Great Western Coffee Shop

New timetable means earlier and more frequent services for Devon and Cornwall

The Department for Transport has today agreed to the first significant redesign of First Great Western^s mainline timetable in Devon and Cornwall for over a decade.

The changes will see an improved service for the South West, providing an earlier morning direct service from London to Plymouth and Cornwall, getting to key destinations beyond Totnes 40 minutes earlier than today.

Answering the calls of local business, the proposals will deliver a much improved service for the region, supporting the generation of economic growth through improved connectivity between major centres.

Key improvements include:
^        The 0706 Paddington to Paignton service will now instead run to Plymouth and Penzance, arriving 40 minutes earlier at key stations from Totnes and beyond than the current first direct service from London. The 0730 Paddington to Penzance service will now instead run to Paignton.
^        Additional capacity for summer travellers on the late morning (1039) service from Plymouth through Cornwall by using an eight carriage High Speed Train rather than a smaller local train.
^        Faster mid-morning service between Paddington and Plymouth
^        Improved connections between Paddington and Torbay
^        Faster return service between Paignton and London

First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: ^We have been able to make important changes that have gone a long way to support the communities we serve, increasing the number of services in the south west by 143% since 2007. The South West is a key region for First Great Western and one which we are proud to serve. We know the needs of the region are changing and we need to make sure our timetable reflects the requirements of passengers and communities. In particular, these changes we are planning reflect the long standing aspirations of customers across the South West. It is something we have wanted to do for some time and I am delighted that the Department for Transport and the responses to the local consultation have allowed us to take this forward. This has been a difficult year for rail travel in the south west and it is great to deliver some good news to follow the speedy recovery from the sea wall collapse.  It also comes at a time when we are promoting travel to Devon and Cornwall through television and national media advertising.^

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: ^It^s great news that passengers will be able to travel from London into Plymouth and Cornwall earlier and faster. These new services will help open the south west for business, giving a boost to the region^s economy. Strong transport links are the key to our long-term economic plan, which is why we are investing ^38 billion over the next five years on maintaining and improving our railways. I am pleased to see train companies like First Great Western playing their part by giving passengers better services.^

Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader, Plymouth City Council said: ^I am delighted that First Great Western has listened to what the Council and I have been arguing for along with the business community.  The early morning train to Plymouth from London is really important and could transform London^s view of our City^

Steve Hindley, Chair Heart of South West LEP said: "We welcome the announcement of earlier trains into Plymouth and Cornwall from London by First Great Western, which will improve our links with the capital and south east. Better connectivity is an essential element of our plans for economic growth, and this is a first and vital step in investment into our infrastructure.^
 
Ben Rhodes, Chief Executive Devon and Cornwall Business Council said: "These timetable changes are great news. FGW have worked effectively with stakeholders from across their routes to ensure that, often simple, but highly effective changes are made to the timetable to improve serves for most users. Specifically for business travellers travelling into and out of Devon and Cornwall; the retention of direct London services to Torbay, and the addition of a direct service from Bath and Bristol, the earlier arrival in Plymouth and Penzance are all welcomed"

Chris Pomfret, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said: ^Earlier trains into Penzance from London, a better spread of services throughout the day and improved connections to high speed services are all things the LEP has asked for so this announcement is very welcome. Connectivity from London is vital for business and leisure travellers alike and these changes will benefit not just Cornwall but the Isles of Scilly as well. Coupled with planned investment in the sleeper service and new signalling, this is great news for rail travel in our region.^

Subject to approval by Network Rail, the new timetable will operate from December this year.

It will be extremely interesting to see if the earlier HST to PLY makes any difference whatsoever....

I must admit the re-routing of the 07:30 (08:27 off Swindon) is not ideal for me.

I assume it will connect into a XC HST at Newton Abbot but that will mean a half hour later arrival into Plymouth and later still into Cornwall by virtue of another change.

You could still make the re-jigged 07:06 from Swindon, if it keeps its current stopping pattern, to arrive in Penzance by lunchtime but it would mean leaving a whole two hours earlier and changing at Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton!!  I suspect also it won't be an off peak fare either.

I wonder if the new look 07:30 will adopt the stopping pattern of the other train to Paignton via Box (the 10:00 ex Pad) which calls at Dawlish and Teignmouth?

Yes.....but there will be a two hour gap in the early morning departures (0706 to 0906).  No other major city in the west has that.  Although it will be useful for some, for most people getting to Paddington for 0706 may prove difficult.