Expensive Esplanade Enhancements

 New-Look Station

The Isle of Wight media was duly diligent in reporting that the revamp of Ryde Esplanade station was (at last!) complete by the start of August, so ready for most of the peak six-week school holilday trade.

Only it wasn't.

Way, way back, visitors were delighted with a large W H Smith and, within the bowels of the station, a tea bar.

In more recent years, the shop has continued to offer visitors a wide selelction of holiday ephemera ...

.. and a kiosk has had a variety of identities ...

... and, again within, there was always some sort of caff. Southern Vectis had an enquiry and ticket sales office seen below in its more recent form and location.

Just beyond was an office for the duty inspector, often supplementing the enquiry office service with useful infromation for perplexed visitors.

On Saturday 23rd last, whilst Mrs fbb was meeting an Island chum at Morrisons for a lengthy natter accomanied by two cups of coffee (such profligate spending) fbb took a trip on service 9 to see how things were going some four months after the multi million pound improvements has been completed.

The new cafe which has opened up views from the western side of the building ...

... still awaits a tenant!

Likewise, the shop ...

... still awaits a tenant.

There has always been a prominent bus enquiry and booking office at the station.

The most recent Southern Vectis travel office is now locked and in darkness ...

... and a peer into the gloom reveals a few comfy chairs ...

... and a very small coffee table.

The so-called travel shop is now the former inspectors' office containing a bin with printed timetables.

At 1100 on Saturday morning there was "a man" in there wearing a high-vis vest now deemed essential to warn any enquirers that live staff may be manoeuvering in the vicinity.

Elf'n'Softee rule again!

For Island Line, the information in the station circulating area was largely absent. Two screens with too-small text gave details of connections to the mainland ...

... both vua ferry (above) and the nearby hovercraft (below).

For rudimentary train departure screens you had to go on to the platform and peer roofwards.

As the track up the pier is being repaired yet again, fbb expecetd details of some vehicular connection by way of rail replacement. He found no such information.

In the main circulating area there were no train timetables either!

The normal exit for pedestrians to get up the pier by foot is along a very smart walkway which leads out to a boardwalk built on the former tram track. This passage leads to the toilets, although you would never know unless you remembered roughly where the toilets used to be.

But at least the toilets are now open ...

...which after a "s'not our job, mate" are available and cleaned courtesy of Ryde Town Council.

But beware, those elderly in years and in need of facilities more urgently than most, there are times when where you "go" is a no go area.

The shutter is lowered and access to the pier boardwalk ...

... is outside the building. No times are published for when the facilities become non-facilities.

But there are a couple of nostalgic reminders of past times.

The previous station clock (above) is retained in all its electronic glory ...

And. remember that external view of the west facing side?

That peaked roof used to be the canopy over the esplanade platforms of the much loved Ryde Pier Tramway.

Its diesel cars shuttled happily from here to and from the pier head.

And, presumably, the original roof is still there, maybe renewed in part; but the supporting columns remain ...

... no longer fittimg the shape of the walkway to toilets and pier.

Oh, by the way, with the mutli-million pound improvements ...

... there is no longer a comfortable waiting room as part of the new ticket office. Above is the old ticket office and waiting room, located where the walkway and toilet entrance is now. Actually, there is no waiting room of any kind!

Now what does that word "improvements" mean?

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For many years fbb has presented an "Advent Calendar" in celebration of the so-called "Festive Season". This year's offering should have started on 1st December, viz. Sunday last. But the trip to the Island followed by the weekend of the fellwship meetings and ...

... OK, the old man forgot!

So this year we have "NOT the Advent Calendar", but ...

     The      

  CHRIST -mas 

  Criss-muss  

   Confusion  

 Critique   1 

... the concept of an Advent Calendar is a good place to start an unravelling of the Reason for the Season.

So this is a typical "Advent Calendar" available on-line.

If this were real, behind each picture you might find a tiny sweet or a very small blob of chocolate.

Or you gould go for an expensive well-known brand!

You get 23 chocolates and one "tablet"

So, is it the Advent Of Chocolate?

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 Next Old Bus Route blog : Thurs 5 December