Great Western Coffee Shop

Not sure where to put this...

http://therailwaycentre.com/News%20January%202008/080108-NR.html

"London - West" is probably a sensible place for it, thanks. Liam.

The article is an update on Network Rail's plans to redouble parts of the Salisbury to Exter line, singled about 30 years ago. The redoubleing takes the form of long passing loops so that trains can be scheduled to pass each other with minimal effect on their journey times provided that both are on time or equally late.

The South West Trains London to Exeter and beyond service is most effected; may also have some implications for FGW at times they are diverting through that way due to engineeing works on "their" line to Exeter.

Do we know if any further works are planned (or needed) to accomodate extra freight out of the new Exeter terminal?

At the risk of making a negative out of a positive, it's nearly a year since the franchise started, and NR are just getting round to design work for what is a franchise commitment. Does anyone know when work is likely to start?

And whilst a dynamic passing loop of 3 miles is an improvement on a straight passing loop, it's not going to make a big difference to timekeeping when services arriving from the east will be nearly 3 hours into their journey and already had to negotiate long stretches of single track. 3 miles may be appropriate for the Merthyr or Ebbw Vale branch lines, but not a line where services will be travelling at up to 90mph.

Still I guess it's an infrastructure and service improvement that some of us would be very happy to get on our services.
 

Eg the Cotswold line.

Expanding the Evesham loop to 3 miles would make a difference (or any section of single)!

When the Axminster loop goes in and the enhanced service starts then SWT don't go west of Exeter! was in their franchise bid, so Ivybridge will lose out!

That's bad news! SWT provide a good/cheaper service for the people.

And it's competition for FGW- that's needed!

Dewarw - would it be possible to drop your map now - I'm fed up with having to scroll down the vast acres of blank space that appear whenever you post. 

+1 for this

Ye, is a bit annoying.

Mozilla Firefox + Adblock Plus means I haven't seen it since the day it first appeared ;)

Should this happen, and the official DfT position is that "services will be reviewed", then one of the Ivybridge services lost will be a key commuter train from Plymouth.

However, HST's can call at Ivybridge now!

This is true. I wonder if they will once/if SWT withdraw?

I think they should scrap the units, and call some HSTs there. I've been on an HST from Ivybridge and was better than a grotty 153 I was likely to get which sadly was cancelled  ::)

Sorry, everyone (to be honest, I was getting sick of it as well!), the map has gone. If you wish to see it again, look on Wikipedia.

I hope you found it interesting!


I hope that this would not put 3 hour expresses to Plymouth under threat!!!!!

Would be sensible on the Plymouth terminaters/Starters

What I would propose. Bold is an HST. Italics is time High speed train starts from Pad/Plym

To Plymouth  0700, 0820, 1016, 1210 (0905), 1341 (SWT), 1422 (1105),  1610 (1305)
, 1642 (SWT), 1825 (1505),

From Plymouth:
0550 (0535(To PAD)), 0800 (0747 (from PNZ to PAD)), 1000 (0947 (from PNZ to PAD via Bristol)), 1125, 1310 (1255 (To PAD)), 1348, 1502 (SWT), 1715 (1700(To PAD)), 1803 (SWT), 1858

In summary:
 9 Trains to Plymouth (4 from Paddington)
 10 Trains from Plymouth (5 to Paddington)

Why not run a Newton Abbot - Saltash/Liskard "Devon Metro" service at a pretty high frequency.

Calling at:

Newton Abbot
Totnes
Ivebridge
Plympton (new station)
Plymouth
All stations beyond.

Then have some through trains as expresses in the area (ie stop some Ivebridge, Totnes HST calls).

Ok- not enough stock blah blah, but can you see where I am coming from?

I'd love to see a station at Plympton!

"Change here for Sainsburys"

There used to be a Station in Plympton,

In fact east from Plymouth North Road there used to be on the line to Newton Abbot;

Mutley
Lipson Vale Halt
Laira Green
Laira Halt (staff?)
PLYMPTON
Cornwood
Ivybridge (reopened on new site)
Bittaford Platform
Wrangaton
Brent
Totnes (never closed)

One interesting note is that trains can still terminate/change ends at Saltash when arriving in the up platform from the Plymouth direction as there is stil an LOS signal beyond the platform and a "dummy" to bring the trains in.

 :)  :)

I think it would be a god idea to get more commuters travelling by train. Obviously, not all of the stations could be reopened.

It is a shame the lines are not electrified, then a rapid transit system could operate in/out of Plymouth!

Various options are explored in the link below.
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymrail.pdf

Well lets just hope when the Enhanced service starts that South West Trains still run to Paignton and PLymouth, after all the DfT only specifiy the Minimum services that have to RUN. So nothing stopping SWT from still reaching Plymouth.

Ummm, if you read what I posted it says they wont be going West of Exeter, PLYMOUTH IS WEST OF EXETER!

Shame really. Its possible to get a 159 to Paignton, instead the number of trains will be reduced and I will have to sit on a pacer!

Or probably stand!

I doubt FGW/Dft/XC will increase the number of services to compensate.

They did when ATW stopped train services down here and this will be a similar service level cut.

I did read what you posted, I said it would be nice if SWT keep running to Plymouth. It might not be a Franchise requirement for SWT to run to Plymouth, but then a LOT of Services run By FGW are above Minimum Franchise Speck.

It was WESSEX that kept the trains running that ATW withdrew.

But ATW transferred two units to Wessex to run them, can't see SWT doing that some how!

Will be interesting as the 1751 ish from Exeter St Davids, fairly peak hour all stopper, will need replacing and FGW don't have that many 142s spare with half of them tucked away in Exeter TMD broken!

Yeh with extra stock from ATW which the DfT sorted out.

Do we have an exact number regarding how many Class 142 units are out of action?

No idea but in the middle of the day there were about 5 doing nothing in the yard!

There is 1 that is gutted for spares and 1 thats dead I think.

Yes - 001 is dead and hence was canibalised for spares.

Not dead enought to get to Exeter in the first place though?

It got used for spares to keep the others running.

It required an engine drop and it was considered not worth it so as Jim said, got used for spares.

And the other half running services - broken!

Surely a Pacer, by definition, cannot be not broken?

There was only one out of action today by the looks of it.

Good!

Gordon Brown's proposals for organ doning by default are already working, then?  :-\

RUMOUR is that up to 6 more 150/1's will be arriving at Exeter in the future. When and where from, the rumour mill does not know. Did I say that this is a rumour ;)

We will be getting some, i'm usnsure as to how many, possibly ten form East Midland Trains when they're replaced with Class 172's

Another rumour floating about is that the 142s are to be refurbished and the 150s are to go to Northern of all places!

Trust me, we're getting the 150/1's from London midland!  ;)

Thats a relief!

EMT don't have any 150's..

do you know when?

The LM 150s are to be replaced in 2009/10 with 172.

Most LM 150s are going to Northern. maybe some might go to FGW.

I meant London Midland, the new franchises are soooooooo confusing.

I was under the impression that a contract had already been signed for fgw to take at least 10

3 next summer, 6 summer 2010 and the two we've got, total 11.

You've just confused me.

The 150/1s FGW have currently are London Overground units ...

We're getting some from each, the 3 next year are from LO when they get their new unit's.

Right - from the GOBLIN I presume?

I haven't seen any new unit orders for London Overground apart from the 378s so are they getting a unit cascade?

Currently they have 33 units.

with 52 on order. (8 172/0s and 44 378s)

I can only assumue that they're getting rid of all of there old stock

The whole 'scheme' is detailed nicely in this report although its more of a wishlist at the moment!   I also read last week that the freight depot at Exeter has received outline planning permission with work to commence later this year.


www.devon.gov.uk/pb_exeter-waterloo_report_v1.pdf  (http://www.devon.gov.uk/pb_exeter-waterloo_report_v1.pdf)