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

[whole diary]

[John R]

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)).

I did that on arrival at Weston follwing a journey from Nailsea when the TM was nowhere to be seen. Asked to buy a return from Nailsea to Weston and the booking office clerk said he would sell me a single back to Nailsea!!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Similar thing happened to me once - I tried to buy a return ticket from Nailsea, from the ticket office at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)), but I was looked at as if I had two heads, and was sold a single to Nailsea! 

[slippy]

Annoying because if you buy a return it counts as two journies while a single is just one, so passenger number statistics are far lower than the actual amount of people travelling, especially on Falmouth where many people travel one way for free, if not both ways!!

Service for bulk of day will be xx:20 and xx:50 off Truro and the same off Falmouth, the xx:20s from both ends will call Perranwell, the xx:50s will not.

[Coombe Stn]

Have been down to Falmouth yesterday and noted some of the following to add previous postings regarding Penryn loop.
Various lineside boxes, phones and other equipment at various locations
cabling in the troughs all the way along
2 signal post lying at Perranwell waiting to go to Penryn
2 signal posts at Falmouth waiting to go to Penryn
3 signal posts in the compound at Penryn
Penryn platform sports new edging where the vegetation clearance took place Truro end
Work contiuning on the Falmouth end extention of Penryn
lots of orange clad people working at various locations in Penryn area

[RailCornwall]

Did my weekly fact finding trip to Penryn this afternoon as well, little more to add other than following conversation with a chatty 'orange coat' that the entrance rampway is to be remodelled incorporating full DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) approved disabled access from the road and carpark to the platform.

The signal foundations are now in place on the platforms too. There seems to be a major effort to complete all the civils quickly now ready to install the electrics.

One thing that appears to be missing at present is any sign of civils for lighting on the new Southern and restored Northern wings of the platform, it would be imo surprising to light the exisiting area, which owing to the points will not be used to service trains and leave the passenger train access points of the platform in the dark.

Will do another trip towards the end of next week.

 

[smokey]

In the new south end extension of the Penryn platform are some Square foundations that look like extra strengthening, they are in fact where the Sockets will be concerted in place for the Lamp posts.

Understand there will be 18 lamp post on the platform and Car Park, now what's that about global warming!

NB in this case the socket is strong plastic tube, the lamp post is put inside and then packed with sand and just a inch or two of concrete or tarmac finishes the job. Makes post replacement child's play.

[vacman]

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.

Truro is to have ticket gates installed this year (although it was meant to happen last May!!!) so there will only be the one entrance/exit and it will also solve the ticket problems! Truro being gated is LONG overdue!!

[RailCornwall]

So how are they going to cope with the car park open access then, it'll annoy people if they can't get onto Platform 3 from their cars and have to use the footbridges.

[chrisoates]

So how are they going to cope with the car park open access then, it'll annoy people if they can't get onto Platform 3 from their cars and have to use the footbridges.

Hmmm...walk from the far end of the car park, over the track (get there early), around to the front entrance, through the gate, over the footbridge.
Also what about the shop ?.

See some construction going on at the Signal box - for the Falmouth branch ?

[RailCornwall]

So they'll have to fence the entire length of 'Platform 4' right up to the end slope of the eastern end forcing passengers from the west with luggage up over the bridge to get out of the main entrance, conversely arrivals on Platform 2 aren't going to be able to exit to their vehicles quickly either. I can't see how they can fit gates into the arrangement at the ticket office either. The station simply isn't designed for gates, unless they take back and refit the original now Car Rental office entrance. It's going to cause chaos the additional passengers coming off a late afternoon Paddington mingling with commuters buying tickets from the TO.

This'll cause enormous resentment amongst passengers who can now arrive and access Platform 3 for 'up' services directly.

I suspect there'll be hell up over this and I'm inclined to sympathise.

[signalandtelegraph]

See some construction going on at the Signal box - for the Falmouth branch ?

Yes, new relay room to arrive soon, and then after the Falmouth job is commissioned the barrier machines and roadlights are to be renewed.

[vacman]

So they'll have to fence the entire length of 'Platform 4' right up to the end slope of the eastern end forcing passengers from the west with luggage up over the bridge to get out of the main entrance, conversely arrivals on Platform 2 aren't going to be able to exit to their vehicles quickly either. I can't see how they can fit gates into the arrangement at the ticket office either. The station simply isn't designed for gates, unless they take back and refit the original now Car Rental office entrance. It's going to cause chaos the additional passengers coming off a late afternoon Paddington mingling with commuters buying tickets from the TO.

This'll cause enormous resentment amongst passengers who can now arrive and access Platform 3 for 'up' services directly.

I suspect there'll be hell up over this and I'm inclined to sympathise.

unfortunately the persistant non-payers in the area are to blame, the ones who despite repeated warnings never buy before they board at out lying stations so it will now be forced upon them, I don't remember putting in my post exactly where the gates are going to go nor did I say there will be no disabled access arrangements for platform 3, as for people who have to walk around from the car park, they'll just have to get used to it i'm afraid, I think FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have every right to protect their revenue to/from this major station and I'm sure all of the season ticket holders will be glad to see it as they are fed up with societies crap from Camborne, Redruth and St Austell travelling for free whilst they pay! as for the buffet and Hertz, it no doubt will be the same as the Lemon tree at Exeter where only one side will be open.

[chrisoates]

Unfortunately the persistant non-payers in the area are to blame.

I'm sure all of the season ticket holders will be glad to see it as they are fed up with societies crap from Camborne, Redruth and St Austell travelling for free whilst they pay!
[/quote]

Pity either Redruth or Camborne can't be barriered -would only need one of them.

Some conductors really do go the extra mile - at St Ives I've seen some dash to the exit slope and collect/check tickets from passengers who couldn't be seen on the trip.

Also they are generally very good at suggesting 'group save' etc.
 

[RailCornwall]

Oh well, I suppose it'll force me to go to Newquay and fly up to town if the access to Platform Three is going to be made a hurdle and a half. Simple access made travelling from Truro a pleasure. If they were to equip a footbridge with lifts it wouldn't be that difficult but when carrying a decent sized case and hand baggage its horrible. I hope they'll improve the pavement around the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) office as part of this exercise as carrying bags on the existing is hazardous.

 

[Btline]

Oh well, I suppose it'll force me to go to Newquay and fly up to town if the access to Platform Three is going to be made a hurdle and a half. Simple access made travelling from Truro a pleasure. If they were to equip a footbridge with lifts it wouldn't be that difficult but when carrying a decent sized case and hand baggage its horrible. I hope they'll improve the pavement around the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) office as part of this exercise as carrying bags on the existing is hazardous.

How can a few more yards walk make you ditch the train for the plane?

This gating is good news. The more stations, the better. It will also improve security.