Saltash Station and Saltash Rail Users Group (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From the Saltash Rail Users Group :

Usually engineering works means cancellations, delays and diversions with trains morphing into buses at the drop of a stove-pipe hat. Just occasionally there is a bright side to the chaos - and during the current works which are closing the main line in Devon on Saturdays, we are benefiting from a much enhanced service if you are travelling within Cornwall.

Saturday 10th March (today) Saltash gets 11 trains Eastbound and 9 trains Westbound spread throughout the day. Typically FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have made no effective publicity about this - we believe that the same timetable will apply for the next two weeks as well.

Details are on the SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) website ( www.srug.org.uk ), but it would be well to check the live information at www.nationalrail.co.uk before travelling.

Hope you can make use of these surprise bonus trains whilst they last...

[Lee]

Saltash Rail Users' Group Update :

Timetable changes for May - 2 EXTRA trains per weekday

An extra train into Cornwall at 10:40

An extra return commuter train from Penzance arriving   Saltash at 18:30

Changes to timings of early morning Westbound trains

Continuous campaigning by SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) has led to the return of two services from May 21st ahead of the December date originally published for changes. SRUG felt it vital to return the mid morning service into Cornwall in time for the summer, which allows our users to have a realistic day out. The return train was seen as a top priority for workers and leisure travellers wishing to get back from Truro and the west of Cornwall in the late afternoon.

The other changes are to the early 07:31 High Speed service to Penzance which will run slightly earlier at 07:18 to give a better arrival time in Truro and the 08:06 Newquay service will run later at 08:38 as it is now the busy commuter service on the Tamar Valley line before going on to Newquay. Remember that both this and the 08:25 Penzance service are classified as Off Peak so qualify as a Cheap Day return.

Weekend services cut

It is not all good news as a few weekend services have been cut, but the Saturday timetable still gives great options into Cornwall, even the limited Sunday service allows a number of day out possibilities.

High Summer alterations - July and August

A number of changes are planned. These include a number of extra Paddington services giving much better through travel possibilities on more comfortable trains.

[john]

Good news re the additional stop of the 10:40 into Cornwall, however this train still criminally misses St.Germans, Lostwithiel, Camborne and Hayle.

The current 18:10 service to Plymouth (17:48 Liskeard starter) does not run in July and August, and is replaced by an additional stopping HST^▸ (High Speed Train) this being the 15:57 Penzance to Paddington so this provides yet another service from west Cornwall in the evening peak during the height of summer along with the already mentioned 16:44 ex Penzance now stopping.

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

"Lee Edworthy (Station manager for Saltash) has provided us with the following information. Please also note that your journey may take longer than usual, due to there being more connecting services. The service to Par is not too bad, but travelling beyond to Truro could take significantly longer than normal.

A full amended timetable is available at : http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/FGW%20-%20179.pdf

Due to engineering works between Plymouth and Par on SUNDAYS 15th April, 22nd April and 29th April an amended timetable will be in operation from station. A replacement bus service will operate in place of the train.

A summary of the departures from this station are shown below:

Please note that the replacement bus will pick up/drop off from the road adjacent to the Plymouth bound platform.

Towards Plymouth
 
1525

1635

2035

2200

Towards Liskeard
 
1023

1123

1748"

[Scooby]

It should be noted the line is also closed Plymouth to Par on Sundays 5th, 12th and 19th of May.

[Scooby]

Ok so I got that slightly wrong, the three Sundays I mentioned in May the line is closed PAR to PENZANCE.

[Lee]

Further update from Saltash Rail Users Group :

Extra London Service calls at Saltash 09:33 from 21st May 2007

Further pressure from SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) has led First Great Western to return this Off Peak service. This is a slightly slower London service but gives us a direct connection to Teignmouth and Dawlish in addition to the usual Totnes, Newton Abbot and Exeter stops.  It thens routes via Bristol, Bath Spa, Chippenham before Reading and Paddington. Please be sure to let everyone know. Lets keep numbers building so we can argue for more services.

Sample Off Peak Fares
Saltash ^ Totnes ^6.50 or ^4.30 with a Railcard  (^3.250 each if 4 travel using GroupSave)
Saltash ^ Dawlish or Teignouth ^7.00 or ^4.70 with a Railcard  (^3.50 each if 4 travel using GroupSave)
Saltash ^ Exeter ^8.50 or ^5.70 with a Railcard  (^4.25 each if 4 travel using GroupSave)

New Train Summary from 21st May 2007

^UP^
07:43 Penzance ^ 09:33 Saltash ^ 09:43 Plymouth - 10:51 Exeter St Davids ^ 11:56 Bristol ^ 13:42 London
16:43 Penzance ^ 17:22 Truro ^ 18:11 Liskeard ^ 18:33 Saltash ^ 18:41 Plymouth - 19:42 Exeter St Davids

^DOWN^
08:50 Exmouth ^ 09:20 Exeter ^ 10:32 Plymouth ^ 10:40 Saltash ^ 11:43 Truro ^ 12:21 Penzance

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

Just a quick note to let you know what we are submitting to First Great Western as our requests for December 2007. Please let me know if you have any other requests along with good reasons for stopping them.  Please send responses to richard@richardbickford.co.uk.

Weekday Services

'UP' towards Plymouth

1. An early 'Dockyard' service (Saltash around 07:00)
2. The early 'Golden Hind' Paddington service (Saltash around 06:45)
3. The return of a stopping commuter train (Saltash around 08:15)
4. 14:00 ex Penzance to London (Saltash around 15:45)
5. 17:35 ex Penzance to London (Saltash aroudn 19:20)

'DOWN' towards Penzance

1. 09:23 ex Plymouth (Saltash around 09:35)
2. 14:41 ex Plymouth (Saltash around 14:50)
3. 17:03 ex Paddington (Saltash around 20:40)

A separate submission for Weekend services will be made, although please let us know your thoughts.

[devon_metro]

Just to say I'm new, don't bite my head off

I can't see them stopping the Golden Hind there, considering it is an express service!

[devon_metro]

Its good to see that Saltash are getting their services back. I would still consider it better to have one up and down London train and let every local train stop there, so in theory every 2 or so hours!

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

I hope that some of you have already benefited from the three new services that started on Monday. This Friday we are planning an event to celebrate this and highlight this victory. We would therefore like to invite you to join us at the station at 0925 on Friday 25th May. You should be able to get away by 0940, so minimual commitement required!

A group of SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) representatives will be travelling to St Germans on the 0825 Penzance service, and you are most welcome to join us for that part as well. We then plan to travel back to Saltash on the new Paddington service that leaves St Germans at 0924 arriving Saltash at 0933.

A quick photo call will take place as the train arrives in Saltash with some passengers getting off and hopefully some of you boarding.

Lee Edworthy our station manager will be with us to answer any on the spot questions and has said he will arrange some FREE return Saltash to Plymouth tickets, so this could be the ideal time to try this new service out. There are return services from Plymouth at 1032, 1244, 1557, 1706, 1724, 1812, 1924 and 2226.

Please email or ring for more information 841119 / 07971281320

The Official Press Release is copied below.

Best Regards
Richard Bickford

---------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM SALTASH & ST.GERMANS RAIL USER GROUPS
18th May 2007
Attention Newsdesk, Picture Desk, Transport correspondent
Contacts: Richard Bickford for Saltash 07971 28 13 20; Alan Cousins for St.Germans 01503 230106

St.Germans & Saltash Passenger Celebrate Timetable Improvements

On Friday 25th May rail passengers at St.Germans and Saltash will be celebrating with local people and elected representatives the return of some daytime services in the new timetable from 20th May.

Richard Bickford, Secretary of SRUG, said "After much lobbying and hard work by First Great Western (FGW^▸ (First Great Western)) to respond to our requests we are finally getting service levels nearly back to the previous (Wessex Trains) franchise levels."

John Caff, Chair of St.Germans Rail User Group (St.GRUG), added "We still have some significant gaps and potential for better use of the services, but it is good that by working with the train operator we have been able to claw back some of the cuts that were originally imposed."

A group from Saltash will be travelling on the 08:25 from Saltash to St.Germans and meeting a St.Germans party to celebrate the arrival of the new 09:24 service to Saltash & Plymouth which will re-instate a vital morning connection eastbound to Plymouth that was lost in the original timetable for the new FGW franchise. They will be joined on the platform by Lee Edworthy of FGW, station manager for Plymouth & the SE Cornwall stations, together with various local councillors, and the party will toast the arrival of the new train.

Roger Creagh-Osborne, Chair of the Saltash Rail User Group (SRUG), said "Although this is fantastic progress there are still some socially vital gaps in the service. In particular the loss of the early dockyard service and the nonsense of some trains stopping at Saltash but not St.Germans and vice versa needs to be resolved."

Alan Cousins of St.GRUG concluded "We are winning the battle to provide a sustainable and useful service which is a vital connection for our village. If  the reliability of services can be improved and a few key additional stops provided we will continue to see growth in passenger numbers over the coming years."

The party at St.Germans will be assembling on the Up platform at around 9:00am, and will be available for photos and interview both on the platform and aboard the 09:24 to Plymouth which now stops at Saltash at 09:33.

ENDS
Notes for editors:
The new timetable provides additional eastbound trains at 09:24/09:33 (St.Germans/Saltash) morning shopper/off peak service which also goes direct through to London Paddington and 18:24/18:33 evening return commuter service from Truro.

Westbound new services at 10:40 at Saltash provides a useful post peak service into Cornwall - unfortunately this train does not stop at St.Germans.

Saltash and St.Germans now have 3 services each way direct to/from London which relives pressure on the roads in to central Plymouth.

In total there are now 11 Westbound and 11 Eastbound services compared with 13/12 in the pre-cuts timetable. The Sunday service, which could be very popular with tourists and day-trippers wanting to travel into Cornwall for a day out, is still very inadequate.

Reporters are invited to join the group either at Saltash station in time for the 08:25, returning to by train Saltash for 09:33, or at St.Germans station shortly after 9am.

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

The SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) will take place at Saltash Guildhall on Wednesday 27th June at 19:00. Please come along to here more about what we have been up to and the plans for the future. Please send in any agenda items or points you would like discussed. More details to follow.

The weekend prior to the AGM is Saltash Regatta, Saturday the 23rd and Sunday 24th June. SRUG will as last year have a stand. At the moment we are looking a little thin on the ground for helpers so if anyone could spare a couple of hours on either day then I would be most grateful. The object is to let people know what services we have and the costs involved and encouraging others to give the rail service a go, either for getting to work or for a day out.

We will have timetables to hand out along with other leaflets, and hopefully some goodies to give away. Either send me an email (richard@richardbickford.co.uk) or phone me on 01752 841119 if you can help.

[Lee]

An article on this can be found in the link below.
http://www.srug.org.uk/content/view/63/2/

Apparently , until Network Rail give Western Power consent to shut down the signals for a period of time to re - route the power , they cannot do anything to the building as it could risk the signals.

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

Some people have noticed that the 0933 eastbound has disappeared from the online journey planning system for this week.

It seems to be back on the planner from 2nd July

Alan Cousins of St.Germans has done some digging and has the following message from FGW^▸ (First Great Western):
===============================

You may have heard that the 0933 did not stop at Saltash today.
 
We have been assured that this will not happen tomorrow, or the rest of this week, notwithstanding what appears on the National Rail journey planner system.
 
We've received the following message from Julian Crow at First Great Western:
 
"We've traced what went wrong...it was a NR^» (Network Rail - home page) planning error...in brief, there's work going on at Foxhall Junction near Didcot all this week, necessitating some trains being retimed. This re-timing was applied to the original schedule of the 07.43 Penzance (ie the one in place before the Saltash / St Germans calls were substituted for Par), and the whole set of timings input to the system"

Beats me how this can happen when our bid to make the changes had been validated back in April and has been in operation since May, but it did.

This has now been corrected for the rest of the week.

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

We are now in the ^High Summer^ period of the current timetable, not that you would believe it from the weather. This brings a number of changes to the afternoon/early evening timetable, a summary follows.

East Bound services

Additional 1411 Plymouth bound service from Newquay 1230, which makes stops at St Budeaux, Keyham, Dockyard and Devonport.

Retimed service at 1637 replaces the 1641 but ceases to stop at the smaller Plymouth stops.

Additional Paddington service at 1750 replaces the 1810 Liskeard to Plymouth service, giving excellent Eastbound possibilities for an evening out in Totnes, Newton Abbott or Exeter and arrives Paddington at a respectable 2123.

West Bound services

The 1305 from Paddington is extended beyond Plymouth to Penzance stopping Saltash at 1636, making a Devonport stop to pick up school kids, teachers and City College workers. This provides a late afternoon option to head west into Cornwall, I know we will try a few trips to Par beach if we see some sun.

This replaces the 1557 from Plymouth to Penzance with passengers wishing to alight at Keyham and Dockyard somewhat disappointed. (SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) have highlighted this omission to First Great Western who have advised that this will be taken into account next summer).

Finally the 1506 Plymouth to Liskeard commuter service, is now retimed to depart at 1655 and is extended to Penzance. This stops Saltash slightly earlier at 1709 as opposed to 1720.

The overall picture is actually quite good with a better spread of service in both directions and equally important, services that come from or travel to more destinations. The only real downside being the lack of stops on the 1636 from Paddington.

Make the most it, they revert back at the end of August.