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

[whole diary]

[Lee]

This is going to happen once the 2nd platform opens at newquay anyway, so its pointless in an open access for newquay

This proposal is listed under "Route enhancement aspirations" in the Network Rail Business Plan 2007, which means that it hasnt been approved yet.

[smokey]

This is going to happen once the 2nd platform opens at newquay anyway, so its pointless in an open access for newquay

Whats going to Happen once the 2nd platform opens at Newquay? A thourgh service to London NON STOP from Plymouth, at least with 2 platforms at Newquay there's more train paths for a Open access operator! Bring it on!

[Shazz]

This is going to happen once the 2nd platform opens at newquay anyway, so its pointless in an open access for newquay

Whats going to Happen once the 2nd platform opens at Newquay? A thourgh service to London NON STOP from Plymouth, at least with 2 platforms at Newquay there's more train paths for a Open access operator! Bring it on!

No there isn't

iirc there are no loops on the newquay branch. Hence the dire service.

Newquay > london woulnd't be financially viable for an open access anyway, especially when there are fast and cheaper alternatives, and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) going to be operating a service anyway. And the fact that plymouth has an ample service to london. There really is no need.

[devon_metro]

The line at Newquay has two passing places; Goonbarrow and St Blazey (just round the corner from Par) hence how the summer TT manages to cope.

[vacman]

The line at Newquay has two passing places; Goonbarrow and St Blazey (just round the corner from Par) hence how the summer TT manages to cope.

Technicly speaking it's actually double track from Par-St Blazey as there's a box at each end of the "loop" and no Token, They could do with the loop put back at St Dennis Junction really, then an hourly service can run, as it is now then it's not quite possible to run hourly as it takes about 30 mins from Goonbarrow to Newquay, however, two platforms at Newquay would solve this! The problem with the current Newquay service is that the four trains they do have are timed quite badly, first train from Newquay is at 1018, OK that train does connect with the up "riviera" at Par but thats the only London connection without changing again at Plymouth, also, there is the stupid gap in the afternoon between 1452 and 2023 whilst the unit is nicked to work the peak Gunnislake service. In terms of local traffic Newquay is the opposite way around to all of the other branches as Newquay is catually the place where the local traffic flows go to, on all the other lines i.e. Falmouth then most people are going AWAY from the branch and going into Truro etc, also remember Newquay is the second largest town in Cornwall, it's got a higher population than Truro!

[smokey]

Agree with Vacman, the service to Newquay is worse than useless, however it was an EYE OPENNER for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at just how busy the Summertime Daily HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to/from Newquay was. Don't tell me there's no demand for Trains to from Newquay.

That's why I think it's perfect for open access operator.

You don't get a demand for Trains if you don't provide the Sevice!

[vacman]

Agree with Vacman, the service to Newquay is worse than useless, however it was an EYE OPENNER for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at just how busy the Summertime Daily HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to/from Newquay was. Don't tell me there's no demand for Trains to from Newquay.

That's why I think it's perfect for open access operator.

You don't get a demand for Trains if you don't provide the Sevice!

It was an eye opener, this year the direct weekday service to Newquay is running for an extra week at the end of the summer! The 6 hour gap in the afternoon is set to dissapear this summer aswell, all we need now is an early morning service for people to go into Newquay for work/school. when Wessex ran 8 trains per day in the summer of 2005 they ran an early morning service from May-October and school children started using it! so there is a demand there!

[devon_metro]

Get rid of First Class on the Newquay service, it was empty whilst standard was heaving!

[smokey]

Get rid of First Class on the Newquay service, it was empty whilst standard was heaving!

Interesting thought have an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) that's all  Standard Class, expect the First Class Passengers from all places west of Paddington would be jumping.

[Shazz]

Agree with Vacman, the service to Newquay is worse than useless, however it was an EYE OPENNER for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at just how busy the Summertime Daily HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to/from Newquay was. Don't tell me there's no demand for Trains to from Newquay.

That's why I think it's perfect for open access operator.

Now if you read what i'm saying again, you'll see that i'm saying that it's not FINANCIALLY VIABLE not the demand isnt there.

Firstly, there is little to no rolling stock "spare" in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). So for a london bound service they would have to invest in at least 5 new trains (to give a rough every 3 hourly service)
Secondly, the line through reading is almost at it's peak capacity, if not at it already. So they'd quite probably have to use a different london station.
Thirdly, i'm not sure what "protection" there is on firsts service, however most new franchises have this. Which means it's about 5 years into the franchise before this could actually happen (if fgw have protection)
And finally, FGW and already established and highly profitable business is incredibly likely going to be running them if/when platform 2 opens anyway. An open access operator won't be able to compete on prices on the short term, and could be priced out of the market.

Sure, the demand is there. But it's not worth someone investing MILLIONS of pounds, for something that might never make a profit.

[Lee]

And finally, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and already established and highly profitable business is going to be running them once platform 2 opens anyway.

If platform 2 opens. See earlier quote :

This is going to happen once the 2nd platform opens at newquay anyway, so its pointless in an open access for newquay

This proposal is listed under "Route enhancement aspirations" in the Network Rail Business Plan 2007, which means that it hasnt been approved yet.

[Shazz]

And finally, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and already established and highly profitable business is going to be running them once platform 2 opens anyway.

If platform 2 opens. See earlier quote :

This is going to happen once the 2nd platform opens at newquay anyway, so its pointless in an open access for newquay

This proposal is listed under "Route enhancement aspirations" in the Network Rail Business Plan 2007, which means that it hasnt been approved yet.

see my edit

[Lee]

And finally, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and already established and highly profitable business is going to be running them once platform 2 opens anyway.

If platform 2 opens. See earlier quote :

This is going to happen once the 2nd platform opens at newquay anyway, so its pointless in an open access for newquay

This proposal is listed under "Route enhancement aspirations" in the Network Rail Business Plan 2007, which means that it hasnt been approved yet.

see my edit

Seen and noted 

[Btline]

Firstly, there is little to no rolling stock "spare" in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). So for a london bound service they would have to invest in at least 5 new trains (to give a rough every 3 hourly service)

What about Mk2^▸ (Mark 2 coach) carriages with a DVT^‡(resolve) and a Loco?

To avoid London, why not go to Oxford (connexion to Read. and London at Didcot)?

Or perhaps to the West/East Midlands?

[Shazz]

Firstly, there is little to no rolling stock "spare" in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). So for a london bound service they would have to invest in at least 5 new trains (to give a rough every 3 hourly service)

What about Mk2^▸ (Mark 2 coach) carriages with a DVT^‡(resolve) and a Loco?

Yes those are an option, but they'd need a severe refit.

So eventually some new rolling stock would need to be found.