Great Western Coffee Shop

Coombe Junction Halt, on the Looe Valley Line has no lighting. This makes the station very dangerous especially during the festive period. Because of this the winter timetable has seen trains at certain points in the evening not being able to call.

Hmm. Don't want to sound too cynical, but based on the 2007/2008 station usage statistic of 54 passenger journeys originating from or terminating at COE good luck making the business case for that one!

I understand that however surely every station deserves lights? And people who have done some festive shopping to Liskeard, Looe and other places can't get back by train because of this.

Even one that only has an average of one return journey every two weeks?

I believe so. Every passenger matters!

Far cheaper to provide a taxi for that illustrious passengers, no doubt the passengers numbers are fudged anyway...

Just think though if somebody special to you is leaving a train at Coombe during the dark hours, and the lights are not up. This person can't see, and slips over. Then nobody finds her until the next morning. I think you will want the lights up then!

You've answered your own question;

Yes but why don't fgw put the lights up and then the trains can call at Coombe? Passanger usage is small however every station deserve's light and well trains.

Are you actually familliar with the local geography? Coombe is pointless, you can run from Coombe to Liskeard quicker than the train, it was just a platform that was built in steam days for loco's to run around their train to change direction, when I was based in Cornwall I never saw one passenger join or alight there as there is no population nearby at all!

Coombe (Junction (Halt))  maybe an anachronism because of the topography of the line to Looe, but it still gets a better service than some places on the FGW network I could mention. ;) ;D

Indeed Vacman - like me, you have probably met people who used to travel by train from Looe to Liskeard Grammar School in the days of steam who, if they just missed the train at Liskeard, prided themseles on being able to run down the hill and still catch it at Coombe.  As the crow flies, Liskeard - Coombe is probably only 3/4 of a mile.

It really is one of the few stations anywhere which just isn't used.  Money spent on lighting would just be a waste.  It's a very unusual situation.

Richard Burningham
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership

As a further point, does it even have an electricity supply? Having to run a mains supply to it or provide some sort of generator or battery arrangement would make the whole affair even more ridiculous.

Edit: as an afterthought, there are lots and lots of roads and footpaths all over Cornwall and the rest of the country that don't have blazing streetlights. Would you like these all to be lit as well on the ground that "every passenger matters"?

Theres an information noisy box so theres obviously electricity supplied. Have NR even bothered to repair the platform yet? Its a shame if they are leaving it because its a lovely area!

BTW, if anyone here can run up from Coombe to Liskeard faster than the train, I would pay for the lights myself!  ;D

I don't understand how it is a halt if trains have to stop and reverse there.

Anyway, what is the point on wasting money on keeping the station open if* it serves no use? Just axe it and spend the money somewhere else! I'm sure 50 passengers a year can struggle 3/4 miles to their alternative.

*^{I don't know the area, so it may do. If so, ignore my comments.}

What happens if this person is eldery? Can't walk the short distance?

Get a taxi - it won't cost them much, as they clearly don't use the train that often!

Well if were giving customers taxis well we might as well close the station down!

Errm... exactly! ;)

Given that the a representative of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership has confirmed that the station isn't used and it would be a complete waste of money, I can only assume that you are trying your best to be provocative and wind people up.

Or am I mistaken?

Agreed. I think it's probably time we moved on. Coombe Junction has already been the subject of more than its fair share of discussion on this forum, as any cursory search of the archives will reveal.

I don't propose to close the topic altogether, but I would suggest that we move along to discuss wider issues.

I've changed sides on this argument and well fgw might as well close it down.  :'(

No point closing it, just don't stop trains in the dark! up until around 2001 (i'm sure Richard B will correct the year!) there was no lighting on ANY of the intermediete stations on the Looe line, and trains didn't stop in the dark at all!

If trains have to stop to reverse, and for the driver to change the points..... I suppose there is no harm in having a platform. :D

Platforms are there for passangers to board and alight. The driver can just walk through the train  :)

But that is it.  They dont have to.  The platform is a little way from the points.  Most trains stop just after the points.  If you go to the station it will take longer.

Like 20 seconds longer waiting at an empty station.