Newquay Branch line - engineering work, closures, incidents (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[vacman]

The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services to Newquay this year were running empty most of the time, I think the airlines have really seen off that market from the North, but, the Pad-Nqy services numbers were up, latest rumour is that XC won't be going to newquay next year, but only a rumour and not from a good source.

As for locals, there are a lot more travelling from intermediate stations on the branch now.

[Lee]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) would have to get the specification changed if they were to cease running to Newquay, so that would be interesting if true (vacman's flagging his source up as not good noted).

[Tim]

The report is very possitive, and I don't want to undermine any of it, but - how many of the additional users are  'locals'?

Why does it matter?  The local communities benefit regardless of whether it is a local or a tourist.  Every trip is either an car off the roads of a journey made by someone who would have otherwise stayed at home or gone elsewhere.

Well done FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for doing this and without extra subsidy too and for the friends group that supports the line.

It does beg the question why not elsewhere (Melksham for example where there are plenty of potential travellers and some notable locals with commitment to the line and its promotion).

[vacman]

The report is very possitive, and I don't want to undermine any of it, but - how many of the additional users are  'locals'?

Why does it matter?  The local communities benefit regardless of whether it is a local or a tourist.  Every trip is either an car off the roads of a journey made by someone who would have otherwise stayed at home or gone elsewhere.

Well done FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for doing this and without extra subsidy too and for the friends group that supports the line.

It does beg the question why not elsewhere (Melksham for example where there are plenty of potential travellers and some notable locals with commitment to the line and its promotion).

The reason this was made possible was putting Ivybridge stops into a couple of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s, thus withdrawing the Plymouth-Newton Abbot shuttles which used a single 153, this freed up a unit to use on the Gunnislake all day, removing the need to "nick" the Newquay unit to do the evening peak Gunnislake.

It is quite amazing now to go out to Newquay and have to stop at nearly all intermediete stations, even in winter, unheard of previously!

[Chris2]

The intermediate stations are getting busier, people are realising the tickets are good value, and the times are convenient, it has been helped by marketing leaflets organised by RichardB from the Devon and Cornwall rail partnership. It also helps that the local line has regularly been covered by the local press, encouraging people to use the trains. The Focal^▸ (Friends of the Atlantic Coast Line [Newquay]) group is also doing a good job in promoting the line.
A couple of there future aims are to get a sunday service on the line all year, and to get a local service to Newquay for intermediate stations on summer saturdays, this would be easier if crosscountry withdrew there services. I was speaking to a memeber of staff on the train and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are looking to see if the linespeed can be increased, which would help local services and intercity services during the summer.

[Plymboi]

Living in Newquay myself. I really fidn the Trains awful for getting to east-bound Cornwall. It takes 20 mins by car and around One Hour and bit to get to Truro by train. Any update on the Newquay-St Austell line?

[Chris2]

Living in Newquay myself. I really fidn the Trains awful for getting to east-bound Cornwall. It takes 20 mins by car and around One Hour and bit to get to Truro by train. Any update on the Newquay-St Austell line?

Going West from Newquay it makes sense to drive, as it is much quicker.
The Newquay to St. Austell line is an aspiration of the FOCAL group and integrated into the St. Austell eco town plans as far as I can tell, so it will be at least ten years before anything is realised in my opinion.
The following link has details about the proposed loop
http://www.focal.org.uk/loop.htm

[slippy]

. Loadings on the seasonal trains from Paddington/Reading have been higher this year than last I believe, with probably the same on the services from the North.

The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service to NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) this year have definately suffered VERY low numbers. I find it hard to believe FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) are up?? Travelled on the 'ACE' on several peak Saturdays and there was plenty of space. I also dont recall seeing much lugguage pilled up in the additional TGS, unlike previous years when you couldn't even see in the windows!!

Also, surely the quote of 'more users than EVER on the Newquay branch' isnt true?? Thought official figures only exsist for the last 5/6 years??

[vacman]

. Loadings on the seasonal trains from Paddington/Reading have been higher this year than last I believe, with probably the same on the services from the North.

The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service to NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) this year have definately suffered VERY low numbers. I find it hard to believe FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) are up?? Travelled on the 'ACE' on several peak Saturdays and there was plenty of space. I also dont recall seeing much lugguage pilled up in the additional TGS, unlike previous years when you couldn't even see in the windows!!

Also, surely the quote of 'more users than EVER on the Newquay branch' isnt true?? Thought official figures only exsist for the last 5/6 years??

Summer saturdays are no longer changeover day which is why the saturday trains were quieter, the week days HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s to Newquay were stacked out on Mondays and fridays, along with the up HST on the sundays, the saturdays were also busy on the London HST's.

Best thing XC can do is pull out of Cornwall completely, then on summer saturdays have a mix of HST's/units on the Newquay with units stopping at all intermediete stations.

[Lee]

Best thing XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) can do is pull out of Cornwall completely, then on summer saturdays have a mix of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s/units on the Newquay with units stopping at all intermediete stations.

Are you sure you want them to pull out of Cornwall completely, or just from Newquay?

[vacman]

Best thing XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) can do is pull out of Cornwall completely, then on summer saturdays have a mix of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s/units on the Newquay with units stopping at all intermediete stations.

Are you sure you want them to pull out of Cornwall completely, or just from Newquay?

they may aswell pull out completely and leave the west to FGW^▸ (First Great Western), if FGW ran an hourly Pnz/Ply-Bristol service with some being Pad services via Bristol then we don't need XC, you rarely see anyone travelling beyond Birmingham anyway because of XC's rediculous walk up fares and non-availiablity of Advance fares for longer distance.

Who wants to travel on a crappy voyager anyway?

[The Tall Controller]

Best thing XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) can do is pull out of Cornwall completely, then on summer saturdays have a mix of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s/units on the Newquay with units stopping at all intermediete stations.

Are you sure you want them to pull out of Cornwall completely, or just from Newquay?

they may aswell pull out completely and leave the west to FGW^▸ (First Great Western), if FGW ran an hourly Pnz/Ply-Bristol service with some being Pad services via Bristol then we don't need XC, you rarely see anyone travelling beyond Birmingham anyway because of XC's rediculous walk up fares and non-availiablity of Advance fares for longer distance.

Who wants to travel on a crappy voyager anyway?

I know many people wont back me up on this but I have yet to experience a bad trip in a voyager and I travel up to Coventry so a good 5-6 hours spent in one per trip! Im glad XC run into cornwall because the last thing i want to do is to haul heavy bags around Birmingham and Bristol/Plymouth.

[JayMac]

Best thing XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) can do is pull out of Cornwall completely, then on summer saturdays have a mix of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s/units on the Newquay with units stopping at all intermediete stations.

Are you sure you want them to pull out of Cornwall completely, or just from Newquay?

they may aswell pull out completely and leave the west to FGW^▸ (First Great Western), if FGW ran an hourly Pnz/Ply-Bristol service with some being Pad services via Bristol then we don't need XC, you rarely see anyone travelling beyond Birmingham anyway because of XC's rediculous walk up fares and non-availiablity of Advance fares for longer distance.

Who wants to travel on a crappy voyager anyway?

I know many people wont back me up on this but I have yet to experience a bad trip in a voyager and I travel up to Coventry so a good 5-6 hours spent in one per trip! Im glad XC run into cornwall because the last thing i want to do is to haul heavy bags around Birmingham and Bristol/Plymouth.

if travelling Off-Peak you can save a few bob and avoid Birmingham altogether. Off Peak fares from Cornwall via Reading to Coventry are cheaper than via Birmingham. Only 30 mins longer journey time with a more civilised, usually cross-platform, interchange at Reading.

If sticking with AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) and ther god-awful Voyagers then don't forget to split your fare at Cheltenham to save a fair bit over the through fare.

[slippy]

I still dont believe the 'More users than EVER on the Newquay branch', is this correct???

[Chris2]

I still dont believe the 'More users than EVER on the Newquay branch', is this correct???

As I understand the figures, the figures exist only for the last 5 or 6 years, and this year has beaten all of those figures.