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

[whole diary]

[LiskeardRich]

I might be thinking of another west country branch line - but isn't a fairly steep climb between the two stations?

No its level.

Come out of Falmouth Town car park, turn left, after 40metres turn right at roundabout along Bar Road, follow Bar Road to the roundabout and turn left to Falmouth Docks station.

There is very little reason to walk all the way to the Docks station though. Its in a dead end with a bowling alley, and student accommodation at pretty much the end of a headland, so to walk beyond it you may get wet!!!

[Palfers]

Trains will be terminating and starting from Falmouth Town over the weekend due to track relaying. Legs and feet will replace trains between Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks stations. Hopefully the run around loop and connection to the docks themselves will remain intact.

On Facebook there is some pics of the ground frame dug up so I reckon it could be the end of the loop and link with the docks

[grahame]

Trains will be terminating and starting from Falmouth Town over the weekend due to track relaying. Legs and feet will replace trains between Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks stations. Hopefully the run around loop and connection to the docks themselves will remain intact.

On Facebook there is some pics of the ground frame dug up so I reckon it could be the end of the loop and link with the docks

Not unexpected ..

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/headlines---latest-reports-and-photographs/truro-falmouth-tall-ships-perranwell-problems-craig-munday

The run round loop visible in the grass to the right is scheduled to be recovered at some future date removing any possibility of docks traffic.

[Kernowman]

I had hoped the loop and docks connection had been given a reprieve but disconnection was not unexpected no, but rather sad, happening, poignantly, soon after the Falmouth branch's 150th anniversary.
The third deepest natural harbour in the World and one of the biggest industrial sites in Cornwall now without a railfreight link.
After the Newquay 'rationalisation', Falmouth was, until now, the only branch terminal in Cornwall not to be of single line status (apart from Heritage branches).
I know disconnecting the sidings etc doesn't effect FGW^▸ (First Great Western) much, (unless they plan on reinstating 1979's loco hauled Falmouth-Paddington, although the chances of that, I suspect, are slim!), but the disconnection is news-worthy.
As well as refitting large ships etc and building yachts the Docks has a big fuel depot for ships to refuel, apparently you can only use low emission fuel when going up the Channel.
The Docks also used Steam shunters until around 1986 when they got a Diesel (yes 1986!)
I hope this post sticks around, the one I posted on Saturday evening bizarrely disappeared!

[grahame]

I had hoped the loop and docks connection had been given a reprieve but disconnection was not unexpected no, but rather sad, happening, poignantly, soon after the Falmouth branch's 150th anniversary.
The third deepest natural harbour in the World and one of the biggest industrial sites in Cornwall now without a railfreight link.

One goes, another arrives ...

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/port-set-for-growth-after-regaining-rail-link?

The Transport Secretary was at Port of Sunderland today to see the arrival of the first train in more than 20 years.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin was in the Port of Sunderland today (5 February 2015) to see its rail line being used for the first time in more than 2 decades.

Network Rail has spent ^600,000 to reinstate the former rail line into the port, which will boost its freight operations by allowing cargo to be transported onwards by rail.

Patrick McLoughlin said:

As part of the government^s long term economic plan, we are investing record amounts in improving road and rail connections so that ports like Sunderland can realise their full potential and contribute to regional growth.

The reconnection of the port^s rail link will boost its import and export capabilities significantly. I am proud to see this historic port being put firmly on the map again for freight and maritime projects and gearing up for more business.

The Transport Secretary was visiting the Port of Sunderland as part of a 3 day trip to meet northern leaders to discuss how transport can drive forward the creation of a northern powerhouse.

The Port of Sunderland already handles more than 700,000 tonnes of cargo each year. The reinstated line will allow up to 5 trains a day to operate into and out of the port, connecting it to the East Coast mainline, and from there to the wider rail network and mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

During his visit Mr McLoughlin saw a trial run of a Class 66 locomotive on its newly connected rail line organised by rail freight haulier DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) Schenker and Network Rail.

Work is about to be completed and the rail line will soon be used for commercial operations, increasing the port^s capability to manage cargo handling projects.

Port director Matthew Hunt said:

It^s fantastic to once again have rail connections at Port of Sunderland. We have always enjoyed great access to open sea, and the port is well placed in terms of its links to major roads and airports.

However, for more than 20 years, Port of Sunderland has not seen any rail traffic coming into its heart. To have lines connected into the port is a huge step forward for us and it really was an important moment for us to see the lines in use once again. It was great to share that with the Transport Secretary too.

The port is also set to benefit from work on the third Wear crossing in 2015. As a strategic transport corridor, the new bridge will better connect the port to trunk roads like the A19 and A1, ensuring that access is as straightforward as possible.

[RailCornwall]

It's worthy of note that the work encompassed complete track relaying from just over the Falmouth Town bridge into Falmouth Docks station, a short section, but one which previously had been subject to a 30 limit. Trains now approach Falmouth Town from the Docks considerably faster.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Trains now approach Falmouth Town from the Docks considerably faster.

Better that, than the alternative rather awful incident: see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14272.0 

[Kernowman]

a short section, but one which previously had been subject to a 30 limit. Trains now approach Falmouth Town from the Docks considerably faster.

The distance from Falmouth Docks to Falmouth Town is only half a mile, so I would be interested to know how fast a unit can realistically go before it has to slow down again.

[Kernowman]

Trains now approach Falmouth Town from the Docks considerably faster.

Better that, than the alternative rather awful incident: see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14272.0 

The gradient at Falmouth Town is the reason why, when Falmouth Docks station was closed for a few years in the early 1970's, units used to run ecs from Falmouth Town to Falmouth Docks and back, as drivers weren't allowed to change ends on the gradient at Falmouth Town so did so at Falmouth Docks.

[Kernowman]

Better that, than the alternative rather awful incident: see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14272.0 

I believe that the loco involved in this tragic incident was a class 22

[LiskeardRich]

Just noticed one round trip on the branch cancelled tomorrow. Assuming the inspection has no real safety impact for all other services to be running between now and 1051 tomorrow morning.

Fri, 3 June 10:51 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 11:14 
This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
Further Information
Road replacement buses will operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks in both directions, operated by A2B of Truro.

Fri, 3 June 11:20 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 11:48 

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.

Further Information
Road replacement buses will operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks in both directions, operated by A2B of Truro

Edit- I have just seen on Facebook the NMT is going to Falmouth tomorrow due in Falmouth at 1120, so looks like the branch service has been cancelled for the NMT in its place.
Is the loop at Penryn big enough for the NMT to pass the other unit running on the branch?

[paul7575]

Edit- I have just seen on Facebook the NMT is going to Falmouth tomorrow due in Falmouth at 1120, so looks like the branch service has been cancelled for the NMT in its place.
Is the loop at Penryn big enough for the NMT to pass the other unit running on the branch?

Sounds as if 'safety inspection' is a poor choice, but perhaps there isn't another more suitable option.

These things are apparently selected in information systems from a drop down menu. 'Condition monitoring' or something would probably sound more re-assuring...

Paul

[bobm]

Seems Network Rail are having a blitz in the West Country. Yesterday one of the Measurement trains came down from Exeter to Penzance last night via Looe and Newquay.

It has spent the day parked up by Penzance station before going to Bristol overnight via St Ives and Falmouth.



http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U42068/2016/06/02/advanced

Not sure why both trains have to cover the branch in quick succession.

[LiskeardRich]

The NMT suffered a computer glitch and as a result was 15 late leaving Falmouth throwing the entire branch operation out of sync this morning,

[grahame]

From The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership

Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) will introduce an improved timetable on the Truro to Falmouth Maritime Line from Sunday 21 May 2017.

On Mondays to Fridays, the last train on the line will run more than half an hour later. The train will depart Truro station at 22 44 instead of the current 22 08 and Falmouth Docks at 23 11 instead of the current 22 35.

On Summer Sundays, the number of trains is set to increase from 11 to 12 each way, improving service frequencies in the middle of the day. Currently seven trains operate each way before 18 00 on Sundays, this will increase to eight.

Dan Okey, Regional Development Manager (West) for Great Western Railway said:

"Dedicated to supporting the communities we serve, I am delighted to be able to announce these service improvements on the Maritime Line. We are sure the later weekday service and additional Sunday train will be of great benefit to passengers, providing more opportunities to travel."

Maritime Line Forum Chair, Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said:

"Hats off and many thanks to Great Western Railway for introducing the later weekday train and extra Summer Sunday service. Both of these improvements have long been sought by local people and it is great that they are happening."

The later weekday train follows requests from Cornwall Council, the Hall for Cornwall and the Maritime Line Forum; allowing people to return home by train after a performance at the Hall for Cornwall. The later evening services will also allow visitors from other parts of the country to be better able to reach Falmouth by train. The later Maritime Line service will make a connection with the Golden Hind, the 18 03 from London Paddington. Currently, the latest people can leave Paddington for Falmouth is one hour earlier at 17 03.

Congratulations on the later evening train.

We have similar requests from passengers on the Swindon -> Westbury service, where the final train on Monday to Friday is as early as 20:06 from Swindon.  As the train's then parked up at Westbury overnight, the rolling stock's available to run a 21:20 from Westbury and a 22:36 from Swindon. 

Observing trains from Bristol and Bath to Trowbridge and Westbury, there's a quiet period mid-evening, but the final train(s) get busier again.  So I'm sure this venture on the Maritime Line will go well, and help encourage other similar ventures.   And who knows - we may end up with Gladys Knight singing "Midnight train to Falmouth" in future years!