Dangerously overcrowded train?

[whole diary]

[vacman]

Isn't some of the line imbetween Plymouth and Penzance still single track?

Therefore not much room for extra capacity!

theres plenty more capacity on the Cornish mainline, there are three single line sections 1st is on the Royal albert bridge which is around half to three quarters of a mile long, then there is the section over Largain viaduct which is less than a mile then Penzance to Marazion which is the longest at around 2 miles, the main problem in Cornwall are the long block sections in the West of the county, although it would be possible physicly to run a train every 20 mins!

[woody]

I see the 1605 Exeter St Davids/Penzance was a 3 car 153/142 combo on Sunday.

[smokey]

London-West Country trains have always been busy for as long as I can remember. Where as Bristol and South Wales services have seen their frequency doubled to every half hour not much has changed in service frequency for trains west of Exeter.

Back in the 1970's summer Saturdays every London Padd-Penzance Train (loading up to 14coaches) had a Relief service running ahead of the main train for Turn up and go passengers!

Oh such service! Never to be seen again.

[devon_metro]

London-West Country trains have always been busy for as long as I can remember. Where as Bristol and South Wales services have seen their frequency doubled to every half hour not much has changed in service frequency for trains west of Exeter.

Back in the 1970's summer Saturdays every London Padd-Penzance Train (loading up to 14coaches) had a Relief service running ahead of the main train for Turn up and go passengers!

Oh such service! Never to be seen again.

Why did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) run a 1433 Paddington - Plymouth running in relief to the 1506 to Penzance then

[smokey]

One relief train is some what short of Eight relief trains, and consider that all 16 trains would have been longer than normal.

[Sleepy]

It is good they did something with assets available but the general feeling from that era was the coaching stock used was in such poor condition that holiday makers assumed this was the norm and vowed not to holiday by train again due to dirty/late services.

[Timmer]

It is good they did something with assets available but the general feeling from that era was the coaching stock used was in such poor condition that holiday makers assumed this was the norm and vowed not to holiday by train again due to dirty/late services.

Indeed, quite a difference between a new HST^▸ (High Speed Train) (as was) and a rake of scruffy tired Mk1s.

[vacman]

It is good they did something with assets available but the general feeling from that era was the coaching stock used was in such poor condition that holiday makers assumed this was the norm and vowed not to holiday by train again due to dirty/late services.

Indeed, quite a difference between a new HST^▸ (High Speed Train) (as was) and a rake of scruffy tired Mk1s.

Here here! Mk1's are bloody awful, whenever I go to a preserved railway I dread the MK1's, the moquette feels like it's made of sandpaper, the ride quality is appaling and it doesn't bear thinking about the crashworthyness as has been proved in many crashes!

[smokey]

Mk1's were looked after a lot better by BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) than Cash strapped private railways.

Even if they were coummuter stock used at peak hours Mon-Fridays, the Relief Trains run on Saturdays were a Darn site better than standing on a Train London-Plymouth that people get today and pay a fortune for the privilage.

Today's railway is a mess regardless of who the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) is run by.

[DevonTrains2008]

You just CAN'T try and 'Price People Off The Railways'!
Train travel is already way too expensive! 

Anyway, last Monday the Paddington > Penzance looked busy at V.Busy at Truro but it emptied when it stopped! I was waiting for the up towards Paddington and that was quieter - even though we had reservations.

[vacman]

Mk1's were looked after a lot better by BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) than Cash strapped private railways.

Even if they were coummuter stock used at peak hours Mon-Fridays, the Relief Trains run on Saturdays were a Darn site better than standing on a Train London-Plymouth that people get today and pay a fortune for the privilage.

Today's railway is a mess regardless of who the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) is run by.

how often do you see a Padd Penzance full and standing beyond Reading? not that often really! MK1's were and still are horrible deathtraps!

[Exeter]

How often do you see a Penzance train full and standingpast Reading???  Errr, most fridays and summer saturdays actually!!!!

[vacman]

How often do you see a Penzance train full and standingpast Reading???  Errr, most fridays and summer saturdays actually!!!!

Full maybe, but not full and standing, not enough to justify a relief for every train.

[Exeter]

I didn't say the situation justified a relief for every departure but certainly the 1206 and 1406 ex Paddington, two trains I regulary travel on, are most Fridays on departure from Reading, full and standing! Reliefs justified perhaps on Bank Holiday weekends??? What is justified ON EVERY FRIDAY, is additional capacity on existing trains. What is needed is some 2+9 sets possibly at the expense of making some Oxford services 2+7. And yes I accept there probably would be some issues with set diagramming but no more so had the ill fated plan to have 2+7 sets minus buffet cars come to fruitition. If no more stock is available then do the best with what you have!       

[devon_metro]

Would extending the 1306 ex Paddington to Penzance help?