Falmouth Branch Line - stations, facilities, services and improvements

[whole diary]

[FarWestJohn]

The Falmouth branch, the Maritime, line has been getting increasingly unreliable over the last few weeks.

The service keeps either getting the chop or reverting to an hourly service.
Anyone know what these problems are as Network rail do not seem to be able to rectify them permanently?

This morning there were cancellations and then back to an hourly service, many people missed their onward connections at Truro. Not good on a Saturday in the peak holiday season.

Annoyingly I checked on line as I left home and everything was on time!! Got to the station and all trains cancelled. I was not the only one who commented on this incorrect information.

It is a good thing that there is a reliable half hourly bus service between Truro and Falmouth.

[phile]

Gone again !!!

[phile]

And again today but only for a very short time.

[RailCornwall]

The plaque more or less explains what's happened this week, The station looks rather nice if a little 'antique', with it's replica signage, yet matches Penmere in style and presentation. One large sign is still to be installed. I'm wondering what next will appear or whether this is it.





















Personal Pics, taken today, between the showers on 27 Nov 2019, as usual copyright waived.

[Jamsdad]

Very nice! Much like the treatment of stations on the Looe branch.

[RichardB]

Still a bit more to do.  Main things are the running-in board to go on those new posts, some car park signs and an explanatory sign by the well pump.

[RichardB]

Parc Signs of St Austell finished the signing at Perranwell last Friday.  Here is what went up then (PS - sorry, no idea why these photos are on their side)

[FarWestJohn]

In the past with large events in Falmouth the branch service has been increased to three cars, a 150 and 153 with crowd controls at Truro and Falmouth.

Now all the 153s have left the region I wonder what the plan will be for next year?

I do not know if the platform lengths can accommodate 2 X 150 especially at Penryn.

Will there be 3 car turbos available and cleared for the route?

[RailCornwall]

There are still lots of questions over the event at present. The length of the preliminaries to the start being one. The start of the race being midweek (Wed) will reduce numbers significantly too.

Whether there'll be the 'party' and open ships of previous occasions is unclear and be dependent on how things are in the run-up. There are lots of C19 caveats in the advanced publicity as well.

[REVUpminster]

There should be 165/166s available. Exeter should be getting at least 4 this weekend to replace the eight 143s due to go at the timetable change.

I hoping someone here in the know posts the event or GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) does on it's website.

[ChrisB]

Are 165/166s cleared to use the Falmouth branch?

[phile]

Are 165/166s cleared to use the Falmouth branch?

Not beyond Plymouth

[RailCornwall]

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
Owing to difficulties sourcing replacement road transport customers are advised not to travel. Customers may use the local bus routes below to complete their journey.
First Kernow route T1: Penzance (Station) - St Erth (Station) - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro, First Kernow route T2: St Ives (Bus Station) - Carbis Bay - Lelant - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro, First Kernow route U1: Truro (Bus Station) - Penryn (Station) - Falmouth (The Moor) and First Kernow route U2: Redruth (Station) - Penryn (Station) - Falmouth (The Moor) are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.

Tiger indicates all services cancelled for the rest of the day.

[GBM]

From journeycheck
Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line is closed. (Lightning strike yesterday)
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 09:00 06/09.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the disruption to your journey this morning.

We have been unable to source any replacement transport to run in place of the train service as local operators have no taxis or coaches available. (First day back for most school/College pupils)

We have also been unable to arrange for your tickets to be accepted on the local buses between Truro and Falmouth, we are still trying to do this. Until then, if you wish to use local buses, please purchase a ticket on the bus, keep it and send it, together with your train ticket, to us to claim for a refund of the bus fare.

Lightning strikes damaged signalling equipment at Penryn yesterday. Network Rail are finishing their work to fix and test this this morning.

I don't understand why no bus acceptance of rail tickets.  This has always come in to force when the branch goes down. Radio shout from control to accept all tickets.
Truronian did have a contract with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to be on standby 24x7, but that hasn't come into play it seems.
GoCornwall were wanting the standby contract, but that's another query.
Cornwall Council were trying to integrate rail and bus interchanges, etc.
Puzzled of Penwith

[Bmblbzzz]

Any clue as to when the line will be open again? Due to go to Falmouth this Saturday.