Arriva Trains Wales' Request Stops

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

How did you know they wanted Shrewsbury? Did they tell you?

Yes, when I asked what was wrong on seeing them confused and/or upset and/or frustrated after realizing their mistake and seeing that the next train is not for at least an hour, frequently longer.

Did you check their tickets?

No.

They did not check up what [sic] there [sic] destination may look like before travelling.

How many train passengers research the appearance of their destination/interchange station before travel, and why should they?

And upon not hearing a Shrewsbury announcement

Didn't need to hear anything - the visual display stated "next station is Shrewsbury" or similar.

they then started to walk to a door as the Train slowed down. How did they know it was slowing for a Station?

They didn't, but it's an assumption made by many passengers, especially when the time looks about right. In this case they were correct that it was slowing for a station.

Not looking out of the window for any sign of where they were while walking down the carriage,

Limited visual cues available while looking out of a brightly lit train into the dark.

they also happened to be next to the correct door with a Conductor standing next to it,

Not necessarily - it's not uncommon to see two car 175s calling at Yorton, giving the chance to disembark through any door. And even if it is a 3-car, there is no guarantee that disembarking from the door where the guard is standing will make the passenger aware of the actual location...especially when that door is not opposite one of the unlit station signs.

who hadn't announced Yorton as they had not been requested it [sic] on the Train,

Has it occurred to you that someone else (eg me) has requested the stop, or that someone waiting at the station to get on has flagged down the train?

who then did not think to mention anything as they got off.

Not sure if you mean the passenger or the guard, but why should either mention anything as the passenger gets off?

Did they look confused looking around for clues to where they were?

Yes, once on the platform.

Were they a bit drunk/sleepy?

No, but visiting from overseas in two of the three cases I have seen. The third was a British man who seemed entirely compos mentis and commented "But the display said it was Shrewsbury".

And how long did it take for them to realise that they were in the middle of nowhere in a place not resembling Shrewsbury in anyway with signs saying Yorton ?

In each case, just too long to make it back on the train. The guard tends to get the doors shut and the train under way as soon as the people step onto the platform, especially when the train is running late.

All in all getting off there by mistake a pretty difficult thing to do and unless they were incredibly stupid I'd guess they actually chose to get off there.
Or it is just a story you made up.

All in all you seem a bit daft with no imagination and a limited grasp of English.

 

[MCR247]

Why are you so against the story being true when to me it seems perfectly reasonable :roll:

IMO you're just making yourself look like a bit of an idiot for no apparent reason. Is it really that important to you that a reasonable story is actually false? Do you have a lot to gain from this?

 

[edwin_m]

I travelled the length of the Heart of Wales line today with a stopover which meant that I witnessed three different crews at work and two crew changes. Each conductor was extremely diligent about checking all tickets after taking over - before the train even left the passing stop - and ensuring that they knew who was planning to alight at a request stop. On this route quite a few of the request stops are effectively mandatory in one direction (but still advertised as request) because of a level crossing at the platform end. At all but one of these there is a control on the platform, which the conductor got out to operate. The remaining one appeared to be triggered automaticallly as the train stopped.

Most of the time they just shouted down the length of the 153 instead of going to the back cab to use the PA. Mandatory stops were announced in this way but most request stops weren't.

 

[Starmill]

I think the key point there was that TorqueoftheDevil also alighted at Yorton and this happened to some people.

There's no need to be so rude or start making all kinds of crazy assumptions. I feel as though the system used on 175s is inadequate if I'm honest. I do remember boarding at Whitalnd and it saying the next stop will be Haverfordwest confusing all of the people who wanted Clunderwen and Clarbeston Road - which had already been requested by them earlier in the journey.
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I travelled the length of the Heart of Wales line today with a stopover which meant that I witnessed three different crews at work and two crew changes. Each conductor was extremely diligent about checking all tickets after taking over - before the train even left the passing stop - and ensuring that they knew who was planning to alight at a request stop.

This is my experience of ATW too, and is one of the reasons I missed my stop!
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I don't know if the auto-announce on ATW 175s has been changed but a while ago the announcement was "We will be calling at the following principal stations ..." before listing every wayside halt including Yorton.

It doesn't list Yorton - it doesn't list request stops!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sorry, but someone confusing Yorton for Shrewsbury shouldn't be allowed out on their own!

In the dark? And when you have never been to either before? Please, think...

 

[Llanigraham]

In the dark? And when you have never been to either before? Please, think...

Yes, in the dark.
Yorton, a small station surrounded by trees
Shrewsbury, a BIG station in a BIG town, very well lit.

 

[Greenback]

IS there any real point in discussing what might or might not have happened?

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

IS there any real point in discussing what might or might not have happened?

Perhaps not, but I wanted to make the point that the issue I raised is a 'has happened' rather than a 'possibly could happen' (or a 'could never happen' as some people would have it). One could argue that there's no real point discussing many of the issues on the forum!

 

[Deerfold]

Yes, in the dark.
Yorton, a small station surrounded by trees
Shrewsbury, a BIG station in a BIG town, very well lit.

I changed at Shrewsbury for the first time last month. I was surprised at just how big it was. I've known far smaller stations in towns of that size.

Shrewsbury gets about 10% more passengers than my local station, Keighley. Keighley has two platforms - if you're at the back of a train coming from Leeds at night you're unlikely to even be able to see any of the station building.

 

[Parallel]

Shrewsbury hasn't adapted with time unfortunately and as services have decreased, the station has stayed the same. It is too large for the service levels it needs now IMO. The track has been lifted from platforms 1+2, platform 3 is very sparsely used, platform 5 is mainly used for Aberystwyth and Pwllheli and Swansea via. Llandrindod, platform 6 for local London Midland services and 7 for South Wales services. 4 is probably the most useful platform as it also allows coupling of units. The station feels as if it's just kind of been left and neglected to some degree!

 

[quarella]

Shrewsbury hasn't adapted with time unfortunately and as services have decreased, the station has stayed the same. It is too large for the service levels it needs now IMO. The track has been lifted from platforms 1+2, platform 3 is very sparsely used, platform 5 is mainly used for Aberystwyth and Pwllheli and Swansea via. Llandrindod, platform 6 for local London Midland services and 7 for South Wales services. 4 is probably the most useful platform as it also allows coupling of units. The station feels as if it's just kind of been left and neglected to some degree!

A lot of stations are no longer ideal due to restrictions placed on alterations by being listed buildings. Shrewsbury was listed in 1969 according to Wikipedia. Even if they aren't listed there is usually an outcry if there is any suggestion to alter a Victorian building however unfit for purpose it may be.

Parallel

It doesn't list Yorton - it doesn't list request stops!

My apologies. I am sure I have heard Yorton announced, and other request stops between Crewe and Shrewsbury and in West Wales but it was some time ago. I wonder if they are in the system somewhere but training/habit of x for Carmarthen, y for Milford Haven has meant the oddities have got lost.

Llangrinam

Yes, in the dark.
Yorton, a small station surrounded by trees
Shrewsbury, a BIG station in a BIG town, very well lit.
Yesterday 00:07

It's been a while since I stopped at Yorton but photos appear to show a tidy station with buildings. You state it is surrounded by trees which must rather limit the view of the surrounding area. A few minutes delay and you are arriving at Yorton at the time you should be at Shrewsbury. Stations are not always as expected, (Cheltenham Spa) or have an approach that suggests where you are. There are a lot of people with no concept of where places are in relation to each other let alone the routes trains take.
The onboard passenger information system should include these stations and cope with last minute changes to stopping patterns. It doesn't. Passengers should read information and listen and as mature adults manage without being spoon fed as is achieved on other countries rail networks. They don't always. Guards should pick up the shortfall in technology. Most do but not all.

 

[Greenback]

Perhaps not, but I wanted to make the point that the issue I raised is a 'has happened' rather than a 'possibly could happen' (or a 'could never happen' as some people would have it). One could argue that there's no real point discussing many of the issues on the forum!

Yes, but what I was trying to say was there was no point arguing over whether it actually happened or not. It is a possibility that it could happen at other places, particularly in the dark and where there are several request stops in sequence. I consider it very unlikely, but it is possible.

It's worth discussing, but not in terms of trying to 'prove' that what you described didn't happen.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I think it's the internal display on the 175s that is the actual subject of complaint. I've often seen them a station out.

I must agree the PIS on the 175s is screwed, I'm sorry to say!

Today I caught the 1004 Cardiff to Milford Haven, going to Swansea. This is usually the 0630 from Manchester but due to a broken down train on the Welsh Marches Line it ended up being 35 minutes late, so a unit was drafted in to start from Cardiff (luckily!). However, despite the fact our unit hadn't even been anywhere near Manchester, it was adament it was a Manchester to Milford Haven unit and announced the next station as being Stockport when we were approaching Pontyclun!!

 

[Greenback]

For several weeks, Llanelli was being announced as Neath every time I travelled home!

 

[Delta558]

For several weeks, Llanelli was being announced as Neath every time I travelled home!

I remember that particular one - the auto announcer used to cut out just after Port Talbot and then continue as if nothing had happened just before Llanelli. Went on for several weeks, I think the problem was traced to an error on the distance which had been input for PTA - NTH.

 

[GarethJohn]

I remember that particular one - the auto announcer used to cut out just after Port Talbot and then continue as if nothing had happened just before Llanelli. Went on for several weeks, I think the problem was traced to an error on the distance which had been input for PTA - NTH.

Could be a Rugby fan having a laugh.