Row Brewing Over Forthcoming SWT Service Cuts West Of Exeter

[whole diary]

[Lee]

This Is Devon article link.
http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141507&command=displayContent&sourceNode=257390&home=yes&more_nodeId1=257393&contentPK=20115860

[swlines]

Hmm. "They didn't get any more trains" - what are those 11 new 159s then? 

[John R]

Do we know what is happening to the Bristol services?

[devon_metro]

Going to be some serious gaps in the timetable for Ivybridge/Dawlish/Teignmouth/Torquay and Paignton 

[Lee]

Do we know what is happening to the Bristol services?

In the specification until franchise end (unlike the services west of Exeter.) They were originally a priced option which the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) took up.

Not sure what status the recent additional services have. Commercial?

[Lee]

Here's an copy of the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) SLC2 specification for December 2007, as it stood in May 2007 (link below.)
http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/gw/SWTspec.pdf

The highlighting isnt mine, by the way.

[swlines]

As far as I am aware, SWT^▸ (South West Trains) services to Bristol are retained.

[John R]

Curious that the arrival in Bristol just before 8am isn't mentioned in the Mon - Fri SLC^▸ (Service Level Commitment), although the late evening working back to Salisbury is.

[swlines]

The early morning working is not required in the franchise terms, it runs in service due to ORCATS^▸ (Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services) and the revenue that is made from the service that makes it worthwhile.

[John R]

So is the additional service recently reduced also an ORCATS^▸ (Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services) raid? 

[swlines]

Can't remember exactly - I'll have to go through the franchise agreement documents but the 0640 SAL - BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) is definately an ORCATS^▸ (Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services) raid. Not sure about the additional midday service.

[Btline]

Would not it be more sensible for SWT^▸ (South West Trains)/Dft to wait until the London Midland 150s are freed up before swinging the axe on services?

Think about it? Sure, cut SWTs beyond St Davids, but slap a few 150 units on the Exeter to Plymouth line to fill the gaps that will be left.

Or give SWT some 158 units from FGW^▸ (First Great Western), freed up by the LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) 150 units.

What are the Ivybridge commuters, school children going to do now?

[devon_metro]

Or give SWT^▸ (South West Trains) some 158 units from FGW^▸ (First Great Western),

Not more!! We already have lost enough. Perhaps the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) should subsidise the lease of an additional class 142 so that Ivybridge can have an improved service.

Also - Ivbridge doesn't warrant a 150 and is therefore a waste of resources which could be used elsewhere in Devon.

[Lee]

Or give SWT^▸ (South West Trains) some 158 units from FGW^▸ (First Great Western),

Not more!! We already have lost enough. Perhaps the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) should subsidise the lease of an additional class 142 so that Ivybridge can have an improved service.

Also - Ivbridge doesn't warrant a 150 and is therefore a waste of resources which could be used elsewhere in Devon.

You would need to at least find a way of replacing the 1748 service from Plymouth, as that's a key Ivybridge commuter service.

[Timmer]

Or give SWT^▸ (South West Trains) some 158 units from FGW^▸ (First Great Western), freed up by the LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) 150 units.

I'll pretend I didn't read that comment