SWT New Station Signage

[mooster]

Has anyone noticed that SWT appear to be also updating their platform signage? Farnborough now has the very smart dark blue with white writing signs One would assume this is network-wide? Are these proper brand-new signs or laminates-that-people-like-to-rip-off like the previous set?

 

[SWT Driver]

It may well be down to the DDA.

 

[thefab444]

I believe they're only fitted to suburban stations, although Southampton Central has the new blue platform number signage, it doesn't have the name boards in blue. The new signs do look better, but very Southeasterny, I prefer the platform number signs used at Wimbledon which are blue, but with red/orange swooshes in the top left hand corner.

 

[317666]

Interesting - at Whittlesford Parkway, one of the tacky laminates had been ripped off to the extent that the old WAGN purple sign was showing through as 'Whittlesford'!

 

[SWT Driver]

Southampton may well be waiting for the signs to be made, along with all of the others that haven't been done yet.

 

[mooster]

I believe they're only fitted to suburban stations, although Southampton Central has the new blue platform number signage, it doesn't have the name boards in blue. .

I've noted this elsewhere too - platform number signs changed but not the name boards! They definitely look better than the old signs - can anyone confirm that they aren't just sticky-back plastic?

 

[SWT Driver]

They're the real thing.

I can't wait to see what happens when SCROAT graffiti's it and they try to clean it off, if it was like one of them they used the cleaning fluid & it removed it alright... Along with the station name as well!

 

[mooster]

Yeah the laminates didn't like being cleaned

West Byfleet used to take a battering with the graffiti "artists"... they've got the new signs now...

 

[LondonLarry]

I think SWT are replacing all their station signage as part of an ongoing program. It's surprising that this long after privatisation, there are still old BR station signs being used!

 

[thelem]

I couldn't find any platform signs, but I assume they look like this:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earlsfield_station_building.JPG

They certainly are very similar to southeastern, and also southern. For comparison:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Denmark_Hill_stn_signage2.JPG
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Croydon_station_signage.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Railway_station_signs_in_London

 

[SWT Driver]

Yep, the Earlsfield one is right.

I'd say that the Carshalton Beeches one with a Navy Blue background and in either Arial or Verdana typeface would be right.

 

[ChampsRacing]

When i was working on the platform in 2007 at putney we had people coming round measuring up signs for the new ones to replace them but they only started appearing middle of last year.

 

[Lampshade]

I think SWT are replacing all their station signage as part of an ongoing program. It's surprising that this long after privatisation, there are still old BR station signs being used!

Most WCML stations still have the old ICWC signage, notably Wigan North Western, Preston and Lancaster still have all the old running boards hock:

 

[SWT Driver]

They still have zones as well... Red, Gold etc.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I've always wondered - what were the purple/gold etc zones for?

 

[dan_atki]

I've always wondered - what were the purple/gold etc zones for?

I believe, and I may be wrong, that they were used to identify parts of the train to people with Apex (Advance) tickets. 'Coach A, Blue Zone' or something would be given, so that they could stand on the appropriate part of the platform so as to minimise dwell times.

St Pancras Low Level uses a similar idea now with zones 1, 2, and 3. The departure board will show which zones will be occupied by the train when it arrives, each zone being about four cars in length.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Cheers Dan, I had a feeling it was something to do with ticketing, but I couldn't be sure.

 

[SWT Driver]

They should have made the St Pancras Low Level platforms the Twilight Zone with the state of the service just recently..

 

[Lampshade]

I've always wondered - what were the purple/gold etc zones for?

It's basically which area of the platform to stand in order to board the right coach for your ticket, I know at Preston it flashes up on the departure boards "First Class in the Gold Zone", "Standard Class in the Purple Zone". I've no idea what the Blue Zone is for though :?

 

[LondonLarry]

I've no idea what the Blue Zone is for though :?

Standing Class??

 

[Drsatan]

At Bath Spa last year I didn't notice any "purple/gold/blue" signs indicating where one should stand - instead tied to the pillars supporting the canopy were signs indicating that this was where one should stand to board carriage A, carriage B etc.

 

[dan_atki]

At Bath Spa last year I didn't notice any "purple/gold/blue" signs indicating where one should stand - instead tied to the pillars supporting the canopy were signs indicating that this was where one should stand to board carriage A, carriage B etc.

I actually like that idea more than the zones one (along with the fact it also has information for 'Reverse Formations'! Must happen a lot then...).

Still, doesn't beat the label on carriage A of the train when it arrives:
..A
Carriage

Well, obviously it's a carriage! Or maybe I'm just easily amused...

 

[First class]

I've noticed the zones at Preston are used when the sleeper comes in going North... no idea what ones are what though!

 

[wintonian]

I actually like that idea more than the zones one (along with the fact it also has information for 'Reverse Formations'! Must happen a lot then...).

Still, doesn't beat the label on carriage A of the train when it arrives:
..A
Carriage

Well, obviously it's a carriage! Or maybe I'm just easily amused...

I havn't had a reservation for SWT for a few years and havn't payed any attention lately but their idea of lableing carriages used to go something like: E, A, D, with the ones in between unlabled and for those with lables there was a good chance of it being upside down and only visable from outside the train.

 

[Electrostar]

I've seem some blue signs at Vauxhall and Clapham Junction including a blue platform number sign with the SWT coloured swooshes. I can't work out if they're a similar metal to the the ones they're replacing or the harder-wearing stone-baked versions seen on Southern and SouthEastern.