Made known by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) during yesterday's Devon & Cornwall Local Transport forum was that they will be running more 4 car 158s on the Cardiff - Portsmouth services from May. Anyone know how this will be achieved? For instance does it mean that some 3 car 158s we be reformed into 2 car units. Possible end of 3 car 158s on the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line?

I notice that both the 05:44 and 20:28 from Exeter SD to Exmouth are shown as running but the respective return services are not.

Service cuts or not?

I have always found the site to be reliable as regards restrictions applicable to Rovers and Rangers.

http://www.railrover.org/pages/devon-day-ranger.html

Wonderful statistics but I live in the real world.

Yes many cancellations will not cause too many problems but when they occur at peak times it is another matter.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s current reliability record leaves much to be desired across the whole of their patch.

In previous years the second Class 150 used on the St Ives branch during the summer months has remained in Cornwall during the winter months as a spare unit. This still happening?

Do we know for certain which platform(s) are being extended during the current blockade? Is it just St Erth?

This link provides fuller information

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/gwr-sleeper-service-set-to-be-impacted-for-eight-weeks-while-work-to-protect-vital-rail-link-to-south-west-continues-2

Is it known how many 150s are due to depart and when?

Will there be enough DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) to run the planned services in Devon and Cornwall from December? At the present time GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) regularly struggle to fulfil 3 / 4 car diagrams as there really is no spare capacity, meaning that short formed trains are a regular occurrence.

One Exmouth/Barnstaple/Paignton diagram is currently 2 car. One 150/2 currently works in the Bristol area.

By the 31st December all eight of the 143s must leave and there are also question marks over how long the 3 x Angel 150/2s will remain; also the future of the 2 x 150/0s is unclear.

As I understand it a couple of Turbos will be able to switch move from Reading to Bristol from the start of the new timetable. No more will be able to transfer until the Flex trains are in service but, on present progress, that isn’t going to be any time soon!

I believe that there are currently 10 Castle Class diagrams, so not much more leeway there. I am open to correction on this one.

Three 3 car 158s have to be found to work the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line.

I read that a number of 3 car 158s are being converted to 2 cars; where will these be used? 158s are needed for the Brighton services; will these be 2 or 3 cars?

Away from the summer months I calculate that GWR needs 20 x 150s to operate the planned Devon and Cornwall branch services, the exact number that they have. No fat there!

Is anyone able to provide some clarification on these issues?

Six of Exeter's 143s were in use yesterday (Saturday), 3 pairs. The other two were on Exeter Depot, I suspect out of use.

Arm yourself with a Devon Day Ranger ticket and you could enjoy the delights of runs either side of the Exe Estuary, along the sea wall and up the scenic line to Barnstaple.

On welded track the 143s are quite comfortable and have excellent external visibility.

Whilst I incorrectly posted that the 153s were leaving last Monday I don't believe that they worked on any of the 'Devon Metro' services this past week. I know I pair worked to Cardiff (and back) a couple of times.

Judging by the number of short-formed trains at Exeter today there may be difficult days ahead.

The 153s are still with us. Information obtained and circulated yesterday was 100% inaccurate.

Today two were working on the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) /Riviera services (attached to 150s) and a third as I understand worked down to Penzance. A fourth is on Exeter depot; don't know about the 5th one.

Looks like we have them down here for another week.

From information received today the 153s are off to Bristol tomorrow, Sunday 24th March, and I note that there is a 16:22 from Exeter TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot) to Westbury DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) sidings.

Today, 333,369 and 329 were operating on Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth)/Riviera/Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) services coupled together, 325 was on Exeter depot and 361 was, by elimination, the one working on the Looe branch.

End of another era.

Would post photo of the three but can't work out how to!

I am particularly interested in the seating capacity of the Castle class HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)). Not sure how GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are reconfiguring the interiors of the coaches.


Anyone have a definitive answer?

Anyone know the extent of the damage to the unit (a 150/2 I understand) and whether it will be OOU^▸ (Out Of Use) for any length of time?