Is It Or Isn't It - Part 3

What Has Happened To Fleming Way?

The above locally-published picture purports to show the original Fleming Way set against the new look Fleming Way(in Swindon) due to open for business in a few days.  But with the predilection of on-line editors to resort to so-called AI (which isn't!), who knows?
 
One of the features of the set-up before the upcoming fettling was access by steps down to a low level footway ...

... gloomy passageways ...

... tunnels under the carriageway and steps up to the bus stops.

Much of this has changed with the new order, although detail of access from nearby property does not yet feature on publicity photos.

But where is Fleming Way, anyway, hey?

Some readers will be familiar with Swindon's "Magic Roundabout" ...

... technically known as a "ring junction".

A left hander (see map extract below) will take you towards the defunct bus station and the not defunct railway station.

This would bring you to the eastern end of the new bus boulevard seen below bolted and barred with much work in progress.

From here to its omnibological cul de sac western end Fleming way IS the ersatz bus station! Google Streetview shows a curious mixture of the old bus station (straight line of stops) and the new bus stop proliferation on Fleming Way.

Through traffic can cross the stretched out new bus station from Tricentre One to Holbrook Way. 

The little cluster of four stops at the end of John Street (bottom centre in the above plan) seems to smack of desperation because of lack of room for everything out on the main drag!

Although the public cannot yet use the new terminal (to allow time for "training"), there has been a formal opening.

This has included pictures of the new "accessible" bus shelters ...

... with electronic displays.

The Council is well pleased with the extensive arboriculture (trees!) along the central reservation of the bus station ...

... presumably designed o discourage eager passengers seeking to nip across the road to make their connection.

Now a really good bus station will have "inspectors" to monitor and regulate the service, plenty of seating for meeting and greeting, some large departure boards guiding folk to their required departure stands; and, obviously, an enquiry office staffed with helpful knowledgeable people and stocked with a full set of leaflets with a giant wall display of timetables and maps to give comfort to those uneasy with the normal routine.

There would be a cafe and FREE toilets.

So what can Swindon's £33 million transport hub offer?

Spoiler alert: not a lot!

Fortunately GoAhead's Swindon buses, successor to the Corporation's transport department, provides an excellent PDF plan of the new lavish (?) "facilities".

There we see the western end with two "N" bays with a shelter each ...

... but one long shelter for L and M and, bottom centre, the mini bus station with four J  bays (no pictures yet available).

No "facilities" so far!

Below is the continuation westwards.

... and there, lo and behold, are the only "facilities"! At least they are essential "facilities"!

For the record; the whole bus station is nearly one quarter of a mile in length, so you will need your running shoes if you have a tight connection between ...

... your bus from Orbital Park (Stand B) and your onwards National Express coach on Stand N1/2. Only athletes should attempt any such tight connection!

So over the last sixty years approx, interchange at Swindon has gone from Fleming Way plus adjacent bus station, via Fleming Way to bigger but less adjacent bus station to a very long bus station for everything, but with no facilities.

Or, to put it another way; from, in 1965, a line of bus shelters on Fleming Way ...

... to, in 2025, ...

... a line of bus shelters on Fleming Way.

A Bus Station - Is It Or Isn't It?

60 years of customer service progress - and good value for £33 million???

At least the local rag seems very excited!

Ahem; you are a bit previous! It doesn't open till 31st August!

 Next Variety blog : Sat 23 Aug