Great Western Coffee Shop

There's not a huge amount of signalling infrastructure between St Erth and St Ives.  Does "...a fault with the signalling system" simply mean that they've lost the token/train staff?  With a bit of getting-ones-hands-dirty to clip and scotch the points, can't the train be locked-in onto the branch from the bay platform at St Erth?

It's possible it was lost but it is more likely to be a fault with the token box, or the release mechanism for it in the signalbox.  Looks like it happened after a trip through from St. Ives to Penzance so the token would have been surrendered when it went back out on to the main line.

There isn't one.  Its a Train Staff usually kept in a locked draw when not in use.

Good old Cornwall.  Someone drag it into the 21st century (or even the 20th...)   ;)

Well hopefully it won't be too long as the tender for the first stage of Cornwall and Plymouth resignalling is due out soon ;)

Last time a Train Staff got lost in Cornwall it ended up being found in a loco cab at Crewe ::) :P :D

1: Thanks to the mods for splitting this one off. I felt a bit wrong posting on the original thread which had the "3 for the price of 1" post, where one of these was St Ives.
2: My surprise (or not; nothing surprises me any more about the excuses NOT to run trains any more) about the cancellation of services on this line was that it ought not to be too tricky for a MOM to clip and scotch some points, then authorize the empty unit past certain signals at danger to get it onto the branch, then to clip and scotch the points the other way, then appoint someone (possibly even himself) as PILOT (Person In Lieu Of Token), so that the train can shuttle up and down between St Erth bay platform and St Ives.  Loss of revenue and reputation avoided.

Problem with the split railway are any TOC staff trained to clip and scotch points and wind points as I was when at Sutton? Presumably you have to get a Network Rail manager from somewhere or could the St Erth Signalman do it?

Branch formed by 2 instead of 4 Cars today.

When I was down that way at the end of May, the volume of passengers on the Branch was again unbelievable. Crowd control/holding pens in place at Lelant Saltings to limit passenger flow onto platform. 4 coach (2x150) rammed on the trips I saw. I spoke to some GWR staff at St Ives who were counting incoming pax no's, and it was well over 300 off one service.

GWR must make an absolute mint on this Branch (during the holiday season!). 

Is there scope to increase capacity on the line?

Don't think there has ever been a passing loop on line, but if one can be built, where could it go?

Could trains be extended beyond 4 car?

Some trips on Branch cancelled this afternoon due driver shortage.

Guards who sign Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple are.