Proposed timetable changes for Exeter to Waterloo train route

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

If you can excuse the pop-ups, From Devon Live

(with superfluous pictures removed....)

Here's the proposed timetable changes for Exeter to Waterloo train route
There are more trains proposed - but they won't be stopping at Clapham Junction

More trains from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo are being proposed by South Western Railway – but services will no longer stop at Clapham Junction.

South Western Railway have announced that following their takeover of the franchise from South West Trains they are consulting over changes to the timetable.

The proposed changes include a new early morning commuter train and trains later in the evening from Exeter and London Waterloo.

However the changes will mean that trains will no longer stop at Clapham Junction which is a major interchange for those travelling to Gatwick Airport and the outskirts of London.

Among the key changes are a new 7.18am service from Yeovil Junction to Exeter St Davids, calling at Axminster, Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook, Pinhoe and Exeter Central, which would stop at Honiton at 8.14am and bridge the gap between the 7.53am and 9.16am services that currently run but do not suit the needs of all commuters and students.

An additional later train from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids is proposed as well – leaving at 9.25pm and arriving in Exeter at 0.42am – while an additional train from Exeter St Davids to Yeovil Junction, departing at 11.22pm, is also included in the consultation.

Trains west of Salisbury will also have extra carriages to combat overcrowding.

Regarding the omission of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)’s busiest train station, Clapham Junction, a South Western Railway spokesman said: “Before South Western Railway took over the franchise, we contacted key stakeholders across the route to find out what they wanted in terms of improvements for the December 2018 timetable, and these proposals are the results of that feedback.

“Included in the things stakeholders in the East Devon and South Somerset areas wanted was a faster and extended train service and these are reflected in the proposals.

“We published the timetable consultation for the December 2018 services for customers to feedback their comments on what we have suggested in order to deliver on our capacity and journey time improvement plans.

“All of the comments and feedback will then be taken into account when developing the final proposal for submission to the Department for Transport and Network Rail in 2018.”

There is still time for people to give their views on SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)’s proposals.

The consultation runs until Friday, December 22, and details on the proposals and how to give feedback are at www.southwesternrailway.com/timetable consultation

[chopper1944]

Why not run the proposed trains to/from Yeovil Junction, to/from Yeovil Pen Mill

[John R]

Why not run the proposed trains to/from Yeovil Junction, to/from Yeovil Pen Mill

That's a very valid question, given the recent use of the link for trains headed eastwards from Yeovil Junction and the closer proximity to the town itself.

I'm guessing it is probably an operational constraint.  Unless the unit overnights at Yeovil it will have had to come from somewhere, and fitting in its journey to Yeovil along the single track and passing places may preclude it having time to run up to Pen Mill and back and hit its slot for the journey down to Exeter. 

Nevertheless, it is a very positive improvement for passengers from Honiton into Exeter. (Less so from Yeovil as it appears to run only a few minutes behind an existing service but presumably then gets held on the way in a passing loop somewhere.)