Cambrian stations temporarily closing

[Unixman]

A number of stations on the Cambrian are temporarily closing because

" in order to maintain a safe distance between the conductor and customers, we need to be able to operate two train doors. Unfortunately due to the short platform length at these stations, this is not possible. "

The stations are: Llanbedr, Llanaber, Llandanwg, Tygwyn and Aberech ...

Closed station	Closest alternative	Distance to closest alternative
Llanaber	Barmouth	2 ½ miles
Llanbedr	Pensarn	1 mile
Llandanwg	Pensarn	1 mile
Tygwyn	Talsarnau	1 ½ miles
Abererch	Penychain	2 ½ miles

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[Darandio]

That seems like an utter nonsense to me and is the start of yet another slippery slope.

 

[30907]

Presumably local door operation on 20m platforms? Fortunately the coast is effectively closed, but Llanaber will cause problems when the caravan sites reopen.....

 

[David Goddard]

Why can't the conductors open the door, get out of the way (either into the cab or onto the platform) to let passengers on/off, then return to close the doors? Sounds like a knee jerk decision that's not been thought out.

 

[A0]

Looks like they're request stops in any case. Only have minimal use on the whole so a temporary closure isn't that significant.

 

[Ianno87]

Why can't the conductors open the door, get out of the way (either into the cab or onto the platform) to let passengers on/off, then return to close the doors? Sounds like a knee jerk decision that's not been thought out.

Looks like they're request stops in any case. Only have minimal use on the whole so a temporary closure isn't that significant.

Going to hazard a guess these are station with basically no passengers at present anyway...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Any other short-platformed stations on the network where similar considerations might apply?

 

[davetheguard]

Any other short-platformed stations on the network where similar considerations might apply?

Let's not give the blighters any further ideas on station closures!

 

[Llanigraham]

Also worth remembering that in Wales the 2m rule is in legislation in the work environment.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Well it's the ultimate in social distancing, not stopping at stations where there are very small numbers of passengers boarding / alighting anyway.

 

[Starmill]

Any other short-platformed stations on the network where similar considerations might apply?

There are a number of other station where only one door can be opened.

Presumably the answer is that the doorways on the trains in use are wide enough at those stations. These ones can only be served by class 158 stock, which has exceptionally narrow doorways.

The alternative stations aren't particularly far away and expected passenger numbers are clearly going to be extremely low. They're very low even under the normal circumstances.

No need to get the conspiracy theories out ladies and gentlemen...

 

[Parallel]

I wonder if some of the short platformed stations on the Heart of Wales Line such as Sugar Loaf will be closed, as well as Gilfach Fargoed.

Seems quite drastic but all stations are lightly used with maybe the exception of Llanbedr.

Also note the incorrect information given the next nearest stations - Llanaber is closer to Barmouth and Talybont than Dyffryn Ardudwy; Llanbedr and Llandanwg are closer to Pensarn and last time I checked, Dyffryn Talsarnau wasn’t a station.

 

[nedchester]

Basically various people who have had 'Covid Risk Workshops' where they will have come up with all sorts of rules and regulations to make life difficult but with little real effect on reduction of transmission of the virus. Most would call it Covid-Boll**ks!

 

[Meole]

These stops used more in the winter when the service is free on the bus pass.

 

[PHILIPE]

This has now branched out from just the Cambrian and we add to the list from July 5th:-

Prees
Earlesrown
Sugar Loaf
Hopton Heath
Llanfair PG (I won't type the full name out for obvious reasons !!!)
Conwy
Gilfach Fargoed

 

[Huntergreed]

This has now branched out from just the Cambrian and we add to the list from July 5th:-

Prees
Earlesrown
Sugar Loaf
Hopton Heath
Llanfair PG (I won't type the full name out for obvious reasons !!!)
Conwy
Gilfach Fargoed

You mean to say that in line with the reopening of tourism and leisure travel across Wales, they're actually closing more stations?

I fail to see any logic in this whatsoever.

 

[nedchester]

This has now branched out from just the Cambrian and we add to the list from July 5th:-

Prees
Earlesrown
Sugar Loaf
Hopton Heath
Llanfair PG (I won't type the full name out for obvious reasons !!!)
Conwy
Gilfach Fargoed

Hang on both Earlestown and Conwy have long(ish) platforms although on a curve (but not sure what that has to do with Covid-19)

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

This has now branched out from just the Cambrian and we add to the list from July 5th:-

Prees
Earlesrown
Sugar Loaf
Hopton Heath
Llanfair PG (I won't type the full name out for obvious reasons !!!)
Conwy
Gilfach Fargoed

I'm really struggling to see why Earlestown has been added to this list. The platforms aren't too short for any of the stock TfW are currently using. They're admittedly very curved but what does that matter?

I don't recall Conwy being local door only when I've used it and the platform is certainly long enough for a 2-coach unit to be fully accomodated.

 

[mmh]

That seems like an utter nonsense to me and is the start of yet another slippery slope.

It is utter nonsense and I note Conwy station, which uses local door release on 3 car trains isn't in their list.

Hang on both Earlestown and Conwy have long(ish) platforms although on a curve (but not sure what that has to do with Covid-19)

Oh dear, I spoke too soon. As above, local door release is sometimes used at Conwy. I'll be commenting on this to TFW and my MS. (Member of the Welsh Parliament)

 

[PHILIPE]

Yorton and Valley now added to rhe list

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Could it be that the need to request is the problem ie the passenger has to speak to the guard to request a stop, the guard is in the back cab avoiding unnecessary contact, the passenger could request upon boarding (at a safe distance) but otherwise has to walk through the train to speak to the guard.
You could, of course, make request stops standard stops instead.

 

[MikeWM]

Earlestown??? That's the silliest thing I've seen today (and there's enough of them going around).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Earlestown??? That's the silliest thing I've seen today (and there's enough of them going around).

Does this require dispatch from a middle door rather than the cab due to the steep curve, perhaps?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Earlestown??? That's the silliest thing I've seen today (and there's enough of them going around).

It's nonsense precisely like this that is why I have always been strongly opposed to having TfW be an operator controlled solely by the Welsh government. They serve many stations in England (and indeed in the case of Shrewsbury to Crewe they are the only operator!). Why should the people of Earlestown, Yorton, Prees or Hopton Heath suffer because of the Welsh government's intransigent attitude to lockdown?

 

[nedchester]

Does anyone have a link to all the latest station closures?

 

[PHILIPE]

Does anyone have a link to all the latest station closures?

TFW Journey Check

 

[nedchester]

TFW Journey Check

No Earlestown on that list. Maybe the 'English' have complained....

 

[PHILIPE]

No Earlestown on that list. Maybe the 'English' have complained....

They are spread over 2 sections. Service Updates and Station Updates

 

[Class800]

What would happen to someone who has a ticket to one of these stations bought before closure announced? Want the in theory answer, and the in practice answer, if different. Like many on here, I think these rules and most of them at moment not just on railways, are stupid.

 

[HSTEd]

So how many do we expect to ever reopen?