SouthDevonian
Member
How far north of Plymouth do XC drivers work (north of Bristol)?
Am I right in think Eastleigh based XC drivers sign Bournemouth to (the furthest north) Birmingham New Street?, I know they sign obviously via Winchester and Basingstoke but also sign via Fareham for the early starter from Guildford to Reading and the North as the ECS to GLD from Eastleigh goes past my flat about 5.15 every morning.
I wonder if any of the Plymouth drivers sign potential diversionary routes such as Westbury, Worcester and even Lydney via severn Tunnel Jn/ Newport. Anyone know?
Thanks 455driver. Does that mean the Plymouth drivers regularly go to New St or just occasionally?
Presumably Birmingham XC drivers get down to Plymouth as well.
What about the route from Exeter to Castle Cary via Yeovil, surely some / all must sign this?
I do not think XC do planned diversions via Yeovil.
Thanks again chaps.
I was on the Devon Explorer railtour last month to Okehampton which returned via Yeovil. Presumably a pilot would have been required between Bristol Parkway & back - who would have provided the pilot? - FGW or one of the freight companies?
No they don't, there isn't the capacity for XC and FGW to divert that way so even if XC wanted to run that way something else would have to be taken off the route.
Plymouth drivers go to Birmingham quite a lot.
XC trains are diverted via Castle Cary though when Bristol-Taunton is closed, so I would imagine they sign Taunton-Bristol via Castle Cary, Westbury and Bath.
I believe the route via Honiton and Yeovil was used for some night time empty stock XC voyager moves during the 3 week closure of the Taunton route in Jan/Feb 2014? Could be wrong though.