Great Western Coffee Shop

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/London-train-cuts-defended/article-1365385-detail/article.html (http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/London-train-cuts-defended/article-1365385-detail/article.html)

This caught my eye, and yet again we see the local newspaper implying that SWT's service reductions beyond Exeter are somehow discretionary. Why don't SWT just state the obvious, that the decision was made in 2006 by the DfT? A cursory glance through the franchise spec shows that Paignton has been on borrowed time pending the Axminster work, and the Exeter hourly improvements.

Further, the paper reckons that... ""No details are yet known of what substitute services are going to be provided as replacements from December 12."

Presumably checking with FGW or an online journey planner would find that there are some additional FGW services via Taunton etc - the second local hauled service springs to mind for instance?

Paul

I like the way they moan about all the caravans at Dawlish warren losing services, oh wait, lets scrap all the extra London trains and Axminster loop just so we can carry all the Sun 9.99 holiday makers from Dawlish Warren to Dawlish for 1.10 each! Anyway, there won't be any less services coz FGW are covering them!

Shoddy local journalism at its best/worst. Something tells me that the holidaying occupants of those 1000 or more caravans aren't going to be too upset about the reduction in frequency of a plodding (albeit direct) service to Waterloo...

Can't expect much better from the Herald Express, I did have a chuckle to myself when reading this morning.

However let us not sidetrack from the fact that these very useful services are being lost. They are well used and provide a useful link to east Devon. Also, its nice to travel in a civilised manner instead of crammed into a bus wanna-be!

DO many people use the SWT all the way to London? Yes if you're on a budget and not in a hurry.

From Honiton eastwards, yes, but many people use the trains from Salisbury to the coast for example.

What news on some of the ex-SWT services being replace by FGW with locos and MkIIs? I for one would be happy to bash down to Paignton from Exeter in a MkII rather than a SWT 158/9 or FGW dmu.

I think part of the second LHCS diagram replaces the morning SWT service:

Cardiff 0800
Bristol TM 0855
Taunton 1002
Exeter SD 1035
Paignton 1127

Paignton 1247
Exeter SD 1333
Taunton 1409
Bristol TM 1521
Cardiff 1629

But when I had a quick check I didn't think the afternoon SWT was covered...

Paul