find a screen showing departures from other platforms. As a last resort I spoke to an Avanti platform assistant and asked where the departures screen was located. He informed me that there were no screens advising departures from other platforms at platform level. All departure screens are at the bridge level and if passengers want information just ask platform staff! No signs around telling passengers to speak to platform staff for train departure information.

This information is available at other stations at platform level, why not at Crewe, an important railway junction where many passengers are clamouring for information?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Recently on arriving from Chester at Crewe on an Avanti train and wanting to catch a train to Manchester I couldn’t find a screen showing departures from other platforms.

Fairly sure there are one or more summary departure screens at Crewe, certainly there's one near the (South) footbridge leading down to platform 5 and platforms 1-4. Problem is, IMHO, they're not very detailed. N.B. Think most Avanti services from Chester arrive into Crewe at a different platform (normally = platform 6).

 

[voyagerdude220]

Fairly sure there are one or more summary departure screens at Crewe, certainly there's one near the (South) footbridge leading down to platform 5 and platforms 1-4. Problem is, IMHO, they're not very detailed. N.B. Think most Avanti services from Chester arrive into Crewe at a different platform (normally = platform 6).

Yes you're right. I changed trains at Crewe a few weeks ago and I came across a departure screen on platform 5 itself near the south footbridge as you describe. I also remember seeing one near the bottom of the same footbridge on platform 6. But I do remember thinking to myself that for a Station of Crewe's size, I would expect there to be alot more departure screens.

 

[AndrewE]

Recently on arriving from Chester at Crewe on an Avanti train and wanting to catch a train to Manchester I couldn’t find a screen showing departures from other platforms. As a last resort I spoke to an Avanti platform assistant and asked where the departures screen was located. He informed me that there were no screens advising departures from other platforms at platform level. All departure screens are at the bridge level and if passengers want information just ask platform staff! No signs around telling passengers to speak to platform staff for train departure information.

This information is available at other stations at platform level, why not at Crewe, an important railway junction where many passengers are clamouring for information?

Station staff wrong again! There are all-platform departure boards at the foot of the main steps down to both platforms 5 and 6, plus more at the N end of bays 7 and 8 and another by the Gents at the S end of the buildings on pfm 5 - probably another on pfm 12, but I can't remember. Also one where you get off the Chester shuttle...

 

[scrapy]

Is Crewe the new Blackpool North?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Station staff wrong again! There are all-platform departure boards at the foot of the main steps down to both platforms 5 and 6, plus more at the N end of bays 7 and 8 and another by the Gents at the S end of the buildings on pfm 5 - probably another on pfm 12, but I can't remember. Also one where you get off the Chester shuttle...

There is a board on 12 just after the toilets, same on 5. Plus the 2 small boards that are kind of hidden facing the retail units on 5&6.

I think the issue at Crewe is there is no single place that people wait or walk past where it would be useful. The wall by 7&8 would be ideal but unless you use the mid-platform bridge you still wouldn't see it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is a board on 12 just after the toilets, same on 5. Plus the 2 small boards that are kind of hidden facing the retail units on 5&6.

I think the issue at Crewe is there is no single place that people wait or walk past where it would be useful. The wall by 7&8 would be ideal but unless you use the mid-platform bridge you still wouldn't see it.

They are actually well placed at the top of the "connections" poster sites. The issue is that they're time, destination and status only. But making them show calling points is just flipping a switch in the software.

 

[AndrewE]

They are actually well placed at the top of the "connections" poster sites. The issue is that they're time, destination and status only. But making them show calling points is just flipping a switch in the software.

They are relatively small screens for showing all departures, so I would stick with just final destination with the additional info "via Brum" or "via Chester" as in this case. I think "Brum and Euston" or "Chester and Shrewsbury" would be better in the destination line but that might be difficult to arrange.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

They are actually well placed at the top of the "connections" poster sites. The issue is that they're time, destination and status only. But making them show calling points is just flipping a switch in the software.

Yes they are well placed in that regard, but the majority of passengers don't notice them.

 

[Krokodil]

Crewe is a very badly run station, no surprise they have found something else to get wrong.

The lack of "via Chester" on the screens has nothing to do with the management of the station. It's up to TfW's short-term planners or (failing that) their CIS Controller.

Recently on arriving from Chester at Crewe on an Avanti train and wanting to catch a train to Manchester I couldn’t find a screen showing departures from other platforms. As a last resort I spoke to an Avanti platform assistant and asked where the departures screen was located. He informed me that there were no screens advising departures from other platforms at platform level. All departure screens are at the bridge level and if passengers want information just ask platform staff! No signs around telling passengers to speak to platform staff for train departure information.

This information is available at other stations at platform level, why not at Crewe, an important railway junction where many passengers are clamouring for information?

Assuming that you arrived on platform 9 or 10, there would have been one attached to the wall beyond the buffer stops.

 

[6Gman]

The lack of "via Chester" on the screens has nothing to do with the management of the station. It's up to TfW's short-term planners or (failing that) their CIS Controller.


Assuming that you arrived on platform 9 or 10, there would have been one attached to the wall beyond the buffer stops.

He was on Avanti, so usually no.6.

 

[The Mercian]

I’ve used Crewe a lot, I think the staff are pretty good maybe a bit Avanti focused with always the odd exception but the whole place reeks of decay and should be demolished. For a hugely important interchange on the network it’s an embarrassment. HS2a was obviously going to be the catalyst to sort it out but without that further decay and a very non passenger focused platform layout will remain.

 

[Krokodil]

HS2a was obviously going to be the catalyst to sort it out

Was it? I've a feeling that remodelling Crewe wasn't going to come about until 2B