Falmouth Branch Line - stations, facilities, services and improvements - ongoing discussion, merged posts

[whole diary]

[winterbourne]

Some signals are going up this weekend. The new signalling diagram should go up in the box too. Photos to follow...

[RailCornwall]

Look forward to seeing that, incidentally the ducting at Perranwell is still open, and I assume empty.

[RailCornwall]

Some pictures from the Cornwall County Council site ....

Before


Track in place


Close up


Annotated Version

[eightf48544]

Very good photos. Let's hope it's the telephoto lens tha exegerates the curve off the loop point. I haven't got curves that sharop on my model railways.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Agreed: excellent photos of the Penryn loop that we've all been waiting for here - thanks, RailCornwall!

(And I also agree that the effect of the lens is to give the appearance of something of a hairpin bend there!)

[RailCornwall]

Have been on a fact finding trip from Penryn to Truro and back today, at Penryn the foundations for the signals are now going in, work proceeds on the Northern Platform restoration too. I suspect that when that is brought up to the state of the southern extension, it's essentially a rebuild looking closely, that both ends will be filled and surfaced at the same time.

Meanwhile I note that there is now a second cable duct on the east of the track between Truro and almost into Perranwell, There's now a duct EITHER side of the track between these two stations. This duct now has cable laid in it as does the other duct (Northern side of track at Perranwell) all way from Truro to Penryn. There's a cable jointing box installed on the Northern side of the track just east of Perranwell.

I also observed what appeared to be Signal support structures in the 'yard area' to the immediate west of Perranwell Station. I presume these'll be moved to Penryn later.

There are Sunday AM possessions of the line for the first three sundays of this month to do work. (Three services e/w bustituted)   

[Andy]

Thanks so much for the photos and the update, RailCornwall - proper job! There's something doubly moving going on - the signs of new life reflecting the health of the branchline and simultaneously the abandoned platform harking back to former times. With recent news about the planned expansion of the CUC at Penryn, the future for this particular Cornish branch looks bright. Too bad that a regular source of freight traffic from the docks can't be found.

By the by, I imagine that the 2tph service is going to make it rather more difficult to find paths for charters/railtours, etc, on the branch.

[autotank]

What a great project which I hope will be repeated elsewhere. These are the kind of works that are relatively cheap (in railway terms) but really will move people off the roads and onto the trains. Thumbs up all round!

[slippy]

Trains are xx:20 and xx:50 off Truro for the bulk of the day. Last service is now later from Truro around 22:00.

[RailCornwall]

Does anyone know if there any complete draft timetables published yet? Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to install a ticket machine at Penryn too, maybe of the simple variety as featured on the St Ives branch.

[chrisoates]

Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to install a ticket machine at Penryn too, maybe of the simple variety as featured on the St Ives branch.

Not a good idea, doesn't do railcards, only issues expensive 'ranger' tickets.

Most folk on holiday really need a 'group save' ticket.

I get from St Ives to Falmouth for ^3.20 return (railcarded)...if I bought Maritime & St Ives rangers plus a return from St Erth to Truro it'd cost about ^14.

I've never had a problem buying a ticket on the Falmouth branch but the Dell to Penmere is a problem for Conductors...having only one car might ease the problem.

[RailCornwall]

In the interests of revenue protection FGW^▸ (First Great Western) need to do something, on my fact finding trip last week, I travelled from Penryn to Truro without a ticket, and saved the 10p by buying a single for the retiurn journey.

Incidentally there's another problem which will need attention at Truro Station if the Treluswell Park and Ride service aspiration ever proceeds, customers aren't going to like walking the entire length of platform two and back to the bus service stop, the old gated exit which was bricked up some time ago will need to be re-opened. The buffet will be a nightmare used as a shortcut.

[grandsire]

Its my impression that most rail commuters to Truro walk down to the town from the rail station rather than waitingfor/payingfor a bus, so  walking along platform 2 is not a big problem.  Still it would be niceto see the old "mailbag" entrance opened up again.

[RailCornwall]

Remember that the plan is to integrate the whole thing, so a special Rail/Bus fare will be needed, a restricted P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) only PlusBus to add only ^1 to the rail fare will have to be introduced. It's also worthwhile mentioning that by 2013 the P&R corridor will run from Langarth via Truro College, Treliske Hospital, Aldi/County Hall, Museum, Boscawen Street, Tregolls Road to the Cattle Market returning via the same route with the exception of the loop to the Piazza and Victoria Square. Bus Demand will as a result be much higher.

[G.Uard]

In the interests of revenue protection FGW^▸ (First Great Western) need to do something, on my fact finding trip last week, I travelled from Penryn to Truro without a ticket, and saved the 10p by buying a single for the retiurn journey.

Incidentally there's another problem which will need attention at Truro Station if the Treluswell Park and Ride service aspiration ever proceeds, customers aren't going to like walking the entire length of platform two and back to the bus service stop, the old gated exit which was bricked up some time ago will need to be re-opened. The buffet will be a nightmare used as a shortcut.

FGW  really need that 10p...how could you?

Seriously...

You should have bought a ticket at Truro, following your outward journey if possible.  It is incumbent on passengers to purchase the ticket under their own steam and not wait to be approached by a Conductor/TM^‡(resolve)/RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)).