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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
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on: April 19, 2025, 14:52:12
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In 1985 there were embryonic plans for a platform on the WR lines near where they crossed. The walk from there passed the signal box along live lines meant it progressed no further. I wrote an article mentioning it in Modern Railways for March 1988.
If such a link were to go ahead now I believe that it would use the S to W curve, earthworks for which can still be seen. Part of the Clifton Maybank extension they were never used. Use could be also made of the N to W curve of the 1860s broad gauge goods link which led to the transfer shed, now the Yeovil Railway Centre. The old down platform might serve this but alternative arrangements will be need for the heritage centre.
There are already West Country connections at Castle Cary for passengers from Dorchester/Weymouth. Other alternatives might involve Salisbury terminators (aspiration is to expand to hourly) continuing to Yeovil Pen Mill from Yeovil Junction. When/if Langport Station is ever reopened a round service to/from Exeter St Davids via the Yeovil Stations stopping at all stations might become viable. That would directly link Yeovil and Taunton the two largest towns in Somerset and provide all the links anyone would wish for. The link mentioned was costed at £90M around 5 years ago not including station alterations. That's not going to be at the top of any 'value for money' scheme and has been discounted in the latest Network Rail plans. |
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Journey by Journey / London to South Wales / Re: Extra trains for the six Nations, 15.3.2025
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on: March 15, 2025, 16:04:59
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I find myself looking at this Newton Abbot area – weekend of 15/16 March
Track renewal work will affect trains via Newton Abbot.
Trains for London Paddington or Bristol Temple Meads and beyond will run to/from Newton Abbot on Saturday, then Exeter St Davids on Sunday.
Other trains will still run between Penzance and Plymouth on both days, plus between Paignton and Newton Abbot on Sunday.
Replacement buses are planned between:
Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth (non-stop) – both days
Newton Abbot and Plymouth – Saturday
Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot/Plymouth – Sunday And find myself wondering if the number of trains running via the Berks and Hants is reduced, and if a couple of IETs▸ from Longrock have moved onto the connected network to help out into South Wales. And how much better it would be for the majority of passengers if the Southern route via Okehampton was available for diversions - both planned and emergency! Interesting that prelimary work is happening at Meldon Quarry to restart operations. Talk is for a Block Instrument at Okehampton to divide Meldon from the passenger line from Crediton. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: Strategic Investment Plan consultation - Western Gateway - 20.12.24 to 2.2.2025
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on: January 17, 2025, 21:52:18
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Dorset Metro ... mentioned in today's webinar and this from the Swanage News
Also a rail scheme called the Dorset Metro features high up in the list which would see extra train services from Wareham to Poole and Bournemouth, as well as an hourly shuttle service to Brockenhurst.
Perhaps the most welcome mention for Swanage residents is a regular rail service between Swanage and Wareham which has been on the cards for years but has lacked the backing of long term government investment. It’s now in the document as one of the high priorities. An extra hourly service across the Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch area - giving a rise from 1 to 2 trains per hour at the lesser stations - would make sense. Brockenhust is actually just outside the BCP (and indeed Western Gateway) ares but makes sense as the eastern destination - for passenger flows, for connections, and operationally. With batteries on the trains, at the western end it is logical for them to start / end at Swanage. Any proposal to extend main line trains to Swanage on anything but an irregular basis will run into precisely the same issues as those discussed to Minehead. Although from a quick re-check I couldn't see Swanage mentioned as a priority in the document. Issues will be the Swanage Railway is fully occupied in the peak season with their own trains. Running earlier/later will involve staffing issues. Swanage is a 'Light ' railway subject to a 25mph restriction. Out of the peak season who would use these trains, especially (as with Minehead) there is a very good bus service used free (to senior passengers) or subsidised rate. As with everything it 'could' be done but a substantial cost both capital and on-going. For taxpayers. Edit: Fixed quotes - Red Squirrel |
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Trains delayed across Britain due to "nationwide fault" on communication system
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on: December 06, 2024, 17:58:21
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I am curious about the GWR▸ explanation for the cancellations on the early Weymouth service as being the result of communication problems.
The ecs from Bristol for the Yeovil to Filton Abbey Wood service was cancelled between Bristol and Westbury, problem at the depot. It started late from Westbury running to Castle Cary to form the service to Filton.
The first Westbury to Weymouth and return was cancelled - was this because the unit was taken for the Filton service?
Then the first up from Weymouth was cancelled. Was this because the crew are booked come down on the early ecs and get a taxi to Weymouth?
The cancelled services from Weymouth (0733 and 0930) have been reinstated from Bristol and Westbury respectively.
Was the initial problem the communications one and led to the other cascade?
The fault appeared to affect some areas and not others. SWT▸ were and GWR main line not. Hence Yeovil Pen Mill in Wessex was in the area affected and Castle Cary wasn't. I think! |
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Somerset Summary - rebuilding for the future
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on: December 30, 2023, 20:21:27
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If the Devon Metro was to terminate at and start from Axminster, there might well be a need for the bay platform to be re-instated to provide an interchange with the Waterloo-Exeter trains which pass there already. The smaller stations between Honiton & Pinhoe might be served only by Devon Metro trains, enabling the Waterloo to Exeter service to be speeded up and the crossing allowance at Pinhoe to be expanded. The main service might still call at Cranbrook but not Whimple or Feniton.
There may well be other options to avoid spending more capital money though! Such as extending Devon Metro onto Chard Junction (using existing loop) or further.
Too many trains and minimum infrastructure = delays and cancellations.
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Somerset Summary - rebuilding for the future
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on: December 29, 2023, 11:24:45
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At present, the main Waterloo-Exeter services cross at Tisbury loop and Axminster and Pinhoe with only a few minutes allowed at each location.
To create stops at Chard Junction would incur 3 or 4 minutes delay to each train making the above passing places impossible as timings are already (too) tight. I would also need to understand where the passenger demand comes from. Certainly people from Chard can easily drive to Axminster or Crewkerne - little difference to Chard Junction. The impact on other passengers through extended journey times needs to be considered.
I could see an argument for Devon Metro trains to be extended to Yeovil Junction/Pen Mill and that a reopened Chard Junction might be part of that. However the substantial costs remain and need to be justified.
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Journey by Journey / South Western services / Re: South Western Railways - reductions west of Salisbury
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on: January 29, 2022, 00:13:08
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Graham said:-I am not, I hope, a total profit of doom. There are modernisation options that are "left field" and could be operated - a 30 minute local service Exeter to Yeovil Pen Mill by GWR▸ for example, with onward (London) service from Yeovil Junction with SWR» ? No-one mentioned this so far? I wonder if there are crayonistas in the DfT» just as there are here (heck, I'm one today!) only they owe their income to their crayoning to the satisfaction of their bosses upstairs and at the treasury.
There is a similar rumour locally, but that GWR service runs from Exeter to Reading via Yeovil Junction & Pen Mill. SWR start/terminate at Yeovil Junction.
Also hear that from May, Salisbury to Waterloo services will divert after Basingstoke to terminate at Reading with only core Exeter trains running to Waterloo. Whether this applies to the services starting at Yeovil I do not know.
Not sure which, but one of the new GWR Exeter to Axminster trains runs on as a route learner to the Yeovils and Castle Cary.
I do wonder if the eventual intention is for Paddington to become the sole station for the West Country?
I agree with Graham that questions should be asked now, rather than in a couple of years time!
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