Great Western Coffee Shop

Blooming heck the County will be in all sorts of states in June. St Ives / Carbis Bay to host G7 summit of World Leaders in June.

(and yes I am pinching myself)

https://twitter.com/CornwallLive/status/1350401159513559040

Social event? Yeah right...whdn has a G7 event ever had a social event surround it?

The area will be on complete lockdown and a security bubble with only accredited personnel allowed within. Residents will be acceedited to their properties, yes, but others won?t get within 25 miles frankly.

There?s also the protest element that they?ll want to keep out too. At least its being held before school holidays, so accomodation providers won?t be complaining they?ll only be selling to the press that week.

As for a social occasion, I think not

(https://i.imgur.com/744e0c2.jpg)

looks like a media blackout on this as all media references now bring up a 404

Maybe thats why the track has been replaced on the St Ives branch. They are expecting Joe Biden to want to go for a train ride.

That's the pic we want!

Can the runway at Newquay Airport cope with Air Force One?

Land's End Airport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land%27s_End_Airport) (LEQ) is closer and now has asphalted runways

I think the answer is yes - so long as it's not got too much fuel on board (so no flying direct back home). After all, it's still the old RAF St. Mawgan runway. But for Land's End, a negative fuel load would be needed - or else "Air Force One" would be something much smaller relabelled for the occasion.

Cornwall Live lead text ....

Cornwall has been chosen to host the international G7 leaders? summit in June in what is likely to be a landmark first meeting between world leaders since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes after speculation grew in recent days and was then confirmed by the government earlier today before being formally announced tonight.

Organisations across Cornwall have welcomed the news, pledging an event that will leave a lasting social and economic legacy to benefit all of the county's residents.

The major three-day international event will see leaders from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as invited leaders from Australia, India, and South Korea attend. It could also be Joe Biden's first trip to the UK as President of the US.

The event will host world leaders at Carbis Bay, with neighbouring St Ives and other sites in Cornwall, such as Falmouth, hosting international delegates and media ? with organisers determined to make this an event for all residents in Cornwall to experience and share.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken of the upcoming event, describing it as "a crucial summit".

It will be the 46th meeting of the G7 leaders. The 2020 event, set to take place in the United States, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Johnson said: ?As the most prominent grouping of democratic countries, the G7 has long been the catalyst for decisive international action to tackle the greatest challenges we face. From cancelling developing world debt to our universal condemnation of Russia?s annexation of Crimea, the world has looked to the G7 to apply our shared values and diplomatic might to create a more open and prosperous planet.

?Coronavirus is doubtless the most destructive force we have seen for generations and the greatest test of the modern world order we have experienced. It is only right that we approach the challenge of building back better by uniting with a spirit of openness to create a better future.

?Cornwall is the perfect location for such a crucial summit. Two hundred years ago Cornwall?s tin and copper mines were at the heart of the UK?s industrial revolution and this summer Cornwall will again be the nucleus of great global change and advancement. I?m very much looking forward to welcoming world leaders to this great region and country.?

Julian German, leader of Cornwall Council, said: ?This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of Cornwall and the UK on the world stage, and to build our strength and prosperity at home.

?For those reasons we are determined that this event delivers a lasting legacy for our residents, inspires our young people and shows how we can play our part in bringing the world together after the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic ? and bringing together all parts of the UK together, leaving no-one and nowhere behind.

?We want a lasting legacy that maximises inward investment, translating our moment on the global stage into trade. A legacy that helps Cornwall bounce forward and make its full contribution to the country?s ambitions in areas like space and satellite, floating offshore wind and other sources of clean energy, and globally significant geo-resources including lithium to power our future.?

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer QPM, of Devon & Cornwall Police, added: ?I am delighted that Cornwall will be hosting this landmark event for the United Kingdom in an area that is not only one of the safest in the country, but also combines breath-taking scenery and innovative businesses with exceptional local hospitality.

Perhaps a special charter train could be provided from London to convey some of those attending ?
Greener than flying, despite being diesel powered.
Connecting with Eurostar services perhap ?
Possibly another charter from the North/Scotland, that one could be electric part of the way, which ticks a green box.

Most world leaders expect to fly pretty much everywhere, but some at least could try the train.

Air Force 0.1? 🙂

I expect Boris will cycle there straight from Downing Street.   ;)

To avoid Covid issues, I'd expect they'll all fly into Newquay Airport or RNAS Culdrose and fly out from them both at the end. I'd expect Biden's entourage to use Newquay and he'll probably helicopter down the coast to land very close to the Tregenna Castle if not in the grounds. I'd expect the recreational trip to be to St Michaels Mount or Lands End which will be easy to secure. I'd expect the Branchline to be out of Public Service for the event and a day or so beforehand. You can't really keep that open with it's proximity to the Carbis Bay Resort location. St Ives and Carbis Bay will almost certainly be residents and delegates only for the duration.

(https://i.imgur.com/hBsnNJn.png)

I have to say I think you are wrong about the branch line needing to be closed but we'll see. 

Newquay's runway is just a shade over 9000 ft so should be capable of handling most aircraft.
For ref, Gatwick is 10,900, Manchester 10,000,  Heathrow 12,000

RNAS Culdrose near Helston is  6,000 & Lands End 2,500

Newquay Airport has a lot of real estate, much of it on the western side which was the old RAF St Mawgan is still "behind the wires" as far as i know.

Easily a long-enough runway for anything currently flying (witness the BA 747's that recently arrived for part-out), so expect to see the USAF transports carrying "The Beast", the Marine and Army helicopters used to transport POTUS and his security details all heading for there I would expect.

Culdrose is smaller, but it's 6000ft main runway more than adequate for small/medium-sized transports, and lots of secure Royal Navy hangars for the US helicopters to hide away in/have any required maintenance done, for example.

I think you can discount LEQ (Lands End Airport), short and narrow runways there, which are fine for the Skybus Twin Otters but not for anything much bigger.


"Air Force One" is a callsign, not a specific aircraft. It is of course mainly used by 1 of the 2 747's built for the job that we all recognise, but can be applied to other aircraft, as it was when Trump departed from Southampton in a C-32 (a VIP Boeing 757, in it's US military guise) last year.

The venue for the summit is reportedly Tregenna Castle, which makes more sense from a size and security perspective than other places that had been mentioned (eg, Carbis Bay Hotel).

The "hassle factor" of having this global circus descend will mean some disruption to local life, for sure, but will surely be outweighed by the income (already estimated at GBP 50m) input to the local economy, which must be great news, along with the publicity it will bring for Cornwall in general.

I have been told of a couple who had booked their already once postponed wedding reception at the Treganna Castle being told it has been cancelled again due to "a high profile event".

If Trump had still been president, he could have played golf all day whilst the others got on with the real business   :D :D :D

Sounds naughty. I would like (and actually can!) say that when we ran a hotel, we never cancelled booked guests when an offer of something that was better business came along.  The temptation was there a couple of times, and a couple of times we asked customers if they would mind us moving a course by a few days and usually came to a solution that suited everyone.

The Treganna Castle has a long and illustrious railway history.    From Wikipedia:

If Trump has still been president, all the flights would have refuelled and aircraft serviced at Prestwick.

I think we now know why the St Ives branch has just had its track renewed.

For Presidential air transport, there is no reason why a Boeing VC-25 could not land at Newquay, and successfully depart for a refuel at Prestwick or Dublin on the way home. The many, many tonnes of cars and other kit needed to transport the President and his entourage down to St Ives will fit into a couple of C17 transports, that can also do the trip non-stop to Newquay and home, with mid-air refuelling. If they wanted to show off, they would fit into Perranporth airfield. There are also likely to be a few V-22 ospreys, which self-deploy from North Carolina via the Azores.

Boris might get the train, with a bike if he can get the reservation.

NQY has 9000ft of tarmac, plenty for a heavy 747 (ok, VC-25!) to fly 8 or 9 hours from I would suggest. It's in line to be used as the UK airfield for one of Virgin's space projects, which will see a small rocket (capable of putting small satellites into orbit) launched at altitude from under the wing of an ex-Virgin Atlantic 747.

Generally C17's and C-5 Galaxies are used to carry the entourage. The C17 is an impressive beast, easily transatlantic range (depending on payload) and could probably deliver the heli's direct to Culdrose (I know that one visited RAF Cosford a few years back, to deliver an airframe to the museum there, which is a 3500ft runway).

As for the other world leaders, the Japanese use 747's also currently (although I've read they may be retiring them), the Canadians an ageing A310, the Germans an A340 (or possibly something smaller, as it's only a short hop), and likewise the French. The Italians I think an A319.

The international press corps will need to be accommodated aswell. Normally when POTUS comes to the UK, for example, there would be a least one chartered widebody to accommodate several hundred of them. You can bet there will be some global business leaders and other high-profile politicians around aswell, and these people tend to use private jets.

Newquay Airport (like many regional airports around the UK) has been very hard hit by the current situation, and must be extremely happy about this news.

Indeed it is, as this photo I took at a Brize Norton open day shows.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50845152882_d45290137a_c.jpg)

Helicopters for the US contingent, including Marine 1 if required, are likely to be delivered via Fairford, where the food is more American. The Ospreys don't need carrying, although I'm not sure I would like to do trans-Atlantic in one.


Four engined aircraft are falling from grace, not the sky, these days, and 747s or A340s will soon look quaintly antique. The US is looking to procure something new, probably based on a Dreamliner 787. Our own VIP standard aircraft is the Voyager, based on the A330, one of which can be seen from inside the Galaxy.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50845067496_aef409004e_c.jpg)


I think it will a time of great joy for the owners of Newquay airport. I can't see the press corps getting to fly all the way to Newquay in a wide-bodied aircraft though. Scheduled to Heathrow or Gatwick, and possibly chartered turboprop from there would be my guess. I think quite a few of them get the cheap seats on Airforce 1, for a consideration.

It's a brilliant place to have the summit from a security point of view. The Navy will be offshore to stop any stunts, access to Cornwall is easily controlled if the need arises, and any unseemly protesters can be stopped at Hayle or St Erth. Much easier than London. I always thought that St Kilda would be good for major summits, but Cornwall is a masterstroke.

More likely to take the train and borrow or hire a cycle in Cornwall. Best not to take a cycle on the train.

I really do like that on the Overhead photo of the Carbis Bay Hotel there is a building called MOONRAKERS on Park Owles.  Spies Abound.  :D :D

[/quote]


..............you may have just put your finger on the reason why the G7 never chose Melksham for its get togethers?

 ;)

I wonder if there is a clause in the contract with Tregenna Castle that says:
The venue shall not be sold or leased to any company owned or controlled by Donald Trump until after the confrence has taken place. :)

Just a thought,I see the over head shots of the beach, could the beach accomodate  beach landing/s.

Well its just a few days after the D-Day events.

Stand by for half the Royal Naval frigates and destroyers to be in the area,not to mention two USA aircraft carriers.

The replacements for the VC-25's will be 2x 747-8's as far as I know. I think the airframes are already built (as Boeing is only making 747 freighters now, and that is due to end soon) and parked in a desert somewhere. Ironically, Wikipedia suggests they were destined for now bankrupt Russian carrier, Transaero.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Spotlight local news are reporting the the hotel to be used has known for some time.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) local news availble for TWENTY FOUR hours only on the i-player thingy

Edit:VickiS - clarifying acronym

I have been wondering what route would be taken by a through train from Paddington to St Ives (which appears to be the nearest station to Tregenna Castle), if a special train were to be run.

Looking at Google maps in satellite view, I see there is a crossover just to the west of St Erth station. So I suppose a train from Paddington would run through St Erth station on the down line, stop west of the crossover, reverse over the crossover onto the up line, pass through St Erth again and then take the branch.

Would the signalling permit such a manoeuvre? Would there be any gauging issues on the branch? It looks as though the platform at St Ives would take a five-car IEP; if not, selective door opening could be used.

This is doubtless a pipe-dream, but President-elect Biden is known to be an enthusiast for rail travel, as we discussed here (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=24188.msg296553#msg296553/), so perhaps he would be supportive of such a plan.

Boris, I'm sure,  could cycle to Paddington.  Not sure how other leaders would get onto the rail network.

Prior to 2013, there was an airfield at Filton that would probably have been long enough, with a railway track close to the runway and although there's no regular service along there, the line does take diverted passenger trains and I'm sure a platform could have been built - indeed it would have made an excellent rail / air interchange more generally.   And the IETs run close to there - little issue with gauging issues.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/frailfly.jpg)


Don't know - but it could certainly bounce back at Penzance if not.   There are through trains from Penzance to St Ives and back at the start and end of the day.   The branch issue would be the length of the carriages around corners for clearance, but well-broadcast trouble spots such as Narbeth tunnel turned out to not be a problem.


Yep - but also a busy man so you have to find somewhat to get him onto the railway 'towards' the West Country, and where the terminal / aircraft to train transfer would be easy - alongside would have been good at Filton ... I can only think of one other airport where it would be really close.   There's a 7,500 foot runway here, and a perimeter gate off the taxiway a few yards from the station.   Problem - very long way from St Ives and more than a bit run down ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/tailairb.jpg)

What ! Both of them ???

they will fly into Newquay and helicopter to the hotel. They won't arrive on a 150.

I had assumed Heathrow, but there is then the issue of accessing the rail network, as you say. If not Heathrow Express to Paddington, perhaps the remains of the Colnbrook branch could be used, or maybe Windsor & Eton Central could be commandeered? I suppose the problem is that the leaders would arrive from different countries at different times, so maybe the special train should be for the press corps and entourage only.


Indeed -- and there was the North Filton Platform (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Filton_Platform_railway_station).


Yes -- going via Penzance would certainly be possible, and might be the only way if a loco-hauled service were used, unless double-headed.


Ah -- Tees-side Airport to St Ives? Well, there's a first time for everything!

Joe Biden is no stranger to trains. He has been called Amtrac Joe. 

Well, I said it was a pipe-dream!

But, purely as a matter of academic interest, I would be glad if anyone with local knowledge, or access to a track diagram, could confirm or correct my speculation as to access from London to the St Ives branch.

1941 and 1958 diagrams: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwf/S1086-12.pdf
from https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwf/S1086.htm

Not sure of current stuff - 2nd bay lost from 1958 but otherwise similar??

Edit to add - http://www.svrsig.org/diags/S1086.htm - changes in 1964

Further edit Picture showing shunt signal still in place (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_06_2012/post-7638-0-46364600-1339614094.jpg) dated 6/2012

Not sure if shunt operations are only allowed for empty trains or additionally for
... special trains
... regular passenger trains
... trains conveying people of PM level
... trains conveying people of Queen or President Of The United States (POTUS) level



Edit:VickiS - clarifying abbreviation

https://photos.signalling.org/index?/category/121-st_erth

Would need a reversal, but possible.

I've flown into Sint Maarten in the Caribbean which is an infamous 7,500ft runway. They take scheduled 747s so the 9,000ft runway at Newquay should be easy. The VC-25A (military version of the 747-200) has better engines than your average jumbo and STOL (Short Take Off & Landing) capabilities I believe. It also has a classified system that allows it to achieve cruising height very quickly. That was used for the first time with the President Of The United States (POTUS) on board on 9/11. They wanted to get Bush off the ground ASAP. The two planes have a higher maximum cruising altitude as well. They flew close to that on the day so that they would have greater warning of anyone on an intercept course.

This isn't the only plane that will be used on the visit. There's the C5 Galaxys that will bring over the motorcade/VH-60N, a C32 used for Secret Service personnel etc. Occaisionally an E4B Nightwatch accompanies the president too though not often to the UK. And finally there's a chance a VC-20C will come over too. That's an Air Force Gulfstream that's used as an emergency backup for the VC-25A.  Can operate from a smaller runway and has enhanced communication gear on board. Normally lands at a different airport to the President so Exeter would be likely.

Edit:VickiS - clarifying abbreviation

It was Royal Air Force (RAF) St Mawgan and handled the biggest aircraft and is also Spaceport Cornwall as a base for Virgin orbit. If Trump was still president he might have been sent on a sub orbital flight.

Of course it might not be Biden who comes, the way the comedians talk, but President Kamala Harris!

Edit :VickiS - clarifying acronym

If they want to get the American aircraft carriers in, or the Queen Elizabeth (leaks permitting) keep an eye out for the Royal Navy Hydrographic Service checking that nobody is going to scrape their keel.

Indeed, Filton Airfield still had two platforms last time I looked. It just doesn't have an airfield any more.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50848248001_c9bf102830_c.jpg)


Oh, I dunno. Lick of paint...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/TeesValleyLine_Tees-side_Airport2.JPG/512px-TeesValleyLine_Tees-side_Airport2.JPG) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TeesValleyLine_Tees-side_Airport2.JPG)
TeesValleyLine Tees-side Airport2 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TeesValleyLine_Tees-side_Airport2.JPG)
Adam Brookes (Adambro), CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

...then a 9-hour ride on the train if you're lucky with CrossCountry. The Japanese premier will have spent longer in the air.

I think it more likely that President Biden will arrive in Cornwall on Marine One.

When President Obama attended the NATO summit at the Celtic Manor in Newport, Air Force One flew into Fairford and a whole array of smaller aircraft (including the Ospreys and Marine One) flew out about an hour later, presumably heading for Cardiff.

To avoid confusion, the location shown in the google maps isn?t Tregenna castle estate where the event is being held!

To clarify - a "Scribble Map" showing St Ives, Carbis Bay and the Tregenna Castle

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/sivhotels.jpg)

Definitely. It's about 500 metres short of a take-off at maximum weight for a 747, but the President's aircraft has bigger engines, and probably weighs a lot less than a jumbo full of people going on holiday.


And so do I, the question being where he makes landfall from the United States (US). An American air force base would sound likely, with Fairford the obvious one, Airforce 1 has used Stansted as the point of entry on many occasions. This isn't a state visit, so the Royal Suite at Heathrow won't be needed. Stansted is relatively quiet, and is configured conveniently for anti-terrorist operations, having been the airport of choice for hijacked aircraft for many years, even though that sort of thing doesn't happen much these days. Fairford is closer, and has the distinct advantage of being a long way from London, saving air traffic control a major juggling act. Newquay might get the gig, but I reckon the preparations that would be needed to satisfy the secret service will rule that out for the President Of The United States(POTUS) . Fairford is my bet, with Stansted as the each-way.

Brize Norton often gets used for receiving foreign heads of state - someone within my inner circle had to keep a close watch during another G7 bash a few years ago, with Messrs Obama and Macron top of the list of VIPs not to be mislaid. Her biggest job was in keeping the accompanying journos out of the restaurant and on time for their various flights. It's possible that some of the HoS will land there for onward conveyance by helicopter. Newquay is still likely to be busier than it has ever been. It's amazing how many people are needed for an intimate chat in politics, and they don't all qualify for special treatment.


Edit: VickiS - clarifying abbreviations

The longest runway in the South West is at Boscombe Down: 10,500ft.  I believe that when President Obama visited Stonehenge, after the NATO summit in Newport, he flew to Boscombe Down in Marine One, then departed from there in Air Force One.

The event most definately IS at Carbis Bay. Tregenna Castle is being used as hotel facilities primarily.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/16/carbis-bay-in-cornwall-to-host-g7-summit-in-june

https://www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk/

Press release from Cornwall CC says:

"Cormac Highways and Environment and Cornwall Airport Newquay continue to work closely with the organising authorities to ensure that the event runs smoothly in June"

That says to me that Newquay( NQY) will be the main Airport of entry, as I had previously speculated. Plenty of runway and parking etc. The other airfields suggested (Brize, Fairford, Boscombe) are all too far away from the far west of Cornwall, I think.

I've also noted that in addition to the G7, Australia, South Korea and India will attend as guests.


Edit:VickiS - clarifying acronym

Your google maps image did not feature Tregenna castle resort though. You?d cut it off the west side. Your map focused on carbis bay hotel resort which is not the correct location. Carbis bay hotel ( the 2 blue P, on grahames Scribble map) isn?t the correct resort.
Tregenna castle is on the Carbis bay/ St Ives boundary next to the Tesco store as marked on Grahames map as such.
Tregenna is the former GWR railway hotel linking it to the railway

Edit... media initially incorrectly named Carbis bay hotel resort as the location. The actual location is Tregenna castle resort in Carbis bay

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/tregenna-castle-resort-inside-g7-4893637

https://www.tregenna-castle.co.uk/

I'm sticking with my local info that the Tregenna Castle is the Accomodation only but the Conference itself is at Carbis Bay.

All references to Carbis bay resort has been removed from media reports and replaced with Tregenna.

Carbis bay is a bit run down and not somewhere we could proudly invite these world leaders too!

Send them to Camborne, they'd love it!

We'll see The Carbis Bay Resort is infinitely better than the Tregenna Castle. See the link I gave earlier.

I went to a wedding at the Carbis bay resort in 2019, and thought it was very run down and rough for the price tag.

I haven?t been to Tregenna to compare

Interesting! I still don't expect the long-haul visitors to arrive there directly, though, and if they change to helicopter, they can land at the venue. If there are to be a number of big cheeses flying into Newquay, though, it is going to have to turn military for the duration. Imagine Airforce 1, Germany's A340 (possibly A350 by then), M. Macron in his A330, M. Trudeau in Can Force One, a lowly A310, the Italian A319, and the Japanese Boeing 777, all parked up next to Boris's Voyager and Jacob Rees-Mogg's Bristol Boxkite. That would be a major aviation security headache on the scale of the 2012 Olympics. Things that size are difficult to hide, and detailed drawings of the airport's layout are easily found.

Newquay is as well equipped as Heathrow so far as landing is concerned, with Cat III instrument landing system for those foggy days, and the pilots of any VIP flight tend to be the best the country has to offer. I still reckon things will be a little more spread out, but Newquay airport will be overjoyed with what it gets.


Wherever they are due to stay will smell strongly of new paint and fresh linen by June. Every half-decent tradesperson in the area will be busy poncing the place up.


My former lodgings in Dolcoath Road are handy for the station.

Once and for all ... Scroll to the bottom of this page ....

https://www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk/instagram

(https://i.imgur.com/sT8Fnoj.png)

Proper!

The question of "hosting the summit" vs. "providing accommodation for leaders" is largely a distinction without a difference. A lot of the meetings are bilateral and hosted by one of the leaders in their accommodation. A separate location for the full sessions and press conferences has the obvious advantage that the media can be corralled there and only a few VIPs will be moving about.

I like the optimism on here expecting President Biden and not President Harris. June is a long time for a 78 year old. Trump was a youngster.

Brains clearly age at different rates. So long as he avoids the bleach injections, he'll get through it.

Indeed -- so much so that his local station (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington_station_(Delaware)) has been renamed after him.

Thank you both.

You have inspired me to ask about other station renamings ... http://www.passenger.chat/24550

Well if a USA Carrier does make the trip,it won't be the Ronald Reagan.

Just another clarification. Newquay is extremely well suited for the biggest aircraft to fly in. It is a front runner to become the UK spaceport due to its long runway, and was, until mothballed also a US airbase with a lot of very nasty missiles stored there,  and high security so the USAF will be very familiar with it.

Heard that the presidential car will not be allowed into the area,due the cars width.

It struggled in Dublin with ground clearance. But I am sure Amtrak Joe would love the ride on a chartered train from Quintrell Downs after a short drive from the airport, reversing at Par and Penzance.

My money is on a chopper to the hotel lawn or golf course.

Mebyon Kernow have offered the use of their horse and cart.

More likely would be drive to St Erth and get the train round to Carbis Bay. I gather the recent phone call between Johnson and Biden focussed a fair but on train journeys!

They have both now?  ;D Things have changed for the better since I lived in Redruth, and MK got 34 votes in the election. That was in spite of having a local branch committee with more than 34 members.

If there is need for the Presidential Limousine and Secret Service vehicles then these could be delivered direct to Newquay by USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

May not be required - the Mayor of Camborne has offered the use of his Civic vehicle - the entourage should just about fit into a 1976 Hillman Hunter but the Driver has been told to make two trips if necessary.

Additional security is to be provided via the use of a couple of muck spreaders which will be kept fully loaded at all times and will act as an escort.

In the spirit of this thread; does Airforce 1 carry a coffin? Has the local undertaker been put on standby? Given measurements?

Will Biden have had his second covid jab? Will Macron have is Astra Zenica Jab while here. His wife has probably had hers already being in a vulnerable group.

Civil servants do have to plan for any contingency.

The Presidential body bag in Airforce 1 has probably been change this month, for a smaller size.  ;D

But seriously - deceased business class passengers who weren't in that state when boarding a 747 are sometimes allowed to use one of the crew bunks. In standard class - well, let's not go into that just now. Let's just say that there may be a reason why the guy in the next seat isn't so chatty.

Looking back up thread and at all the crowds it will bring needing the Carbis Bay Hotel, the Treganna Castle and even the Bean Inn and the Cornish Arms ... I was thinking about the visitor numbers ...

As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man and seven heads of state,
Each head of state had seven staff,
Each staff had seven family members,
Each family member had seven suitcases:
Suitcases, family members, staffers and heads of state,
How many are there going to St. Ives?

345

Can't really fit "92" the steam motor then!

1

... but not if you met them on the train ...

2800

.but they got off at Carbis Bay..  ;D

Tripadvisor's top 10 emerging destinations for 2021 in the WORLD
is 
in fifth place
St Ives
Me thinks its to do with all our activity and pushing up the count figures.

....or the delights of the "Three Ferrets"! (to those who know St Ives)

747?

Ah yes, I remember now...  :(

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Spotlight local news for devon and cornwall on Tuesday 9th February, reporting that previous "G" meetings have cost approx 92 million pounds.

The bill will be paid by central Government

Edit:VickiS - clarifying acronym

It is probably more accurate to say that previous meetings cost about £2 million, with the security operation costing £90 million.

If any one is interested Rick Steins Cornwall featuring St Ives is on BBC at 11:30am this saturday morning 13 february 2021.

I watched it - great red mullet recipe.

 A great advert for excellent food from Cornwall. If you haven't tried it, Cornish Blue  is a world class cheese ,as is Lanreath Mature Gouda.

I’m waiting to try Cornish Sole!

Always available at the chip shop in Newlyn!!

I found the Guardian's take on this rather amusing.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/shortcuts/2021/feb/09/seafood-surprise-could-rebranding-ugly-fish-as-cornish-sole-make-brits-eat-it

Many chain pubs sell fish of unknown origin. If it looks like and tastes like Cod I'll eat it. But not Rock Eel or its other names of Huss or Dogfish as the big bone looks like a finger has been left inside by the cook.

This is not my neck of the woods,
but BBC spotlight local news at 06:25am on tuesday morning(9th march)
The "garden area" around the carbis hotel is getting a make over.
Item should be available again on the 18:30pm local news on tuesday evening
Local news is available for 24 hours only on the i-player thingy

A bit more of a hoo-haa emerging....

https://planetradio.co.uk/pirate-fm/local/news/work-investigated-g7-hotel-cornwall/

Bit of controversy locally as several trees being cut down in THE hotel grounds.

Edit - as mentioned above!

During my last couple of annual visits to the area there has been working going on every time at the Hotel in question.

IIRC last year (August) it was on their outdoor pool area, which the coastal path directly passes, and the year before they were building some apartments directly above the beach (a look at their website will confirm the costs of rental for these are truly eye-watering!)

Hosting the G7 however should not be justification for carrying out work without planning permission, if that is the case?

Looks like I'm now going to be in the area during the time the G7 takes place. We've taken a punt that there might be some disruption but that there's plenty of other places to go if it gets a bit restrictive in the immediate area of Carbis Bay and St Ives.

Yje Cornwall County Council interactive map (https://map.cornwall.gov.uk/website/ccmap/?zoomlevel=9&xcoord=152639&ycoord=38904&wsName=ccmap&layerName=Tree%20preservation%20order%20points:Tree%20preservation%20order%20areas:Conservation%20Areas) of tree preservation orders shows none in the area marked "Carbis Bay Hotel", nor anywhere on the sea side of the railway. There is a preservation area on the land side of the railway. No TPO means that the owner can chop it down if he wants.

The Hotel Estate is on BOTH sides of the Railway. A significant portion of the landward side of which is within the area marked as TPO in the map above.

Yes, but is that the bit being worked on?

Pics on BBC Cornwall News online https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-56354217 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-56354217) suggest that the ongoing clearance work is above the pool area, so sea-ward side of the railway if I remember the lie of the land correctly.

^ A grassy knoll might be embarrassing

Just for info... 

Newquay airport (Cornwall Council) to receive £7.8m for G7 upgrades...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-56484551

I know that at least one of the members of this esteemed forum will be ecstatic at this news.............he may even allow himself a second glass of Port tonight by way of celebration!  ;)

I see that:


which isn't too surprising. £7.8 million isn't really enough for a second runway, not even in Cornwall. A look at  the chart (https://www.aurora.nats.co.uk/htmlAIP/Publications/2021-02-25-AIRAC/html/index-en-GB.html)* shows that it has an instrument landing system (ILS), a sufficiency of runway, and toilets, as well as ample helipad space. The ILS, though, is Cat III on runway 30, but only Cat I on runway 12. That could make landing in thick fog from the sea direction a little tricky, so I would guess at an upgrade there. Plus longer steps, a bit of revised parking space for the big stuff so that it can offload at the terminal without the bendy bus, lick of paint, some new carpet, and a general tidy-up of any fencing. Could be a case for a temporary building on the opposite side from the terminal, to get the dignitaries from jumbo to helicopter and away.

(*Sorry - the URL covers everything, and I am not breaching copyright for something that involves the heads of several states. In Part 3 on the left, click AD2  AERODROMES, then EGHQ NEWQUAY, then AD2-24 EGHQ CHARTS etc, and it's the top one in the box on the right)

Regrettable in my view.
I would have preferred that the money be spent on rail upgrades, that would be of lasting value to the community in making greener transport choices far into the future, long after the G7 summit is forgotten about.

You wouldn't get much upgraded railway for less than £8M, you know.

Yes I know.
But it should buy or lease a couple of second hand trains, fewer short forms and cancellations due to lack of rolling stock.
Or it should build some waiting shelters at stations lacking this basic facility.

Despite the fact that intermediate stations on the Newquay line are perenially towards the bottom of usage league tables, dont they all already have waiting shelters?

If you widened that out to Cornwall, I believe Menheniot is missing a shelter on Platform 1, but whilst providing one would certainly be welcome, I expect the locals would be ecstatic if you spent nearly £8 million on it!

£8 million seems a lot for a Cornish platform shelter. It's more like the price for a Bristol MetroBust bus stop and monolith. Or Porkway Partway, originally billed at £400,000.

From my observations I am not sure Menheniot Platform1 needs a shelter. Nearly all passenger traffic is Plymouth commuters, and when they arrive back there is invariably someone in a car waiting to wisk them away!. I cant recall ever seeing a person travelling from Menheniot westwards!

[me!]sticks hand out excitedly after meeting with rail users in local hostelry[/me!]

I2 ... and unlinked and not associated with Lee's visit!

Is it also regrettable that the G7 will hopefully raise the profile of Cornwall (one of the poorest parts of the UK) globally in a way that no other event probably can, or should the world leaders all stay home?

In that context £7.8m is a drop in the ocean and will be of much more value than perhaps a few miles of upgraded track to the Cornish economy.

a couple of things
local news was reporting that 15 life gurds were under going train at St Ives beach
Blue Jersey are starting up flights from south west airports to Jersey from  26 april

ref menheniot in Bristol a brand new LED information display screen was installed three bus stops before the terminus.

Yet nothing on the side heading into town,for a one bus route service

I walked there once from home in liskeard and caught the train home

Thats was heroic! I prefer the walk down to St Keyne and then get the train back  up, (unless a Looe train turns up first).

Devon and Cornwall police will be holding a Q and A face book session at 18:00pm on Thursday 25 March.

In connection with the G7 meeting in june

Not my area / dates - but I do (idly) wonder if roads and rail will remain open through Carbis Bay ...

I can't see why not, although with certain safeguards. Locked windows and no stopping at Carbis Bay should make it as secure as not having a service at all. Maybe  a security presence on the trains, or all TMs (Train Managers) to be issued Glock 9mm or similar sidearms.

Just had the G7 Leaders Cornish Transport Glossary through (Foreward by Head of Security Officer Crabtree) :

Yw an karr an lyha? - Is the car the smallest?

Yw an diwros an glassa? - Is the bicycle the greenest?

A hedhsowgh hwi seyth jynn-tenna gans an oen toemm? - Did you stop seven tractors with the warm lamb?

Yw an diwros an brassa? - Is the bicycle the biggest?

A nyns yw an karr skav? - Isn't the car fast?

A erghewgh hwi horev gans an jynn-tenna skav? - Did you used to order beer with the fast tractor?

Hwi a yll kasa seytek karr. - You can hate seventeen cars.

Ni a wre gweles den war agan jynn-diwros skav. - We used to see the man on our fast motorcycle.

My a ylla gweles oen yn-dann karr hir. - I used to be able to see lamb under the long car.

And the latest special offer
https://inews.co.uk/news/police-chief-warns-of-covid-19-super-spreader-event-at-g7-summit-in-cornwall-934361 (https://inews.co.uk/news/police-chief-warns-of-covid-19-super-spreader-event-at-g7-summit-in-cornwall-934361)

New website launched by Devon & Cornwall police with info about G7 arrangements

https://g7.devon-cornwall.police.uk

There's a little bit about branch line travel under the faq section, basically contact GWR...

https://g7.devon-cornwall.police.uk/faq/

The public should expect disruption to the road network, particularly into Carbis Bay and St Ives, during the event weekend.

We can now confirm that we expect changes to the train service on the St Ives branch line during the period of the event and we are working with partners who are identifying alternative rail replacement services. Any queries relating to train services should be directed to GWR.

Further details about any road closures or expected delays will be released in due course.

The mention of "rail replacement services" when also talking of disruption & closures to the road network doesn't seem to add up, but I suppose we'll see what happens, perhaps a direct service St Erth~St Ives taking the back road, avoiding Carbis Bay.

Press release from GWR (https://gwr-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/buses-to-replace-trains-on-branch-line-during-g7-summit)

..and as being reported on the beeb..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-56751668

..and, for a pleasant change, it appears I can't put this item in the "irrelevant stock photos" thread!!

What did I say back in January?

To avoid Covid issues, I'd expect they'll all fly into Newquay Airport or RNAS Culdrose and fly out from them both at the end. I'd expect Biden's entourage to use Newquay and he'll probably helicopter down the coast to land very close to the Tregenna Castle if not in the grounds. I'd expect the recreational trip to be to St Michaels Mount or Lands End which will be easy to secure. I'd expect the Branchline to be out of Public Service for the event and a day or so beforehand. You can't really keep that open with it's proximity to the Carbis Bay Resort location. St Ives and Carbis Bay will almost certainly be residents and delegates only for the duration.

From the Cornwall Railway Society, latest input page for 21 April
It would seem it ran down from London, visited the St Ives branch and stabled overnight at Penzance, where the photographs in the item were taken. Presumably it is related to the G7 conference

Yes, you did and I had hoped then it wouldn't be necessary to close the branchline during the summit.   We'll be doing our bit at the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership to make the most of the global publicity for the area to help promote Cornwall (and Devon), their railways and the St Ives line in particular, for travel at other times, of course.

For those with Facebook, DGP Railway Photography took a few shots of this train.
https://www.facebook.com/DGPRail/photos/a.270812383005557/3964350370318388
https://www.facebook.com/DGPRail
Link posted with permission

I believe Falmouth town station as well as the St.Ives line is to be closed for G7. Falmouth docks will be open. Many of the car parks in Falmouth are also closing from this weekend.

https://g7.devon-cornwall.police.uk/residents/community-impact-falmouth/

more generally

https://g7.devon-cornwall.police.uk/


https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates/g7

I see, courtesy of the Cornwall Railway Society site, that after many years, the mess at Ponsandane including the old fuel tanks, is being tidied up, just because of the G7 knees-up.

The usual story of the people who live here put up with it for years but just because some other bods might see it as they go past once, money's thrown at it.  >:(

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/features-january-to-june-2021.html

..and scroll down a short way

Maybe someone could also try and recycle all those tin cans that are stuck in the rocks just outside the train station.

Try to see it as a benefit. Without the summit, the mess would have endured for much longer.

Engineering the world's economy  :D

If the reason really is the G7 summit then trying to pretend otherwise does seem the sort of futile trick a country such as China would do rather than our democracy.  I do also wonder if they're so worried about security why they don't hold the summit somewhere a bit more remote, maybe a Scottish island, rather than a fairly popular tourist area.

Guess the train planners have a pull down menu of excuses reasons for a shut down, perhaps the list is:

A police incident
Poor weather conditions
Planned enginering works
Shortage of train crew
A problem under investigation
More trains needing fixing at the same time

Though looking at my list few are really valid for next week? So planed engineering works come out top then..


the last one cover most things, sure others could add to the list

They've removed all the grassy knolls but the CIA have learnt there are a lot of sleepers on the railway with good views of the hotel. If we called them railroad ties they wouldn't have worried.

Oh, for sure, the lack of "some other reason" or a writein option make the system throw up some oddities and for very rare occasions that's not really all that much of an issue.   Think I may have gone for "A police incident" ... it's nothing if not a policing requirement after all.

I think common sense probably goes a long way in these circumstances?

According to The Falmouth Packet "The Dell car park at Falmouth Town train station will remain open to the public", which begs the question why Falmouth Town station is being closed for the G7? Or is it just going to be open Lympstone Commando style for the Press etc?

I believe the Falmouth Service will run with 3 carriages on the days when Falmouth Town is closed.
#Falmouth Town is only long enough for 2 carriages. :(

I'm getting lost ... does that mean it's either 158 or 166s, or is there still the odd 1509xx still around?

Don’t think 166 are cleared, they’ve not made it to Cornwall yet. There isn’t any 1509** that I’m aware of but several 3 car 158 about.

There are buses and coaches on standby at various locations in Cornwall for the rail including Truro and Falmouth docks

A mini fleet of coaches behind the APCOA Car Park at Truro this morning, dispersed a little tonight. A 'little' bit 'posher' than your usual Rail Replacements too. While we're on buses, quite a fleet of Bristol based new First Bus double deckers on the road yesterday in West Cornwall, some with obscure destinations showing (Presumably the Security forces 'camp' sites). Huge effort going on. 

Can’t they do all this via Zoom?  ;)

Zoom always carries the risk that someone shares a screen with naughty images....... and besides you only get the first 45 minutes free!!!

The Devon Live website carries images & videos of POTUS aircraft - V22 Osprey VSTOL & C130 Hercules machines - arriving in the South West.

Also 3 Chinook helicopters 'disturbing the peace' over the Dart Estuary.

It all seems a bit OTT for a chinwag lasting 2 1/2 days.

The Cornish must be terrified by the sight of these strange creatures in the sky.....no doubt they'll be crossing themselves and predicting a failed harvest!

The churches will be packed on Sunday!   :)

Just heard on the BBC News of a local fisherman at Carbis Bay who went to drop his lobster pots in the usual place but was chased off by a Warship

presumably a naval vessel as opposed to a diesel locomotive.

Here in deepest Somersetshire, flying machines are seen regularly, they make a lot of noise. I think they might be related to the "fire breathing smoke snorting iron monsters" that have almost displaced horses.
No good will come of this.

So, it appears Pres. Biden has landed at RAF Mildenhall...
Perhaps so they can service Air Force 1 in a secure enviroment  (my guess)

Transfer by Helicopter?

 

It would have to be a 158/9 (3 Car) if it is to be 3 carriages.    166s are not cleared and even if they were nobody in that neck of the woods could drive them and no 3 Car 150s any mor

Currently there is a C32 flying from RAF Mildenhall to the southwest. Not sure if President Biden is on it though as it has an SAM callsign not AF1. An E4B has also flown over too if anyone is interested.

Edit: AF1 just coming down from flying over Wales.

SAM 46 def coming in to ....over fly NQY!!

looks like they're practising approaches..

Currently circling which is odd. The VC25 has turned off towards the Isle of Wight.SAM46 landed.and AF1 doing a flyby of Torquay. Maybe he's a Fawlty Towers fan.

The weather has wrecked the start of this visit. From local news sources it appears that the President may have to be driven to the Location rather than flying by helicopters tonight. Fog is dreadful in places tonight in the county.

BBC breakfast news on Thursday morning is reporting LIVE from St Ives

Not sure if I quoted this up-thread ... but I am reminded as this is the Gee SEVEN of

Let's hope for good worldwide outcomes for health, peace, trade and economies and wish them all well in St Ives.  The Seven world leaders are ambassadors from across the world - the importance is for the pyramid of seven under each of them, then the seven under each of them, and the seven under that group, and so on ...

I've just seen video of the Motorcade, At least 31 Vehicles were in it at Loggan's Moor Roundabout, Hayle, as it passed by.

Indeed I'm often impressed and intrigued at how well bus/coach companies respond to passenger surges, sometimes at short notice, plenty of buses on hand and plenty of drivers to drive them, presumably in addition to providing for their normal services. I think they could possibly teach today's railways a thing or two. I know that the G7 and sports events, music festivals, Christmas shopping, seaside events etc are all "one-off" events but when you add them up throughout a normal year they're basically regular events but at different places.

A client of mine who is a daily user of GWR services to the Westcountry has queried our PM flying down to Cornwall. He says Boris going down on a jet to talk about climate change is a tad hypocritical. No chance. he'd go down by train because then he might have to do something about the seats  ;D ;D ;D

Apparently they thought it was in Wiltshire...

The security aspect of transporting the PM and entourage by Train to West Cornwall would have cost a fortune. Putting them on a Plane at Stansted and landing at Newquay being far cheaper.

Hmmmn…not sure about that! The Royals frequently use scheduled trains. Also all the Government staff travelled down on a special on Tuesday - 1Z31 12.45 nonstop Paddington to Truro and St Erth (crew change stops were made), so an opportunity missed.

The coaches at Truro station on standby I believe will have been from our fleet, Truronian. I know we’ve got a number there on standby. We’ve also got a few at Falmouth station too, all available as and when the railway need them. We’ve received around 8 or 9 new coaches in the last month, most of which have only done a couple of jobs prior to this event.
The older fleet have nearly all received a repaint and most a interior retrim over the last 12 months or so and look much smarter than they’d have done when previously seen.

Buses into St Ives from St Erth are currently suspended due to protesters blocking roads into St Ives.

Some Falmouth Branch trains are cancelled today due to shortage of train crew

And our rulers don't appear to see the irony of lecturing the public from their lofty perches, about the "need" to reduce emissions.

Flying across the Atlantic in a huge, antiquated aircraft, with what amounts to a squadron of other aircraft in support, and then parading around in a 17-vehicle motorcade, to inform the peasants about how they must live more frugally does not chime well with me

I would agree - to a degree - it sits very badly indeed with me too.   I was interested too in https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-57437344 with - was it - kowtowing to Mr Biden and then the BBC choosing to make that into a news story.

But whilst it sits very badly with me, I have an uneasy feeling that it's the best bad way of doing it, and i rather suspect that Amtrak Joes just may have the same feelings.  I personally have lot more respect for this POTUS (the 46th) than 29, 37, or 45

I agree that it would have been preferable for the PM to take the train rather than to fly.
I suspect that a special train would have been both cheaper and greener than flying.

Condemning the PM to an IET is perhaps going a bit far, but a Castle HST would seem to be suitable.

Other world leaders also set a very poor example in terms if the fuel used by numerous aircraft and road vehicles. Extinction rebellion have protested about this, near the Summit.

I noticed a special train at Plymouth yesterday, Friday 10th at about 1230. An IET showing Truro and Penzance. A member of staff said it was for the media and it did look like that as they were all spaced out sitting at laptops. I think it was a 9 car. It was temporarily stopped at Plymouth because of a fatality.

It was indeed the Media, including Robert Peston who tweeted a pic of the Teign Estuary just past Teignmouth. Considering the level of security around sending Boris by Rail at the time (He did PMQs and then hotfooted it to Stansted). Securing the whole path from Paddington to PZ and the travelled through Stations would have been a nightmare and incredibly expensive too. Any incidents en route (such as yesterday's fatality) would have made things very difficult too. Air seems to me to be the only logical way for him to get here.

I believe that on the 8th and 9th June there was a special 12.45 Paddington to Penzance and on the 10th June an 08.45 Paddington to Penzance special all believed to be IETs. Presumably there will be some return specials next week?
Btw The Royal train has entered Cornwall (from Windsor and Eton Riverside) and is believed to be stabled at Burngullow.

Btw The Royal train has entered Cornwall and is believed to be stabled at Burngullow.



16.15 ex Penzance held at Bodmin Parkway for about 15 mins, presumedly allowing it to clear Largin

So security for the PM too difficult, but OK for the Queen?

Driving home from work yesterday around 5.30pm/6pm, I was privileged to see 6 motorcades driving rapidly up the A30 towards Eden, all well spaced out.
So many bikes, cars and vans in each convoy.  Joe and Jill bringing up as the tail end charlies, complete with USA flags on their vehicle.

Was very impressed with the organisation and sight of them.

Leaving aside the green issue and the cost issue, it's a sight I won't see in person again in my lifetime.

Several people lining the route, didn't see any protest banners, etc amongst them.

I passed a motorcade returning from taking a college group to Tehidy woods on Thursday lunchtime. It was as you say an impressive site, and I was impressed how everyone conformed and got out of the way.

Later that evening there was people with banners on the bridge I cross over exiting Dobwalls to rejoin the A38. Banners about climate control.

For those who like me like to look at how the specials did:

8 June
5Z31 Stoke Gifford to Paddington (empty stock) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12852/2021-06-08/detailed)
1Z31 Paddington to Penzance (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V10498/2021-06-08/detailed) (very interesting that these ran via Badminton, and that Bristol in 1:15¾ is doable)
5Z33 Penzance to Stoke Gifford (empty stock) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12853/2021-06-08/detailed)

9 June
5Z31 Stoke Gifford to Paddington (empty stock) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12852/2021-06-09/detailed)
1Z31 Paddington to Penzance (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V10498/2021-06-09/detailed) (via Badminton)
5Z33 Penzance to Stoke Gifford (empty stock) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12853/2021-06-09/detailed)

10 June
5Z30 Stoke Gifford to Paddington (empty stock) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12856/2021-06-10/detailed)
1Z30 Paddington to Penzance (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12857/2021-06-10/detailed) (via Badminton)
5Z32 Penzance to Stoke Gifford (empty stock) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V12855/2021-06-10/detailed)

And looking at next week:

14 June
5Z30 0430 Stoke Gifford to Penzance (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V20274/2021-06-14/detailed)
1Z30 1002 Penzance to Paddington (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V20272/2021-06-14/detailed)
5Z32 1615 Paddington to Stoke Gifford (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V20276/2021-06-14/detailed) (this looks like the path of one of the non-running Cardiff trains if ever there was one – that may be the general modus operandi here)
and
5Z31 0621 Stoke Gifford to Penzance (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V20275/2021-06-14/detailed)
1Z31 1156 Penzance to Paddington (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V20273/2021-06-14/detailed)
5Z33 1800 Paddington to Stoke Gifford (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V20277/2021-06-14/detailed)

15 June
5Z91 0718 North Pole to Paddington (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X00320/2021-06-15/detailed)
3Z91 0745 Paddington to Penzance (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X00314/2021-06-15/detailed)
3Z92 1301 Penzance to Paddington (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X00315/2021-06-15/detailed)
5Z92 1832 Paddington to North Pole (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X00321/2021-06-15/detailed)
(Not sure this is the same thing – it's a 3Z rather than a 1Z, and it's done out of North Pole rather than Stoke Gifford. Also seems to be running on the 18th.)

For future events of this type, it would in my view be worth building* a couple of railway vehicles for use of domestic, or visiting VIPs.

With a "boardroom style" layout to permit of meetings, or of taking a meal together. And with much of the furniture removeable after folding it up, in order that the space can be used for a drinks reception.

No need for a complete train, these are arguably better hired from one of the charter operators and are available with first class seating, standard class seating, buffets, kitchens, and luggage vans.
Having one or two vehicles as described to add to a charter set sounds useful.

*By "building" I mean converting from existing vehicles, not new build from the ground up, which would be hugely costly for so few vehicles. If food or drink is to be served, no need for any special facilities, simply place next to an existing catering vehicle.

Speculation time ...
Class 3 trains are empty ones on which the running time is important - typically outbound trains headed out to form class 1 or class 2 passenger trains after just a few minutes break.  I suspect this is in the schedule as there's a question mark over what's needed on 15th to get people back after the G7 and that 3Z92 could be changed into 1Z92 with little problem.  But not 1Z92 yet awhile so it can be cancelled very close overnight without flagging up as a cancellation.

If you were to suggest that to any government's security and protection experts they would veto it out of hand. Railways are particularly vulnerable to malicious (and indeed accidental) acts, and in today's world that threat is just too high. Having an armoured train that can plough straight on through anyone who wants to stop it an with or without signals isn't an option now (if it ever was outside war zones).

For G7, the situation is particularly bad, since it attracts a particular kind of paramilitary protester. The choice of a relatively isolated place has made it possible to cordon it off (not possible in a city), and that plus travel restrictions has kept almost all of the foreign battalions away. The demonstrating corrals offer so little scope for mayhem that even any domestic hardcore may have stayed at home. But a railway ... it only takes a handful of people to stop one of those (or worse).

Events of this nature do indeed attract protests, some of which can be violent.
A train should still be doable, with proper security precautions such as armed police or troops, and not advertising the timings or the route in advance.
After all the Royal Train was considered safe for Her Majesty, so another special train should be safe enough for the PM and entourage.

..........and like the Royal Train, it would be extremely expensive and hardly ever used.

It took The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William to St Austell (for the Eden Project). It was 67005 and 67006 topping and tailing 10 carriages, mainly mark 3s. Not sure if it has a buffet car, but it probably has room for some surfboards!

The 'awkward' mob have now arrived en masse now it's over, using glue to attach themselves to the carriageway in places. Is anyone aware of any Railway system affecting incidents today. The Rail Replacements would have been affected by one of the Glue incidents.

Now all the VIPs have gone all they are going to do is annoy and cause disruption for the locals who by now have probably had enough of all the disruption caused by the G7 summit. Hardly a good way to get people to support your cause.

Flying in from around the globe in a squadron of planes, some elderly, to tell the plebs they're going to have poorer lives because we have to clean up the atmosphere isn't great optics.

I suspect the Communist Party of China, (they're opening coal fired power stations ad-libitum in China) will have found the whole junket very amusing.  And also striking a chord - the Chinese have no real electoral say in who makes their rules, and now, neither do we.  Nine representatives and their lieutenants in Cornwall setting policy direction, only one of whom I, or any of us, had any theoretical influence (?) in choosing

Was Greta's yacht not available?

There was also the electric coach option - but not without its problems.   From Cornwall Live (https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/touring-electric-coach-stranded-eden-5524525):

It does sound as though there might be something about the bus, that is not reliably compatible with existing charge points.
Despite the weight penalty it would in my view be preferable for the charging equipment to be built into the bus, requiring only a standard industrial power supply.

A 3 phase 32 amp supply is available almost everywhere and would supply about 23KW, a bit slow for a vehicle that size but still useful.

A 3 phase 63 amp supply is widely available and would deliver about 46 kw, or very nearly the same as the 50 kw chargers referred to in the report.

Even a domestic 13 amp supply would eventually charge it, and for a 12/16 hour overnight stop would help considerably.

Sorry I'm late, I've been in Cornwall. Not for any reasons to do with the G7, in fact plans made before it was announced, but to take someone we know on a holiday that she would never be able to do alone.

We were relieved that we had chosen Marazion, by St Michaels Mount, as the first stage of our mini tour.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251916840_05713a5d58_c.jpg)

Relieved, that is, until Day 2, when the place filled with police, and not small ones. The officers wouldn't tell us what was occurring, so I asked the waitress at the pub (lovely fish stew, washed down with Proper Job) instead. She told me that Joe Biden and Boris Johnson were going to St Michaels Mount on Friday, leaving Carbis Bay at 0952 in a convoy, going via Levant, then via the A3074 to avoid the road works on the A30. They were going by boat at 1022, walking to the top of the Mount, before having a cream tea at 1126, before departure at 1201, for return via the A30. I asked if they would be putting jam or cream on first, but she told me that information was classified. In the event, the weather intervened, and the trip was cancelled. You couldn't see the Mount, so I'm not surprised.

On Friday, we set off for Tintagel, seeing a motorcade on the A30 before grinding to a halt. We ducked off along a lane, moving steadily through the Cornish countryside, until having to stop again. Two further convoys passed us close to Newquay:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251064603_90cb4510fd_c.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251621569_071940c7e8_c.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251622044_5be2fd7333_c.jpg)

which we think contained Chancellor Merkel and M. Macron. The rest of the journey was uneventful, other than having to go around the eastern side of the airport rather than on the coast road.


I can't stand video meetings of any kind, except the occasional one with the grandkids. I have to do them for work, where they follow the standard format:

"Can everyone hear OK?"
"Can everyone hear OK?"
"Sorry, I had the mute switch on. Can everyone hear OK?"
"No.....ernet not...iable.....kers at BT.....king nuisance..."
"Can everyone switch off their microphone when not speaking..."
And so on. I have usually by this stage frozen stock still for long enough for everyone to think my broadband has bust, switched the camera off, and settled down to the crossword. I have no doubt that Boris Johnson would do similar, and would probably get up for a drink, forgetting that he isn't wearing pants at some time early in proceedings. People would complain if our leaders didn't meet occasionally to talk about Putin behind his back, or remind Macron that he's losing his best pal soon, so it has to be done. In any case, the real horse trading is done by clever people in suits, behind closed doors.

Did you manage to get to Eden before the V.I.P's; and also see the Red Arrows by any chance?

We didn't go to the Eden Project this time. I did, however, take the precaution of booking a flypast for when we were in Bude.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251715339_7fc136c6ed_c.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51252010675_4ce13d38c2_c.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251713079_aab7b92d3e_c.jpg)

(Alright, I didn't book them, I read a NOTAM. Please don't tell my wife, she'll think I conned her out of a special favour.)

BTW, there is a railway on St Michaels Mount !
Not open to the public and not very well known.
Used to convey freight from the dock up to the castle. A very short line but with a steep gradient, cable hauled.

Originally powered by a gas engine but now electric, still used AFAIK.

Not sure if St Ives is one of the sea side places plagued with Gulls,as I don't visit it enough.

Just wondering some of the local gulls MIGHT have been "relocated"for the three day G7 meeting

St Ives gulls are among the worst, in my experience. 

I can't remember a seaside place I have been that didn't have gulls, and that covers Ushuaia, Alaska, Fleetwood, Tokyo, Reykjavik and all points in between. They even show up in Halberton occasionally, at least 20 miles from the sea. If that happens, I know the weather is likely to take a turn for the worse.

Wonder if they were affected by the no fly zone

Saw them from Porthminster Beach in St Ives - fab  :)

St Ives itself was fairly quiet (although not dead by any stretch) during the G7. Saw the rail replacement buses on their route a number of times and they seemed fairly quiet also.

Came home yesterday, but on Tuesday St Ives was heaving, especially for a mid-week, term-time day.

You're thinking of bats, I believe. :)