Bedminster Station from 17/05/09

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Perranwell is so lightly used that I don't think anyone can complain about only an hourly service-it's still a better service than it gets now, it will save around 1 minute by not stopping there as the turn around time at Truro from the new timetable is just 2 mins!

I'm guessing that mainline connections being held go out the window then?

[eightf48544]

Perranwell is so lightly used that I don't think anyone can complain about only an hourly service-it's still a better service than it gets now, it will save around 1 minute by not stopping there as the turn around time at Truro from the new timetable is just 2 mins!

Turnaround time of 2 minutes. Although I'm all for smart operating 2 minutes seems to be pushing it. Consider what has to be done, passengers detrain, passengers entrain, driver swaps ends, guard swaps ends. Meanwhile the signalman has to get the road by  changing  the points and pulling  off the relevant signals always assumming the lines are clear.

How many trains does this apply to? It can be done occasionaly with late running incoming trains, but not every half hour day in day out 363 days a year. If they do mange it consistently then there are going to be some awfully fit train crews and signalmen in the West.

[devon_metro]

Its likely there is some slack in the running times anyway.

[John R]

Isn't there a turnaround time of 0 minutes on the Newquay branch according to the published timetable?

[vacman]

Isn't there a turnaround time of 0 minutes on the Newquay branch according to the published timetable?

there is, but at the same time there are about 4 "charter minutes" between Quintrell downs and Newquay.
a 2 min turnaround is just possible at Truro with a single 153, no points to change if the train is straight back out and the driver no longer has to put the staff in to the instrument and phone the signalman at Truro. on most trips it appears that there is about 6 min turnaround at Falmouth so a bit of recovery time really! as for holding for the main line, well whats the point if theres a train 30 mins later?