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Location notes
Bath Spa is the main railway station which serving the city. It is an ex-GWR station, the others being Bath Green Park (ex-Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway), which closed in 1966, the site of which is now occupied by a market, with the former trainshed being the car park for the adjacent Sainsburys supermarket and Oldfield Park on the west side of the city, which is a good place to see the Avon Bin liner pulling out from the council siding.
Railway type and traffic
The principal mainline trains are operated by First Great Western, using HSTs (Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads normally) with Alphaline operating local services to Cardiff Central (mostly class 158s).
There are always opportunities to see freight trains, light engines (eg class 66) and there is an occasional steam special.
There are always opportunities to see freight trains, light engines (eg class 66) and there is an occasional steam special.
Environment
Bath Spa is located on the southern edge of the town and is in an urban setting. There is plenty to do and see in the town (eg Roman Baths) and the shopping is good.
There are many pretty towns nearby, perhaps the most picturesque being Bradford-on-Avon, a few miles up the road, with its buildings mostly constructed with Cotswold Stone.
Bath Rugby Club is situated close by and on match days, it can get quite busy, but they are quite a mild-mannered bunch!
There are many pretty towns nearby, perhaps the most picturesque being Bradford-on-Avon, a few miles up the road, with its buildings mostly constructed with Cotswold Stone.
Bath Rugby Club is situated close by and on match days, it can get quite busy, but they are quite a mild-mannered bunch!
Road directions
By car, Bath is easy to find, being reached by the A4, with clear signs into the Town Centre and to the station.
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Bath Spa map co-ordinates
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Bath Spa map co-ordinates
Parking
It is best to leave your car in a car park rather than on the street as it can get very busy in the area. Unfortunately, there is no NCP in the town.
Public transport
The main bus station is located just over the road from the station, so if you come by bus rather than train, you will arrive more or less at the same spot.
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Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Toilets on the station or in Marks and Spencer. There are not many public loos so they can get quite busy.
Loads of places to eat. If you fancy something a little more upmarket, I tried Fishworks in Green Street, which was excellent, but you will need to book.
There is also a very good local pub serving real ales called The Royal Oak on the Lower Bristol Road about a 3 minute walk north from the station.
Loads of places to eat. If you fancy something a little more upmarket, I tried Fishworks in Green Street, which was excellent, but you will need to book.
There is also a very good local pub serving real ales called The Royal Oak on the Lower Bristol Road about a 3 minute walk north from the station.
Accommodation
There is a good supply of hotels in the area.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Bath Spa
Streetmap links
Bath Spa general view map
Bath Spa close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Bath Spa
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Bath Spa
Googly map
Bath Spa general view map
Bath Spa close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Bath Spa
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
No particular recommendatons - the station is on a curve so lighting is not a problem.
Update from Paul Udey 26-3-12:
A walking route has been created between the up and down tracks with a handrail running the full length of the platforms which ruins photography in the station area.
Update from Paul Udey 26-3-12:
A walking route has been created between the up and down tracks with a handrail running the full length of the platforms which ruins photography in the station area.
General views - All photographs © Alan Wallwork unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north - Image © Paul Udey
Up side 158956 on a Cardiff to Portsmouth train.
Fig 2 - Looking south - Image © Paul Udey
Down side 67029 arriving with the VSOE.
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
