I don't walk slow. In fact despite my legs being some inches shorter than most of my family and friends I am referred to by the, I presume modestly flattering name, "The Strider". Which is just as well. Not sure how many who read this blog ever have to travel by train from Glasgow Central to Paisley Canal Street. But it now leaves from Platform 11A. Not 11, and not 12, but 11A. And no it isn't a take-off of Harry Potter, but it might as well be.
Platform 11A is a good 5 minutes walk from the entrance of the Station from Gordon Street. Now I don't mind walking - I do it quite a lot. But if a train is 4 minutes walk from the first illuminated timetables it does kind of put pressure on you if you assumed that arriving at the station a couple of minutes before the train leaves, and you've already bought your ticket, you have a decent chance of catching it. Just last Tuesday I watched a number of elderly folk (older than me, and walking slower though trying to walk faster) doing the long walk to 11A - more than one has muttered, not so soto voce, 'Are we walkin' hame?'
Is 11A the longest train platform in Scotland? Should passengers be given a discount for walking the first 500 metres? Is there a case for courtesy buses, or buggies for non-striders? Or are we just so used to convenience that we need the occasional Platform 11A to remind us that walking is a natural, healthy human activity? And of the 34 million who use it each year, how many are going to paisley canal Street anyway, huh? In any case, First Train aren't going to reconstruct a classic Victorian train station, built in 1879, for the convenience of passengers travelling to Paisley Canal Street.
I may encounter 11A later today as I go to hear my Doktorvater, Professor David Fergusson deliver his second Gifford Lecture. First one on the rise of the new atheism was a good contextual introduction. Tonight we get stuck into the implausibility of religious belief. On the assumption they will be published, I'm not taking notes - just listening, thinking, and enjoying. By the way, 'Stuff and Nonsense' refers to the first part of this post - this last paragraph is why it is followed by the 'Theology' category. Just so's you know!
Aye 11A - I've arrived there. I felt like I'd paid Scotrail (as they were then) for the privilege of walking to Central station from the Ayrshire coast! I only remembering it happening once - but it was raining, and Scotrail seemed to have forgotten to provide an escort for one of my fellow passengers who was blind. It took me a great deal longer than 5 minutes to get to Gordon Street, going against the tide of punters heading to 11A, with a blind man on my arm. But we did have a nice chat, which took away my grumpiness at a minor inconvenience for an occasional rail traveller.
Posted by: Endlessly Restless | April 10, 2008 at 07:24 PM
if there is a god there would not be a platform 11A
Pino!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Chris Mcfadyen | January 08, 2009 at 02:00 PM
11a is now 12, and I have been informed it will be extended into the station, so the walk will be reduced by the time the Airport Link is in place. I've never found it too bad to be honest, but I can imagine that in the rush hour it's terrible!
Posted by: A traveller | January 15, 2009 at 09:24 PM
I for one am appalled by the conspiracy to cover up the existence of platform 11a by re-branding it platform 12. It is a farce. I will make it my duty to protest on a frequent basis to vent my anger! Pino is on the case!!!!
Posted by: Chris McFadyen | May 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I have written to Scotrail several times and I am constructing a petition to overthrow the Scotrail hierarchy. If anybody would like to join me in this crusade then please email me at "[email protected]" but please put "Platform 11a Conspiracy" in the subject so I know what the email is about.
Peace out brothers in arms!
Fearless leader - Pino
Posted by: Chris McFadyen | October 29, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Chris, I like the cut of your jib. I've sent you an email concerning what I feel Scotrail should be doing for us, rather than what we have to do for them.
I already have petitioned Scotrail execs on several occasions. The mindless fat cats enjoy a total monopoly for local transport and I have a case waiting to be heard at the monopolies commission. Finally, I have written to my MP and MSP to detail why this situation is farcicle. Statistics show that the price of running Scotrail fell by about 11% in 2008 due to cheaper fuel and the like, yet I, and my fellow public transportians have to get more out of pocket to pay the average 8% increase in prices. I am not happy about this, no sir.
Posted by: Alex Hope | October 30, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Alex, you heard from the monopolies commission yet? I, as of late, have once again been subjected to the total cover up that is platform 12 (formerly 11A). As I was doing so there were various members of scotrail staff doing only what I can describe as loitering. Fellow members of the scotrail team then proceeded to "check" the validity of my ticket. I for one was appalled at the way I was treated after walking the long distance just to enter central station- the hub of public transport in Glasgow. I feel that our efforts to raise this issue must be doubled and I propose that we chair a meeting outlining our ideas
Fearless leader- Pino
Posted by: Chris McFadyen | November 24, 2009 at 11:23 AM