Plymouth

[whole diary]

[bemmy]

I don't like the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth either, motorway speeds with all those hills and bends and flat crossings. About 40 minutes though, compared to an hour on the train....

[thetrout]

I don't like the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth either, motorway speeds with all those hills and bends and flat crossings. About 40 minutes though, compared to an hour on the train....

I remember the days when Virgin Trains operated a Fast service between Plymouth and Exeter St Davids. From memory it took about 50 - 55 minutes. Terminated in Glasgow

I also remember the service that went Plymouth - Totnes - Newton Abbot - Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads, didn't call at Exeter...! Terminated in Dundee

Devon_Metro will probably know more about those services I have mentioned and the reasoning behind them

*edit* Altered incorrectly entered timings due to human error

[vacman]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have a train that is non stop ply-Exd and don't think it takes much less than those stopping at Tot and NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains)

[devon_metro]

Plymouth - Exeter is 35minutes would defy the laws of Physics!

9S66 0825 Penzance - Dundee used to run Plymouth, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Taunton, Bristol Temple Meads

1A81 0842 Penzance - Paddington is fast Plymouth - Exeter and does the journey in 53 minutes (normally 60 minutes)

[thetrout]

Plymouth - Exeter is 35minutes would defy the laws of Physics!

9S66 0825 Penzance - Dundee used to run Plymouth, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Taunton, Bristol Temple Meads

1A81 0842 Penzance - Paddington is fast Plymouth - Exeter and does the journey in 53 minutes (normally 60 minutes)

I do apologise, I pressed the wrong key on the keyboard, twice!! that was ment to say 50 - 55 Minutes, I'll edit the post in a minute, Sorry for being stupid as usual *feels embarrassed*

Do you know the reasoning the VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchises) service missed out Exeter St Davids?? Always made me wonder...?! Congestion maybe?

[The Grecian]

I believe the all-time record between Plymouth and ESD is 46 minutes, achieved by a HST^▸ (High Speed Train). I think that was when speed limits could be interpreted a little more liberally than now, although it's probably still achievable in that time.

As far as I'm aware, there have never been any plans to extend the M5 further south due to the barrier of the Haldons - it would be far too expensive. The same reason that the railway heads south along the Exe.

It's notable as well that Plymouth has a far poorer local service than Exeter. Only 1 line through Exeter closed - the Teign Valley line - and that was pre-Beeching. The lines to Exmouth, Barnstaple, Paignton and Okehampton are still there, while there's plenty of local stations all around Exeter. Plymouth on the other hand has just the Gunnislake branch and some Cornish traffic, plus a few local stations to the west of the main station. But then as an Exeter fan, I think that shows the importance of the Devon capital compared to that other place down the road.

[Btline]

A stop at Plympton could be opened. (for a Newton A - Liskard/Guinislake shuttle)

[Super Guard]

But then as an Exeter fan, I think that shows the importance of the Devon capital compared to that other place down the road.

[chrisoates]

1A81 0842 Penzance - Paddington is fast Plymouth - Exeter and does the journey in 53 minutes (normally 60 minutes)

I used that intending to go up to Exeter last week, my last memory was feeling a bit tired at Plymouth...woke up...ARGHH!!
It's even faster to Paddington - it only stops at Reading.
Not a clue where I was and not really wanting to visit Reading I was hugely relieved to hear TM^‡(resolve) announced Exeter.

(Haven't visited Exeter for 40 odd years - very nice - took  trip down the Underground passages)
 
 

[woody]

I went to Plymouth on Friday and it seems to possibly be the worst connected major city in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom):

No motorway, poor road access from the west.

First direct train from Birmingham arrives at 10:51.

First direct train from London arrives at 11:15.

Last direct train to Birmingham:  18:25.

Last direct train to Bristol and London (other than sleeper):  19:37.

Last train to stations to Exeter (other than sleeper):  21:16.

Inadequate transport links remain Plymouths achiles heel,a principal reason why Exeters economy in comparison has prospered over the years while Plymouths continues to under-perform particularly so post Cold War as the citys Naval presence has declined.The present rail route between Newton Abbot and Plymouth is a joke in the 21st century with its 55/60mph line speed.That in my book makes it a secondary line not a main line.No wonder any new air links are greeted enthusiastically in these parts.