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Night Riviera Changes: Pick Up/Set Down only in Cornwall

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HamworthyGoods

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Surely it would be more cost effective to roster a 2nd guard Plymouth - Penzance to supervise school children in seated coaches (with BTP presence on odd trips to concentrate minds) rather than running another service as I know dispatch takes place in sleeper coaches ??

But the additional service in the morning was planned as part of the Cornwall half-hourly and in the evening there’s a Cross Country that follows the sleeper by 20 minutes with the same calling pattern.

So no need to go over the top with staff on the sleeper, just keep it for long distance journeys.
 

Sleepy

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But the additional service in the morning was planned as part of the Cornwall half-hourly and in the evening there’s a Cross Country that follows the sleeper by 20 minutes with the same calling pattern.

So no need to go over the top with staff on the sleeper, just keep it for long distance journeys.

If the additional service in the morning balance's the half hourly service it makes more sense, however will this change make the Sleeper economics look worse ?
 

Steve Harris

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I'm not sure but it's just an idea. Unless GWR plan to replace the MK3 sleepers in the next 3 years with new stock.
As far as I'm aware there is no plan to replace them in the next 3 years. If there was they wouldn't of refurbed them and probably gone for Mk5's.

As an idea, there are cheaper ideas out there.
 

richw

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Surely it would be more cost effective to roster a 2nd guard Plymouth - Penzance to supervise school children in seated coaches (with BTP presence on odd trips to concentrate minds) rather than running another service as I know dispatch takes place in sleeper coaches ??

the seated coaches were becoming full and standing for commuters into Truro which made it uncomfortable for long distance travellers. The local service is now only a matter of minutes behind removing said commuters from the long distance service
 

Sleepy

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the seated coaches were becoming full and standing for commuters into Truro which made it uncomfortable for long distance travellers. The local service is now only a matter of minutes behind removing said commuters from the long distance service
That certainly puts a different perspective to all this - good to know.
 

Bletchleyite

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the seated coaches were becoming full and standing for commuters into Truro which made it uncomfortable for long distance travellers. The local service is now only a matter of minutes behind removing said commuters from the long distance service

When I used it (midweek) they weren't full and standing, I didn't even have someone sitting next to me...
 

Busaholic

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But the additional service in the morning was planned as part of the Cornwall half-hourly and in the evening there’s a Cross Country that follows the sleeper by 20 minutes with the same calling pattern.

So no need to go over the top with staff on the sleeper, just keep it for long distance journeys.
Cross Country trains get cancelled at Penzance at the drop of a hat: or should I say the blowing of a bit of wind at high tide in the Dawlish area, as a 'precaution' i.e. if the service doesn't get down to Penzance it can't work back. Passengers booked on early XC trains from Pz often have to change at Exeter or Tiverton to get on their train! What's going to happen at 10 p.m? Wait for a replacement bus connection, arriving at 1 a.m. or later in Plymouth, or taxis booked ha ha?
 

HamworthyGoods

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Cross Country trains get cancelled at Penzance at the drop of a hat: or should I say the blowing of a bit of wind at high tide in the Dawlish area, as a 'precaution' i.e. if the service doesn't get down to Penzance it can't work back. Passengers booked on early XC trains from Pz often have to change at Exeter or Tiverton to get on their train! What's going to happen at 10 p.m? Wait for a replacement bus connection, arriving at 1 a.m. or later in Plymouth, or taxis booked ha ha?

At any given time there are usually a number of XC sets west of the sea wall meaning services are normally restarted at Plymouth for Cornwall in booked paths. Reasonably rare for an XC cancellation at Penzance.

We are talking about a small number of people who use both the Night Riveria and the later XC service and they would be re-accommodated in a similar way to any other train cancellation.

The Night Riveria is not always known for its punctuality.

What is happening in Cornwall is no different to the majority of the Scottish sleeper legs where local passengers travel on local trains and long distance passengers on the Night Riveria, not sure what all the fuss is about as there’s no loss of journey opportunities. Those travelling East of Plymouth can still use the Riveria and those west of have alternative services.
 

sonic2009

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As far as I'm aware there is no plan to replace them in the next 3 years. If there was they wouldn't of refurbed them and probably gone for Mk5's.



As an idea, there are cheaper ideas out there.

Doesn't the franchise end in 2022? And what cheaper ideas would you have in mind?
 

Bletchleyite

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I was using it daily on weekdays from liskeard to Truro to start work at 8am until July 2017 and it was always standing only from st Austell.

I only used it once in mid June and it wasn't, perhaps the numbers have dropped off a bit? It was busy, but not all seats were taken.
 

Shaw S Hunter

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I only used it once in mid June and it wasn't, perhaps the numbers have dropped off a bit? It was busy, but not all seats were taken.

By mid-June there tend to be fewer FE/HE students travelling for daily studies, that may well generate a reduction in am peak passengers. Plenty of such traffic centred on Truro.
 

Steve Harris

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Doesn't the franchise end in 2022? And what cheaper ideas would you have in mind?
I think GWR already have an idea....


If I remember correctly, a GWR press release after a droplight related accident said that the HSTs were going and that the night Riviera stock would have locks fitted to the window which would be released at the platforms. I'll try and find the article now. I personally enjoy leaning out of the window as the train rolls into the platform slowly but of course what not do so at speed.

Edit: Here's the quote:
“From the end of December we will no longer operate this type of train and are working to introduce automatic locks on windows on our Sleeper Service.”

And here's the article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.de...-news/gwr-could-done-more-prevent-3434417.amp
 
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