'The Tarka Tourer' - HST to Barnstaple, Sunday 17 April 2016

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

I thought this had been mentioned elsewhere, but cannot find it.  UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Railtours, in conjunction with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) is running The Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Explorer from London Paddington to Barnstaple on Sunday, 17th April.

I will hazard a guess that it will be GWR's 'Green One' and it is as good as sold out. Timings are as follows...........

1Z17 0837 London Paddington to Barnstaple
5Z17 1229 Barnstaple to Exeter New Yard
5Z18 1506 Exeter New Yard to Barnstaple
1Z18 1625 Barnstaple to London Paddington

For single line pathing reasons, the empty stock has to return to Exeter whilst the tour visits Woody Bay, so anybody wishing to photograph an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on the Tarka Line, you will have four opportunities during this tour.

[mods, if this already has a separate thread, please just merge this in, edited to show the confirmed timings please]

[JayMac]

Struggled to find it via Google. Because the name is actually The Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Tourer. 

http://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-tarka-tourer-125-special/

[Rob on the hill]

Is there much to see or do in Barnstaple on a Sunday afternoon?

[PhilWakely]

Is there much to see or do in Barnstaple on a Sunday afternoon?

Most pax are participating in the included coach trip to Woody Bay and the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, so, "Yes"

[Rob on the hill]

Thanks Phil, unfortunately the Woody Bay excursion is fully booked. I'm travelling on the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) so looking forward to a good day out.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

I would have been on it if it went the proper way!

[John R]

It's surprising that there is no mention of this on the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Rail website, as it would have been a bit of good publicity for the line, even if locals didn't have the opportunity to use it.  Having said that, the website hasn't been updated since June last year, which is starting to reflect somewhat poorly on the association.

[SandTEngineer]

Well I hope the return trip keeps to time as I will be on a train that is scheduled to overtake it at Newbury

[PhilWakely]

Is there much to see or do in Barnstaple on a Sunday afternoon?

Most pax are participating in the included coach trip to Woody Bay and the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, so, "Yes"

Thanks Phil, unfortunately the Woody Bay excursion is fully booked. I'm travelling on the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) so looking forward to a good day out.

Apologies Rob, I hadn't realised you had asked the question as you were actually travelling. The answer is still 'Yes'. If you are up for it, I would recommend a walk along the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Trail from Barnstaple station.

[PhilWakely]

I will hazard a guess that it will be GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s 'Green One'.....

Apparently not - just a common or garden FGW^▸ (First Great Western) blue one 

[TaplowGreen]

.........interesting that we're often told that there are no spare sets for more capacity/services as they are all either in use or in for regular maintenance, and that regular services are being cancelled due to staff shortages........... this (along with staff jollies) however appears to be exception?

[LiskeardRich]

.........interesting that we're often told that there are no spare sets for more capacity/services as they are all either in use or in for regular maintenance, and that regular services are being cancelled due to staff shortages........... this (along with staff jollies) however appears to be exception?

Sunday's I believe are the exception for stock availability. I haven't seen any HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) cancelled due to lack of staff, all seem to be dmu units that cancel.

[TaplowGreen]

.........interesting that we're often told that there are no spare sets for more capacity/services as they are all either in use or in for regular maintenance, and that regular services are being cancelled due to staff shortages........... this (along with staff jollies) however appears to be exception?

Sunday's I believe are the exception for stock availability. I haven't seen any HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) cancelled due to lack of staff, all seem to be dmu units that cancel.

That being the case, I look forward to extra regular HST services being run from the Westcountry to London on Sundays, as someone who uses these regularly from Plymouth they are hugely and often dangerously overcrowded, and will definitely be so today as the school holidays come to an end - the response I always see when the request is made to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for more of these services is along the lines of all stock is being fully utilised..............maybe I should offer large amounts of cash to charter a set and it will magically materialise......all aboard the Plymouth - Taplow express!!! 

[John R]

.........interesting that we're often told that there are no spare sets for more capacity/services as they are all either in use or in for regular maintenance, and that regular services are being cancelled due to staff shortages........... this (along with staff jollies) however appears to be exception?

Am I the only one to feel this is a very mean spirited comment. Can GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) do nothing right in your eyes? I think most of us with an interest in railways would welcome their cooperation in making a set (and presumably crew) available. They have also run charity specials, leased a set to the Cotswold Line Promotion Group now and again, and, yes, very occasionally given some of their staff a day out, which I would encourage in terms of trying to make employees proud and happy to be part of the business. Not to mention initiatives such as the Weymouth Wizard and encouraging its use last summer.

I'm not aware of any events today that are putting pressure on the network that might warrant an additional service, so I for one am delighted that GWR have made a set available for this special.

[TaplowGreen]

.........interesting that we're often told that there are no spare sets for more capacity/services as they are all either in use or in for regular maintenance, and that regular services are being cancelled due to staff shortages........... this (along with staff jollies) however appears to be exception?

Am I the only one to feel this is a very mean spirited comment. Can GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) do nothing right in your eyes? I think most of us with an interest in railways would welcome their cooperation in making a set (and presumably crew) available. They have also run charity specials, leased a set to the Cotswold Line Promotion Group now and again, and, yes, very occasionally given some of their staff a day out, which I would encourage in terms of trying to make employees proud and happy to be part of the business. Not to mention initiatives such as the Weymouth Wizard and encouraging its use last summer.

I'm not aware of any events today that are putting pressure on the network that might warrant an additional service, so I for one am delighted that GWR have made a set available for this special.

.....and telling customers that there are no spare sets is a very disingenuous comment.This isn't a charity special, it's a commercial charter. As for "pressure on the network". I'd invite you to travel on any HST^▸ (High Speed Train) between Penzance and Paddington after midday today,it may prove enlightening.