G7 Summit - Cornwall - June 2021

[whole diary]

[RailCornwall]

I've just seen video of the Motorcade, At least 31 Vehicles were in it at Loggan's Moor Roundabout, Hayle, as it passed by.

[Kernowman]

A mini fleet of coaches behind the APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) Car Park at Truro this morning, dispersed a little tonight. A 'little' bit 'posher' than your usual Rail Replacements too. While we're on buses, quite a fleet of Bristol based new First Bus double deckers on the road yesterday in West Cornwall, some with obscure destinations showing (Presumably the Security forces 'camp' sites). Huge effort going on. 

Indeed I'm often impressed and intrigued at how well bus/coach companies respond to passenger surges, sometimes at short notice, plenty of buses on hand and plenty of drivers to drive them, presumably in addition to providing for their normal services. I think they could possibly teach today's railways a thing or two. I know that the G7 and sports events, music festivals, Christmas shopping, seaside events etc are all "one-off" events but when you add them up throughout a normal year they're basically regular events but at different places.

[1st fan]

A client of mine who is a daily user of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services to the Westcountry has queried our PM flying down to Cornwall. He says Boris going down on a jet to talk about climate change is a tad hypocritical. No chance. he'd go down by train because then he might have to do something about the seats 

[jamestheredengine]

So, it appears Pres. Biden has landed at RAF^▸ (Royal Air Force) Mildenhall...

Apparently they thought it was in Wiltshire...

[RailCornwall]

The security aspect of transporting the PM and entourage by Train to West Cornwall would have cost a fortune. Putting them on a Plane at Stansted and landing at Newquay being far cheaper.

[Pb_devon]

The security aspect of transporting the PM and entourage by Train to West Cornwall would have cost a fortune. Putting them on a Plane at Stansted and landing at Newquay being far cheaper.

Hmmmn…not sure about that! The Royals frequently use scheduled trains. Also all the Government staff travelled down on a special on Tuesday - 1Z31 12.45 nonstop Paddington to Truro and St Erth (crew change stops were made), so an opportunity missed.

[LiskeardRich]

A mini fleet of coaches behind the APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) Car Park at Truro this morning, dispersed a little tonight. A 'little' bit 'posher' than your usual Rail Replacements too. While we're on buses, quite a fleet of Bristol based new First Bus double deckers on the road yesterday in West Cornwall, some with obscure destinations showing (Presumably the Security forces 'camp' sites). Huge effort going on. 

The coaches at Truro station on standby I believe will have been from our fleet, Truronian. I know we’ve got a number there on standby. We’ve also got a few at Falmouth station too, all available as and when the railway need them. We’ve received around 8 or 9 new coaches in the last month, most of which have only done a couple of jobs prior to this event.
The older fleet have nearly all received a repaint and most a interior retrim over the last 12 months or so and look much smarter than they’d have done when previously seen.

[bobm]

Buses into St Ives from St Erth are currently suspended due to protesters blocking roads into St Ives.

[phile]

Some Falmouth Branch trains are cancelled today due to shortage of train crew

[Witham Bobby]

I've just seen video of the Motorcade, At least 31 Vehicles were in it at Loggan's Moor Roundabout, Hayle, as it passed by.

And our rulers don't appear to see the irony of lecturing the public from their lofty perches, about the "need" to reduce emissions.

Flying across the Atlantic in a huge, antiquated aircraft, with what amounts to a squadron of other aircraft in support, and then parading around in a 17-vehicle motorcade, to inform the peasants about how they must live more frugally does not chime well with me

[grahame]

I've just seen video of the Motorcade, At least 31 Vehicles were in it at Loggan's Moor Roundabout, Hayle, as it passed by.

And our rulers don't appear to see the irony of lecturing the public from their lofty perches, about the "need" to reduce emissions.

Flying across the Atlantic in a huge, antiquated aircraft, with what amounts to a squadron of other aircraft in support, and then parading around in a 17-vehicle motorcade, to inform the peasants about how they must live more frugally does not chime well with me

I would agree - to a degree - it sits very badly indeed with me too.   I was interested too in https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-57437344 with - was it - kowtowing to Mr Biden and then the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) choosing to make that into a news story.

But whilst it sits very badly with me, I have an uneasy feeling that it's the best bad way of doing it, and i rather suspect that Amtrak Joes just may have the same feelings.  I personally have lot more respect for this POTUS^▸ (President Of The United States) (the 46th) than 29, 37, or 45

[broadgage]

I agree that it would have been preferable for the PM to take the train rather than to fly.
I suspect that a special train would have been both cheaper and greener than flying.

Condemning the PM to an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) is perhaps going a bit far, but a Castle HST^▸ (High Speed Train) would seem to be suitable.

Other world leaders also set a very poor example in terms if the fuel used by numerous aircraft and road vehicles. Extinction rebellion have protested about this, near the Summit.

[FarWestJohn]

I noticed a special train at Plymouth yesterday, Friday 10th at about 1230. An IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) showing Truro and Penzance. A member of staff said it was for the media and it did look like that as they were all spaced out sitting at laptops. I think it was a 9 car. It was temporarily stopped at Plymouth because of a fatality.

[RailCornwall]

It was indeed the Media, including Robert Peston who tweeted a pic of the Teign Estuary just past Teignmouth. Considering the level of security around sending Boris by Rail at the time (He did PMQs and then hotfooted it to Stansted). Securing the whole path from Paddington to PZ and the travelled through Stations would have been a nightmare and incredibly expensive too. Any incidents en route (such as yesterday's fatality) would have made things very difficult too. Air seems to me to be the only logical way for him to get here.

[Kernowman]

I noticed a special train at Plymouth yesterday, Friday 10th at about 1230. An IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) showing Truro and Penzance. A member of staff said it was for the media and it did look like that as they were all spaced out sitting at laptops. I think it was a 9 car. It was temporarily stopped at Plymouth because of a fatality.

I believe that on the 8th and 9th June there was a special 12.45 Paddington to Penzance and on the 10th June an 08.45 Paddington to Penzance special all believed to be IETs. Presumably there will be some return specials next week?
Btw The Royal train has entered Cornwall (from Windsor and Eton Riverside) and is believed to be stabled at Burngullow.