Some thoughts on near and far future possibilities

[whole diary]

[The Grecian]

There was briefly a post-Beeching Paddington-Ilfracombe service via Honiton and Castle Cary in around 1965. There might have been one to Bude as well but I'm not sure.

I have a cab ride DVD of Salisbury to Exeter where it mentions that the Western Region would probably have closed that line if they'd been able to but there was particular opposition in the Sherborne area where a lot of influential types live. Given that all stations east of Yeovil Junction now generate significant traffic including commuter traffic (look at the number of peak hour trains eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening) it seems to have been a wise decision.

Unfortunately any Barnstaple-Paddington train via Honiton is hampered by the single track nature of the line. Exeter-Waterloo could be done in around 3 hours if all double track (that's how long most trains seemed to take when it was 2 hourly after the 159s were introduced) but is used too intensively for this now. It'd also interrupt the standard hourly service. Given that it will take at least 50 minutes for any train using the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) line and possibly an hour or more, it'd make more sense to send any service to Paddington even given a stop Exeter to allow the driver to change ends. There's also a 30mph speed restriction from Eggesford-Barnstaple and I'm not sure what trains other than 14x and 15x units are allowed to exceed it.

I'm not sure how competitive it would be with the North Devon Link Road to Tivvy Parkway anyway.

[ellendune]

That would be the North Devon Link Road that was built over much of the direct Barnstable to Taunton route.

[chopper1944]

With all the talk of Yeovil Junction, how about trains from Weymouth being able to call at Yeovil Junction with a link similar to that proposed back in the 1860's but never built. It would mean trains reversing at Yeovil Junction  for Pen Mill but it does seem a nonsense that there are no trains scheduled between these two stations

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

You got a half hourly bus between the two

[stebbo]

I had read recently that serious thought was being given to Okehampton to Plymouth. Could be very useful given the fragility of the sea wall from Exeter to Newton Abbot.

Not sure where that leaves Newton Abbot/Totnes/Torbay if there are longer term problems with the sea wall.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Double the avocet line to Digby and Sowton and loop Lympstone village, with a shuttle service from exc-top into bay platform.
Re-open the Okehampton line 7 days a week terminating at exc.
30 mins service Exeter to Torbay.
Large scale update to the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) line.

[RichardB]

I had read recently that serious thought was being given to Okehampton to Plymouth. Could be very useful given the fragility of the sea wall from Exeter to Newton Abbot.

Not sure where that leaves Newton Abbot/Totnes/Torbay if there are longer term problems with the sea wall.

Okehampton - Exeter yes, but not aware anyone (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/DCC^» (Devon County Council - website) etc) is giving any serious thought to Okehampton - Plymouth.  Key thing first is to get Tavistock - Bere Alston re-opened.