Gunnislake line suspended from 13/09/24

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

Due to rotting timbers found during an inspection last night, Darkey Lane bridge needs urgent repairs.

The Gunnislake line will be suspended.

The current forecast is that services will operate only as far as Calstock on Saturday 14/09 and the whole of next week.  No service at all on Sunday 15/09.

[Timmer]

Cancellations to services between Plymouth and Gunnislake

Due to urgent repairs to a bridge between Plymouth and Gunnislake the line is closed.

Train services running to and from these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
We have been made aware of a bridge in need of repair on our Plymouth to Gunnislake line. Network Rail have deemed it not currently safe to run trains over it. As such, the line is closed while repairs and further inspections are carried out.

Road transport has been requested to provide a regular service in lieu of the train, however at this stage nothing has yet been confirmed. For now, customers boarding at unstaffed stations, please make use of the Help Point to speak with a member of staff for further advice. Devonport, Dockyard, and Keyham stations will continue to be served by our trains running between Plymouth and Penzance.

This is a developing situation, and more information will be provided when we have it.

[a-driver]

Due to rotting timbers found during an inspection last night

Someone needs to be urgently asking how the structure was allowed to end up in such a poor condition. 

[TaplowGreen]

Expected to continue for the next fortnight according to Journeycheck.

[Mark A]

Does anyone know which bridge please? (Darkey Lane's not found, or rather, not found near Calstock...)

thanks

Mark

**Edit** Perhaps this one, streetview from 2022: https://tinyurl.com/2mwmt228

[AMLAG]

Could be, BUT thank goodness it’s not the very impressive eight span Tavy viaduct south of Bere Ferrers, which in Regional Railways days saw half the viaduct superstructure ( ie four spans) repainted, but then nothing has been done since.
It is reported that of all the numerous steel bridges on the remaining ex Southern lines west of Exeter, that Meldon Viaduct has the least, in fact very little, rust and corrosion !

[a-driver]

Does anyone know which bridge please? (Darkey Lane's not found, or rather, not found near Calstock...)

thanks

Mark

**Edit** Perhaps this one, streetview from 2022: https://tinyurl.com/2mwmt228

I would guess it’s that bridge. It’s at 4m 08ch so pretty much on the approach to Gunnislake station.

[bradshaw]

This is shown on Google Maps and on the One Network website both state
Skinnard Lane, which starts opposite the Queens Head

https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1025/sn-media-notice-after-21-day-order_139579966_3778011_af31baf90a.pdf

[grahame]

Journeycheck now reports

Network Rail have declared it unsafe to run trains over, therefore the line is closed while further inspections and repairs are carried out.

On Saturday 14th September, the following arrangements are in place:
The train service will run between Plymouth and Calstock only. Customers wishing to make the full journey to Gunnislake will need to alight at Calstock where road transport will be waiting to help you complete your journey.

Road transport is also in place at Gunnislake for customers starting their journey there. Please check journey planner apps, as these minibuses will depart EARLIER than the standard train departure, in order to connect with the train at Calstock.

We have been told that the bridge is going to be closed for some time, therefore plans are currently being arranged to provide a more long term solution.

Potentially the problem should have been found much earlier - however

a) Thank Goodness it WAS found during an inspection and not by a train crashing through

b) Thank Goodness it's not the bridge on the main line from Plymouth to Tavistock and Exeter

[Mark A]

This is shown on Google Maps and on the One Network website both state
Skinnard Lane, which starts opposite the Queens Head

https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1025/sn-media-notice-after-21-day-order_139579966_3778011_af31baf90a.pdf

Crumbs. The East Cornwall Railway. Obscure little bridges with a curious history. Whether they were built for broad gauge, standard or 3' 6" might be difficult to say. I may have walked the lane beneath one of them, at which time the buildings at the head of the incline were very much intact as indeed they may be today.

Mark

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Cornwall_Mineral_Railway

[LiskeardRich]

Cornwall council closed the road underneath in July as they felt the structure looked unsafe, it’s taken network rail 2 months to act, think of that however you wish!

[TaplowGreen]

Cornwall council closed the road underneath in July as they felt the structure looked unsafe, it’s taken network rail 2 months to act, think of that however you wish!

Shocking, but not surprising.

[bobm]

Latest report from the work site suggests the line re-opening at the end of next week may be possible.

[grahame]

From JourneyCheck.  Makes sense for the rail replacement from Gunnislake to run earlier to connect with the train at Calstock

- Trains will only run between Plymouth and Calstock, with rail replacement road transport operating between Calstock and Gunnislake.

- Rail replacement services will depart Calstock once the train from Plymouth arrives, and all passengers have boarded the road transport to Gunnislake.

- Rail replacement services will depart from Gunnislake towards Calstock at the following times:
05:34
07:17
09:11
11:11
13:11
15:11
17:25
19:25
22:14

Passengers are advised to be at Gunnislake station at least 10 mins before the Rail replacement times shown above , as road transport will leave on time. Rail replacement will not be running to train times from Gunnislake towards Calstock.

[bobm]

Line re-opened

14:27 Plymouth to Calstock due 15:00

14:27 Plymouth to Calstock due 15:00 will be diverted from Calstock and terminated at Gunnislake.

This is due to a speed restriction over a bridge earlier today.