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Interested In Interchanges?
In a previous posting in this series, fbb has highlighted the quality and availability of Swiss bus/rail interchange. 
We already also know that possible Interchanges in the Hope Valley fall far short of Swiss style and connectivity. But, if the Ableman report is to be implemented, you might expect transfer from rail to bus (and vice versa) to increase substantially.
That is the aim of mini-Switzerland, surely.
So here is the geography, running from East to West.
We begin with Bamford.
Some years back the "interchange" was built, being a lay-by used by buses in both directions. It is opposite one of the station entrances which, certainly in the most recent visit by Google, is not very well signposted ...
... in fact not signposted at all. The blue sign directs folk to Bamford village, some distance away.
The immediate access is a ramp opposite the bus shelter ...
... which leads down to the westbound platform for Manchester. 
Walking along the footpath towards the distant village, you next come to steps, again for westbound trains ...
Next north are the steps down for Sheffield trains ...
... both sets of steppage serve as the station footbridge. A little further north is a lane, sort of flat, also leading to Sheffield trains. 
Every effort had been spared to make the interchange easy and attractive.
The station is bereft of facilities with the exception of platform shelters and a ticket machine.
Welcome to the Hope Valley!
And welcome to the station plan!
Next week go to Edale. 
There is a creepy footpath on the north of the tracks leading to the eastbound platform (for Sheffield) ...
... but the main entrance is on the south side.
Needless to say, buses do not venture in to the car park area to get as close as possible to the trains. Buses lurk on the main access road and obviously out of sight of the station exit!
Wot, no footbridge?
Correct. The station has a subway with both ramp and stepped access.
It also boasts some Midland Region replica hot dog shaped station signs.
Apart from those two excitements, the station has the same un-lavish facilities as Bamford.
Finally there is Hope.
It is just off the main road, with buses stopping at te end of the lane. Nothing omnibological venture down the lane.
At the station itself there is a car park, and a footbridge to cross the line. There are no lifts, making it the least helpful station of the three for the less ambulant.
You can see the footbridge hiding in the trees ...
... located about as far from the station entrance as it is possible to get without trespassing on the tracks,
Once again, facilities are "limited"!
The station matches the other two in lack of almost everything.
And here, for completeness is the plan.
But Hope might offer some hope!
Clearly the existing facilities fall way short of anything you might expect in Switzerland.
Tomorrow, fbb will speculate on how bus/rail interchange in the rose+tinted world of the Ableman report ...
... might actually work.
If only somebody had the necessary bags of money!
Next mini-Switzerland blog : Thurs 26 Feb
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