Newquay Branch line - engineering work, closures, incidents (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Yes, they are request stops, but imagine stopping a long HST^▸ (High Speed Train) along a platform 2 cars long. 8 carriages of doors unlocked and some rowdy holiday makers. Asking for trouble.

[Graz]

Yeah, definitely not a HST^▸ (High Speed Train)/VXC^▸ (Virgin Cross Country - former franchise). I was thinking more along the lines of a 1-car class 153

[Scooby]

I would imagine 'shack' figures were the highest in a while at the end of Wessex, however FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have probably now killed these back down.

However big up FGW for running a extra HST^▸ (High Speed Train) this coming Bank Holiday Monday, although why run it out ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock)?? The guard must be travelling on it?? Even if it ran Plymouth to Newquay non stop would be of use:

Bank Holiday Monday 28th May HST:
5Z87 LAIRA TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot)  11:15 NEWQUAY    13:31 STP MO   280507 280507 EE
1Z93 NEWQUAY   13:45 PADDINGTN  19:09 STP MO   280507 280507 XX

[Scooby]

Well the first FGW^▸ (First Great Western) out, and the last FGW back then... Would still offer a day in NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)).....

Stopping wouldnt extend journey times much at all as the linespeed is so low.

I don't think so, because are they not only 4 hours apart

Its a bit more than 4 hours!! This is a Sat at Newquay:
Trains at NEWQUAY
All trains from 00:01 to 24:00 on 09/06/07
Lc Arr Dep Wttid Origin          Destination     Typ Days From   To     TC^‡(resolve)
08:36 ***** 2C34 PLYMOUTH  06:53 NEWQUAY   08:36 WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table) SO   260507 080907 OO^▸ ((Double O) - model railway, 4mm to 1 foot scale)
***** 09:40 1E47 NEWQUAY   09:40 NCASTLCEN 18:34 WTT SO   260507 090607 XX
11:03 ***** 1C08 PLYMOUTH  08:58 NEWQUAY   11:03 WTT SO   260507 080907 XX
***** 11:39 1A90 NEWQUAY   11:39 PADDINGTN 16:57 WTT SO   260507 080907 XX
13:02 ***** 1C77 PADDINGTN 08:05 NEWQUAY   13:02 VAR SO   090607 090607 XX
***** 13:20 1A92 NEWQUAY   13:20 PADDINGTN 18:21 WTT SO   260507 080907 XX
14:44 ***** 1V29 MANCR PIC 07:00 NEWQUAY   14:44 WTT SO   260507 300607 XX
***** 15:22 1M28 NEWQUAY   15:22 MANCR PIC 22:47 WTT SO   260507 300607 XX
16:43 ***** 1C82 PADDINGTN 11:35 NEWQUAY   16:43 WTT SO   260507 080907 XX
***** 17:13 1A97 NEWQUAY   17:13 PADDINGTN 22:29 WTT SO   260507 080907 XX
18:35 ***** 1V49 NCASTLCEN 09:41 NEWQUAY   18:35 WTT SO   260507 090607 XX
***** 19:50 2P86 NEWQUAY   19:50 PLYMOUTH  21:40 WTT SO   260507 080907 OO



So you would have 11:03 until 17:13, perfect for a family day out!!!

[Jim]

Didn't know there was a 1103 in from PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)

[Lee]

First Great Western has said demand has been very strong for its new summertime direct service from London Paddington to Newquay (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6280204.stm

[paulsouthwales]

I have been trying desperately to get any advanced/cheaper tickets for a Bristol Parkway to Newquay journey, down on Sat, back on Sun, for weeks, and fail to get anything other than a Saver!  I know the trains are busy, and it is probably a Virgin XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service on this route rather than FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but are these cheap/book in advance tickets available on weekends for this route?

[Timmer]

I have been trying desperately to get any advanced/cheaper tickets for a Bristol Parkway to Newquay journey, down on Sat, back on Sun, for weeks, and fail to get anything other than a Saver!  I know the trains are busy, and it is probably a Virgin XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service on this route rather than FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but are these cheap/book in advance tickets available on weekends for this route?

They should be. Must be Virgin XC not releasing the fares as I can't believe they are all sold, especially with the weather of late! If you wanted to travel by FGW to Newquay you'd have to travel to Reading as no FGW services to/from Newquay services pass through Bristol anymore which is quite a diversion.

[Scooby]

Today (Friday) FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) 09:05 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) is yet again rammed to the gunnels and loosing time as a result.

Am fairly sure cheap tickets to NQY Fri-Mon are non-exsistant.

[Timmer]

Today (Friday) FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) 09:05 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) is yet again rammed to the gunnels and loosing time as a result.

Am fairly sure cheap tickets to NQY Fri-Mon are non-exsistant.

So from that we can take it that FGW now know that there is a market for this service and will continue it in future.

[Lee]

No Pacers on the line yet , but cancellations all the same :

11:24 Par to Newquay due 12:14
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

10:18 Newquay to Par due 11:03
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

Road transport has been arranged.

[Jim]

The following Penzance - Plymouth covered the Keyham stop, but not Devonport or Dockyard!

[grahame]

The following Penzance - Plymouth covered the Keyham stop, but not Devonport or Dockyard!

Is that because of "Grandfather right" or a long platform at Keyham, or because Keyham has a much heavier traffic flow that Devonport orDockyard?   Or is it just a strange decision?   Forgive me if this is a silly question - not really my "home turf".

[Lee]

The following Penzance - Plymouth covered the Keyham stop, but not Devonport or Dockyard!

Is that because of "Grandfather right" or a long platform at Keyham, or because Keyham has a much heavier traffic flow that Devonport orDockyard?   Or is it just a strange decision?   Forgive me if this is a silly question - not really my "home turf".

I doubt that its due to usage. 2005 / 2006 Passenger Figures :

Devonport 18573
Dockyard 4895
Keyham 7594

[Tractorman]

Was done to save time, passengers for Dockyard and Devonport were asked to alight at Keyham and wait for the following 14:24 ex Gunnislake service.