Cutdown 125's to operate Penzance to Plymouth clockface service

[whole diary]

[RailCornwall]

Interesting item buried in the Hitachi Stock article in Cornish Newspapers this week

From December 2018 GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will lay on two trains an hour from Penzance to Plymouth, using cut-down and refurbished old HST^▸ (High Speed Train) trains, which are being replaced by the new Hitachi units.

The more frequent service will require signalling improvements in Cornwall to reduce delays.

The new four-carriage trains are being having their slam doors replaced by modern sliding doors. The first of these is in the works already.

Eventually, it is understood, GWR will extend this service to Exeter. The company is working with Cornwall Council and Network Rail, and council chiefs hope for a "clockface" timetable, in which trains will run throughout the day at the same times past the hour.

from

http://www.cornwalllive.com/xxnew-trainsxx/story-30362217-detail/story.html

[JayMac]

11 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets with 4 passenger carriages. To replace some units in Devon/Cornwall and between Cardiff and Taunton

The first cut down set, with power door and retention toilets, is due to begin operating passenger services later in the summer. I've heard between Cardiff and Taunton, but could be in Devon/Cornwall. 

[paul7575]

Not actually new news though?

Paul

[JayMac]

To some of us, no. But not everyone on this forum, or in the wider world, keeps up with the minutiae of rolling stock developments. To the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter), and readers of the Cornwall Live website (and its associated print media), this may well be new news.

[LiskeardRich]

11 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets with 4 passenger carriages. To replace some units in Devon/Cornwall and between Cardiff and Taunton

The first cut down set, with power door and retention toilets, is due to begin operating passenger services later in the summer. I've heard between Cardiff and Taunton, but could be in Devon/Cornwall. 

The first set is planned for the 0600 Penzance to Cardiff starting mid July if everything is to plan.
I understand all of the green powercars have had the wiring upgrades

[Timmer]

It just goes to show what a great train the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) really is that it will continue in service for years to come both in the West Country and Scotland. Who knows where next? I don't see many being scrapped anytime soon.

[eightf48544]

They've already earned the nickname "Pocket Rockets"

[The Tall Controller]

First time I've heard of 'Pocket Rocket' being used. The nickname I've noticed more is 'HST^▸ (High Speed Train) GTi'! 

Those who have parted with their money for a Guide to Services book (£5 from main GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) stations  ) will already be able to see the diagrams the first GTi set will be working. For everyone else...

From 11 September 2017

Mondays to Fridays

0600 Penzance to Exeter St Davids (not Cardiff Central. A service from St James' Park to Cardiff Central will run in its place)
1017 Exeter St Davids to Penzance
1345 Penzance to Plymouth
1557 Plymouth to Penzance
1916 Penzance to Plymouth
2242 Plymouth to Penzance (Mondays to Thursdays only. HST from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) runs in its place on Fridays)

Sundays

1943 Plymouth to Penzance

[John R]

Must do the 1217 Exeter to Penzance if it gets into Penzance in time to form the 1345 back to Plymouth.

[The Tall Controller]

My mistake. Was meant to be 1017! Have edited it to avoid confusion.

[grahame]

Are you going to need a bicycle reservation to use this service? (That's if you have a bicycle, obviously!)

[simonw]

If GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are converting some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) for shorter journeys, could I suggest a new route from Taunton, Bristol TM^‡(resolve), Bristol, PW^▸ (Permanent Way), Cheltenham and Worcester? The number of times I have to stand on parts of this journey because Cross Country trains do not have enough capacity

[paul7575]

If GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are converting some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) for shorter journeys, could I suggest a new route from Taunton, Bristol TM^‡(resolve), Bristol, PW^▸ (Permanent Way), Cheltenham and Worcester? The number of times I have to stand on parts of this journey because Cross Country trains do not have enough capacity

The conversion is to meet the requirements for capacity on current routes, it doesn't allow for new routes.  I also believe it is not a permanent addition to the fleet, once the DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) cascade is complete they'll go.

There are already plans to adjust capacity on the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) route.  XC will be running 2 tph by extending from Bristol to Exeter on the opposite half hour to now, and the gaps in the XC extensions south of Exeter (i.e. to Paignton) are intended to be filled (eventually) by additional GW^▸ (Great Western) services.

Paul

[ChrisB]

They'll certainly move on from Devon/Cornwall.

If they're being upgraded with sliding doors, retention toilets (including an accessible toilet), they certainly won't be scrapped though. Any info out there yet as to where they might be going to/leased to?

[The Tall Controller]

Regarding Graham's question on cycle reservations...they will not carry reservations and as such will be unable to book. These will have the same conditions as units currently do where it's simply first come, first served.