Lostwithiel - footbridge, services and sidings (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[Zoe]

St Germans, Menheniot, Redruth, Camborne and Hayle have also been left out of timetable B1 even though all have direct trains to London.

[bemmy]

I don't expect many people travel from Menheniot to Paddington, but isn't Redruth-Camborne Cornwall's largest built up area? Lots of passengers get on and off at both stations, which also serve Helston and the Lizard. If paper's that scarce they might as well just miss out Cornwall altogether. 

[Phil]

I don't expect many people travel from Menheniot to Paddington, but isn't Redruth-Camborne Cornwall's largest built up area?

Sadly this counts for less than nothing. Swindon to Salisbury via Trowbridge covers Wiltshire's largest built up area, and the train "service" provided has been progressively cut under FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[Zoe]

Sadly this counts for less than nothing. Swindon to Salisbury via Trowbridge covers Wiltshire's largest built up area, and the train "service" provided has been progressively cut under FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

The service cuts were specified I think by the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) at the time so would likely have gone ahead even if the franchise was not run by FGW.  The SRA also specified many other cuts that FGW were able to prevent, this may not have been this case if the franchise had been won by another company.

[grahame]

Sadly this counts for less than nothing. Swindon to Salisbury via Trowbridge covers Wiltshire's largest built up area, and the train "service" provided has been progressively cut under FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

The service cuts were specified I think by the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) at the time so would likely have gone ahead even if the franchise was not run by FGW.  ...

We're a bit "out of area" for Cornwall here but I have to clarify that

a) Cuts specified by SRA on the TransWilts as you say
b) DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) asked FGW to submit a non-competitive price to retain a better service (late '05)
c) FGW submitted a high bid
d) DfT rejected it
e) FGW have within the last year quoted a much lower figure

Had FGW submitted a bid in late '05 that was the same as the price they gave in early '08 (and not I have not considered inflation) there is every chance that the TransWilts would be running a service something like the one show at http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/tp.html (and, by the way, this forum wouldn't have existed!)

You may well ask why FGW went to high in late '05 ... we certainly do!

[vacman]

Just downloaded the new timetable booklet B1 (london-devon/cornwall) from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and notice that Lostwithiel is no longer listed in the timetable (it skips Bodmin Parkway to Par).  I know that the Night Riviera no longer calls (meaning very early last train and no nights out in Truro etc) but have FGW's HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) deserted the capital or Cornwall?



Oh hang on I've now found booklet B3.
God this is complicated!

You can get back from Truro to Lostwithiel on the 2130 Falmouth-Plymouth which leaves Truro at 2200, also, does the 2207 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) from Penzance call at Lostwithiel??

[Zoe]

You may well ask why FGW^▸ (First Great Western) went to high in late '05 ... we certainly do!

I think they did not want to run the risk of losing the franchise so put in a bid that was almost certain to win it.

[smokey]

You may well ask why FGW^▸ (First Great Western) went to high in late '05 ... we certainly do!

I think they did not want to run the risk of losing the franchise so put in a bid that was almost certain to win it.

and now they (First group)are going to have to start paying for such a high franchise bid, of course the poor passenger will pay higher fares and Staff jobs will go.

[Andy]

I recently discovered that in the mid 90s for a brief period there was a Summer Sunday service on the route of a limited number of trains a day funded (and initiated) by local government. However, it came to grief following hikes in the charges levied. 

[Coombe Stn]

Now to upset just 1 or 2 but I've been in Carne Point China Clay transfer sidings at Fowey Docks and whilst China Clay is running to from Fowey Docks reinstating passenger trains to Fowey is a NON starter.

However it might be Possible and cost about the same to Reinstate a Passenger line from Fowey to St. Blazey.

However when the French company Imerys (Misery is an Anagram) Close All their Cornish China Clay Works down then Fowey can have a Passenger service back.
Not a good move by English China Clays (ECC) to sell out to Imerys who IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) also own and operate the cheap Brazilian china clay works.

When the China Clay does go, Would make real sense for a regular Plymouth-Lostwithiel-Fowey-St.blazey-Newquay service running over both restored lines into Fowey.

Problem being that the haul road form Par Docks to Fowey is built on the trackbed of the route from St Blazey to Fowey.

Youre right about it being a bad idea to sell ECC to Imerys as all they were after is the Technology,.

[G.Uard]

However it might be Possible and cost about the same to Reinstate a Passenger line from Fowey to St. Blazey.

However when the French company Imerys (Misery is an Anagram) Close All their Cornish China Clay Works down then Fowey can have a Passenger service back.

Perhaps their headquarters could be moved to Newark. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

 

[Umberleigh]

Taunton Fairwater yard had massivly expanded its freight movements, but in the far south west things are pretty stagnant and I can't see much of a future for the line to Meldon!

Meldon branch seems in quite good health under new ownership by a US freight company who want to expand operations and are very supportive of the passenger operations

[Umberleigh]

Not related to Fowey but on the south west freight branch side the last ever clay by rail left Marsh Mills today rendering the short branch from Tavistock junction disused. Also this week the last Bitumen wagons where tripped to Cattewater, this terminal also now without traffic.....

Tavistock Jnc has been earmarked for a future possible road/rail freight interchange:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/environmentandplanning/planning/planningpolicy/reportofthejointstudiesarea.htm

[Andy]

I've passed through Lostwithiel a couple of times over the last few days and was wondering what the status is of all the sidings there (on both sides of the crossing). They look rather 'mothballed'.