Minehead reconnected to National Rail network with a new regular service

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

Re through services from Network rail I'm on a through train from Slough to Minehead on 28th March run by ? (ex Hertfordshire).

Unlike previously when I've visted the Beer Festival by through train and the 67 has worked through this tour is booked steam from Bishops Lydyard.

Keep an eye out for any specials for the beer Festival usually mid September, straight off the train and into the festival. You don't have to leave the station and when you do you are very happy!
 

[eightf48544]

Whilst talking to my inside sources quite a while ago I was told that because of the signalling not quite meeting NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s standards they could only run 6 trains a week or something along those lines onto the main line

It is a great pity to hear that the signalling interface between West Somerset and NR is still so restrictive.

I thought that subsequent to the Cider Company closing down and no longer using the riunning line as a siding that NR had upgraded the signally so that through trains can run, without special provision to signal them. Usually someone on the ground.

I believe before the changes it was 6 trains a year, 6 trains a week seems a very arbitary figure if special provision still  has to be made.

[broadgage]

AFAIK^▸ ('as far as I know') the signaling between the Minehead branch and the main line has now been improved, and would permit of a regular through service to Bishops lydeard or beyond.

I very much hope that we will see through trains again, either for special events, or even a regular timetabled service.

The 28 bus provides an acceptable service at off peak times, but is very poor at busy times due to overcrowding of the bus and delays caused by road congestion.

Unfortunatly, providing a regular rail service between Minehead and Taunton, might not produce any saving on the subsidy paid to the bus company.
When BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) closed the Minehead branch, a bus service was provided instead, this was originaly a true rail replacement bus, calling only at railway stations.
However as the years went by, the bus service was altered to better serve not just ex rail customers, but also the community in general.
As a result the present bus service has many additional stops, not at rail stations, the better to serve numerous communities en-route.
Any replacement of the bus by a re-instated rail service would probably be strongly opposed by such communities.

[devon_metro]

I'm pretty sure there is a market for through trains to Minehead, but at the moment the WSR have quite a good heritage operation which more through trains may threaten and dilute. One of the main issue is the lack of capacity at the moment - the long section between Williton and Blue Anchor limits the line to only one train an hour each way. Steam trains will take preference for these paths as they are always going to be more profitable during July and August than a through diesel train to Taunton and beyond. Perhaps if they were to reinstall the loop between Watchet and Washford it would free more capacity for through trains. It would be great to have a daily HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) from London and maybe three or four Minehead - Taunton DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) round trips in the summer.

Just musing here ... isn't there an HST or two from Paddington that turns around at Taunton?  Is there enough time to extend it to Bishop's Lydeard and let people transfer to / from the preserved train - what a marvellous way to start / end a holiday, and extra traffic onto the HST with precious few extra miles run ...

Turnaround is half an hour. It arrives at Taunton (1218 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-TAU^» (Taunton - next trains)) at 1444. Extending it further would occupy the platform for the 1350 Taunton - Plymouth, which is would have to wait to Pass at Norton Fit(no idea how to spell)

It then departs at 1519 with a fast HST 11 minutes behind, so turn arounds would be hopelessly tight. Nice idea anyway!

Perhaps running a loco hauled service as before, but allowing passengers to use both legs of the journeys for a more reasonable price:

[autotank]

I know there are limitations with regard routing from Taunton to the Minehead branch (I think services have to use the 15mph restricted up/down relief) but this is the first I have heard of the 6 trains per week restriction which sounds a bit ridiculous - either it is safe or it isn't!

It does seem stupid that they don't run trains for the Minehead music festivals - but unfortunately quite a few heritage lines are often slow to pick up on the use of there lines for anything other than the core leisure train rides. I think there was a story on the excellent wsr.org.uk a few months back saying that they were investigating getting a heritage DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) mainline registered for use between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. Perhaps when the ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) or Chiltern Bubble get retired in a few years the WSR could aquire them?

[eightf48544]

Isn't there a preserved thumper about? Good old reliable English Electric technology.

Trouble is any heritage unit will be slam door so probably not allowed to run on the main line.

Now a pensioned off Pacer might be just the thing!

[r james]

Im sure FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could catch onto something here though, and offer a special couple of trains a day to Butlins/ Mineead.  Even though it would be in direct cometion to its own bus service from taunton station, I personnaly think it wouldnt have much of an impact, as more people could choose the rail service of Butlins worked to promote it.

Remember the FGW HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to BUtlins mid last year?  Was that a sucess?

[grahame]

Remember the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to BUtlins mid last year?  Was that a sucess?

Yes, a fabulous day was had by all.

No, Butlins was closed to day visitors so we couldn't go in.

[John R]

I know there are limitations with regard routing from Taunton to the Minehead branch (I think services have to use the 15mph restricted up/down relief) but this is the first I have heard of the 6 trains per week restriction which sounds a bit ridiculous - either it is safe or it isn't!

It does seem stupid that they don't run trains for the Minehead music festivals - but unfortunately quite a few heritage lines are often slow to pick up on the use of there lines for anything other than the core leisure train rides. I think there was a story on the excellent wsr.org.uk a few months back saying that they were investigating getting a heritage DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) mainline registered for use between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. Perhaps when the ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) or Chiltern Bubble get retired in a few years the WSR could aquire them?

The 15mph has just been raised to 40mph, as NR^» (Network Rail - home page) proudly announced earlier this month.

The shuttles that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and Virgin did a couple of years back for Gala weekends ran around 5 or 6 per day for both Sat and Sunday. I'm wondering whether the source quoting this 6 per week limit was confusing it with the previous 6 per year that used to exist before NR upgraded the signalling. After all, Network Rail have been running almost daily services onto the WSR at times for the last 18 months or so.

As I've posted elsewhere (somewhere - can't find it!) the new platform that the WSR is building at Norton Fitzwarren could be the opportunity to run a much shorter shuttle service which, together with the upgrade of the relief line, would be much more viable in terms of being a relatively quick return hop from Taunton.

And yes, the FGW special was great fun, especially when they starting selling the beer at 50p a pint to clear it (hic)! Hope they do it again soon.

[Chris from Nailsea]

As I've posted elsewhere (somewhere - can't find it!) ... .

Here, http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3710.msg32553#msg32553, possibly, John?

[John R]

Thanks Chris!

[r james]

The shuttles that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and Virgin did a couple of years back for Gala weekends ran around 5 or 6 per day for both Sat and Sunday.

SO Virgin actually ran a few services to Minehead station??  Anyone else remember this?  Or are you refering to a different destination?


As for Butlins being closed to day visitors..... the trip was advertised as giving you money off anentry into Butlns Minehead, so surely Butlins wasnt actually closed?? 

[John R]

It ran a Voyager shuttle to Bishops Lydiard.

Yes, Butlins was indeed closed, but it didn't detract from the day.

[r james]

How on earth did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) get it so wrong then?  promoting the service offering discounted entry into Butlins, then butlins actually being closed?!?!

[grahame]

How on earth did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) get it so wrong then?  promoting the service offering discounted entry into Butlins, then butlins actually being closed?!?!

Let me clarify that. Butlins was closed to day visitors - there was an special weekend of some sort going on there (as I understand it) to which additional people were not being admitted for the day. We heard about this ahead of time (at this point, I don't remember if it was on th train or even earlier) so everyone knew; my own little group hadn't been going to Butlins anyway, so it wasn't a huge deal to us, and I still have some - undated - 50% off Butlins day vouchers that we were handed to make up for the disappointment another time.

The day was organised by a charity - "The Railway Children" - and as the purpose was also to raise money for their cause, I don't think that anyone got dreadfully upset - everyone I spoke with certainly had a great day.  And it's probably far too long after the even to be useful discussing how and where messages got crossed in terms of why the Butlins deal ended up being advertised when it wasn't available.  But a good lesson for next time such a trip is run ... and I'll be on it if I can connect into it practically from my local station.