Bristol - Plymouth Service

[whole diary]

[John R]

Has it struck anyone else how poor parts of the service is for this route between the West's two principle cities.  Need to be in Plymouth by 9am? You have to leave Bristol at.. err.... 0529. That's really going to tempt the business travellers, isn't it. Maybe, bit later, say 10am? Still need to leave at 0646. The first decent fast service doesn't arrive until 1048.

Coming back, admittedly less relevant for business travellers (who won't have travelled anyway - see above) the last service to Bristol of the evening leaves Plymouth at 1935 - the last XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) an hour earlier.

Couldn't XC run an early service down in the morning and a late one back in the evening? I suspect this leaves one too few sets at Plymouth to form the services that depart before the far west sets arrive at Plymouth to pick up the hourly slots, but I can't see this is insurmountable with a bit of imagination.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Agreed, John: the service is cra.. rubbish.  How about flying, though, as an alternative?  Even more cra.. worse: see http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/flight_information/destinations/times.aspx?destination=PLH 

[John R]

I did look at the flight timetable, though as an aside I quite like the Plymouth-Gatwick service via Newquay. Wonder what height it reaches on the first leg?

Many of Air SouthWest's services from Bristol should, by any environmental consideration, be shunned by travellers, but the Plymouth one is the most extreme. I think its one leg of the Plymouth - North services, which call at Bristol to pick up more passengers? Can't see it would survive on a stand alone basis.     

[Chris from Nailsea]

Erm ... actually, John, Air South West's 'services' are now very emphatically shunned by me and my colleague in our Bristol office.

And yes, on the Newquay - Plymouth 'hop', I suspect they just leave the undercarriage down   

[gaf71]

Also, those two services you mention, are units(i think), so no catering at all, plus all the station outlets closed at that time. Not sure of exact timings, but would imagine 2.5 hours to Plymouth, 4.5 to PNZ. Thats a long time without refreshment!

[devon_metro]

Wessex used to provide a trolley that changed crews at Newton Abbot of all places!

[woody]

Agreed, John: the service is cra.. rubbish.  How about flying, though, as an alternative?  Even more cra.. worse: see http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/flight_information/destinations/times.aspx?destination=PLH 

Add to that the fact that the first Paddington/Plymouth service in the morning (07.30ex Padd via Bristol) does not arrive in Plymouth till 11.20 if your Lucky!,making the situation with rail services between the regions 2 major cities in the morning pretty grim.No wonder most people choose to drive down the M5/A38/A30.
 

[eightf48544]

Just found timetable for Tessin Wismar via Rostock for 2006.

First train Rostock Wismar 03:56 arr 4:59.
First train Tessin Wismar 05:05 arr Rostock 06:39 arr Wismar 07:15.
Then basically hourly until 19:14.

Admittedly last through train is fairly early but then everything dies before eight pm.

Other way 04:20 Wissmar Rostock 5:35 Tessin 06:13
With a 04:57 Rostock Tessin arr 05:26.


Last through train 20:40 arr 22:35. Later train Bad Doberan Rostock 22:28 arr 22:46 now that is quite late!

Googling populations gave Rostock 200K, Wismar 46K Tessin 4.1K! Total quarter million.

There are also 20 intermediate stations on the line all trains stop all stations. Bad Doberan 11K is probably largest.

How big are Bristol and Plymouth? Plus Taunton, Exeter.


All right the line is probably heavily subsidised by the Lander but  least they get a resonable service.

How much subsidy do UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railways get?

It makes you wonder if we are really serious about reducing car journeys and increasing rail travel in this country