Newquay and Plymouth Airports - their rise and fall - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[vacman]

I doubt it, most of their business west of exeter is local stuff.

[woody]

I doubt it, most of their business west of exeter is local stuff.

Not quite yet after all long distance rail passengers are the target of this new ASW service. By the time the Super express Train enters service then FGW^▸ (First Great Western) can terminate its Paddington trains at Exeter if they still have the franchise then which after all is what Dft transport policy west of Exeter is ultimately leading to.

[devon_metro]

Do you have a page full on "west of Exeter is doomed" quotes or something?

It simply isn't true. Rarely do I travel on a train that is empty and i'm normally in the quiet coach which is the least busy of all!

[FarWestJohn]

I think Air South West are starting these flights to London City airport because of Flybe

Flybe started three flights a day in February non stop from Newquay to Gatwick in 65 minutes.[about the same time as to get to Par by train] In fact the first Flybe and Air South West flights to Gatwick both leave at 0720 from Newquay.

After what First have done to the internal layout of their HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) they are no longer suitable for long journeys. In my case Exeter is the limit and even then I have to walk from St.Davids to Central to get some feeling back in the nether regions before continuing on SWT^▸ (South West Trains).

Interestingly I travelled twice recently in the quiet zone at a table lining up with a window on a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) refurbished mk3. I could see across the carraige and even the seats did not seem so overpowering as the ludicrous uncomfortable First group efforts.

I rode in a First group HST at Plymouth after getting off the XC set and compared with disbelief the claustrophobic uncomfortable layout, suitable for one hour max commuter shuttles only unless you like sitting on a granite filled seat staring at a seatback. Even the few tables do not line up with the windows.

If the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) assess the risk of injury travelling by train to be so high as to need these extra high back seats then how come staff and passengers are allowed to stand and walk around in a moving train?
They have certainly increased my risk as I am sure that using the plane for London trips is more dangerous than what used to be an enjoyable train trip.

I think the Super Express train is going to internally need a major re think of internal design and layout as perpetuating these current requirements must be putting off many long distance travellers.

[devon_metro]

Seats are hard due to fire regulations.

[Tim]

Seats are hard due to fire regulations.

Are you sure?  I find it very hard to believe.  You can get beds in first class in some planes so the provsion of soft funishings per se can't be a fire risk. (although I could be persuaded that fire regs prevent a confortable seat being made on the cheap.  I could perhaps also be persuaded that the Health and Safety muppets in the rail industry have accepted fire regs that are stricter than on aircraft)

IMO^▸ (in my opinion) The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refurb is rather good and shows FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s efforts up in a very bad light.   

[vacman]

At the end of the day it's down to personal choice what you would rather do, many people comment on "how nice" our refreshed HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s are inside and how much leg room there is and that they are very comfortable, for those who don't find them comfortable then you have the option to use an alternative mode of transport, i don't think FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to refresh their entire fleet again just so that about 1% of passengers will be more comfortable! if you would rather sit sealed into a bean can with wings then go ahead!

[devon_metro]

Indeed, you can't go and look out of the windows at Dawlish on an aeroplane, or walk to the buffet or decide to move seats, or decide to upgrade to First Class, or decide to have a plated Pullman meal on a plane

[Zoe]

Not quite yet after all long distance rail passengers are the target of this new ASW service. By the time the Super express Train enters service then FGW^▸ (First Great Western) can terminate its Paddington trains at Exeter

There is no guarantee that the "Super Express" trains will even get as far as Exeter.  The Paddington to Exeter/Plymouth/Penzance route is an optional extra and not part of the main order.

[paul7575]

Seats are hard due to fire regulations.

That chap Ian Walmsley who did a couple of articles in Modern Railways about railway seating came to the conclusion that the seats are only hard because they are made to such a low price, and also to reduce thickness and therefore space taken up. 

He also explained IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) that FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s 'tombstone seats' are solely an FGW decision, and NOT actually required by the current regulations.

I expect the proof of that will be when we see the new Pendolinos, and the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)...

Paul

[vacman]

It says cheaper than the train at ^29 return?I presume that is some form of book ahead ticket, well a railcard advance from Truro to Paddington is ^9.90 each way, making it ^19.80 return??? ummmm my maths is pretty poor but??? I'll bet it's more than ^81 return if you turn up on the day!

[vacman]

Not quite yet after all long distance rail passengers are the target of this new ASW service. By the time the Super express Train enters service then FGW^▸ (First Great Western) can terminate its Paddington trains at Exeter

There is no guarantee that the "Super Express" trains will even get as far as Exeter.  The Paddington to Exeter/Plymouth/Penzance route is an optional extra and not part of the main order.

Well FGW are supposed to be getting 70 IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) sets to replace 53 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets, not been funny but if they don't go to Penzance then where will they all go?

[Btline]

How can the high seat backs and rock hard seats be H&S^▸ (Health and Safety) regulations?

Both XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and GNER^▸ (Great North Eastern Railways) managed a refurbishment without this! And at least they actually looked where the windows were before plonking the table seats down!

And Chiltern managed to get >97 % of airline seats in line with the windows. (and 100% of table seats)

here will they all go?

Cotswold line please!

[Kingfisherdart]

I find FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) seats OK.

You want hard seats - try a three hour trip on a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) '444'.

Now that is painful 

[vacman]

Just out of interest, how many seats are on each os ASW's planes and how many of these services per day do they plan to run?