A good idea which might well allow for additional trains for Pewsey. I presume that, should these come in, the express services from London to Westbury, Devon & Cornwall will run fast from Newbury / Bedwyn to Westbury with the extended Bedwyn's providing the calls for Pewsey?

Probably none other than variations in the timetable to take account for bypassing, rather than calling at, Westbury.

As a side point to this I see that the engineering works section of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s website mentions other work coming up before this lengthy closure of the Westbury station area:

- 11th to 14th November: Theale to Westbury
- 10th to 12th December: Newbury to Westbury

I would imagine that trains between Devon & Cornwall and London Paddington would divert via. Melksham with the Bedwyn services filling the gaps on the Bedwyn - Reading route.

Dave

I am not sure if this relates to the need for the extra platform at Newquay and the new passing loop at Goss Moor but the engineering works section on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s website says that buses replace trains between Par and Newquay from Monday 18th November until Sunday 01st December.

Dave

Indeed, but so does a card transaction.

Dave

Indeed so. And a slight slip on my part: Network Rail (Western) put out this video on 7th March which says three, rather than four, heritage lines (Helston, B&W and Plym Valley) are benefitting from the redundant equipment and the Helston line is getting some of the redundant trackwork too.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1765718838627213317

Dave

I voted no. If I have cash I will continue to use it for everything I can. Besides the Swanage line will simply pay for the handling of each payment: is that really worth it? I think not and regard going 100% cashless as an excuse for "can't be bothered to handle it."

The French have a law called Article R642-3 which lays down that the acceptance of cash is compulsory by law and the refusal to accept coins and banknotes which are legal tender is punished by a second-class fine which is currently set at €150 (approx. £128) for each instance and I would welcome something like that over here.

Dave

I was down at Par on Tuesday and was told that all the signalling at Par has been accounted for and will be divided among four heritage railways (Chacewater, Bodmin & Wenford, Helston and, apparently, Plym Valley) and a museum or two so it is good to see that the redundant signalling, at least where Par is concerned - I don't know about the redundant signalling from Lostwithiel and Truro, will be found a good home rather than ending up in a skip.

I will be interested to see where the bracket semaphores from Par (PR3, PR5 and PR55) are going to end up but Network Rail said on a Twitter post on Tuesday 05th March to "Watch out for an update soon on how old equipment will be heading for new homes with heritage railway groups" so it seems more will become known soon.

Dave

I have also been past the box on many occasions: I would also have jumped at the chance to go inside had I been offered it.

Dave

I am told that Truro SB^▸ (Signal Box) closed at 0039hrs on Tuesday 27th February.
Truro (previously Truro East) Signal Box: operational 1899-2024.

Dave

I would be surprised if it didn't have regenerative braking: if it doesn't then I wonder why not.

Dave

My sympathies to the signaller's family and friends. RIP.

Dave

Engineering block to commission the new system set to be as follows with Truro being completed first by the looks of it.

27th February - 03rd March: Rail replacement services St. Austell - Penzance and Truro - Falmouth. Trains will run between St. Ives, St. Erth and Penzance and between Plymouth and St. Austell.

04th March - 08th March: Rail replacement services Plymouth to Penzance via. St. Austell and Truro not calling at Liskeard. Also bus replacements Par - Newquay and Truro - Falmouth. Trains will run Plymouth to Liskeard, Plymouth to Gunnislake and also St. Ives to Penzance via. St. Erth.

09th & 10th March: Rail replacement services Plymouth to Penzance as well as the Newquay, Falmouth and Looe branch lines. Trains will run St. Ives to Penzance and also between Plymouth and Gunnislake.

https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering/cornwall

Dave

It would appear that the St. Ives to St. Erth and St. Erth to Penzance services are running: there have been no cancellations on either service since just before 12 noon.

Chance would be a fine thing: the letters "FLUD BARRIER" are now showing on the TDs at Cowley Bridge Junction so services to Okehampton and Barnstaple may now all be on hold.

Dave

Just had a look on this Dawlish webcam: choppy seas and some decent waves but doesn't look too bad as at 2330 this evening.
https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/england/devon/dawlish.html

The "Marine Traffic" app on my phone gives forecast maximum windspeeds of 40 knots (46mph) for Exmouth at 0000hrs UTC and the same for Teignmouth at that time but with 43 knots forecast for 0900.

Stay safe all,
Dave

All to be done in one go then by the sound of it: footbridge + signalling.

Dave

Another line closure has been listed in Cornwall for Tuesday 27th February to Sunday 10th March 2024. I had heard that the new signalling system was due for commissioning in the first quarter of 2024 so I guess that will be the period when that work will take place.

Dave