More dangerous overcrowding to the Westcountry

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

"there is no spare rolling stock, we cant justify obtaining rolling stock for exceptional events such as easter, summer weekends, beginnings/ends of university terms, football matches, Christmas, rugby matches, bank holidays, school holidays, Glastonbury, surfing events, pop concerts, and other rare events"

And just to make certain that no spare capacity is available in future, we intend to scrap as many existing trains as possible, once some of the new ones arrive.

The new trains should be adequate in mild weather and during months when none of the above exceptional events take place.

Some years have passed since I wrote the above.
And there DOES seem to be a great rush to "scrap as many existing trains as possible" in order to return to the default position of "there is no spare rolling stock"

Another victory for my crystal ball.

[IndustryInsider]

As far as I know, using 12-car 387s for crowd busting at Cardiff events is still the plan and now possible with the Severn Tunnel electrification.  Not that there will be any large sporting events or concerts for a while.

[broadgage]

As far as I know, using 12-car 387s for crowd busting at Cardiff events is still the plan and now possible with the Severn Tunnel electrification.  Not that there will be any large sporting events or concerts for a while.

Will enough 387s be available to run extra 12 car services in connection with special events in Cardiff ?
Prior to the pandemic reducing travel, I recall many short formed 387 commuter services due to "more trains than usual needing repairs"
That suggests to me that the 387 fleet is not quite sufficient for day to day services, without any spare units available for special events. Would they reliably have 6 units (two 12 car trains) for special events.

[bobm]

The majority of events are at weekends - although agreed not all.   That should mean there are 387 units available.

[IndustryInsider]

Indeed.  And, since the Dec timetable change, I can hardly recall any short forms on weekdays 387 services either.

[Celestial]

The majority of events are at weekends - although agreed not all.   That should mean there are 387 units available.

And the Friday night internationals are a thing of the past too, which fans hated because of having to take time off work, and the difficulty of travelling home afterwards.

[bobm]

Not as much as the Welsh Rugby Union hated them!

[Andy]

Yesterday I travelled from Paddington to the south west and had an entire carriage to myself until Taunton. It was probably a once in a lifetime experience, recorded here for posterity.

Full marks to the railway for its handling of the journey. Zero marks to the idiot passenger who removed her mask deliberately to sneeze into her hand before putting her mask back on again.

[TaplowGreen]

Overcrowding.....not something we've seen for a while.....earlier service cancelled?

12:04 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:12
Facilities on the 12:04 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:12.
This is due to overcrowding.
Catering is reduced throughout.
Additional Facilities Information
Due to overcrowding issues, there is no Catering available in the front 5 coaches of this service.

[bobm]

The number of through services to Penzance has been increased back nearer to normal in the last timetable change - but there has always been a gap between the 10:04 and 12:04, with the 11:04 only going as far as Plymouth.  From 14:04 they then run hourly to Penzance up to and including the 18:04.    Other services run only as far as Plymouth at 13:04, 16:37, 18:37, 19:04 and 20:04.

[grahame]

Overcrowding.....not something we've seen for a while ...

Indeed.   Mind you, people are coming back to the trains.  I was near Melksham station when the 13:39 to Westbury called today and observed (as best I could) 8 off and 6 on.  Not exactly masses, but this is one of the quietest services in the day,  and we would not have been unhappy with those numbers this time last year.

[Jamsdad]

Still no sign of the Golden Hind ( sorry 0505 Penzance- Padddington) re starting. So impossible at present to be in London before mid-day at present ( 1134 to be precise). And of course  still no sleeper accommodation.

[broadgage]

Still no sign of the Golden Hind ( sorry 0505 Penzance- Padddington) re starting. So impossible at present to be in London before mid-day at present ( 1134 to be precise). And of course  still no sleeper accommodation.

"Recent passenger surveys show that only a very small percentage use the sleeper service. Most passengers would prefer one of our improved faster daytime services.
Others would prefer an at seat sleeping service"

I suspect that the survey has already been done, in secret of course so as to produce the correct result.

[grahame]

"Recent passenger surveys show that only a very small percentage use the sleeper service ...

Not good logic.  Only 1 in 1150 journeys on the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail network is to or from Taunton ...  That's 0.09% - so let's close Taunton Station ....

[TonyK]

"Recent passenger surveys show that only a very small percentage use the sleeper service. Most passengers would prefer one of our improved faster daytime services.
Others would prefer an at seat sleeping service"

I suspect that the survey has already been done, in secret of course so as to produce the correct result.

We asked 200 Bentley owners around Rock:

"Which do you prefer?
a) A slow overnight sleeper train which is often late or cancelled?
b) A fast daytime ride in one of our new IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train), which could make it from Cornwall* to London in under 3¾ hours^†?

*From western side of Albert Bridge
^†If it didn't stop on the way"