XC Dawlish cancellations now beyond a joke!

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

The situation with Cross Country cancelling services through Dawlish because of 'Forecasted Severe Weather' is now beyond ridiculous! Five days in a row during the past week, resulting in dangerously overcrowded GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services and angry customers.

It is about time that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) insisted that Cross Country had suitable rolling stock for the service.      

[Timmer]

They can insist all they like but unless they stump up the cash Voyagers will continue to operate XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for quite a few more years yet sadly.

[grahame]

They can insist all they like but unless they stump up the cash Voyagers will continue to operate XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for quite a few more years yet sadly.

How many HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do Cross Country have?   Could they have a few more from cascade leftovers to help relieve congestion on their voyagers?   And in stormy times split their route at either Exeter or Bristol Temple Meads such that the HSTs run a sea wall shuttle to Plymouth and beyond, cross platform change at those times for through passengers?

[TaplowGreen]

Notwithstanding an overcautious attitude, this is an issue which affects Dawlish for what, maybe 10-15 days a year?

In that context, all talk of avoiding routes and new/different rolling stock is at best whimsy. The railway has far more pressing issues to deal with.

[Timmer]

How many HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do Cross Country have?   Could they have a few more from cascade leftovers to help relieve congestion on their voyagers?   And in stormy times split their route at either Exeter or Bristol Temple Meads such that the HSTs run a sea wall shuttle to Plymouth and beyond, cross platform change at those times for through passengers?

Currently 5 operating 3/4 diagrams. There of course will be spare HSTs going but it’s that same old question sadly ooooooooz gonna pay for them?

[Dispatch Box]

They can insist all they like but unless they stump up the cash Voyagers will continue to operate XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for quite a few more years yet sadly.

How many HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do Cross Country have?   Could they have a few more from cascade leftovers to help relieve congestion on their voyagers?   And in stormy times split their route at either Exeter or Bristol Temple Meads such that the HSTs run a sea wall shuttle to Plymouth and beyond, cross platform change at those times for through passengers?

So your thinking all voyagers from Edinbugh or Glasgow central to Plymouth or Penzance all Terminate at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)), Then Bristol to the west country to save long delays.

Also to prevent water lashing over railway at Dawlish could NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Put some sort of glass on the wall to keep back waves. This would be a permanent solution to the problem, and cheaper than diverting the lines.

All trains would terminate on platform 5, and ones from Devon on platform 6, then passengers would then just need to go to opposite end of the platform to continue their onward journey. Fine by me.

[Dispatch Box]

They can insist all they like but unless they stump up the cash Voyagers will continue to operate XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for quite a few more years yet sadly.

Would Hitachi make some more I E T,S for Cross Country, they would be great and be fitted out in their colours.


Then the line from Barnt green to yate, then could be electrified.

[ellendune]

Also to prevent water lashing over railway at Dawlish could NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Put some sort of glass on the wall to keep back waves. This would be a permanent solution to the problem, and cheaper than diverting the lines.

I would like to see a glass wall that would survive very long.  Even if it could survive the impact of the large stones that the waves throw about the place with great force, it would very soon become a frosted glass wall, from the abrasion of the smaller stones. 

[Dispatch Box]

Also to prevent water lashing over railway at Dawlish could NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Put some sort of glass on the wall to keep back waves. This would be a permanent solution to the problem, and cheaper than diverting the lines.

I would like to see a glass wall that would survive very long.  Even if it could survive the impact of the large stones that the waves throw about the place with great force, it would very soon become a frosted glass wall, from the abrasion of the smaller stones. 

I did not realise that stones were whipped up, thinking it was only water. Can be damaging to trains aswell.

[ellendune]

Also to prevent water lashing over railway at Dawlish could NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Put some sort of glass on the wall to keep back waves. This would be a permanent solution to the problem, and cheaper than diverting the lines.

I would like to see a glass wall that would survive very long.  Even if it could survive the impact of the large stones that the waves throw about the place with great force, it would very soon become a frosted glass wall, from the abrasion of the smaller stones. 

I did not realise that stones were whipped up, thinking it was only water. Can be damaging to trains aswell.

Yes that is partly why even HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s do not run in some conditions, but a glass wall would be there all the time. If you find a piece of glass on a beach that has been in the sea for a while, the sharp edges have been worn away and the surface frosted. That is just sand and water. 

A really rough sea will throw large stones around and can throw quite large boulders about. 

[grahame]

Notwithstanding an overcautious attitude, this is an issue which affects Dawlish for what, maybe 10-15 days a year?

In that context, all talk of avoiding routes and new/different rolling stock is at best whimsy. The railway has far more pressing issues to deal with.

I agree on all counts ... and was only suggesting a contingency plan - or rather contingency plan modification - to have the Cross Country HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) stay south during these periods; there will be HSTs / Castles based west of Dawlish for the forsessable future, so depots and an overnight facility that knows about them if they don't migrate north at the end of the day ... and I'm sure that Craigentinny can cope with a couple more voyagers that would normally be serviced in the far South West.

Yes - there are more pressing issues. Fortunately, issues can often be dealt with in parallel and not in sequence!

[TaplowGreen]

Notwithstanding an overcautious attitude, this is an issue which affects Dawlish for what, maybe 10-15 days a year?

In that context, all talk of avoiding routes and new/different rolling stock is at best whimsy. The railway has far more pressing issues to deal with.

I agree on all counts ... and was only suggesting a contingency plan - or rather contingency plan modification - to have the Cross Country HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) stay south during these periods; there will be HSTs / Castles based west of Dawlish for the forsessable future, so depots and an overnight facility that knows about them if they don't migrate north at the end of the day ... and I'm sure that Craigentinny can cope with a couple more voyagers that would normally be serviced in the far South West.

Yes - there are more pressing issues. Fortunately, issues can often be dealt with in parallel and not in sequence!

It perhaps highlights the poor decision and shortsightedness to semi retire and use "sawn off" HSTs to do short Devon and Cornwall stopping services, for which they were never designed, rather than long distance routes for which they were intended and are clearly still needed, or at least could be far better utilised?

[Phantom]

How many years have these services been suspended in advance for?
Surely the weather conditions have been the same for years and years, just seems people are being overly cautious more often

[Dispatch Box]

How many years have these services been suspended in advance for?
Surely the weather conditions have been the same for years and years, just seems people are being overly cautious more often

A long time I think.

[ChrisB]

In advance? Since the Dawlish closure, I think.