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

[whole diary]

[Witham Bobby]

Any clue as to when the line will be open again? Due to go to Falmouth this Saturday.

Trains now running normally between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Following a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line has now reopened.
Train services running to and from these stations are now running normally.

Last Updated:06/09/2022 08:46

[broadgage]

Could not a basic service be offered without any signaling ? "one engine in steam"

[IndustryInsider]

Could not a basic service be offered without any signaling ? "one engine in steam"

Unlikely if fixing and testing of axle counters is taking place (multiple ones failed AIUI^▸ (as I understand it))...

Lightning strikes damaged signalling equipment at Penryn yesterday. Network Rail are finishing their work to fix and test this this morning.

[RailCornwall]

I'm three miles as the crow flies from Penryn, Not surprised at all, Lunchtime yesterday was Armageddon with a 90 minute storm. All hell broke loose on the roads so I'm totally understanding of the Bus and Taxi companies not willing to operate a RR service at all. Extraordinary as there really wasn't much notice and once the storm passed a respectable afternoon for early September followed.

[LiskeardRich]

From journeycheck
Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line is closed. (Lightning strike yesterday)
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 09:00 06/09.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the disruption to your journey this morning.

We have been unable to source any replacement transport to run in place of the train service as local operators have no taxis or coaches available. (First day back for most school/College pupils)

We have also been unable to arrange for your tickets to be accepted on the local buses between Truro and Falmouth, we are still trying to do this. Until then, if you wish to use local buses, please purchase a ticket on the bus, keep it and send it, together with your train ticket, to us to claim for a refund of the bus fare.

Lightning strikes damaged signalling equipment at Penryn yesterday. Network Rail are finishing their work to fix and test this this morning.

I don't understand why no bus acceptance of rail tickets.  This has always come in to force when the branch goes down. Radio shout from control to accept all tickets.
Truronian did have a contract with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to be on standby 24x7, but that hasn't come into play it seems.
GoCornwall were wanting the standby contract, but that's another query.
Cornwall Council were trying to integrate rail and bus interchanges, etc.
Puzzled of Penwith

GWR will have phoned FTS to arrange transport or ticket acceptance. FTS will probably phone the Truro office number which won’t have been manned that early in the morning. For out of normal office hours (8-6 ish) they’d likely get a better response from Camborne or summercourt duty control?

[GBM]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will have phoned FTS to arrange transport or ticket acceptance. FTS will probably phone the Truro office number which won’t have been manned that early in the morning. For out of normal office hours (8-6 ish) they’d likely get a better response from Camborne or summercourt duty control?

FTS https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/rail-transport-solutions
https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/

So maybe not quite joined up down here as yet!
Camborne I believe doesn't open up until around 5am, possibly the same for Summercourt.

[GBM]

Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:00 02/10.

No mention of ticket acceptance.
But surely, as it's a branch, surely one train in service could be run.
That train holding the token - or two tokens if two are required for through running?
Permissive working?

[grahame]

Looks like one train out of service ... could be a problem that's put the loop at Penryn out of use but trains can get through.  I don't recall tokens - I think it is tokenises there now.

[GBM]

Odd.
Delays to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Following a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Truro and Falmouth Docks:
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until 10:00 02/10.

One train ran at 0815 as shown on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website), but opening that train shows
 This service is cancelled.

This service was cancelled due to a problem with signalling equipment (J3).
UID P76081, identity 2F69

but showing arrival and departure times more or less on time.

[bobm]

Seems to have been caused by an overnight road-rail survey vehicle being used over the line after being put on at the Falmouth Docks end.  It seems accessing it from that end upset the axle counters.

[grahame]

Seems to have been caused by an overnight road-rail survey vehicle being used over the line after being put on at the Falmouth Docks end.  It seems accessing it from that end upset the axle counters.

I can understand the logic - when it comes off the branch, system sees negative trains down there and panics!

[Kernow Otter]

Took the opportunity granted by unexpected fine weather, to day trip to the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival which was hugely well supported with the Town being very busy.

Opted to travel by train from Lostwithiel, and on changing at Truro we were once again shepherded out of the station into a queue for the branch service, and informed of a 1 hr 45 minute wait to catch the connection.

Please don't get me wrong, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staff were absolutely on the ball, communicating, updating, issuing water, everything you would expect - even pointing out the opportunity to catch the U1 bus from adjacent to the queue, (additional fare of £ 12.00 for 3 of us, rtn, although First bus only seemed to want to take 10p from my account).

Having made the return queue by 1900 at Falmouth Docks, we had to stay over with friends as the numbers of people ahead of us meant that we would have made it to Truro, but not in time for the last train to Lostwithiel.

My question is that Falmouth has an eviable reputation for being the key outdoor events destination in Cornwall, and every encouragement is rightly made to use public transport, but public transport always seems to be taken by surprise with these events.

What do we think could be done to improve the situation?

[LiskeardRich]

The remainder of your bus fare will be taken in a few days. Something to do with their tap and cap system they take the full amount later.

As a word of warning if the funds aren’t available or the bank decides not to pay for some reason when they go to collect your card gets hotlisted on their systems and will not work in future on their systems

[RailCornwall]

I too got caught up with this issue, surely if you're already on the network thus having paid more priority should be given to you rather than 'new' passengers arriving at Truro. I was using PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) too and was 'forced' by gateline staff to logoff at the gateline with no facility to log back in when returning in via the special entrance. Sorting the issue out took 20 minutes on livechat on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) site. I too was unamused.