1935
1950
The same place today
The Strand has been pedestrianised and prettified but the building on the left remains; it is now a cafe, but here was originally Barnstaple Quay railway station. Guess why it had that name?
The columns in the distance on all three pictures form the portico of Queen Anne's Walk, formerly a meeting place for traders.
Beyond was Barnstaple Town railway station (of which more tomorrow) replacing "Quay" to provide interchange with the terminus of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.
The old bus station closed in 1999 and was replaced by something elsewhere; bigger, but not so good looking.
fbb had a good look round yesterday whilst Nos 1 and 3 sons were having a bit of retail therapy.
At each stand was a large label telling the passenger what stopped there.
There were stand maps with an index, but not enough; fbb only came across this one by chance.
It would be better to have on at each stand. Likewise, fbb only noted one map of Barnstaple ton services.
This was excellent and far better than anything Stagecoach produces.
But, joy of joy, at each stand there were timetables. For Stagecoach routes (the majority) these were in standard style but for the rest ...
... someone had enlarged pages from the North Devon timetable book and pasted them onto a backing sheet. What a superb idea; fbb will note that for future reference! There wasn't a departure list in sight, you could actually work out where the bus was going and when it would get to your destination.
Well done North Devon!
Not so well done Stagecoach. Every Stagecoach map was wrong.
The bus to Appledore used to be numbered 21A - then it was revised and became a 19 ...
... and then it transmogrified into a 15C.
It is only a 21A evenings and Sundays. The on-line "North Devon" map is wrong as well ...
... and the Network Map shows the 19 - also wrong.
Of course, you could check on the electronic display ...
... but it wasn't working; surprise, surprise.
The best bit of Barnstaple's bus station is this building.
Inside was a delightful caff (suppliers of large plastic cuppas to fbb and gang) and ...
... the usual offices.
There used to be a well-designed enquiry desk ...
... but most stagecoach leaflets were on a trolley nearby.
No helpful person to give confidence to passengers. Shouldn't there be an electronic display inside the waiting area? It would be even better if it were working.
Where was service 19?
Where was service 19?
And what about Appedore? Unless it is an evening or a Sunday there is no longer a direct service from Barnstaple. But, surely, the 15C should appear somewhere, even if a connecting journey has to be shown.?
You have to wonder whether the people who look after the Bus Station know how to get to Appledore. You have to wonder whether the people who run the Stagecoach web site know how to get to Appledore.
Despite this silliness (incompetence?) Barnstaple bus station is much better than most.
fbb wonders what the railway station is like?
Despite this silliness (incompetence?) Barnstaple bus station is much better than most.
fbb wonders what the railway station is like?
Next Instow blog : Friday 27th October
What is the young boy standing on? I can't work it out from the photo, but it doesn't look safe!
ReplyDeleteA chair, or more accurately perhaps, a seat in a row of them.
DeleteYou have heard of 'austerity' haven't you?
ReplyDeleteAusterity or not, there is simply NO excuse for out of date INCORRECT information to be left on display where company staff or management pass by in close proximity on a regular basis... at best it should be corrected/replaced or at worst (and at no cost) painted out or covered over.
DeleteI wonder what information was available at Barnstaple Bus Station in 1935, or 1950?
ReplyDeleteWas there ever a "golden age?"