Strengthening of Weymouth Trains

[whole diary]

[Jim]

Brilliant! Whistleblower must be looking forowrd to working some PROPER trains 

Guards would be OK as most Westbury and all Weymouth conductors are trained.  But it might take a manager with a blunt instrument to get them on board!  Somebody suggested throwing a ^20 note into the guards van (on a bit of elastic) and slamming the door behind them might do the trick

Weymouth are trained on LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) are they, didn't know that!

I remember all the Westbury Guards hated working the 31's, excpet 1 or 2

[Scooby]

Despite the 'doubters' this is 100% happening. It will not involve FGW^▸ (First Great Western) crew in any way. The almost official comment is:

This is in effect a charter from Riviera, part of the attraction is that it saves us finding a crew as crew shortages rather than unit failures now the main reason for cancellations. Officially traction is EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) 37s, rather than the Riviera heritage fleet. The aim is to break even, which seems a tad ambitious, even if full of neds as well as the bucket & spade brigade. 

[whistleblower]

Thanks, Scooby, that's good enough for me.  The flags can stay screwed up at the bottom of the bag.  So I can now say:  What a good idea!  A perfect solution to the shortage of units and the peak Weymouth problem!

I might even go for a ride myself (yeah, right!  ) 

[Timmer]

Despite the 'doubters' this is 100% happening. It will not involve FGW^▸ (First Great Western) crew in any way. The almost official comment is:

This is in effect a charter from Riviera, part of the attraction is that it saves us finding a crew as crew shortages rather than unit failures now the main reason for cancellations. Officially traction is EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) 37s, rather than the Riviera heritage fleet. The aim is to break even, which seems a tad ambitious, even if full of neds as well as the bucket & spade brigade. 

Well this will do me...looks very much like this is happening and well done to FGW for being brave to bring back loco and coaches to this very busy and popular line. I hope that FGW do at least get a return on their money on operating this service. Certainly improve their popularity if nothing else.

And good news for Whistleblower too as he doesnt have to work them. So cheers allround. Now all we need is a long hot summer to get the punters on board!

[Jim]

And good news for Whistleblower too as he doesnt have to work them. So cheers allround. Now all we need is a long hot summer to get the punters on board!

No, hope it is cloudy, because then there is no bucket & spade brigade

[devon_metro]

...and rubbish photos

This really is good news, First Great Western doing something right! All it needs now is the same to happen to Portsmouth-Cardiff!

...Paignton might be nice too :p

[tramway]

Virgin Class 57 through Trowbridge this morning. Crew training?

[Jim]

Virgin Class 57 through Trowbridge this morning. Crew training?

Yep, but for the divorsionary route that VXC^▸ (Virgin Cross Country - former franchise) sign, nowt to do with this

[grahame]

...and rubbish photos

This really is good news, First Great Western doing something right! All it needs now is the same to happen to Portsmouth-Cardiff!

...Paignton might be nice too :p

Also required ... a service that's worth calling a service from Salisbury / Westbury / Trowbridge / Melksham to Chippenham and Swindon. Growth Rate according to the Rail Regulator - 35% per annum compound. Service ust last December - 60%.

[Jim]

I have heard it is confirmed by 2 people now, 0834 from Bristol 174X back from Weymouth

[Timmer]

I have heard it is confirmed by 2 people now, 0834 from Bristol 174X back from Weymouth

Anyone know the start date? Days operating? Limited stop between Bristol-Weymouth?

[Jim]

I have heard it is confirmed by 2 people now, 0834 from Bristol 174X back from Weymouth

Anyone know the start date? Days operating? Limited stop between Bristol-Weymouth?

I belive SO, no clue on the stopping though

[grahame]

I belive SO

I heard that too. We have been looking at running some sort of special event from Melksham to Weymouth, and I approached FGW^▸ (First Great Western) about starting the early train off Westbury back at Melksham for just one day;  I got a flat "No such specials AT ALL are being considered this summer", so we're looking instead into running a road trip to connect into it one day at Westbury, with connection back at Westbury by train to Melksham on the Sunday evening. 

Someone "in the know" said that we should go for a Saturday as we would be able to use the locohauled train.  Not practical, alas.  The current service from Westbury to Melksham on a Saturday concludes with a last train at (from memory) around 14:30, whereas on a Sunday the two trains of the day are both in the evening.  A very peculiar piece of timetabling indeed!

[Scooby]

The loco hauled set will work for 8 Saturdays only, not sure when the first is but cant be far off. Works an additional 08:34 BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to WEY and 17:49 WEY to BTM. Not sure on stops yet, would imagine limited.

Motive power will be top and tail EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) class 67s. A preview of this type of train will be seen later this week when two sets are used by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on Taunton and Swindon to Castle Cary shuttles for Glastonbury.

[Timmer]

The loco hauled set will work for 8 Saturdays only, not sure when the first is but cant be far off. Works an additional 08:34 BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to WEY and 17:49 WEY to BTM. Not sure on stops yet, would imagine limited.

Motive power will be top and tail EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) class 67s. A preview of this type of train will be seen later this week when two sets are used by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on Taunton and Swindon to Castle Cary shuttles for Glastonbury.

July's Modern Railways says it is due to run from 7th of July thru 25th of August with traction and times as above.

As good as the news is on this, I can't help thinking it may have been good to run this type of traction also during the school summer holidays as well. Not as an additional train but to replace either the 08.04 or 9.04 ex Bristol 150s/158s with this hired traction and the 17.21 return as I don't know if FGW have the spare stock to strenghen these services during this busy period on the line, I could be wrong!

I hope so because 2 car trains on these services won't be enough! In previous years the 8.34 ex Bristol used to run as two 150s or a 150/158 and the 9.34 ex Bristol used to be a 150 with a 153 bolted on. Anyone know if FGW have any plans to lengthen these trains over the summer holidays?