Will the plymouth extension ever be reinstated?

[whole diary]

[Plymboi]

Do you think they will ever reinstate the plymouth to Waterloo service. I really miss the convenience  of the service .

[eightf48544]

No!

Too much revenue extraction from current TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and CC.

So unless the service was run by the same TOC it would seem unlikely

[inspector_blakey]

There are still SWT^▸ (South West Trains) "via Honiton" fares available between Plymouth and London, which would only require one change at Exeter. Given that the Exeter to Waterloo service is hourly or better from 0610 until late evening, a straightforward change of trains at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) doesn't seem like an excessive hardship.

[LiskeardRich]

There are still SWT^▸ (South West Trains) "via Honiton" fares available between Plymouth and London, which would only require one change at Exeter. Given that the Exeter to Waterloo service is hourly or better from 0610 until late evening, a straightforward change of trains at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) doesn't seem like an excessive hardship.

An Off peak Plymouth to London Terminals via honiton is ^87.10 compared to a Plymouth to London Terminals any permitted ^111.50. an anytime via honiton ^202 vs any permitted ^262!
These prices have surprised me, as I dont recall ever paying anywhere near these prices from Truro 18 months ago!

[RichardB]

There are still SWT^▸ (South West Trains) "via Honiton" fares available between Plymouth and London, which would only require one change at Exeter. Given that the Exeter to Waterloo service is hourly or better from 0610 until late evening, a straightforward change of trains at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) doesn't seem like an excessive hardship.

An Off peak Plymouth to London Terminals via honiton is ^87.10 compared to a Plymouth to London Terminals any permitted ^111.50. an anytime via honiton ^202 vs any permitted ^262!
These prices have surprised me, as I dont recall ever paying anywhere near these prices from Truro 18 months ago!

You probably had a Super Off Peak Return - ^89.00 from Plymouth to London (any permitted).  ^101.50 from Truro.   An anytime ticket (Standard Open) from Truro is now ^275.00!

[Super Guard]

There are still SWT^▸ (South West Trains) "via Honiton" fares available between Plymouth and London, which would only require one change at Exeter. Given that the Exeter to Waterloo service is hourly or better from 0610 until late evening, a straightforward change of trains at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) doesn't seem like an excessive hardship.

Also, with the WAT services starting at EXD, seats are not usually an issue.

[LiskeardRich]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have been to Redruth today according to the (irrelevant) picture on Falmouth Packet's website

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10564856.Major_disruption_on_rail_network_after_body_found_on_track_near_Scorrier__UPDATE/?ref=mr

[phile]

Picking any Rail photograph at random which seems to be a regular practice of the media.    The Plymouth extension is unlikely to be re-instated as the reason for it's withdrawal was to provide additional Units between Waterloo and Exeter for an augmented service following the re-doubling of a section of line through Axminster.

[John R]

Although given one dmu is currently used on hire for the "Melksham" service and another on the Lymington electrified branch then one could argue that they do have a couple spare.

Though I agree that reinstatement is very unlikely, and there are probably better uses that 2 spare units could be put to elsewhere on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network if such a choice existed.

[inspector_blakey]

The Lymington unit is used more as a case of "not enough electrics" rather than "too many diesels". Simply put, all of the 450s (and 444s and 455s for that matter) are in use elsewhere on a weekday. My educated guess is that this may change in the relatively short term as SWT^▸ (South West Trains) receives more electric units in the form of the extended and additional 458/5s and 456s, together with what sounds like a new order for additional electric stock.

To the untrained eye passing Salisbury depot in the middle of the day it may well look like SWT has hordes of 159s to spare, but you must remember that SWT's traffic is far more morning/evening peak-orientated than the "west" DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) side of FGW^▸ (First Great Western): 158s/159s are running between Salisbury and Waterloo at half-hourly intervals in 9- or 10-car trains during the peaks, not to mention some six-car formations that are booked to run to and from Exeter. That leaves very few units spare for much of the day.

[RichardB]

I'm afraid I can't see the Waterloo - Plymouth trains returning anytime in the foreseeable future.

Re Lymington, since it is such a short branch, I'm surprised SWT^▸ (South West Trains) can't use one of the 508s in store at Eastleigh.

[paul7575]

I'm surprised SWT^▸ (South West Trains) can't use one of the 508s in store at Eastleigh.

They are being scrapped, because they are old and knackered.

Paul