Bizarre GWR map

[GoneSouth]

They also have a '387' map which I saw last week.

WHY?

Can you imagine Northern doing 150, 155, 156 and 158 maps

They might want/need an intercity vs regional stopping train map, but nothing else.

 

[D1537]

WHY?

Can you imagine Northern doing 150, 155, 156 and 158 maps

They might want/need an intercity vs regional stopping train map, but nothing else.

A 155 map would easily fit on a sheet of A4, to be fair.

 

[NSE]

Seems very well intentioned but people would have to ‘know’ what a Turbo does. I.e. does the Turbo have a specific set up for universal access and so it would benefit people to know where to find one.

That said, it doesn’t mean it’ll run on a service, as I know they interchange with 158s etc.

 

[fwsmVor]

Probably useful for cyclists (to get them) and people with things like legs and shoulders (to avoid them)

 

[BJames]

I don't think this is useful.

I on't really go over to GWR land super frequently and haven't really since Turbos started serving Cornwall.

Are regular passengers really likely to know what 'Turbo' means, are they marketed as such, and are the services advertised as such (like how Southeastern would reference CityBeam etc)? If not, then I can't really see how this is the same as a Victoria line route diagram - that's a line name and through excellent wayfinding and signage, everyone knows what the Victoria line is, so it makes sense to all travelling passengers.

I also notice Charlbury is randomly not on the map despite that being part of the 'Occasional Turbo served route' section which does not say that 'not all stations shown' - how odd.

 

[tfw756rider]

They also have a '387' map which I saw last week.

Yep, with the London Paddington-Cardiff Central services as "occasional 387 served route", although they since became somewhat more frequent.

 

[Taunton]

Aren't these specifically the replacement bus routes for branch lines closed after Beeching? Plus Exeter airport and the recently extended route from Kingsbridge to Salcombe.

The bus extension from Kingsbridge to Salcombe, never on the railway, covers what was a pioneer GWR (the real one) bus operation, which in 1929 was passed over to Western National buses, but the bus times (not just a footnote) continued to be shown in Western Region timetables right up to 1963 closure of the rail branch. Someone on the map team must be a history buff!

 

[northernbelle]

The bus extension from Kingsbridge to Salcombe, never on the railway, covers what was a pioneer GWR (the real one) bus operation, which in 1929 was passed over to Western National buses, but the bus times (not just a footnote) continued to be shown in Western Region timetables right up to 1963 closure of the rail branch. Someone on the map team must be a history buff!

It's the present as well as history - the 164 from Totnes to Salcombe is marketed as a 'Rail Link' bus with connecting buses, through ticketing and joint promotion and journey planning on the GWR app.

 

[Kilopylae]

The 118 Okehampton - Tavistock is something relatively new to coincide with the 're-opening' of the Okehampton line. It's heavily marketed as being timetabled to interlock with the trains and has little GWR logos in the windows (albeit on a sheet of paper stuck up with blue tack).

 

[Sealink]

I can see the logic for this type of map if Turbos where brilliant trains. (I can't stand them, but each to their own).

So if GWR think they are marvellous then I can see why they would perhaps market the routes like this.

 

[sabanda]

I'm more concerned by the rather peculiar geographical features of the map!

 

[GoneSouth]

I can see the logic for this type of map if Turbos where brilliant trains. (I can't stand them, but each to their own).

So if GWR think they are marvellous then I can see why they would perhaps market the routes like this.

I think they are good trains, but with bad interior seating, lighting etc. they were designed to stuff as many commuters in them as possible coming out of Paddington I guess, but that’s not really what they’re doing now. 2+2 seating, tables, improve lighting and finally be rid of the hideous First colour interior and they’d be great

 

[sharpener]

Isn't it spelt Lympstone?

 

[superalbs]

Isn't it spelt Lympstone?

Good spot! You're right!

 

[Kilopylae]

I've often seen these maps on the train and pointed them out to people as bizarre. They seemed to me like they'd been done for spotters!

The interpretation that it's about showing you which route you might presently be on is interesting and hadn't occurred to me but doesn't make much sense with just how broad the range of routes are.

 

[DelW]

I think they are good trains, but with bad interior seating, lighting etc. they were designed to stuff as many commuters in them as possible coming out of Paddington I guess, but that’s not really what they’re doing now. 2+2 seating, tables, improve lighting and finally be rid of the hideous First colour interior and they’d be great

Are there many left with the old First pink and blue? All the ones I've used on the North Downs since sometime last year have had green GWR interiors with extra luggage stacks. Still 3+2 seats and no tables though (except in first class).

 

[Purple Train]

I don't think this is useful.

I on't really go over to GWR land super frequently and haven't really since Turbos started serving Cornwall.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Turbos weren't permitted over the Royal Albert Bridge?

Are there many left with the old First pink and blue? All the ones I've used on the North Downs since sometime last year have had green GWR interiors with extra luggage stacks. Still 3+2 seats and no tables though (except in first class).

I think they are all GWR inside now (although I haven't sampled all the 3-cars personally so I may be wrong). Slight diversion, but the First pink can still be seen (just about, behind copious dirt) on some units on the small piece of bodywork behind the door, but I think that's all that's left.

I think it's a good idea, but would be better if it was split by local-medium-intercity services, rather than by train types which tend to interwork. (Not a problem for me though, given the Windsor line is 100% 165s, although you do get the odd Bristol Rugby poster.) If it was a shared 15x/16x poster, for example, the Cornwall issue wouldn't occur (as Sprinters are allowed into Cornwall), but it would still serve almost exactly the same purpose. That being said, I would be deeply surprised if any significant number of regular passengers knew enough of its existence to be confused by it.

Of course this is ignoring cartographic errors, which are always depressing.

 

[Deepgreen]

It's yet more restrictive/parochial mapping - if the Turbos change routes in the future then the maps will have to change (or no-one will bother). There is no comparison with, say LU line maps, where the stock involved will only serve that specific route. Just show the GWR network and leave it at that.

 

[Parallel]

There is also a ‘West’ map I observed in a Class 158 earlier. They have spelt Lympstone correctly on this one!

 

[The Pelican]

The real argument us what the actual boundaries of the "Real GWR" are- is Honition, briefly part of the BR Western reigon? is Rock Ferry, part of the Didcot-Chester route code's Birkenhead extension? is Hammersmith, or Farringdon (Met, or Widened Lines/Thameslink)?