Invershin and Culrain Request Stops
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- Опубліковано 15 лют 2023
- Whilst up in Inverness to look at the new airport station, we also took a trip along the Far North line - where Scotrail have introduced a new system of pressing a button at request stops to alert the driver that you want to get on.
We looked at a map, to check that Invershin and Culrain were as close as we thought they were, and travelled to one, and walked back to the other ... all so that we could press a request stop button!
You can download my request stop map here: geofftech.co.uk/downloads.html
Editor : Dave Stevenson
#inverness #invershin #culrain #scotrail
This is the appreciation thread for Roger's boots ...
Noted.
It's a public information film on how to (Roger) and how not (Geoff) to dress for two hours in the Highlands of Scotland in February!
Love the Boots. makes me think he's gonna ride off into the sunset on a horse
These Boots are made for Roger!
They are sublime. Fantastic.
Travelling 600-700 miles just to press a button sounds like a great excursion to me 😂
If ever I think a journey is too long I remember that in 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin travelled 228,000 miles just to go for a walk. That always makes me feel better!
Nice. Love that that they have brail, but how is a visually impaired person going to read that you are too early and have to press again 20 mins beforehand?
Would have been BIGGEST LETDOWN EVER if someone HAD already pressed the button lol!
I believe they are approaching Lord of the Rings levels of button pushing.
It sounds like a Taskmaster challenge: Travel the longest distance you can before pressing the button. Your time starts now.
I wrote the software that runs the kiosks so you can imagine my relief when that train actually did stop! Great video, it was good to see the system being used by real passengers.
11:25 The awkward moment when you notice two Argentinian railfans have travelled 7,000 miles to press the button and find Geoff already pushed it.
wait, really?
@@Gigidag77 hes lying as usual hes an athcuck
Awkward.
@@Gigidag77 ATTENTION ALL: If you are the other two onboard the 10;47 SCOTSRAIL SERVICE Culrain to Inverness please make yourself know, including your nationality and reason for using train!
I worked doing accessibility audits for the DfT from late 2021 to summer 2022. Got sent to every train station in Scotland outside Glasgow. The Culrain and Invershin day was one of the absolute highlights - the shelter at Invershin (and the pedestrian walking routes from the road below) and the shelter at Culrain (big step!) were both unsurprisingly slated in the accessibility audit. The bridge between the two stations was incredible and we got lovely weather that day. That dot matrix at Culrain was unlike any other I'd seen across Scotland! These request stop pillars were being installed while we were up there; we saw a few of them wrapped up in plastic coverings and wondered what they were going to be.
Can also say that there were several stations up that way with unexpected wildlife - there were dozens of chickens hopping about Altnabreac, and I believe Roy Bridge had some too.
Wasn't a huge railway person before I started, but I definitely caught the bug as I'm now whittling down the last Scottish stations I didn't go to for work. I'll only count stations at which I've stood on the platform (hoping out of a train doesn't count!). Still got a dozen in Ayrshire to visit, along with the new Inverness Airport one, before hopefully finishing my collection at Rannoch and Corrour. In the mean time, I've got this channel!
Were they just physical access audits, and how did you end up with that fascinating gig? Speaking as someone with a vision impairment, I think these kiosks are awful! Cannot see the sign telling me to use it, might not be able to find the machine or operate it. Braille buttons are all well and good, but for most folk standing, that button looks like it’s at waist height or so. Well, guess what, us blind and partially sighted folk, we don’t go around touching up every surface, eagerly hunting for odd bits of Braille like hungry raccoons. If you had some joined up thinking, now, and used the kiosks as the speakers for station announcements, and also as a help point, the audio (with a dedicated announcement) could literally be a honing in beacon. But, doesn’t look like anyone took a step back and thought this big a picture for universal design, or access and inclusion. It’s almost like someone looked for a solution where there really was not a problem. Waste of public money.
@@matthewsmatters While I agree that there are glaring accessibility issues, particularly in the lack of audio cues, your rant goes right into uninformed sour grapes. The button system clearly reduces fuel consumption, reduces railway noise, and improves travel times/railway capacity by not requiring the driver slow down to prepare for a stop at every station, particularly where sighting distances are limited. It also avoids people from having to stand out in the weather until the train stops. Further, users avoid constantly having to listen for and having to sight every single train, which is confusing when there are non-stopping services interleaved. There are clear benefits to all users, including those who are disabled, if they get it right.
@@straightpipediesel I’ll give you those points. Thank you for agreeing with the failure of designers here to consider universal accessibility. I am always very sceptical of unnecessary new digital and technology based solutions, however, when a workable, analogue, human oriented, solution has always existed. Just wait until the data link goes down or one of these kiosks is somehow else put out of action. I remain unconvinced.
@@matthewsmatters Again, uninformed whining. The button system works on the RETB radio signaling on the line. If the data link goes down, trains must run at a speed where they can stop on sight, otherwise they have a risk of a collision. You're also directly ignoring those with physical disabilities (elderly with canes and walkers). If you are indeed disabled, one would expect you to be the first to recognize other forms of disability.
@@straightpipedieselwow, you’re really not a very nice person. My feeling is at the technology and its poor design, not at you. But, let’s see, you’ve belittled someone rather than politely informing and sharing the benefit if your knowledge, name called, character assassinated, and questioned their disability. I doubt you care much about my or anyone else’s needs when you get away from your little keyboard. You’re clearly set out on point scoring here, so I’m not even going to bother answering the mean spirited points you’ve made back at me to knock down my perspective.
This is exactly what we need in Canada. There are so many small villages and settlements along branch lines not serviced by passenger trains. A platform and bus shelter with a schedule are good enough. Just gotta get some DMUs rolling.
North American Regulations would probably require a 200 ton DMU and the bus stop platform shelters would come in at $50 million
The frustrating thing is that railroads are at the very low end, cheaper and less infrastructure intense than roads for rubber-tired vehicles. Since the railroad tracks and sleepers are most of your foundation if you don’t have insane axle loads. You could run pretty neat passenger and cargo services with absolutely pauperous railroads and vehicles.
Alas, trains have minmaxed into those insanely heavy, insanely big hulks and we’ll have to deal with janky rubber-tired vehicles and endless fields of pavement for anything slightly smaller than that.
I always heard there were provisions for extremely isolated areas. You just stood near the track in certain areas and put up your arm.
I know this is the case for a train stop on the Metro North line. It's just a tiny wooden platform a few feet from the tracks. It's used for a hiking trail on the weekends. (I mean tiny, like 6'x 4') not elevated.
edit; I just checked, newly upgraded. It's all fancy now. Yt search ''Breakneck Ridge Station is Open''
There are similar buttons at some request stops in northern Germany, however when you press the button it does not send complicated radio signage out to the trains, it just lights bright lamps at the ends of the platform which the driver can see from the distance. When the train stops, the driver has to get out and switch the lights off with a key. You might want to visit these request stops, Geoff, one of them is a Least Used too!
There are no signals on most of North Lines. Radio controlled, to cab, from Dingwall. Perhaps Geoff or Rodger could do a video on the signals and point control in North of Scotland.
We have those too on a lot of bus stops here in the west of the Netherlands: when you press the button, a bright lamp lights up. But we also have some bus stops where it does send a radio signal to the driver.
I want to be ‘Revising Request Stops with my bestie in Scotland’ level of iconic.
At one time there were three request stops on the lines north of Inverness - Borrobol and Salzcraggie on the line to Wick, and Glencarron on the line to Kyle - which featured passenger operated semaphore signals. Sadly all three have now closed. I can imagine Geoff having great fun operating them!
Thought about those too. Not at these stations in particular. But they were quite commonplace, here in Sweden, when I was a kid. We called them ”plåtstins” which pretty much means “metal sheet station master”.
I called the whole family out to watch Geoff press the button.
Great program. You and Roger work incredibly well together. Also, Invershin and Culrain are 2 of the 10 least used stations in Scotland, according to the map on your website.
Just like Switzerland! There if you want to alight you must press the door release button! There is no road access between Culrain and Invershin, hence the footbridge attached to the railway bridge. Love the peacocks. Brilliant video, thanks Geoff.
Roger is great. Hope to see him more👍
The Castle on the hill above Culrain - Carbisdale - was built by the ex-wife of the duke of Sutherland. It's known as the Castle of Spite, Its most railway focussed feature is the huge clock tower which has no face on the side facing the railway - it is said because the Lady of the house was not prepared to give her ex husband the time of day as his train passed in it's way to Dunrobin.
Near Chicago, the South Shore line has a few flag stops. You are supposed to press a button that makes a lamp blink for the driver. But they time out, and if the train is late, you may miss it that way.
Beverly Shores and Hudson Lake have the flag stop lights. Has it always been a light, or did they have semaphores at some point?
@@JeffreyJakucyk don't remember semaphores but they may have had them once upon a time.
On the Metra they just make you stand visible on the platform. Not very good when it's super cold and windy.
🦚 Peacocks on the Platform sounds like a awesome band name
Very good - loved it Geoff. I haven't been up there since the mid-1980s when BR did "Go as far as you want for £12 return with a student railcard" so we went from London to Wick (of course). I remember that was diesel loco hauled and split just before Wick with a portion picked up by another loco to Thurso. Took most of the day from Inverness to Wick
Light rain...known as "Scotch mist" in Dunedin...the NZ Dunedin, that is--the Edinburgh of the South.
I admire your and Roger's determination to start recording so early in the morning. Well done for another successful video!
This is great news, and a great video. thanks! Geoff Marshall appreciate it. 👍❤️💯
Loving it as always geoff!
Yes, the long awaited return of this series 😊. Keep going
it *never* stops drizzling in Scotland any more Geoff, that's our new Autumn-Winter-Spring standard.. 15 years ago you'd be a foot-deep in snow, or in a minus 6 breeze despite the sunshine this time of year & that far north.. but these days it just rains 97% of the year.
So this is the video you filmed after you visited Inverness Airport ;) Another great video Geoff peacocking around the Request stops and you and Roger deserve the trolley full of tea :D
Did someone say Trolley Service?! Now I want to travel from Ashchurch to Culrain or Invershin just to press that button and travel on Express Sprinters! Nice to see Roger tag along too and i've enjoyed watching the video!
thanks Tico! i do love a Class 158, it's my favourite ...
Tio Tac Trolley Service Tico riding Sprinters on the Far North line, who would have thought it 😂
Geoff, I love this video! I have actually traveled this line. What a happy memory! ❤
This is seriously one of my favourite videos of yours ever-great content, and Roger is just such a gem!!
I love your videos Geoff, Keep up the good work!
Great video as always. I recently watched the Park Street video where you met Roger for the first time. It's great that from that, you've now had so many adventures together!
“Peacocks on the Platform!” Sounds like a comedy alternative soft rock album.
Well, maybe more like a comedy alternative PROG rock album....😉
Im from Switzerland and here are many stations like that. Only difference is that there is a signal wich goes on when requested
The girder section of the Invershin viaduct is quite amazing from that wee footbridge alongside. It's a perspective you don't usually come across.
I lived Alness for a while before moving to Devon. You were brave, no gloves and a fleece in winter. was nice to be back even though for a short while in your videos x
Peacocks, when you think you have seen it all ... they were not on the bingo card. I swear Scot Rail holiday is really on the todo list
Oh my goodness - a Scottish request stops video - I could never have guessed this was coming?!
The line is beautiful - you pass all the Firths.... Beauly, Moray, and Dornoch. Was in Inverness, and station, just yesterday. The lines too, it and the line to Kyle of Lochalsh, are old lines so you get the clickety-clack virtually all the way. Have said before, wish they'd open the line between Elgin and Aviemore, that would be epic. Finally, Geoff, crazy southerner walking around in just a fleece!
Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf
In Switzerland it's absolutely normal to press a button to stop a regional train for barely used station. There are several lines where every intermediate station is a request stop. It's something quite normal - almost as if you ride a bus.
The Swiss do railways properly
Stopping a train at the push of a button. Love it! Hope you got a nice warm drink on the train Geoff.
Lovely video, Geoff, as usual
The Notifications Section placed this video in the ‘Important’ Section and I couldn’t agree more.
Geoff's out in the weather in Scotland just to bring us the highest quality content. Huzzah!
Always happy to see Roger!
Oh wow, defiantly did not know a request stop video was coming! 😉
Yet another great video. Not been that far up for 30 years, i need to go back!
Love this. As a VI, I’ve always wished something like this could be implemented at bus stops.
Why? Our buses only stop if there’s someone standing or if someone inside pressed the stop button.
I think Sam is saying he’s visually impaired - a VI. As another person with this life experience, I can say, alas, buses don’t stop when they see people at bus stops. Only if you signal. Because people love loitering in damp shelters for no reason. Many operators still don’t train their drivers to stop when they see someone with a white cane or guide dog - folk who can’t see the bus numbers and need to check with the driver. A bus failed to stop for me last week that’s operated by First Glasgow, who for the most part have got this essential bit of inclusivity into their training now. Sadly any system is only as good as its weakest part, or driver. I’ve never used a request train station to test if the driver would stop just upon seeing a white cane or guide dog. Would like to think that railway staff are more thoughtful and inclusive than their private bus operator counterparts. As I commented on another part of the comments, I think these railway kiosks have no joined up bigger picture thinking to be accessible to those of us with a vision impairment - how are we to know it’s there, find it, find a button low down at waist height, use it without any audio cues or integrated hemp point. Poor show, I say, ScotRail.
@@v31.48 Same reason as this button system: with advance warning, the bus can remain at speed rather than having to change all the way to the slow lane, particularly in heavy traffic. The passenger doesn't have to keep looking for the arriving bus (and checking each approaching bus) and can remain seated in the shelter until it stops.
@@straightpipediesel that’s actually true. Although I don’t find it that hard looking until my bus is approaching my stop. I only use the shelter when it’s raining or when it’s very windy
We actually have that close to where my dad lives. One of the bus stops are located on the foot of a rather steep hill, which makes it hard for the driver to see if anyone is standing there.
To solve this problem the bus company has installed a tall pole with a button and an LED. Press the button and the LED starts flashing to tell the driver that someone is waiting.
Great vid Geoff
It’s nice to see a video on Scotland and that too, with Roger? Such fun 👏🏽
Yes
I'd just watched the Inverness Airport station video, but I had no idea you'd also done a request stop video at the same time!
That was interesting thank you both 😊
Request to Stop - I've seen that at most stations in Switzerland. Good to see it has come to the UK.
Geoff, your button pressing skills are awesome. 🤣😅
Oh the anticipation of the button push 😁 Be great to see these installed on the Heart of Wales line. Glad you got tea.
I thought I recognised that viaduct - it's because a few years back I shouldered my bike up the steps and across the footbridge on a daft 72 hour cycling trip to explore Assynt! We stayed at Bonar Bridge. A nice surprise and brought back some very good memories!
Looks like a good idea properly implemented ....
I'm invested, I need to know if you managed to get tea!!
two cups, and some shortbread too.
Very impressed by the friends of Herne Hill Velodrome bidon on the bike!
Unbelievable that it's taken this long for the UK to use an electronic system for request stops. Been in use in Switzerland for decades now. Progress at last.
That footbridge at Invershin is new to me. Back in the day, when there was a magnificent Youth Hostel at Carbisdale Castle on the south side of the river and the only pub in the area on the north side of the river, the trackway over the viaduct was the way to get from one to the other. The various railway trespass warnings and threats were little deterrent to drouthy youth hostellers; luckily there were no scheduled trains in the late evening then anyway.
I've done that illegal crossing in the days the Invershin Hotel was open, coming back well drunk. Everybody did it back in the day. Good there is a crossing again, now legal and safe.
I’ve carried my touring bike up that staircase to go stay at the YHA while riding LEJOG. Sadly the hostel is no more.
A trolley service of drinks and light refreshments? And a button? Splendid!
You certainly earned a cup of tea for that video anyway Geoff 😂
I did an HST trip from Kings X to Inverness a couple of times before they were withdrawn. Got 1st class cheapies on LNER and food was included. On the day between I went up to Kinbrace as I worked out it was not a crossing place so only had to wait about 30 mins for a soutbound train. I had to stand aand flag the southbound train down in those days. Loved the video
Yes, I've done the hand signal to stop the train in Llanfair PG, so the Welsh have request stops too. I wonder if they are going to introduce pushbuttons?
Well done geoff, God I love Scotland, even in the cold. This coming from Melbourne Aus where it is going to be 38 degrees today.
That is very interesting! Greetings from Poland! 👍🚂
Living in Inverness, I really must explore the far North line right on my own doorstep! Only ever been as far as Tain, really must try the request stops, though I would be wearing a proper winter jacket! Lol
Nice one Geoff.
6:58 - The sign referring to Bonar Bridge reminds me of a bit of trivia.
Conrad Bain, who played Mr. Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes", had an identical twin brother named Bonar. Bonar guest-starred on an episode of the comedy show "SCTV", on which he was repeatedly referred to as "Conrad Bain's twin brother".
It opens up to a prank: press the button then run and hide.
7:48 'I can't here you Roger, my hands are so cold', Geoff, you do know cold hands and hearing are not connected, don't you?
It's going to spoil the fun whenever fellow UA-cam legend GLovesTrains visits request stops in the future
Scott rail uses the same ticket machines as the MBTA here in Boston!
Lovely Views Geoff - but REMEMBER your Hat & Gloves!!! Also useful to know about the 'Button' request Stop thingy - thanks for sharing Geoff!!! 😉🚂🚂🚂
In Denmark you also push the bottom to stop, both on the train and on the platform.
I Denmark its just called a trinbræt instead of the danish version of a request stop that would be ønskestop or something like that.
I went on a school trip to nearby Carbisdale Castle in the early 80s, one of the days we went for a walk that involved walking between the tracks on the Shin Viaduct. Things have changed these days
Awesome video
Wonders of modern technology.😊 Still waving still seems to work
Popping your head around the door frame just to say “it’s definitely peacock droppings” had us laughing out loud. Brilliant. Looks like a trip I need to take my next visit to Scotland.
It was a long wait for Geoff to press the button but well worth it
Wow your guest was such a surprise!
Excellent - a no-midge Scottish video. They used to do request stops on the late night Gatwick Express, but that was way back in the time of Mk2F slam door carriages and Class 73's.
It is the wrong time of year for midges.
@@katrinabryce sure is 🦟
Fab! Wick really is the end of all lines.
I was on a train in Tyrol, Austria this winter and found out about request stops on a train for the first time. Makes complete sense of course but I never realised it was a thing! Only worked out what was happening after we flew past two stations that had been listed as stops.
Prior to the footbridge the traditional way to get from the Youth Hostel (Carbisdale Castle - near Culrain) to the Invershin Hotel (nearest pub) was to walk across using the railway line. The history is also interesting as a marriage spat between Duke of Sutherland and his ex with 2 massive properties either side of the water from which they could glare at each other
Used to be stations I looked after in early 1980's
Altnabreac has an engineers siding & points heaters, & I had a request to get electricity supply there... the quote was a 6 figure sum to run a pole line around 7 miles from nearest 11kV supply - I think they opted to keep the propane cylinders and use solar panels
I absolutely love Roger. Please like for Roger appreciation.
Thanks!
Welcome to Scotland - its dark, its wet, but we have peacocks lol! My local station is served by an elderly Scotrail 156 sprinter... you were certainly spoiled getting a trolley service :)
You'll always find more than 1 peacock wandering around!
This is a good information video I wouldn't have known about these new press button things if it wasn't for watching this the train would have just gone straight past 🤣😂
"Push the button"
*Chemical Brothers intensifies*
Galvanize!
(I've got the album.)
In Switzerland, almost all request stops (of which there are many) are equipped with buttons. You press it, and then a special signal (two white lamps horizontally next to each other on a black square that is rotated 45° so it sits on its corner, idk what that's called in English) starts flashing for a set amount of time.
The square is called a rhombus
Works until the signal fails and the train won't stop happend to me multiple times.
@@Bruh-nb1hj but so is every other square; a square is a specific type of rhombus where all the angles happen to be 90°
@@nashorn9745 Where did that happen? I never had that problem.
@@jonistan9268 it was at my local station took about 2 days to get fixed
You should visit Scotlands newest city and its 2 rail stations, Dunfermline.
I've walked across that bridge. All I'll say is that it was an experience.
That was just so much fun! It's one more thing I don't have to do now........
My wife and I had an interesting trip on the Far North line in 2019. Our Kyle of Lochalsh to Dingwall to Thurso connection was cancelled, leaving a small posse of us stuck at Dingwall. It was the last train of the day, of course. The staff had gone home. Via the call button we were told a bus was coming but it seemed to get lost somewhere! Eventually as the only 4 passengers heading all the way to Thurso we were given a taxi ride all the way with another couple, though I fear they may have missed their ferry to Orkney. Our driver (of course) was a Canadian lady. A couple of days later we got the train back through to Inverness so saw the journey by road and rail.
1:10 If you've just left Inverness, then that's the Beauly Firth, or if you're between Dingwall and Tain, that's the Cromarty Firth.
Why are they Firths rather than Sea Lochs? It turns out those are two names for the same thing. "Firth" comes from the same Norse root as "fjord", while "Loch" is Gaelic.
I always understood that firth is what the English would call an estuary, broadening out towards the sea; whereas a sea loch narrows towards the sea before widening again.
But then again, maybe the Scots were making fun of this Sassenach by feeding me false info...
@@trueriver1950 I wouldn't say that was false info - it's just that you can get examples of both firths and lochs that break those rules. For example the two in my earlier comment both narrow at their mouths.
We have loads of these in Switzerland. We don't have this fancy radio signal system, the button is basically just a glorified light switch to turn on a light signal which the train driver can see from a distance if it's blinkig (stop requested) or not. You can press it whenever, but it is only active for 15 minutes, after that you would have to press the button again.
Keep up the good work
In Australia we have a station called Wondabyne on the Hawkesbury River where you have to hail the train with ur good old hand, the platform only fits half a carriage
Beauly station, near Inverness on the Far North and Kyle lines, has a platform so short that you can only use one door of the train. The platform is long enough to fit a standard sized bus shelter and that's it.
Years ago there was a proper platform, but the station was closed. More recently when the station was reopened by public demand the Railway was not willing to reinstate the whole platform but did the cheapest job possible.
I said there's a standard sized bus shelter: well it actually IS a bus shelter to the same design as the local buses use.
I used to work for Roger he is a really nice man.
I don't know why Geoff's incredulous cry of "There's a peacock on the platform!" keeps on making me laugh so much whenever I watch this, but it does!
That’s good!