Yeoford Second platform project boosted by ^250k grant

[whole diary]

[RailCornwall]

Some lateral thinking for an improbable service

Would be intriguing to run an Okehampton - Waterloo service again, maybe that could be an interesting idea to float.

In the past I've seen SWT^▸ (South West Trains) trains dwelling for a while at Exeter St Davids so this might fit in with a bit of timetable afjustment.

I am of course aware that under current franchising this would be out of area, but would seem to be an alternative to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) running any future London service.

The trains may be dwelling, but remember the crews probably need that 'dwell' time as well... although i'm sure FGW crews would be happy to run through to Okehampton on a 159 

Hence my 'improbable service' comment, together with 'timetable adjustment'.

[The SprinterMeister]

However these are interesting times and you never know what is around the corner a service from exeter to london on a loco hauled set with a different type of service and decent fairs could well be a winner.

However I would think the chances of a locohauled train running between Okehampton, Yeoford & London are probably on a par with my learning how to knit fog. I would have thought all the open access operators have looked into this long before now and concluded it to be a non viable waste of effort due to the levels of service provided by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) & SWT^▸ (South West Trains). I also gather that these Open Access operators are coming into the spotlight due to the reduced levels of track access they pay and the amount of delay minutes they can be billed for if one of their trains stops the railway.

I would think the most likely option is going to be some sort of shuttle service between Yeoford & Okehampton. If Dartmoor Railway can sort out some sort of Saftey Case to run beyond the current Dartmoor Railway / Network Rail boundary at Coleford Jn. And assuming they have some operable coaching stock with CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking) fitted or they will be running at 25mph top whack all the way between Yeoford & Okehampton. If they wish to run to Exeter they will need to fit TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System), OTMR^▸ (On Train Monitoring Recorder) and all the other gubbins as well and their traincrews will require medicals, training and certification to full mainline standards. 

[Branch Line Connor]

Surely if SWT^▸ (South West Trains) were to run a service to Okehampton, they might aswell run that service to Plymouth 

[grahame]

General comment - the case for a new / enhanced service to - say "Elmington", from the nearby city "Zedborough" could be much encouraged / helped by the availability of a train and crew sitting at Zedborough on a long layover from the city of "Shorundone".  Factors which might oil the wheels to getting such a service off the ground would include a county council covering "Abvon" (which includes both Elmington and Zedborough) who are very pro the service, the fact that Elmington, though small, could be a destination for long distance traffic, park and ride opportunities, etc, the fact that the stock which sits for a while at Zedborough would be very suitable indeed for the line on to Elmington.

There are / have been cases where the outer end of a service from London reaches some obscure places - if all of the pieces add up (including things like our good friends Orcats and Lenon predications) then why not?

Waterloo to Maesteg, anyone?

[The SprinterMeister]

Surely if SWT^▸ (South West Trains) were to run a service to Okehampton, they might aswell run that service to Plymouth 

The loadings were pretty good up until the cessation of running SWT services to Plymouth.And Plymouth is certainly more of a revenue generator than Mid / West Devon.

I had to pop out to Bow yesterday. I swear blind the amount of Stagecoach & Turners Tours service buses going along the A377 & A3072 from North / Mid / West Devon has increased since I last went out that way. I seemed to be passing several of the blooming things. The Stationmasters Breakfast at Crediton station cafe was most excellent though!
 

[Branch Line Connor]

Im also sure SWT^▸ (South West Trains) never had a conductor on there services to Plymouth, after Exeter St. Davids.

[Super Guard]

Im also sure SWT^▸ (South West Trains) never had a conductor on there services to Plymouth, after Exeter St. Davids.

Uh, yes they did 

The only service SWT did not have a conductor on was the Saturday Penzance service which was operated by a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) guard from EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains).

[Branch Line Connor]

When I travelled a guard never came down to check tickets. This happened on all 3 occassions. Free First Class Ride's for all.

[Super Guard]

When I travelled a guard never came down to check tickets. This happened on all 3 occassions. Free First Class Ride's for all.

That doesn't mean there wasn't one on though... We don't just check tickets!!

[Branch Line Connor]

Surely he/she wasn't doing their job correctly if he/she wasn't checking tickets?

[devon_metro]

Surely he/she wasn't doing their job correctly if he/she wasn't checking tickets?

Safety > Revenue.

Whether or not they were indeed performing safety critical duties is another question.

[Branch Line Connor]

I doubt it. A bit lazy really. ^114 to London Waterloo 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. 

We seem to be straying somewhat off-topic from the original subject of Yeoford's current platform development here.

Whether SWT^▸ (South West Trains) used to have a guard on their services between EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains), and whether any such guard (if there was one) checked tickets, is irrelevant to this particular topic.

May I suggest that, if Branch Line Connor is concerned over whether any SWT staff were doing their jobs correctly, he should take that up with SWT: see http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/contact-us.aspx

Chris. 

[The SprinterMeister]

people used to say that about yeoford second platform

The subject of the second platform at Yeoford has been rumbling on for the last year or so at least. It was you will recall proposed that Dartmoor Railway was going to have this up and running for last years Sunday Rover services complete with footbridge and refurbished second platform. In the end FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were contracted to run the Okehampton services using Pacers instead.

In the meantime Network Rail have run out the cable for the GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway.) radio system on the Barnstaple line. The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed that this runs in concrete troughs along the the top of the platform face of the moribund platform at Yeoford which is next to the Meldon line. Coincidence or what?

[signalandtelegraph]

In the meantime Network Rail have run out the cable for the GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway.) radio system on the Barnstaple line. The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed that this runs in concrete troughs along the the top of the platform face of the moribund platform at Yeoford which is next to the Meldon line. Coincidence or what?

It's the Fixed Telecom Network (FTN)  Radio, by its very nature, wouldn't need a cable.

As to putting the trough route on the platform, more profit for the installation contractor if you don't 'dig it in' properly.

It would seem that the people who may be looking at the platform re-opening are probably not aware that FTN work is taking place (and vice versa), let alone it being routed over the platform (which I suspect it probably shouldn't be!).