Yeovil Pen Mill

[whole diary]

[thefab442]

Maybe slightly off the usual topic, but I notice that on Saturday 8th/Sunday 9th November, South West Trains will be running a Yeovil Pen Mill - Exeter St Davids shuttle service, as well as FGW^▸ (First Great Western) being diverted over the West of England line. Good stuff!

[Timmer]

Some good photo opportunities to be had then.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

think my camera will have to come out

[eightf48544]

Can understand FGW^▸ (First Great Western) using the Yeovil route but what's the logic behind a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Exeter Yeovil Pen Mill dervice?  Are they connecting with  the Weymouth Bristol service?

Or are SWT going via Westbury and back to Salisbury via Warminister?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

im not sure we need an insider! but to be honest with you i know from experiance getting to yeovil (well the town anyway) from exeter is a nightmare!!!??? the exeter waterloo ones go via y j which is nowhere near yeaovil town and its a long walk belive me! i know its probably impossible because of the fact that its a single line most of the way but something from exeter direction to pen mill would be great!

[Btline]

They need to axe Y J and rebuild it a few miles east as an interchange with the Wessex line.

Call it Y Exchange, and rebuild the other station as Y Town as close to the town as possible.

[swlines]

Can understand FGW^▸ (First Great Western) using the Yeovil route but what's the logic behind a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Exeter Yeovil Pen Mill dervice?  Are they connecting with  the Weymouth Bristol service?

Or are SWT going via Westbury and back to Salisbury via Warminister?

It's due to a lack of reversing capacity at Yeovil Junction while diversions are taking place. The shuttle service in operation will connect with SWT services that would normally run through to Exeter, but are terminating at Yeovil to allow diverted HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

SWT are running normal route throughout the diversions.

As for Btline's suggestion of rebuilding Yeovil, Yeovil Exchange sounds a bit crap as a name... just plain Yeovil would sound better. Or provide a park and ride service from the outskirts of the town, calling at the train station(s) and into town. Sorted for less cash than building three Olympic swimming pools.

[Timmer]

With SWT^▸ (South West Trains) providing a shuttle service between Exeter and Yeovil, does this mean FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will operate fast services between Exeter and Yeovil as in the past they have covered for SWT by stopping at all stations on the line?

[swlines]

Not confirmed yet, but the preliminary timings I was given seem to suggest so. I wouldn't be surprised if one GW^▸ (Great Western) per day called at the shacks like Feniton and stuff. One of the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) shuttles on Sunday is fast from Pinhoe to Yeovil Jn tho.

[eightf48544]

Not confirmed yet, but the preliminary timings I was given seem to suggest so. I wouldn't be surprised if one GW^▸ (Great Western) per day called at the shacks like Feniton and stuff. One of the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) shuttles on Sunday is fast from Pinhoe to Yeovil Jn tho.

Odd missing out Axminister if not the others. Is FGW^▸ (First Great Western) stopping one of their's at Axminister to compensate. If so what fares will apply?

[swlines]

Normal any permitted fares apply throughout the diversions.

I think its more surprising missing out Honiton due to the passing loop there. I'll post the full timings of the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) services that weekend when I get home from holiday.

[thefab442]

Remember the SO 11:20 Waterloo - Paignton misses out Axminster, but calls at Honiton so as Mr Cairns suggests, Honiton is more suprising.

Anyway here are the initial SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Saturday timings... notice there are a number with very odd calling patterns!

[penmill]

Just an Idea cause not many people use the bus.they all walk due to the price

[laird]

I'm sure it could work technically, the question would become profitability and scheduling I guess?
Is there sufficient time to travel between Pen Mill and Junction allowing for the 5 minute connecting time at both ends or would the passengers end up with a long wait having just missed the connection?
Perhaps once GoCo have proven the operation on the Medstead route they might be tempted to try a Yeovil shuttle?

[paul7575]

I suppose this depends on whether it is seen as a means of connecting between the two routes, or primarily as a way of getting from Yeovil Jn to the town. As Pen Mill isn't particularly central either I don't see the latter being a major advantage.

If the timetable was designed for line to line interchanges is there any real suppressed demand?  I believe GoCo have already worked out there is no need for a service to Yeovil Jn from the north, so presumably it isn't seen as a potential source of passengers.

Paul