Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) it has not done so for many, many years.  Allows diversion via yeovil without any need for bus replacement to Taunton.

Thats cheating! I guess its one way for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to save money though

[Super Guard]

From what i've heard very few people use Taunton except leaving EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) on a Friday night after being out on the town.

I believe there was some consideration knocking the Taunton stop out altogether, however it seems to survive for now.

[John R]

And IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) it used to stop at Bristol Temple Meads until around 5 years ago. Presumably this was also withdrawn to allow more flexibility as to which route it takes.

[Sleepy]

So Ryanair have cancelled the route until the summer ? What a convenient way to save costs when loadings are low and blame someone else ! Hope the displaced passengers try the superb refurbished sleeper and stay on the railway.

[bemmy]

And IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) it used to stop at Bristol Temple Meads until around 5 years ago. Presumably this was also withdrawn to allow more flexibility as to which route it takes.

I think it was more than 10 years ago they withdrew the Temple Meads stop. I was disappointed because I used it a number of times over the years: to Plymouth to connect with the early Roscoff ferry, and to and from Penzance to connect with the Scillonian. The up service was also useful for an early arrival in London, I used it a couple of times to connect with the boat train from Liverpool St to Harwich.

It's a shame there are hardly any night services any more.... I know there are operational reasons but other countries manage to have a network of night trains.

[John R]

It was certainly still calling as recently as May 2003,  02u50, MX.

[RailCornwall]

In around 1988 I travelled through Salisbury THREE times on a PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) > PZ journey.

[slippy]

Tuesday nights down sleeper hit a tree west of Bedwyn and was cancelled at Westbury arriving 05:25, 230 late!! Passengers transferred to a unit to Taunton then a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service to Plymouth where the 0820 departure for Penzance was held 15 mins to meet the XC. Not a good journey for those people!!

[inspector_blakey]

Ouch. Turfed out of your nice comfortable berth into a Vomiter. That's got to hurt.

[Super Guard]

As inconvenient as it was the passengers, I was personally relieved to hear it was the sleeper loco that hit the tree at 70mph rather than a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) powercar at 100+mph.  Considering the position of the damage that was done to the loco, I reckon it would have had a HST powercar off the road 

[James Vertigan]

Not that I'm worried, because I'm not on the train... but FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website is claiming there are no sleeper berths on this service - that can't be comfortable - hope they've stuck everyone in First Class carriages!

[JayMac]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Website:

23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59
12 July 2009
This train has been revised.This train will be formed of 8 coaches.This is due to a train fault.
No sleeper berths will be available on this service.

Looks like they've drafted in a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) set. I would hazard a guess that none of FGWs 57s were available and there were no replacement locos available. I'm sure someone in coffeeshop land will know.....

[James Vertigan]

I know that sometimes FGW^▸ (First Great Western) draft in a Virgin trains Thunderbird loco (I've seen Brains and Kyrano sitting at Paddington station before) but mostly it's the FGW locos named after South West castles.

The one coming into Paddington from Penzance this morning was a normal FGW loco.

[Tim]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Website:

23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59
12 July 2009
This train has been revised.This train will be formed of 8 coaches.This is due to a train fault.
No sleeper berths will be available on this service.

Looks like they've drafted in a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) set. I would hazard a guess that none of FGWs 57s were available and there were no replacement locos available. I'm sure someone in coffeeshop land will know.....

Why can't the HST powercar(s) haul the sleeper coaches?  It is all Mk 3 stock isn't it?

[IndustryInsider]

Why can't the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) powercar(s) haul the sleeper coaches?  It is all Mk 3 stock isn't it?

An incompatible electrical supply, and some other issues. That's why other Mk3 carriages haven't been converted to HST trailers without having to go through expensive and extensive overhaul.