Paignton Branch: Newton Abbot to Torbay - Torre, Torquay and Paignton (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[phile]

Highly unlikely that any of these extra trains will be Class 180s, and they certainly won't be in the livery featured in the accompanying picture. 

Any West Country journalists or copy editors out there who would like some up to date pictures of passenger rolling stock in use on the Greater Western network, do drop me a line. You can have some of mine for nothing more than picture credit. 

Will be 153s.

[grahame]

Launch party in the local paper ...

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Pastries-giveaway-train-connections-hour-launched/story-20263937-detail/story.html#axzz2mhjJ3sCS

Pastries giveaway as two train connections an hour launched

THE dream of two train connections an hour in South Devon begins on Monday.

A year on from the launch of an EU^» (European Union - about) project, Torbay is one of the first areas nationally to benefit from the Citizens' Rail project. And passengers will get free European pastries at Paignton station to mark the launch.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Torquay Herald Express:

Tulips help brighten Torquay railway station

Torquay railway station is being brightened up with Dutch tulips.

The ROC^▸ (Rail Operating Centre - a centralised location for railway signalling and train control operations for a specific route or region) community gardening group has continued its transformation of the station, planting tulips donated by the EU^» (European Union - about) Citizens' Rail project. The First Great Western Station Adoption project gives people with learning disabilities the opportunity to learn new skills and to work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

The group's weekly gardening work at Torquay station was shortlisted in the Best Social Enterprise and Community Impact category of the Herald Express Business Awards. Learner David Maltby said of the project: "I love doing it, it's so brilliant."

The work on the station rockery has been supported by funding from Citizens' Rail, the EU project to develop local and regional railways including the line between Torbay and Exeter.

Now the spirit of international cooperation has seen the group planting Dutch tulips donated on a recent visit by Paul Alzer from Citizens' Rail's Dutch partner Parkstad Limburg, a region near the southern border with Germany and Belgium. Nicky Church, ROC personalisation manager, said: "The people who we support have devoted their time, enthusiasm and sheer hard work into this project and are doing so with a view to gaining the necessary skills and experience to get a job."

Celia Minoughan, Citizens' Rail Riviera Line officer for the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, said: "The group were delighted with the bulbs, and it was great to hear their plans to expand the project and bring more colour to all of Torbay's stations in future."

[Rapidash]

Horrid Express

^600,000 for new rail halts at Edginswell, Torquay and Marsh Barton in Exeter, adding to the funding already received via the Local Transport Board as part of the Devon Metro scheme which will strengthen Torbay's transport links with Exeter, Exmouth and the national network. The new rail stations will cost ^5.4million.

Not entirely sure if that means the Edginswell station is ready to go or if they are still waiting on additional funding.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Torquay Herald Express:

^2.6m plan to transform Paignton's railway station


UPGRADE PLANS: Paignton railway station ANDY UGLOW, PYRAMID TORBAY PHOTOGRAPHY

A ^2.6 million plan to breath new life into Paignton railway station has been unveiled.

Torbay Council and First Great Western are drawing up the proposals which would transform the town centre station.

Torbay has made a bid for Growth Fund cash towards the scheme. A council spokesman said the work involved a general upgrade of the station building and facilities.

A spokesman said: "Exact details haven't been drawn up, but it is likely to include a redesigned ticket hall/entrance, better connectivity to the bus station, improved waiting area and other general improvements. We are aware the footbridge at the station is currently under refurbishment and this work is being carried out by Network Rail. A bid has been submitted to the Local Growth Fund through the Local Enterprise Partnership regarding a larger refurbishment for the station. The bid was for ^1.5million to cover a scheme of around ^2.4million. The remainder of the cost (^0.9million) will be met by private investment. We will know if this has been successful early in 2015."

A First Great Western spokesman said: "Paignton is an important station for us. It has a footfall of 590,000 passengers a year and provides connectivity to and from the wider Torbay area. We have recently enhanced services to Paignton, to provide two trains an hour during a typical weekday ^ an extra 300 seats a day. These services prove our commitment to the line."

Matthew Dart, Paignton town centre manager, said: "I think it's great they have decided to spend money on Paignton. The bus station has already been improved and Dartmouth Steam Railway has improved its station so it is all coming together. I think Paignton is starting to get noticed now. We have a great transport hub in the town centre with the buses, taxis, trains and steam trains all within five minutes walk of the seafront and seconds from the shops. Hopefully, it will encourage bigger companies to come here and open up."

[Chris from Nailsea]

Also from the Torquay Herald Express:

Historic English Riviera rail stations restored


Torquay Railway Station, from left; Richard Sutton TDA, Steve Brimacombe JSS Rail Ltd and Torquay Mayor Gordon Oliver.

Passengers travelling along the Riviera Line that links Exeter with Torbay are set to benefit from a more pleasant travelling experience as Network Rail and First Great Western continue their revamp of stations along this route.

Since 2012, Torbay Council has been working with the companies to refurbish and aesthetically enhance stations along this line by restoring their historic infrastructure and redecorating them in the traditional Riviera colours of poppy red, holly green and honeysuckle cream. Details of this work are as follows:

Torre station ^ in 2012 the station^s Grade II listed footbridge was refurbished as were the platform canopies in 2013. The station was also redecorated.

Paignton station ^ earlier this year work started to refurbish the station^s footbridge and platform canopies. This work will shortly be completed and the station will also be redecorated.

Torquay station ^ work has now started to refurbish the station^s Grade II listed footbridge, platform canopies and forecourt canopies. In additional to the Riviera colours, metallic gold will also feature as Torquay uses this additional embellishment. This work is due to be completed in May 2015.

Torbay^s Mayor, Gordon Oliver, said: ^I am pleased to welcome the next stage of Network Rail^s work at Torquay station which follows their excellent renovation of the road bridge last year. The partnership that we have created to address long standing challenges is now transforming this historic environment. This work follows the national recognition the station received when the community group ROC^▸ (Rail Operating Centre - a centralised location for railway signalling and train control operations for a specific route or region) Aspects and First Great Western were praised for their stunning work on the station landscaping.^

Simon Gyde, Network Rail^s asset manager for the Western route, said: ^This work is not only necessary to extend the life of these footbridges and canopies, but also to improve the environment of these stations for the 1.2m people who use the Riviera Line each year. We have worked closely with First Great Western and Torbay Council to ensure that the renovation of these historic buildings is sensitively undertaken and to minimise any disruption while work is taking place. I would like to thank passengers for their continued patience and hope that once completed, this work will enhance their travelling experience and help to improve the running of these stations.^

Dan Okey, First Great Western^s regional development manager for the west, said: ^We have been working hard with our partners in Devon and Cornwall to invest and provide the improvements we know our passengers want to see. This investment will also see us increase services from Paignton to two an hour, providing an extra 300 seats per weekday from December this year. In addition, future plans will see us improve facilities at both Torre and Exeter St Thomas stations, allowing passengers to take better advantage of the full range of services that we offer.^

[Rapidash]

Stone the crows, an appropriate image in both

Paignton is my local station, so I'm really pleased that improvements will be going ahead.

Any ideas about those extra 300 seats up to Exeter? In my befuddled brain, I have assumed that these are the Newton Abbot shuttles being extended the full distance. Or are they cunningly knocking a 153 off a 143 somewhere for an extra run or two?

[Rapidash]

The concrete bunkers shelters at St Thomas are being demolished at the moment. Hopefully being replaced with something that isn't eerily reminiscent of being swallowed by an sad worm on Arrakis.




Edit note: strikethrough marks amended, for clarity. CfN. 

[RichardB]

Today, we celebrated the first anniversary of the additional Newton Abbot - Paignton trains

Details and lots of photos here - http://www.citizensrail.org/anniversary-of-improved-torbay-train-service/

We made BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Spotlight tonight too.  If you're quick, you can see the piece here (starts at 09 mins 51 secs)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tc6b1
   

[RichardB]

And I'm delighted to say that the brick shelter on the Upside at Torre has been demolished in the last few days - replacement going in very soon.

[Rapidash]

Both concrete  shelters at St James have now been subject to the sort of urban renewel associated with large sledgehammers and flamethrowers.

A somewhat confused sounding American gent was directing affairs when I was waiting there the other day - think he was confused by all the 'St's station names He did manage to get a key to the poster holders, so he was doing okay!

Ironically, I was waiting there on the coldest, rainiest day in ages. Could have done with that shelter!