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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > Across the West > The Saturday and Sunday anacronism - SWT to Penzance
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Author Topic: The Saturday and Sunday anacronism - SWT to Penzance  (Read 8540 times)
RailCornwall
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« on: May 03, 2009, 16:53:17 »
Whilst at Saltash yesterday the one weekly Waterloo to Penzance Saturday service crossed the bridge, ready to meander to PZ and return on the Sunday.

What's the background to this service?

Why does it still run?

What's it's future?

Answers and any other comments would be appreciated.

(feel free to relocate if appropriate)
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vacman
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« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2009, 18:17:57 »
It was originally run when the Exd-waterloo services were going to be part of the greater Wessex franchise, it was done as a trial to show that through services could be run, it is actually staffed by FGW▸ (First Great Western) crews between Exd and Pnz and vice versa. why it STILL runs I don't know???
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Super Guard
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« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2009, 19:53:14 »
I thought it was still part of the SWT▸ (South West Trains) franchise commitments until they start running the hourly EXD» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-WAT services.

FGW▸ (First Great Western) staff run the service so SWT staff are not out of position.  I believe it is a 2car 158 that is used now.
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« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2009, 08:31:26 »
Quote from: SDA/Guard on May 03, 2009, 19:53:14
I thought it was still part of the SWT▸ (South West Trains) franchise commitments until they start running the hourly EXD» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-WAT services.

FGW▸ (First Great Western) staff run the service so SWT staff are not out of position.  I believe it is a 2car 158 that is used now.

and because it stops the SWT staff going over their hours and i think its just the train manager that is FGW, it is driven by SWT i think.

Saw a 159 on it last saturday!
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smokey
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« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2009, 09:18:31 »
Quote from: Louis on May 04, 2009, 08:31:26
Quote from: SDA/Guard on May 03, 2009, 19:53:14
I thought it was still part of the SWT▸ (South West Trains) franchise commitments until they start running the hourly EXD» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-WAT services.

FGW▸ (First Great Western) staff run the service so SWT staff are not out of position.  I believe it is a 2car 158 that is used now.

and because it stops the SWT staff going over their hours and i think its just the train manager that is FGW, it is driven by SWT i think.

Saw a 159 on it last saturday!

Was a 159 this weekend, it has to be driven by FGW staff from Plymouth to Penzance, SWT drivers don't sign the road into Cornwall. Think the FGW staff work it from and back to Exeter St Davids
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devon_metro
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« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2009, 14:00:51 »
It is booked for a 159. 158s don't go south of Salisbury (if they can help it)
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vacman
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« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2009, 14:55:20 »
It is both FGW▸ (First Great Western) driver and Conductor (not Train manager) between Exd and Pnz and back.
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« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2009, 15:46:23 »
Quote from: devon_metro on May 04, 2009, 14:00:51
It is booked for a 159. 158s don't go south of Salisbury (if they can help it)

Must have been a one off then, but a 3 car 159 and 2 car 158 came in one Saturday, split and the 158 carried onto PNZ.
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The SprinterMeister
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« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2009, 20:05:47 »
Quote from: vacman on May 04, 2009, 14:55:20
It is both FGW▸ (First Great Western) driver and Conductor (not Train manager) between Exd and Pnz and back.

Pzed 'West' crew to be specific.
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The SprinterMeister
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« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2009, 20:08:08 »
Quote from: SDA/Guard on May 04, 2009, 15:46:23
Quote from: devon_metro on May 04, 2009, 14:00:51
It is booked for a 159. 158s don't go south of Salisbury (if they can help it)

Must have been a one off then, but a 3 car 159 and 2 car 158 came in one Saturday, split and the 158 carried onto PNZ.

An Exeter man was sent down to bring it back. Was a bit thrown by the various minor differences in the controls but got it back to Exeter with no problem. After all it does say 158xxx on the end.
 Wink
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cereal_basher
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« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2009, 18:16:15 »
I am not quite sure about this one, seems to be a mix of 158s and 159s. It is a 158 for a few weeks then a 159 for the next few. A luxury way to travel through Cornwall though, that's for sure.
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marky7890
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« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2009, 18:16:36 »
This service is due to end in December 2009, as well as all SWT▸ (South West Trains) services west of Exeter.

Mark
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6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01
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« Reply #12 on: May 05, 2009, 18:20:18 »
is it sad that i want to go on this?
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devon_metro
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« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2009, 18:22:38 »
Depends of course, for what reasons Wink

If you want to go to hear such exotic locations as St Erth announced on the on board announcements, then perhaps Wink
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cereal_basher
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« Reply #14 on: May 05, 2009, 19:49:51 »
Quote from: devon_metro on May 05, 2009, 18:22:38
Depends of course, for what reasons Wink

If you want to go to hear such exotic locations as St Erth announced on the on board announcements, then perhaps Wink
Of course remember that the Saturday Waterloo-Penzance service doesn't call at St Erth.
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