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

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Hmm... are we absolutely certain as to the sex of the driver?

'driver' would've sufficed. Male or female is irrelevant. 

One of the eyewitness reports referred to the driver as 'he'.

[LiskeardRich]

Hmm... are we absolutely certain as to the sex of the driver?

'driver' would've sufficed. Male or female is irrelevant. 

One of the eyewitness reports referred to the driver as 'he'.

the friend i was talking to referred to her by christian name, in conversation, and it would be rather strange for a male to be called the name in question. the friend works for First D&C at the Falmouth depot, so he would definitely be in the know.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Passerby Justine Gunn, 40, of Falmouth, snapped the aftermath as the ^sheepish^ driver got out of the cabin to survey the damage.
Mum-of-two Justine said: ^I was walking by and just thought ^oops^. The driver was stood outside looking particularly sheepish about the whole affair, which is fairly understandable as the bridge^s height is clearly marked. The only thing I can think of is that ordinarily it^s a single decker coach which comes down the route so maybe the driver completely forgot what he was in.^

Perhaps it just goes to show that eye-witness evidence should never be relied upon?

Chris

[Ollie]

Or that this "he" that was seen wasn't the driver?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Perhaps we should 'declare an interest' here: Ollie and I have both walked under that particular bridge, on our Falmouth Line bash - and I for one wouldn't choose to drive a bus (even a single decker!) under it ... 

[chrisoates]

Perhaps we should 'declare an interest' here: Ollie and I have both walked under that particular bridge, on our Falmouth Line bash - and I for one wouldn't choose to drive a bus (even a single decker!) under it ... 

Yep - whenever rail replacement is used on the Falmouth branch the route to Falmouth Town station is via that bridge.

[smokey]

At least they kept in the family - a First Bus disrupting a First train service.

So much for transforming travel!! 

And they have transformed travel..

from a double deck to a single deck

Yes First tranform travel into a NIGHTMARE.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the British Transport Police press release:

BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER MAN ASSAULTED ON TRAIN ^ PENRYN

British Transport Police officers are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man they would like to speak to in connection with an assault which took place on board a train on the Falmouth branch line.

Officers have today, Wednesday 2 November 2011, released a CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident which took place at about 10.20am on Saturday 15 October 2011.

Investigating officer, PC Wayne Frost, said: ^The 23-year-old victim placed his luggage on the luggage rack in the train carriage. Between Penmere and Penryn, he noticed a man approach his baggage and attempt to open it. He challenged the man who then assaulted him. Although not seriously injured, the victim was extremely shaken by the incident.

^Enquiries are ongoing and, after viewing CCTV images, I would now like to identify and speak to the man in this photograph as I believe he will have information which can assist the investigation. I would ask anyone who knows this man^s identity, or his current whereabouts, to contact BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).^

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident reference B9/WWA of 02/11/2011. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Edit note: Images now removed due to expiry of copyright permission. CfN

[FarWestJohn]

In this weeks West Briton newspaper it says a park and ride is to be considered for a site south of Truro. There is already one to the west and one proposed to the east.

Cornwall Council has revealed that it will be looking at the feasibility of a bus based service with possible locations thought to include Carnon Downs or Playing Place along the A39 Truro to Falmouth road.
The scheme would replace proposals, now abandoned, for a railway halt at Treluswell.

This is most likely good news for Perranwell as there were suggestions it would lose its service if the Treluswell park and ride had been built as there would be very little time left to turn round at Truro.

Treluswell would have been a brilliant place for a park and ride that would have served Falmouth and Truro.

Most likely will all change again next week - cynical me.

[RailCornwall]

Shame really, but with Truro Station now 'Fort Knox' it no longer fits the profile of an interchange suitable for P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) services. Machine readable tickets would be required to get through the barriers which would add a level of complexity to the proposition. In addition ensuring buses meet the trains to provide prompt connections to the City Centre and Treliske would be difficult.

P&R on rail only works with open access.

Anyway living close to Carnon Downs, the only realistic parking site on the A39 is the fields adjacent to the Carnon Inn and the bus lane between CD^▸ (Capital Delivery) and Playing Place. Much opposition will be inevitable if they are taken for use.

[Bristolboy]

Would there not be an issue with trains at bursting point. When I wassup last on this line a few months back all the passengers struggled to get on and from speaking to other users it would appear that many times not everyone can get on. I know there are plans to add extra carriages, but in my opinion this spare capacity will quickly be used up even without a park and ride.

[LiskeardRich]

just found a picture of the bridge strike bus, on a flikr link sent to me by a friend, looks like the bus will have a new life. here is the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/29197902@N06/6017934386/in/photostream/

[Chris from Nailsea]

From ThisIsCornwall:

A man has been recovered from railway tracks and is being treated in hospital this evening after an incident which saw the railway network from Truro to Falmouth temporarily closed.

British Transport Police, Cornwall and Devon Police and ambulance services attended the scene at Melville Road in Falmouth at 7pm.

The male casualty was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital by land ambulance and police are not treating the incident as suspicious.

First Great Western's website says "Owing to emergency services dealing with an incident between Truro and Falmouth Docks all lines are affected.

"Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 50 mins at short notice. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

"Replacement road transport services are conveying passengers between Truro and Falmouth Docks in both directions until further notice."

[vacman]

What it doesnt say is that the casualty was taken by rail down to Falmouth!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between Falmouth Docks and Penryn.
Owing to a person hit by a train between Falmouth Docks and Penryn all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled at short notice.
An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

Road transport is in place between Truro and Falmouth Docks.
A coach service will run between Truro and Falmouth Docks calling at all stations.