From Transport Extra


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In my view, as far as I understand it, the current system of penalty payments is over complex, over expensive to administer, and leads to some decisions which may be distorted to reduce financial penalties rather than reduce delays to passengers. And - as the Welsh suggest - it may also be unhelpful to the relationship between Network Rail in the train operators.

HOWEVER ... if the penalty system were to be removed, could it lead to Network Rail becoming less caring / careful towards TOCs and passengers, and  might to lead to TOC costs being put up, making franchises less financially stable and/or leading to TOCs needing to raise extra revenue to fund passenger deals compensation - i.e. higher fares.

Looks good for passengers between Salisbury and Westbury (and intermediate stops) - more decent rolling stock to avoid travelling on the Turbos !

There don't appear to be any significant changes on the Weymouth line and I haven't checked any others.  SWR did suggest that they would do the Westbury improvements asap.  They don't really affect any other services to any extent and there are no changes east of Salisbury

Wales may scrap Network Rail payments

18 January 2019
 
Wales may soon abolish a system of penalty payments for causing rail disruption, to bring Network Rail and train operators closer together and eliminate the cost of administering the penalties.

The system was established during rail privatisation to incentivise train and infrastructure operators to improve performance and minimise delays to trains.

However, James Price, chief executive of Transport for Wales, told a National Assembly for Wales committee last week that the administration...

No trains will call at Tiverton Parkway rail station for THREE weeks when essential maintenance work on a tunnel takes place.

Network Rail will carry out maintenance work at Whiteball Tunnel, near Tiverton Parkway, from three weeks in February and March.

Whiteball Tunnel, near Tiverton Parkway, will be totally closed during the period between February 18 and March 8, while Network Rail carry out maintenance work.


THE DISRUPTION CAUSED BY THE SOUTH WEST UPGRADE PROJECT IS:

A direct service will run every two hours between London Paddington and Plymouth, using an alternative route. Journey times will be extended by 60 minutes and via travel via Axminster on the East Devon main line

There are limited direct services to Cornwall so a change at Plymouth will be required on most journeys. Journey times will be extended by 60 minutes and via travel via Axminster on the East Devon main line

A direct service will run every two hours between London Paddington and Taunton

One train every two hours will run between London Paddington and Taunton. Rail replacement buses will then replace trains between Taunton and Tiverton Parkway

Trains from Bristol and the North will terminate at Taunton. Buses replace trains between Taunton, Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids. A reduced service will run between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth. A small number of evening trains will run from Exeter St Davids to Penzance, but other journeys to Cornwall will require a change at Plymouth

There will be an hourly service between Exeter St Davids to Newton Abbot, Totnes and Plymouth, alternating between GWR and CrossCountry.

Local stopping trains between Exeter and Paignton will continue to run, but there will be changes to the normal timetable.

Train times for journeys between Exeter and Pinhoe, Honiton and Axminster will be amended.

Buses will replace all trains towards both Taunton and Exeter St Davids from Tiverton Parkway

A reduced service will run on trains to Totnes with all services departing from Platform 1.

Some trains will run earlier than normal on the branch between Exeter and Exmouth

A normal service will run between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple

A normal service will run on the Gunnislake branch

An hourly shuttle train will run between Plymouth and Penzance on the main line into Cornwall, but departure times may be different that usual

A normal service will run on the St Ives, Falmouth, Newquay, Looe and Gunnislake branch lines

Journey times on replacement buses are 40 minutes between Exeter St Davids to Tiverton Parkway, 70 minutes on the non-stop service between Exeter St Davids to Taunton and 35 minutes between Tiverton Parkway to Taunton.

Bikes and large items of luggage can’t be carried on rail bus and coach services.

Valid rail tickets will be accepted on some local buseshe number of short-stay car park spaces at Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway will be reduced to allow for bus operations.

Permit holders at Tiverton Parkway may use a new temporary car park at Taunton station for no additional charge.

Is there not a switch somewhere, There is on the HST'S.

I could only afford begin Kwik Save when I was down on my luck.