Cutdown 125's to operate Penzance to Plymouth clockface service

[whole diary]

[bobm]

One of the advantages of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service was the luggage capacity for carrying buggies, picnic baskets and other beach time paraphernalia.

[grahame]

Interesting you raise the Weymouth line Graham and sort of staying on topic, last year regular users of the Weymouth line had a full length HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to enjoy on summer Saturdays. A crowd buster if ever there was one and a comfortable one at that too. Now it’s gone it’s going to be noticed if a two or three car train takes its place rather than something like a 5 car service.

As I understand it however the HST was never full, so perhaps as you say something "in between" would be about right - 5 car Turbo?

The problem with the HST was that it was an SST (Slow Speed Train) over the Heart of Wessex.   The previous unit - a five car 15x - was always rammed with the 8 car HST being 30 minutes later off Bristol and 60 minutes later into Weymouth having a relatively light loading.    This year, with 2 x 16x services of 5 cars each plus an SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) train from Yeovil to Weymouth (onward to Corfe Castle) should work - about the same capacity over the busiest section of the route by far. However, you halve the length of at least one of the key trains on a nice day and you are going to have problems.   I did not look at the second trains to see how long that was ... but I did note just 3 carriages on the 17:30 back which again would be tight.

Not much good scheduling a mass transit crowd buster to cover your high peak ... and running a single suburban unit on it.   At least the trip with the solitary 153 was not at peak time.

[TaplowGreen]

One of the advantages of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service was the luggage capacity for carrying buggies, picnic baskets and other beach time paraphernalia.

A "nice to have", however elsewhere there isn't capacity for people, so the priorities for allocation of stock are clear.

[WSW Frome]

Just to add to the fun, the additional (crowd buster) BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)-WEY service was yesterday cancelled beyond WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) due to "a train fault." No doubt plenty of happy punters with an enforced wait at WSB for the following service which would probably be rammed.

[FarWestJohn]

I had a 3 car 166 last Bank holiday and it was so crowded and late I have vowed not to ever use that line again.

[grahame]

I had a 3 car 166 last Bank holiday and it was so crowded and late I have vowed not to ever use that line again.

I try to avoid a "my line is worse than yours" type fight for the bottom rungs of the ladder - but it was interesting to hear Mark Hopwood single out four services - North Cotswolds, Heart of Wessex, TransWilts and Severn Beach that have been especially badly hit by recent (rail definitions of recent - from April 2017) problem.   It provides some re-assurance that we're not just crying wolf or shouting louder than others - it confirms that we have real problems that it's right to shout about.

[bobm]

Back to Devon & Cornwall and it seems the 2+4 Castle set has been replaced by a 2+3 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) set with slam doors.

[SandTEngineer]

Back to Devon & Cornwall and it seems the 2+4 Castle set has been replaced by a 2+3 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) set with slam doors.

According to the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum its so that the 4-car set can go away for its C4 overhaul (service).  Of course that won't happen when more 4-car sets are in service (says he, with tounge in cheek).

[RailCornwall]

Back in service today .... Truro ..... 1257 Penzance to Newton Abbot due 1549

[Umberleigh]

Back in service today .... Truro ..... 1257 Penzance to Newton Abbot due 1549

Saw this unit at Exeter St Davids this morning, working in and out from Newton Abbot direction. Much preferable to a 150 coupled to a 153, especially if you are headed into the Duchy.

[JayMac]

By the left hand side? 

[Umberleigh]

By the left hand side? 

The QE2 frequently did...

[Kernow Otter]

Was chatting to someone this evening who had been very impressed with the 2 + 4 HST^▸ (High Speed Train), and was more so impressed when he learnt that there were more of them in the pipeline.

Once I had highlighted their primary role, this chap said that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) had missed a trick by not using some of the space for a micro buffet for the commuters of Devon and Cornwall.

He has a point, could become quite sociable for regular communters.....

[CMRail]

It would also have been nice to add a composite coach K to add first class for commuters traveling on a connected service.

[PhilWakely]

Was chatting to someone this evening who had been very impressed with the 2 + 4 HST^▸ (High Speed Train), and was more so impressed when he learnt that there were more of them in the pipeline.

Once I had highlighted their primary role, this chap said that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) had missed a trick by not using some of the space for a micro buffet for the commuters of Devon and Cornwall.

He has a point, could become quite sociable for regular communters.....

It would also have been nice to add a composite coach K to add first class for commuters traveling on a connected service.

I have the perfect solution..................... why not create an 8-coach train, complete with buffet, 1st Class and Standard Class, and put a diesel with a single cab at each end to save having to run around the train.  I'm struggling for a name for it though.............. Ah, I have it...... "The InterCity High Speed Train"