Saltash Station and Saltash Rail Users Group (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[oooooo]

Apologies for the mistakes, we all make them.

No need to apologise, was just trying to help out so you didnt get any complaints!!

I apologise for not seeing the note re St.Germans 

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

A new leaflet is now available giving details of some great days out by train. A description of the destination, times of trains and prices are all included in one handy place.

I have left a large stock at the Guildhall today and will get them to the library and other locations over the coming days, please take as many as you want and give them to all your friends.

Below is a list of destinations included:
Looe
Truro
Falmouth
Newquay
Lostwithiel
Par
St Ives
Penzance
Plymouth
Totnes
Dawlish
Teignmouth
Exeter
Paignton

This should give you all plenty to do over the summer, with fuel prices so high and our roads filling up with tourists, it's an ideal time to take the train.

Remember that our 0821 to Penzance and 0833 to Newquay are both classified as off peak for Saltash train users and you can get Cheap Day Return ticket and use you railcard to get even more discount. GroupSave is also available, so 3 or 4 people can travel for the price of 2 adults. For St Ives that means 4 people travel for ^18.00 for a Cheap Day Return.

A quick reminder also that Port Eliot is open to the public until the 10th June. If you arrive by train then you save ^1 off the admission price! The cost of a Cheap Day Return from Saltash to St Germans is just ^2.00. The journey is stunning skirting the edge of the Tamar and Lyner Rivers before crossing the St Germans viaduct. The entrance to Port Eliot is just a short walk from the station. Remember with GroupSave 4 people can make this trip for ^4.00 and you will save that in entrance fees. More details at www.porteliot.co.uk

[richard bickford]

First Great Western have agreed extra stops on through services over the regatta weekend. We expect over 10,000 people to visit the regatta this year, and hopefully many will arrive by train. Saltash train station is just a short distance from the regatta.

The regatta are also producing a special regatta leaflet that will show these extra services, which will be distributed across FGW^▸ (First Great Western) stations in the South West.

Come along, you are all welcome.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2644

http://www.saltashregatta.co.uk

(Topic now linked to calendar - Lee Fletcher.)

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

I^m sure that you all know that it is Saltash Regatta this coming weekend and SRUG will be there with a stall. Apart from coming down to enjoy the fun I still need three more volunteers to spend one hour each helping man the stall.

If you can possibly agree to spend one hour on the stall at a time to suit yourself then please let me know by email to roger[at]crosborne[dot]co[dot]uk

Suggest a one hour time starting from the top of an hour when you could be there ^ if you can provide alternative times it might reduce the shuffling around to fit you in.

Apologies to those who have already been asked personally and are either coming or otherwise engaged ^ you've done your bit and can ignore this!

Hope to see you there
Roger Creagh-Osborne

[Lee]

Further message from Saltash Rail Users Group :

Don^t forget, it^s Saltash Regatta tomorrow and Sunday, a fun packed event both on and off the water. For more information have a look at www.saltashregatta.co.uk

SRUG have been instrumental in organising extra train stops over the regatta weekend, and we hope that many of you will make the effort to use them. The extra stops are showing on the National Rail planner at www.nationalrail.co.uk, or the enhanced timetabled can be downloaded at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2644

This year we have a fantastic raffle, to help raise funds for our continued campaign. You can win train tickets worth in excess of ^1300!!! First Great Western have provided 1st Class tickets and CrossCountry have provided Standard Class tickets anywhere on their network. As CrossCountry do not yet stop at Saltash, SRUG will pay the extra fare, should you require it. There is also a family day out by train up for grabs as well.

We will also be on hand to give general advice, and hand out timetables along with our new ^Days out by train^ leaflet.

[Lee]

The following are now available from the SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) website :

Walking and Cycling to/from the station leaflet (link below.)
http://www.srug.org.uk/document-library/doc_download/5-walking-and-cycling-tofrom-the-station

Days Out from Saltash by Train 2008 leaflet (link below.)
http://www.srug.org.uk/document-library/doc_download/4-days-out-from-saltash-by-train-2008

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group :

Another opportunity looms.

Heritage Open Days is a scheme where Historic Sites all over Britain open to the public for free. You can find details of places in the South West at http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

Needless to say SRUG have had a look through and there are a number of opportunities to visit some of these places by train. The following are free on Saturday.

Restormal Castle, Lostwithiel

Free entrance and a refreshing 1 and a half miles from Lostwithiel station.

http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD008674E/

Totnes Castle

Free entrance to the castle as well as the Art Exhibition. Just a quarter of a mile from the station.

http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD008706E/

Lanhydrock House, Bodmin

Free entrance and is an enjoyable half hour walk from Bodmin Parkway Station through the estate grounds. The path from Bodmin Parkway lies to the left as your walk towards the exit of the station through a red National Trust colour gate, that leads under the railway.

http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD008197E/

Check train times at www.nationalrail.co.uk

Saturday ^ trains from Saltash

To Lostwithiel and Bodmin at 0825, 0836 (not Bodmin), 1010, 1045 (Not Lostwithiel) and 1252

A Cheap Day Return which is now known as an Off Peak Day Return is just ^5 or ^3.30 with a railcard.

Alternatively use GroupSave where 3 or 4 travel for the price of 2 and up to 4 under 16^s are just ^1 each.

So 4 adults and 4 children would travel to either Bodmin or Lostwithiel for 2 x ^5 + ^4 = ^14 total.


To Totnes at 0752, 0939, 1224 and 1434

A Cheap Day Return which is now known as an Off Peak Day Return is just ^6.80 or ^4.50 with a railcard.

Alternatively use GroupSave where 3 or 4 travel for the price of 2 and up to 4 under 16^s are just ^1 each.

So 4 adults and 4 children would travel to either Totnes for 2 x ^6.8 + ^4 = ^17.60 total.

The full Saltash timetable can be downloaded at http://www.srug.org.uk/document-library/cat_view/37-timetables

Correction received from SRUG :

Sorry, slight correction. Our 0836 does not stop at either Bodmin or Lostwithiel, for either of these you should catch the 0825 or 1010 to Penzance. The 0836 is our direct Newquay service, a great trip in its own right, and only stops St Germans, Liskeard and Par, before travelling on to Newquay.

Have a great weekend, don^t forget you can also visit the Tall Ships in Falmouth, again catch the 0825, 1010 or 1043 and change at Truro.

[Lee]

Does this bode well for the weekend? From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

17:37 Penzance to London Paddington due 23:29

This train has been revised. It will additionally call at: Lostwithiel, St Germans and Saltash. This is due to an unusually large passenger flow.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Isn't that the excuse trotted out by organizations when they are featured on the 'Watchdog' programme:  "Oh, we've just been the victims of our own success ... " ?

 

[vacman]

Does this bode well for the weekend? From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

17:37 Penzance to London Paddington due 23:29

This train has been revised. It will additionally call at: Lostwithiel, St Germans and Saltash. This is due to an unusually large passenger flow.

Packed train from Fal was late and missed the unit in front hence the extra stops.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for that information, vacman - that sounds a lot better, if it was an isolated incident. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

See http://www.srug.org.uk/

SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) is delighted that Andrew Griffiths, Head of Environment and Sustainability for First Great Western, will be coming to give the talk at our AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) on 17th December.

He will talk about FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s approach to environmental issues and will be able to take questions. Do you know what the equivalent passenger miles per gallon of a High Speed Train or a Diesel Multiple Unit is - does using the train really reduce your carbon footprint? What is the environmental impact of keeping the lines clear of leaves and worse? How much paper is used printing timetables?

As well as a brief formal AGM the evening will finish with a screening of the short film "Last Train to Callington" which traces the route of the railway from Bere Alston to Callington terminus. The line closed in 1966, and there is fascinating footage from the last days of the line as well as earlier age of steam material.

Wednesday 17th December at 7:00pm in Saltash Guildhall, Fore Street, Saltash. All welcome.

[Lee]

From Saltash Rail Users Group:

Due to major engineering works between Exeter and Plymouth for the next two weeks a revised timetable will operate. Trains are able to run past these works during weekdays but journey times will be slightly longer and times will change slightly.

At weekends there will a a total block between Plymouth and Exeter, with buses replacing trains for this part of the route.

Saltash will gain two services per day, actually giving us a better service than normal.

Please note the early change with the 0733 London Paddington train leaving 0721. The all station stopper at 0748 is actually replaced with a CrossCountry service through to Edinburgh, this service will have stops at St Budeaux, Keyham and Devonport, but not Dockyard. Please make the most of this unusual occurrence, maybe we will revisit our CrossCountry requests later this spring.

Our usual 0841 service to London Paddington will leave earlier at 0812, with a two carriage stopping service following this through at 0838, and making all Plymouth stops. I would suggest avoiding this service unless absolutely necessary, as it could be fairly crowded. If someone does catch this on Monday then please report back on passenger numbers.

Later services are at fairly normal times apart from the 1238 and 1335 services which will run earlier at 1155 and 1314.

Westbound services are also affected.

Our 0930 service to Penzance will run later at 1015, but remember you can still use the 0830 with a railcard as it is still classified as an Off Peak service.

The 1238 from Plymouth, will be replaced with a through service from London, departing Plymouth at 1243, 1253 at Saltash.

The 1611 will have started from Exeter, but is the same through Cornwall.

For evening commuters the 1706 remains unchanged, with an extra HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service at 1725 to Penzance starting in Plymouth, which should make it reliable. The usual 1725 will also stop but at a later time of 1812. This will give an extra return option for commuters, with trains at 1706,1725, 1800 and 1814. I can^t remember when we had it that good.

The 1506 (not 1606) from London will call at 1934, with two later services from Paddington at 2202 and 2310. This later service may give some of you an opportunity for a later night out in Plymouth.

As already mentioned, buses replace trains between Plymouth and Exeter at weekend. The only major changes to note are that we get a better service back from Plymouth on a Saturday afternoon, with trains leaving Plymouth at 1545, 1645 and 1745, and an extra Sunday evening service from Plymouth at 1840. With this service in place it is possible to get back to Saltash from London leaving at 1457.

PS. We have had our own bit of engineering work recently. Network Rail used their large ^tamping^ machine to reduce the track cant on the Plymouth bound Platform 2 on the evening of December the 28th. The result is a reduced gap making boarding a little easier. A significant gap still remains, and SRUG will continue to lobby Network Rail for improvements.

[Lee]

A series of improvements are due to be made to six separate sections on the line, starting with more than two weeks of intensive work at the Marley Tunnel, Dawlish sea cliff and Plymouth station (link below.)
http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/devon_news/4052745._Tremendous_benefits__promised_to_rail_passengers/

Altogether, half a mile of new railway track, 1,500 sleepers, 3,000 tonnes of ballast, more than a mile of new drainage pipes, five sets of points and 15,000 square metres of cliff nets will be installed.

[chrisoates]

A series of improvements are due to be made to six separate sections on the line, starting with more than two weeks of intensive work at the Marley Tunnel, Dawlish sea cliff and Plymouth station (link below.)
http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/devon_news/4052745._Tremendous_benefits__promised_to_rail_passengers/

Altogether, half a mile of new railway track, 1,500 sleepers, 3,000 tonnes of ballast, more than a mile of new drainage pipes, five sets of points and 15,000 square metres of cliff nets will be installed.

I presume the netting is for Dawlish as I've noticed some falls while walking from the Warren, pity there's not an alternative method of stabilisation as it will ruin the view.