Is it time to campaign for an Open Access Operator in The GW area

[whole diary]

[oooooo]

Or to actually increase local use of the Newquay line DRAMATICALLY close the St.Dennis Jn to St.Blazey section and route the line back through St.Dennis and Burngullow to St.Austell thus turning a fairly pointless local railway into something on par with the Falmuff branch. Luxulyan/Bugle/Roche would have to go but ho hum (thats upset 2 people), new stations at St.Dennis/Foxhole would generate far more... This should of been done at the time of the A30 Goss Moor dualing, but again, we wouldnt want to see the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) actually spending on something that wasnt made of tarmac would we.... But am off topic, whoops!

[Conner]

Or to actually increase local use of the Newquay line DRAMATICALLY close the St.Dennis Jn to St.Blazey section and route the line back through St.Dennis and Burngullow to St.Austell thus turning a fairly pointless local railway into something on par with the Falmuff branch. Luxulyan/Bugle/Roche would have to go but ho hum (thats upset 2 people), new stations at St.Dennis/Foxhole would generate far more... This should of been done at the time of the A30 Goss Moor dualing, but again, we wouldnt want to see the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) actually spending on something that wasnt made of tarmac would we.... But am off topic, whoops!

The only time I've travelled on the Newquay  the 153 was full of people who got off at Roche. The 153 was overflowing as there was a WHOLE PRE-SCHOOL including buggys Mum and about two children each, about ten families. Add that to the holiday makers changing for the London service to go home and the day trippers and you get one dangerous 153. It took the so long to get off the train, it missed the London connection.

[vacman]

Or to actually increase local use of the Newquay line DRAMATICALLY close the St.Dennis Jn to St.Blazey section and route the line back through St.Dennis and Burngullow to St.Austell thus turning a fairly pointless local railway into something on par with the Falmuff branch. Luxulyan/Bugle/Roche would have to go but ho hum (thats upset 2 people), new stations at St.Dennis/Foxhole would generate far more... This should of been done at the time of the A30 Goss Moor dualing, but again, we wouldnt want to see the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) actually spending on something that wasnt made of tarmac would we.... But am off topic, whoops!

The only time I've travelled on the Newquay  the 153 was full of people who got off at Roche. The 153 was overflowing as there was a WHOLE PRE-SCHOOL including buggys Mum and about two children each, about ten families. Add that to the holiday makers changing for the London service to go home and the day trippers and you get one dangerous 153. It took the so long to get off the train, it missed the London connection.

But that would have been a one off booking, by going through Foxhole and St Dennis (much, much larger villiages and only about 1 mile of track missing between Parkandillick clay works and St Dennis!!) you would generate local school traffic and benefit more people!

[Lee]

Quite happy to back reopening through St Dennis as long as the existing line and stations remain open as well.

[Andy]

A triangular junction at Burngullow would enable the establishment of a Newquay-St. Dennis-Truro-Penryn (for the University)-Falmouth (for Maritime Museum), cross county service.

[devon_metro]

Upon travelling on the Newquay branch, on a unit, everybody got on off the train from Bristol, and everybody got off at Newquay. There were no request stops called.

[Lee]

Upon travelling on the Newquay branch, on a unit, everybody got on off the train from Bristol, and everybody got off at Newquay. There were no request stops called.

Liam, I dont doubt that the request stops are relatively lightly-used. However, as a co-organiser of a campaign that opposes the closure of such stations on principle, I cant support any proposal that would see them jeopardised.

I refer you again to the quote below.

Quite happy to back reopening through St Dennis as long as the existing line and stations remain open as well.

[vacman]

I normally wouldn't condone the closure of any such stations, however, if it were a straight choice between the two I would back the St Dennis reopening, Roche station is over a mile from the villiage of the same name, Bugle is slightly larger but it has a regular bus service to St Austell which is only 10 mins by bus but about 30 by train, with a change at Par, Luxulyan is the only loser as it doesn't have any bus service at all I think? most of the origional route would be retained anyway because china clay still goes to Goonbarrow so maybe a "parliamentary train" could run on the old route to protect the stations for future use?

[Lee]

I normally wouldn't condone the closure of any such stations, however, if it were a straight choice between the two I would back the St Dennis reopening, Roche station is over a mile from the villiage of the same name, Bugle is slightly larger but it has a regular bus service to St Austell which is only 10 mins by bus but about 30 by train, with a change at Par, Luxulyan is the only loser as it doesn't have any bus service at all I think? most of the origional route would be retained anyway because china clay still goes to Goonbarrow so maybe a "parliamentary train" could run on the old route to protect the stations for future use?

Personally, I dont see that it should be a straight choice between the two, and it would be perfectly possible to have both. Obviously, you would need to work out what an appropriate level of service would be on both routes, but I would want to see a higher level than "parliamentary."

To me, its about making the most of what traffic you've got (even if its not an awful lot) and taking steps to increase it. That doesnt mean that a service from St Austell-Newquay cant be introduced alongside that.

[vacman]

I agree, the worst thing about this is that the section between St Dennis Junction and Parkandillick is only about 2 miles, and the section from Parkandillick to Burngullow (on the mainline, near St Austell) is probably going to be mothballed soon when the clay works close! it was mostly relaid a couple of years ago! Mind you, if they did open stations at St Dennis and Foxhole then the local bus company Western Greyhound wouldn't be happy! thats their territory!

[smokey]

Biggest problem with Newquay Branch is the awful service, there is no local traffic as there are no trains at Peak hours, a 2nd platform at Newquay is a waste untill somebody provides a half decent service, I still go with an open access operator, I agree that Newquay-Par would't make a profit, but the Plymouth-London section would make big bucks.
If FGW^▸ (First Great Western) cut the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services back to the Profit making areas, NO HST would run into Cornwall, but due to the fall off in Cornish Passengers numbers, Plymouth eastwards would then become a loss maker, cutting back to Exeter and HSTs might just be profitable. That was Dr Beechings biggest blunder, it was taken that cutting branch lines and people would travel to main Rail Heads and then use the Train.
NOPE: Beeching forced hundreds of thousands to buy Cars. And by Car everybody went.

[devon_metro]

I really don't undertand people that say west of exeter is not profitable. 

They obviously never travel round here. Newton Abbot has good passenger numbers, trains are often FULL leaving Plymouth, local services are always well used.

I don't understand 

[vacman]

Always take smokey with a pinch of salt, anyone who knows him will say that!!

[oooooo]

Ay Ay.....

Though he has got a point, just think about how much the network costs to maintain and how much it costs to run the trains, it is NOT profitable overall west of Exeter....

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) must spend most their farebox from Cornwall on buses/taxis for passengers/staff... 

[vacman]

Ay Ay.....

Though he has got a point, just think about how much the network costs to maintain and how much it costs to run the trains, it is NOT profitable overall west of Exeter....

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) must spend most their farebox from Cornwall on buses/taxis for passengers/staff... 

Oh I agree, just thought i'd point that out about smokey anyway, you know what i'm talkin about oooooo,