Barnstaple ('Tarka') Line - services, facilities, events and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[grahame]

158s strike me as a good choice for the Exeter to Barnstaple service, with most passengers being end to end.  And provided there is enough capacity on them - i.e. they're arranged into trains with enough carriages.

Me too, Graham.  It also helps that there will be extra trains in the timetable from, hopefully, December providing a full hourly service through the day and removing two 90 minute gaps there at the moment.

With the 90 minute gaps removed, is that going to mean that some of your customers base will have there trains at a 30 minute offset from what they are at the moment?   And if so ... advantage, disadvantage, short term 'hit' of long term build?

[IndustryInsider]

There should be a decent proportion of longer distance traffic given the size of the cities. But it's hardly a surprise if there isn't given the quality of trains used.  Turbos will probably drive more longer distance passengers onto the road, especially as the journey time end to end is much slower by train. So then that will be used to justify even more tailoring to short term journeys. No toilets and side on seating next?

Well, as mentioned before Turbos have been working along the Cotswold Line daily since the early 1990s (and for a large part of that they formed the majority of the trains on the route), on journeys of 2-3 hours without seemingly that much fuss made of the lack of quality.  And that was before such luxuries as proper disabled spaces, universal access toilets, better air conditioning (though still not perfect) and free Wi-fi and plug/USB sockets were fitted. 

Perhaps when a proper franchise is let the new operator will be able to invest in new, better quality stock as TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express), Northern and Greater Anglia have done, and the Turbos will provide a much needed boost in capacity for only a few years before a more suitable replacement comes along?

[TonyK]

Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line article with quotes from our very own RichardB, kindly verified to the moderation team by the man himself - https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/overcrowded-devon-train-problem-solved-2452676

Not RichardB's fault, but do they not have even sub-editors any more?

i like the Tarka line, and welcome the additional capacity. I look forward to trains from Okehampton.

[RichardB]

158s strike me as a good choice for the Exeter to Barnstaple service, with most passengers being end to end.  And provided there is enough capacity on them - i.e. they're arranged into trains with enough carriages.

Me too, Graham.  It also helps that there will be extra trains in the timetable from, hopefully, December providing a full hourly service through the day and removing two 90 minute gaps there at the moment.

With the 90 minute gaps removed, is that going to mean that some of your customers base will have there trains at a 30 minute offset from what they are at the moment?   And if so ... advantage, disadvantage, short term 'hit' of long term build?

The gaps are at unfortunate times (06 58 to 08 43 ex Barnstaple and 15 28 to 16 57 ex Exeter St D) so there is a big advantage in going to the hourly service.  Extra seats in the morning heading south and back in the afternoon will be a big help too.  We'll see but I hope (and cautiously expect - if that is not bold) people to be pleased.  Promotion will need to be very carefully done until we all see how things pan out in terms of capacity being there to meet the demand. 

[Andy]

Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line article with quotes from our very own RichardB, kindly verified to the moderation team by the man himself - https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/overcrowded-devon-train-problem-solved-2452676

Not RichardB's fault, but do they not have even sub-editors any more?

i like the Tarka line, and welcome the additional capacity. I look forward to trains from Okehampton.

Me, too. An Okehampton service would also help alleviate some overcrowding, hopefully.

[Apedlar12]

158s strike me as a good choice for the Exeter to Barnstaple service, with most passengers being end to end.  And provided there is enough capacity on them - i.e. they're arranged into trains with enough carriages.

Me too, Graham.  It also helps that there will be extra trains in the timetable from, hopefully, December providing a full hourly service through the day and removing two 90 minute gaps there at the moment.

Hello,

I am a frequent user of the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line as Barnstaple is my local station and yes it does get very overcrowded on particular journeys atm. Do we know when the 158s will be appearing on the Tarka line, or has that yet to be declared?

Thanks in advance

[RichardB]

Hello,

I am a frequent user of the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line as Barnstaple is my local station and yes it does get very overcrowded on particular journeys atm. Do we know when the 158s will be appearing on the Tarka line, or has that yet to be declared?

Thanks in advance

I'm afraid we still don't know just yet.  The full introduction of 158s will be when the improved timetable is introduced, hopefully December, because the 158s can't be used on Exmouth services - the increased time at stations for people to get on/off the trains would simply wreck the timetable.  Still not many 158s in Devon & Cornwall yet but when more arrive, I have heard suggestions that some off peak services may go to 158s and run only between Barnstaple and Exeter St Davids, with an immediate change into a 150/143 running the rest of the service to Central and Exmouth.  We'll see.

[Southernman]

Hello,

I am a frequent user of the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line as Barnstaple is my local station and yes it does get very overcrowded on particular journeys atm. Do we know when the 158s will be appearing on the Tarka line, or has that yet to be declared?

Thanks in advance

I'm afraid we still don't know just yet.  The full introduction of 158s will be when the improved timetable is introduced, hopefully December, because the 158s can't be used on Exmouth services - the increased time at stations for people to get on/off the trains would simply wreck the timetable.  Still not many 158s in Devon & Cornwall yet but when more arrive, I have heard suggestions that some off peak services may go to 158s and run only between Barnstaple and Exeter St Davids, with an immediate change into a 150/143 running the rest of the service to Central and Exmouth.  We'll see.

If that is the case I suspect that the change of trains will deter some folk from travelling. Better to run the 158s up to Central and reverse at Exmouth Jct. I seem to recall that, (eventually), the Barnstaple trains would extend to Honiton/Axminster whilst the Paignton trains would continue to Exmouth?

[phile]

Hello,

I am a frequent user of the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line as Barnstaple is my local station and yes it does get very overcrowded on particular journeys atm. Do we know when the 158s will be appearing on the Tarka line, or has that yet to be declared?

Thanks in advance

I'm afraid we still don't know just yet.  The full introduction of 158s will be when the improved timetable is introduced, hopefully December, because the 158s can't be used on Exmouth services - the increased time at stations for people to get on/off the trains would simply wreck the timetable.  Still not many 158s in Devon & Cornwall yet but when more arrive, I have heard suggestions that some off peak services may go to 158s and run only between Barnstaple and Exeter St Davids, with an immediate change into a 150/143 running the rest of the service to Central and Exmouth.  We'll see.

If that is the case I suspect that the change of trains will deter some folk from travelling. Better to run the 158s up to Central and reverse at Exmouth Jct. I seem to recall that, (eventually), the Barnstaple trains would extend to Honiton/Axminster whilst the Paignton trains would continue to Exmouth?

 The 158 worked Barnstaples are planned to work to and from St, James Park.  158s do get to Exmouth on an odd occasion and, in the past and before they emigrated from the West Country, have had booked working there

[RichardB]

Hello,

I am a frequent user of the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line as Barnstaple is my local station and yes it does get very overcrowded on particular journeys atm. Do we know when the 158s will be appearing on the Tarka line, or has that yet to be declared?

Thanks in advance

I'm afraid we still don't know just yet.  The full introduction of 158s will be when the improved timetable is introduced, hopefully December, because the 158s can't be used on Exmouth services - the increased time at stations for people to get on/off the trains would simply wreck the timetable.  Still not many 158s in Devon & Cornwall yet but when more arrive, I have heard suggestions that some off peak services may go to 158s and run only between Barnstaple and Exeter St Davids, with an immediate change into a 150/143 running the rest of the service to Central and Exmouth.  We'll see.

If that is the case I suspect that the change of trains will deter some folk from travelling. Better to run the 158s up to Central and reverse at Exmouth Jct. I seem to recall that, (eventually), the Barnstaple trains would extend to Honiton/Axminster whilst the Paignton trains would continue to Exmouth?

I take the point but to run up to Central and then reverse at Exmouth Jn is what will happen when the timetable change is made and the improved service introduced.  It is not possible to make any change like that beforehand, mainly because of the national clampdown on timetable changes following on from last year's Northern etc problems.

Yes, the Exmouths will go to Paignton when the timetable change is made - the Barnstaples going beyond to Honiton/Axminster depends on a loop probably around Whimple.  Think it will happen one day, providing Honiton and Cranbrook with a half hourly Exeter service is a big local aspiration, shared by Devon and the rail operators, but obviously these things aren't usually quick.

[RichardB]

The 158 worked Barnstaples are planned to work to and from St, James Park.  158s do get to Exmouth on an odd occasion and, in the past and before they emigrated from the West Country, have had booked working there

Agree but there is pretty much a blanket ban on 158s going to Exmouth now - not because of any technical or gauging issues, but simply dwell time at stations. 

[phile]

The 158 worked Barnstaples are planned to work to and from St, James Park.  158s do get to Exmouth on an odd occasion and, in the past and before they emigrated from the West Country, have had booked working there

Agree but there is pretty much a blanket ban on 158s going to Exmouth now - not because of any technical or gauging issues, but simply dwell time at stations. 

One day approx 2 months ago, may be a little more, a 158 worked an Exmouth, Paignton, Barnstaple diagram all day.

[RichardB]

The 158 worked Barnstaples are planned to work to and from St, James Park.  158s do get to Exmouth on an odd occasion and, in the past and before they emigrated from the West Country, have had booked working there

Agree but there is pretty much a blanket ban on 158s going to Exmouth now - not because of any technical or gauging issues, but simply dwell time at stations. 

One day approx 2 months ago, may be a little more, a 158 worked an Exmouth, Paignton, Barnstaple diagram all day.

That must have been out of pure desperation due to lack of alternative stock.  If it wasn't, there will have been ructions in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)!

[Bob_Blakey]

158763 was parked up at Exeter TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot) on Thursday. Would this possibly be for either driver or fitter training? Or just entirely coincidental?

[phile]

The 158 worked Barnstaples are planned to work to and from St, James Park.  158s do get to Exmouth on an odd occasion and, in the past and before they emigrated from the West Country, have had booked working there

Agree but there is pretty much a blanket ban on 158s going to Exmouth now - not because of any technical or gauging issues, but simply dwell time at stations. 

158763 working on Devon Metro today including Barnstaple and Exmouth.    Could be pulled later though

One day approx 2 months ago, may be a little more, a 158 worked an Exmouth, Paignton, Barnstaple diagram all day.

That must have been out of pure desperation due to lack of alternative stock.  If it wasn't, there will have been ructions in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)!