Bletchleyite's Bletchley musings

[Bletchleyite]

A couple of musings from Bletchley today.

First of all this...Network Rail can't spell the names of their own locations

Formal Network Rail "Access Point Information" sign showing "Up Betchley" (sic)

Secondly... anyone know why the gates on the fast line fencing have all (except the sliding ones) been removed and replaced with movable temporary worksite barriers?

Finally...saw these markings (the green platform markings on the photo - a line across the platform with a green arrow) on Platform 4 this evening. Anyone any idea what they are for? They are not the rear of an 8-car train, that's a bit further forward, nor are they door positions.


(note, this one was taken from on board through the open doors of the rear coach, not while standing in a dangerous place )

 

[Supercoss]

Markings appear to indicate to conductor that 12 car formation fully aligned within platform when conductor operating from leading cab of rear unit (car 9) - cab should be within target area

 

[DarloRich]

Network Rail can't spell the names of their own locations

I live in Bletchley and often spell it wrong - fat finger syndrome

Secondly... anyone know why the gates on the fast line fencing have all (except the sliding ones) been removed and replaced with movable temporary worksite barriers?

I noticed this last week - strange

 

[Mag_seven]

First of all this...Network Rail can't spell the names of their own locations

I live in Bletchley and often spell it wrong - fat finger syndrome

Joking apart its not good having spelling errors on a safety related sign - in this case the designation of running lines.

 

[DarloRich]

Joking apart its not good having spelling errors on a safety related sign - in this case the designation of running lines.

agreed - but a minor problem in the grand scheme of things. I had to read the sing several times to spot the error

 

[Clip]

Joking apart its not good having spelling errors on a safety related sign - in this case the designation of running lines.

Its not NRs fault really either apart from not noticing it but as Darlorich says its quite minor given that if a member of the public was making an emergency call then the person on the other end would know what they are on about and any staff member wouldnt say it as that anyway

 

[Bletchleyite]

agreed - but a minor problem in the grand scheme of things. I had to read the sing several times to spot the error

Please tell me that was deliberate

For years, Bletchley was misspelled ("Blehtcley") on the destination blinds of Z&S buses. This persisted until they switched to electronic blinds, and was accompanied by "Wolver ton", i.e. "Wolverhampton" with the "hamp" coloured in in permanent marker. This wasn't because they'd brought the buses in from Brum with their old blinds, they were new blinds!

MK also has a load of newish but incorrect road signs, including misspellings and omissions (e.g. omission of the road's V/H number, or of the "Street", "Way", "Gate" or "Boulevard" designation). Were I so minded I could be very tempted to go around at night with a marker pen and fix them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I noticed this last week - strange

I had assumed that they were placed there while work was going on to seal the area off, but they have strangely remained in place. Could it be something like that they were put there for the work, but the actual gates were erroneously disposed of with waste materials and so are missing?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Markings appear to indicate to conductor that 12 car formation fully aligned within platform when conductor operating from leading cab of rear unit (car 9) - cab should be within target area

Ah, cheers

Edit: I wonder if this is intended to speed up operation by removing the need for the guard to step out and check the train is platformed before releasing?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Please tell me that was deliberate

<disclosure - I was born nearby>
The Bletchley sign coming in from Newton Longville almost always read Beltchley, thanks to attention from local wags ..

 

[Hattermick]

Same green lines appeared at Wolverton,was wondering what they meant as well !

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Bletchleyite,

What is your opinion on the Marston Vale line, do you experience a good service whenever you use it? Has it got better or worse under LNR?

Also what do you think of the incoming class 230 and the LNR livery on it?

 

[DarloRich]

Bletchleyite,

What is your opinion on the Marston Vale line, do you experience a good service whenever you use it? Has it got better or worse under LNR?

Also what do you think of the incoming class 230 and the LNR livery on it?

As a daily user of the line I will comment:

The line is the same as always. No worse or netter under LNWR than LM as nothing has changed. The units are still outbased, a replacement train still has to come from Tyesley the staff are still the same and subject to the same human issues, the signalling and crossings are still the same, punctuality and failures remain about the same.

What should make a change is having three tube trains properly allocated to Bletchley depot. That gives us a spare and a proper depot location to fix issues.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Also what do you think of the incoming class 230 and the LNR livery on it?

I'd have rathered 3 x 2-car Stadler FLIRTs, but they're not a terrible option and the livery seems to suit them more than 350s.