Paignton Branch: Newton Abbot to Torbay - Torre, Torquay and Paignton (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the South Devon Herald Express:

Rail users have been reassured that direct train services linking Paignton with Paddington will not be cut, and could even be increased.

The prospect of a third direct service to London from Torbay is the subject of current discussions between First Great Western and the Department of Transport.

But rail campaigners say the Bay is still losing out on a potential 400,000 visitors a year because of poor rail links and facilities.

Fears had been raised that Torbay could lose its London connection completely following the withdrawal of South West Trains between Waterloo and Paignton. The trains now travel no further west than Exeter.

Members of the Torbay Rail Line Users group raised concerns about the Bay's First Great Western London service in a presentation to Torbay Council's Transport Working Party.

Roger Dixon said Torbay MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) Adrian Sanders had lobbied ministers over the prospect of visitors having to change at Exeter or Newton Abbot because of proposals to cut FGW^▸ (First Great Western) direct services to Paignton from 2012. But the ministers had restated plans to trim train services in many areas of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), including Devon.

Mr Dixon said the prospect of cutting Torbay services had been highlighted in a study by Network Rail and the Department of Transport on future use of the system. He said: "The council needs to lobby the Department of Transport to make sure they understand the impact this could have on Torbay. We estimate Torbay could be missing out on a potential 400,000 overnight visitors a year because it does not have the level of train services resorts such as Scarborough have. We have to chase up the Department of Transport to make sure direct services between Torbay and London are included in the franchise specifications in future."

General manager of FGW, Julian Crow, said he believed there had been a misunderstanding. "There is absolutely no intention to cease running through services to Torbay," he said. He said they had added the second service to Paignton and have put proposals to the Government for a third train, arriving in Paignton mid-morning. "We carried out consultation last autumn and were grateful for the council's support and are awaiting approval but remain optimistic it will get the go ahead," he said. "It is simply not the case that through services are at risk. We have had a good year on local services in Devon and Cornwall and are still seeing growth."

Torbay Rail Line Users chairman John Hartley said in the 1950s some 80 per cent of tourists used trains, this was now down to three to four per cent. The group was keen to work with Torbay Council to maximise train use in the area.

Cllr Ian Doggett, a member of the group, also raised concerns about Cross Country services to the North East and North West.

[devon_metro]

Was quite interesting in this 3rd service they speak of!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE APPEAL FOR WITNESSES AFTER ASSAULT ON TRAIN BETWEEN EXETER AND TORRE

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for witnesses after a passenger was assaulted on board a train between Exeter and Torre rail stations.

Officers are urging anyone with information about the incident which took at 8.50pm place on Sunday 2 May to come forward.

The victim was travelling on the 8pm Exeter to Paignton service. As the train approached Torre station rail station, a male passenger in his forties punched the victim on the back of his head as the victim got up to leave the train.

The offender is described as being in his early forties, about 5ft 9in, of medium build, with a pale complexion. He had an inch-long scar on his left cheek, mousey hair that was greying and was wearing a khaki baseball cap, and a baggy jacket and trousers.

It is believed the offender remained on the train until Paignton.

[JayMac]

From the Herald Express:

A lack of night staff cover at Torquay's main railway station has been criticised.

Eighty-seven-year-old Stan Pearson and his wife, Corinne, who is in her 70s, say they were alarmed to find the Torquay station at Rathmore Road deserted when they arrived at 6.49pm after a trip to see family upcountry.

Mr Pearson, of Hesketh Road, Torquay, who says he is an infrequent rail traveller, said he has written to the station operators to complain.

First Great Western says there has been no nighttime cover for a considerable number of years but there are other security measures in place.

Mr Pearson said: "Torquay is by no means a village halt, and I find it disgusting that we could arrive back in our home town to find there was no one from the railway company to offer us any assistance.

"We both felt very vulnerable wandering about in the dark, trying to decide what to do before we remembered to use a mobile phone to call a taxi."

Mr Pearson said it was the taxi driver who told him the station was unmanned after 5pm.

He said "I am aware that there is a recession and that it is necessary to save on overheads, but to leave a main line station like Torquay without even a night watchman on duty seems to be going too far.

"Supposing one of us had an accident leaving the train and there was no one to help us?"

Train operator First Great Western says on weekdays the station is staffed between 7.10am and 5pm, with slightly shorter periods at weekends.

A spokesman said: "The station is accredited by the British Transport Police under the secure stations scheme, is well lit, and utilises CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision). A new help point is currently being installed. Customers who may require help on the train or on arrival at their destination station can have assisted travel by calling 0800 197 1329."

[devon_metro]

Sounds as if they haven't stepped outside for 20 years...!

The majority of people passing through Torquay in the evening spend approximately 30 seconds on the station before exiting at the gate by the car park, having staff about would be a waste of time.

[Phil]

The majority of people passing through Torquay in the evening spend approximately 30 seconds on the station before exiting at the gate by the car park, having staff about would be a waste of time.

Might improve ticket revenue though, eh?

[Super Guard]

From the Herald Express:

A lack of night staff cover at Torquay's main railway station has been criticised.

Eighty-seven-year-old Stan Pearson and his wife, Corinne, who is in her 70s, say they were alarmed to find the Torquay station at Rathmore Road deserted when they arrived at 6.49pm after a trip to see family upcountry.

Mr Pearson, of Hesketh Road, Torquay$ who says he is an infrequent rail traveller, said he has written to the station operators to complain.

First Great Western says there has been no nighttime cover for a considerable number of years but there are other security measures in place.

Mr Pearson said: "Torquay is by no means a village halt, and I find it disgusting that we could arrive back in our home town to find there was no one from the railway company to offer us any assistance.

"We both felt very vulnerable wandering about in the dark, trying to decide what to do before we remembered to use a mobile phone to call a taxi."

Mr Pearson said it was the taxi driver who told him the station was unmanned after 5pm.

He said "I am aware that there is a recession and that it is necessary to save on overheads, but to leave a main line station like Torquay without even a night watchman on duty seems to be going too far.

"Supposing one of us had an accident leaving the train and there was no one to help us?"

Train operator First Great Western says on weekdays the station is staffed between 7.10am and 5pm, with slightly shorter periods at weekends.

A spokesman said: "The station is accredited by the British Transport Police under the secure stations scheme, is well lit, and utilises CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision). A new help point is currently being installed. Customers who may require help on the train or on arrival at their destination station can have assisted travel by calling 0800 197 1329."

I didn't realise a.) Torquay was on the "main-line" and b.) generally Guards don't ignore passengers after having an accident when getting off a train... 

[Tim]

quite,  The guard and driver would be changing ends and there would be other passengers about.

[noddingdonkey]

I've never changed ends at Torquay!

[inspector_blakey]

From the Herald Express:

"We both felt very vulnerable wandering about in the dark, trying to decide what to do before we remembered to use a mobile phone to call a taxi."

!!!



Are these people safe to be travelling the country unattended in that case? How the hell would the station being staffed have got them home any more quickly? Was a member of staff supposed to be on duty so that they could remind said couple that the standard procedure on arriving at a railway station is to find some sort of transport to your ultimate destination, which may involve calling a taxi?

Edited to add...
Having checked the comments section on the Herald Express website it doesn't really look like the balance of opinion is in favour of this couple, putting things politely!

[devon_metro]

It's Torquay.

Full of grumpy OAPs who have nothing else to do but moan about how awful everything is. It will never change!

[SDS]

Surprised they didnt moan about the lack of the Saga Lout ticket. "We travelled last year and it only cost us xx, yet this year its cost us even more, blah blah moan moan,"

.... [sic] but we remembered to buy advance tickets using our computer.

[vacman]

The majority of people passing through Torquay in the evening spend approximately 30 seconds on the station before exiting at the gate by the car park, having staff about would be a waste of time.

Might improve ticket revenue though, eh?

Most people use the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at tqy even when the station is open as it is more convenient being situated on the up platform!

[devon_metro]

The majority of people passing through Torquay in the evening spend approximately 30 seconds on the station before exiting at the gate by the car park, having staff about would be a waste of time.

Might improve ticket revenue though, eh?

Considering the fact that the main flow is out of the station I doubt it would make much difference.

[Trowres]

Right, all you who poke fun at these people; two points:

1) How confident are you of maintaining physical and mental faculties into old age?

2) I've noticed a marked reluctance among some senior citizens to use the railway, even though they had good reason (and funds!) to do so. In spite of SC railcards, there don't seem to be many SC's on trains where I live...people who could be using off-peak trains and reducing the need for subsidy. We have the crazy situation that big money is spent on making stations accessible for the "disabled", but peanuts on sorting out the barriers to travel for a large section of population.