Weymouth - summer weekend loco-hauled services - 2009

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Here is the what was said at the presentation last Saturday at TravelWatch SouthWest ... available in full at http://www.travelwatchsouthwest.org.uk/ (Meeting papers, March 2009 link); I am quoting from pages 27 and 28 of 43.

* An enhanced 30 minute interval Falmouth service
* Additional capacity as Summer 2008 on St.Ives, Newquay and Looe branch lines, and Weymouth, including the "Summer Saturday Specials?"
* Sub-leased units from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) currently secure
* Plan to continue with loco hauled services on the Cardiff - Taunton corridor
* Some station call withdrawals early morning and evening Exmouth services
* Improved connection at Bath Spa and early arrival at Gloucester by retiming earlier 0612 Salisbury - Gloucester service
* 1722 Portsmouth - Bristol /Cardiff will call additionally at Severn Tunnel Junction

I noted particularly that there was no mention of whether the Weymouth trains would be units or locomotive hauled, and also that the 'tone' related to the peak summer solutions being for 2009, rather than something that would automatically follow through to years ahead.  However, I may be reading too much into it.

[Timmer]

The 'extra' summer Saturday service is shown on the OJP^▸ (Online Journey Planner) with morning departures from Bristol at 08.41, 09.09 and 09.49 and late afternoon departures at 16.10, 16.55 and 17.30.

The services highlighted in bold would be the ones that are loco-hauled if that's what FGW^▸ (First Great Western) plan to do.

[devon_metro]

Just to add spice to the debate, a local union rep told me that ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) want 2 of their 150/2s back by April.  Interestingly, a rake of 4 Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) is being kept on stand-by at GCR^» (Gloucester - next trains), presumably  for spot hire.  These coaches, painted in the last, (red/grey), Inter City livery are clearly visible in GCR carriage siding, complete with flashing tail lamp and often coupled up to a 47.  It is likely that they belong to Cotswold Rail or an associated set up.

I can only speculate if/where these might be used and have to add that the spectre of the return of the hired 150s has been raised before.

They recently participated in a test run from Gloucester - totnes.

[Nemesis]

It may happen :-)

[Sion Bretton]

HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) have gone down the line from Castle Cary to Yeovil ( dirvert to Exeter) so they only need to learn Yeovil to Weymouth.

[grahame]

HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) have gone down the line from Castle Cary to Yeovil ( dirvert to Exeter) so they only need to learn Yeovil to Weymouth.

Well ... we'll see what turns up.  Perhaps a Cotswold line 125 will be replace by a turbo on a Saturday, and the 125 run to Weymouth (And if that happens, I expect we'll hear about it on the Cotswold section of the forum!)

[devon_metro]

There might not be any loco hauled or HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to Weymouth this summer....

Something else perhaps?

[Timmer]

There might not be any loco hauled or HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to Weymouth this summer....

Something else perhaps?

165/166? There must be a few going spare at weekends.

[grahame]

There might not be any loco hauled or HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to Weymouth this summer....

Something else perhaps?

165/166? There must be a few going spare at weekends.

I don't think they're cleared to pass under Dundas aquaduct or through the platforms at Trowbridge.  But it's quite possible that they could be used on some other route, or a second loco and coaches on Taunton - Cardiff, to release 150, 153 or 158s for extra Weymouths.   Or perhaps Arriva Wales have spare valley units at the weekend that could be hired for the day. just idle speculation!

[John R]

There were a few tatty Intercity liveried coaches in one of the centre roads at Temple Meads today. Connected by any chance?

[paul7575]

The obvious place to hire good quality spare stock from on a weekend is surely Salisbury... 

Paul

[thetrout]

There were a few tatty Intercity liveried coaches in one of the centre roads at Temple Meads today. Connected by any chance?

I noticed that yesterday...! Not sure of the intended usage of them though. There was a Charter sat in Westbury on 17/04/09 during the evening. I'm not sure of the tour operated, but I do know it used MKII Carriages

Also there 2 MKII Carriages at Bristol Temple Meads on the line next to Platform 2, however I do recall it was mentioned on the CoffeeShop before that those carriages were for sale...

I've also noted that on the siding next to Platform 15, 2 Class 47's have appeared

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

were they ex heathrow mk 2's?

[thetrout]

One of the 2 next to platform 2 is a Wessex Trains BSO^▸ (Brake Standard Open (carriage)), The other is an InterCity Swallow livery TSO^▸ (The Stationary Office (now OPSI), or, possibly Trailer Standard Open (carriage), depending on context)

The set that John R mentioned however, i'm not sure. I do know they consist of 3 TSO's and a BSO in InterCity Swallow livery

[devon_metro]

If they are in the siding adjacent to Bath Rd they have been there for AGES!

Taken in December: