Fully booked to Cornwall

[whole diary]

[Super Guard]

Seems Dft have not however with the ending of SouthWest Trains through working to Paignton soon.

Bad decision that IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion)

Naturally, I agree. Its always nice to return from Exeter on a respectable train!

And are you saying Exeters premier bus fleet isn't respectable? 

[eightf48544]

1135 Paddington - Newquay certainly wasn't fully reserved. Only 150 people offloaded when 43132 broke at Par and was subsequently dumped in the down sidings.

How did they get the passengers to Newquay?

[slippy]

1135 Paddington - Newquay certainly wasn't fully reserved. Only 150 people offloaded when 43132 broke at Par and was subsequently dumped in the down sidings.

How did they get the passengers to Newquay?

Next service to St.Austell then by bus........

[Btline]

If SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have spare DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) lying around (for Lymington), then why can't they run to Paignton?

[devon_metro]

1135 Paddington - Newquay certainly wasn't fully reserved. Only 150 people offloaded when 43132 broke at Par and was subsequently dumped in the down sidings.

How did they get the passengers to Newquay?

Next service to St.Austell then by bus........

1206 Padd - Penzance, which was already well loaded before another 150 piled on with suitcases and other rubbish!

Bet they got to Newquay early 

[willc]

If SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have spare DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) lying around (for Lymington), then why can't they run to Paignton?

You are getting a bit ahead of the December timetable change, when SWT is step up the frequency on the Salisbury-Exeter line. Hence the end of them running west of Exeter.

At the moment there is a bit of spare capacity, hence one set is on loan to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and another to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) while it overhauls its 158 fleet.

And while using a dmu on an electric branch may seem a bit silly, the 3-CIGs are old, non-standard and expensive to maintain, while using a 4-car 450 on a five-and-a-bit mile shuttle would be even sillier. And they don't seem inclined to lease a couple of 508s, presumably on cost grounds.  How about a Parry People Mover?

[Btline]

I understand about the proposed SWT^▸ (South West Trains) timetable change, but this use of the 158s is annoying.

Look - the line is electrified, so using DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is appalling IMO^▸ (in my opinion). Using 158s is a waste on such a line.

SWT have 2 slammers - why not use one for spare parts? Or, even better, use a shortened 450 or 4?? (the red ones that look lile 150s).

[willc]

I understand about the proposed SWT^▸ (South West Trains) timetable change, but this use of the 158s is annoying.

Look - the line is electrified, so using DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is appalling IMO^▸ (in my opinion). Using 158s is a waste on such a line.

SWT have 2 slammers - why not use one for spare parts? Or, even better, use a shortened 450 or 4?? (the red ones that look lile 150s).

These things are old and break down - that's why there were two sets in the first place, both of which now apparently need repairs. Is it actually worth it? Someone at SWT has to make that judgment. It might annoy you, but they are running a business. And Virgin are running DMUs a hell of a lot further day in, day out, on fully electrified routes.

And you can't just go around taking a couple of coaches out of trains that weren't designed to work like that. A 455 beyond Woking would probably be as much of an oddity as a 3-CIG and they are fully occupied on London services.

[Btline]

Hmmm, I was under the impression that the slammers were more reliable than the Desiros!

Re Virgin: they don't the option but to run DEMUs^▸ (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit).

[willc]

Hmmm, I was under the impression that the slammers were more reliable than the Desiros!

Re Virgin: they don't the option but to run DEMUs^▸ (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit).

Well the saintly Beardie could always 'invest' in some more electrics, but since he can't get someone else to pay, like he usually does, tough. And if they weren't running every 20 minutes to Brum and Manchester, you could free some up that way.

Mk1 EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) were very reliable when there were hundreds of the things running around which got lots of tlc. When you are trying to keep just two going, that's a rather different matter.

[vacman]

If SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have spare DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) lying around (for Lymington), then why can't they run to Paignton?

You are getting a bit ahead of the December timetable change, when SWT is step up the frequency on the Salisbury-Exeter line. Hence the end of them running west of Exeter.

At the moment there is a bit of spare capacity, hence one set is on loan to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and another to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) while it overhauls its 158 fleet.

And while using a dmu on an electric branch may seem a bit silly, the 3-CIGs are old, non-standard and expensive to maintain, while using a 4-car 450 on a five-and-a-bit mile shuttle would be even sillier. And they don't seem inclined to lease a couple of 508s, presumably on cost grounds.  How about a Parry People Mover?

Sorry but in this day and age it is totally unacceptable to have an electrified branch with NO electric trains! Am no expert on EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)'s but aren't London Overground replacing some 3 car EMU's in North London? surely they'd do?

[willc]

Well you'd better write to Brian Souter of Stagecoach to tell him - and since he owns 50% of Virgin Trains you could tell how unacceptable it is for him to run all those Voyagers from Birmingham to Scotland on a main line as well. Any extra stock equals extra cost - and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) is feeling the heat like anyone else.

[vacman]

Well you'd better write to Brian Souter of Stagecoach to tell him - and since he owns 50% of Virgin Trains you could tell how unacceptable it is for him to run all those Voyagers from Birmingham to Scotland on a main line as well. Any extra stock equals extra cost - and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) is feeling the heat like anyone else.

Maybe so, but other trains run on that route that are electric, with Lymington ALL of the trains will be diesel from what I can gather which makes my point stand!

[Btline]

Sorry Willc, but I'm with Vacman on this.

The reason VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchises) run DEMUs^▸ (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) under the wires is because of the badly organised split of the VXC^▸ (Virgin Cross Country - former franchise) routes - if Branson had his way, he'd still be giving the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) direct trains to the South and South West!

There is no suitable stock (125 mph tilting) available for the route, so Voyagers have to do. VT need 3 tph on the B'ham and M'chester routes as the fast journey times have/will attract extra passengers (who like FAST^▸ (Federation Against Software Theft) trains).

For SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to run the Lymington branch with 158s when there is a national shortage of DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) when there are plenty of EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) around. Surely they can get something!

[willc]

No point telling me what you think - I know - like I said, tell Mr Souter. And if you think one class 158 is going to solve the shortage of dmus, god help us.

I wasn't joking about a Parry people mover and there are all manner of potentially suitable European light rail vehicles which wouldn't even need third rail power either - this is a five-mile, lightly-used rural branch, which would never have survived without the Isle of Wight ferry link and could easily be operated independently from the main network.