With the benefit of hindsight, would it have been reasonable to have an additional signaller available in case everything didn't work according to plan when the new kit was commissioned?

Also, in the future, what happens when the timetable falls apart for external reasons? - Does the ARS^▸ (Automatic Route Setting) cease to do anything useful in those circumstances, or is it flexible enough to cope?

A lick of paint should suffice.

Using Automatic Route Setting Equipment?

TREsa is installed at a number of signalling centres and rail operating centres where it assists signallers in the efficient running of the railway. The system aims to reduce signaller workload demand by automatically routing trains based on timetable and infrastructure data, thereby improving a signallers’ ability to supervise the efficient running of a signalling area and enabling them to concentrate on incident management.

TREsa also provides users with the ability to define operating parameter sets, perturbation plans and special timing patterns on an 'operations workbench'. This simulates the effect of the changes, and ensures that they do not adversely affect the regulation of trains (in a safe, repeatable offline environment). During disrupted operations the pre-tested plans enable the operator to recover the service more efficiently and thus improve network performance.

From the Daily Mail


... sounds rather more serious from this report than others 

'This is a new train, it has only done a few miles

Class 230 incident
30th December 2016

Whilst undertaking a test run today a fire started in one of the detachable engine modules on one of the power cars. There were no passengers on the train and Vivarail staff were able to get off the train without a problem. This has now been extinguished by the Fire Service and the train is being prepared to move back to Tyseley. Until it is possible to access the engine module the cause of the fire can not be determined. A thorough investigation will take place in conjunction with the Railway Accident Investigation Bureau and whatever steps necessary will be undertaken. Vivarail regrets that this means the planned trial on the Coventry to Nuneaton line will be postponed. Further information will be provided when available.

According to Wikipedia ... "From 1956 these were replaced by ex-GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 0-6-0PT pannier tanks, to be replaced by diesel-hydraulic locomotives in 1971" ... and as this was the final steam run I'm going to say "1971". Must have been common in the 1960s - but this is the swan song picture.

Make that "L" and I'll say 'yes'.    What struck me looking back was the huge station and forecourt that was totally out of use.   On the day, I took a bus (that one?) to the Welshpool and Llanfair, which at that time hadn't re-reached Llanfair - so two of my historic pictures in this quiz were taken on the same day!

I suppose some stock could be berthed in Penzance station over the holiday.