Pembroke Dock station query

[TEW]

I did the Pembroke Dock HST back in May. The weather was much better the day I did it and there were a lot getting off at Tenby on the way out, and a lot back on on the return working.

 

[Greenback]

Tenby is the busiest station on the line. The only time I caught the HST down there nine years ago I reckon at least 50 people got off there. It wasn't even the school holidays!

 

[Crossover]

I took the FGW HST from London Paddington to Pembroke Dock and back on Saturday 22nd. It was a really good trip despite the weather and I'm really impressed with the refurbishment in 1st class. It is a shame the station at Pembroke Dock in a poor state of repair.

Anyway, my question is there are two platforms, only one of which seems to be of regular use. At the end of one platform there appears to a ramp - was this used for Motorail services?

Also, Mr Chips is a great chip shop if you need sustenance!

Thanks for this - a group of us are doing the last one next Saturday - Bristol to Pembroke and back to Bristol again was around £14 with a railcard, so it was a bit of a no-brainer

May take up the option of the chippy as I don't think we will get much on the train

 

[gazthomas]

Thanks for this - a group of us are doing the last one next Saturday - Bristol to Pembroke and back to Bristol again was around £14 with a railcard, so it was a bit of a no-brainer

May take up the option of the chippy as I don't think we will get much on the train

We found s good off licence in between the station and Mr Chips too!

 

[Temple Meads]

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by Pembroke town, okay, it's hardly stunning, but I thought it would be more of a dive than it actually is!

 

[DJ737]

Pembroke or Pembroke Dock?

Pembroke is nice with the castle and the river, Pembroke Dock reminds me of the set from Father Ted, but the station pub is quite good when it is open.

 

[Greenback]

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by Pembroke town, okay, it's hardly stunning, but I thought it would be more of a dive than it actually is!

You must have been in Pembroke, Pembroke Dock can't really be described as anything except moribund in my eyes!

 

[Envoy]

I did it on a sunny day in late July and the HST was very full - but not packed out. This applied all the way to Tenby with many passengers coming all the way through from England. I left the train at Tenby and then returned to Tenby station 2 hours later for the return run.

The outbound train is billed on the printed timetables as the 'Pembroke Coast Express'. A pity that no mention of this is made in announcements on the train or at stations or on electronic signs. The eastbound 'PCE' is in fact another HST which has left Pembroke Dock at 10.01 to arrive PAD at 15.30.

Tenby station is all boarded up. It is one of those fine Victorian stone buildings. It has no toilet facilities which is appalling for the main resort in Pembrokeshire. Anyway, the HST off loaded a lot of people at Tenby & a 2 coach sprinter came in at the same time from Pembroke Dock - very full. Perhaps that is not surprising being as this line only has 1 train every other hour.

When leaving Swansea, the best views will be on your left - especially looking across the Towy estuary to Llanstephan Castle. (Go by the door & open the window if you want a photo with no reflection/tint). Also look out for the old (& working) signal box as you enter Whitland. (The people waiting could not seem to believe that they had a HST for the south Pembs. line).

Any rail fan would probably wish to go all the way to Pembroke Dock. If not that keen, Tenby is an absolutely fantastic place to get off the HST & spend 2 hours. (A special charter hire of a HST is going to go from Oxford to Tenby on 26 September - via north Cotswolds line).

http://www.tenbyvisitorguide.co.uk
http://www.clpg.org.uk/content.php?pagename=CLPG039-s-Special-Trains

 

[Sleepy]

Somewhat surprising that the Oxford charter has to go ECS to Swansea - is there no infrastructure to stable an HST west of Swansea ? Or is it just for ease of crewing the train.

 

[Temple Meads]

Pembroke or Pembroke Dock?

Pembroke is nice with the castle and the river, Pembroke Dock reminds me of the set from Father Ted, but the station pub is quite good when it is open.

You must have been in Pembroke, Pembroke Dock can't really be described as anything except moribund in my eyes!

Nope, Pembroke Dock. I'm not saying it was 'nice', but it was better than I expected.

I had low expectations.

 

[Greenback]

Low expectations are great, you are seldom disappointed, and more often pleasantly surprised!