VDUs: 8/10 for effort

Main displays on platforms 4-5

First off, the new train information VDU screens which have arrived at Bletchley over the last week or two are a huge improvement on the old versions so "well done and thank you to London Midland".   The only place it was previously possible to get visual information for all platforms and following trains was in the station building.  Now we can get that on the platforms themselves.

Platform 1 with VDU.  The
fencing on the left is for the now
unused bay platforms

Another point worth a mention is that we now have station information board coverage for platforms 1 and 2.  These may not be used frequently, but there are occasions when our trains to/from arrive on the fast line so these are a bonus.  

So why did I title this only 8/10 for effort and result?  It's a personal opinion, but I think they could have done even better.

The overbridge

The Bletchley station overbridge

In bad weather or when there is uncertainty about which train is coming onto which platform, people often wait on the overbridge.  So why didn't London Midland put a VDU up there?  Cabling problems can't have been an issue because the new trunking for these displays has been routed over the bridge and down each stairway.


Visibility

Displays looking south along
platforms 4-5 with the shelter
in the background

On the platforms the displays have been placed within 10-20 metres of the overbridge.  On platforms 2-3 this isn't so bad as they are still in line of site wherever you are standing (though you would need very good eyesight to read them).  On platforms 4-5 though, the waiting room/shelter get in the way so the displays are only visible in the middle section of the platform.  This also happens to be the only part of the platform where tannoy announcements can be clearly heard, so if you wait to board a train there then you are pretty well off :-)

The VDUs looking north on
platforms4-5 with the waiting
room in the background

Like a lot of people, I board the train to London from the north end of platform 4.  The nearest VDU has to be 50 metres plus away and is obscured by the waiting room.   The location chosen for these displays was presumably chosen because of the convenience for cabling, but surely it would have been possible to get them closer to the ends of the platform? 

Station building VDU

...and last but by no means least - the VDU in the station building

Didn't someone realise that if they stuck a larger screen up than the one that was there before then it would be lower?  The post-fitting hazard warning sticky tape stuck across the lower edge looks really classy!