South Western Rail services West of Exeter

[MatthewRead]

Why did South West Trains have to withdraw it's services west of Exeter it use to be a cheaper alternative getting to Paignton and Torquay? Would it not be possible to reinstate services West of Exeter or do they think GWR run a perfectly adequate service to Paignton and it would just delay the other services.

 

[marky7890]

I'm pretty sure they ceased once the passing loop at Axminster was added, the trains which used to extend beyond Exeter were used to increase the services on the Salisbury to Exeter route.

 

[MatthewRead]

I'm pretty sure they ceased once the passing loop at Axminster was added, the trains which used to extend beyond Exeter were used to increase the services on the Salisbury to Exeter route.

But would it not be possible to reinstate the service I mean aren't there plans to merge the services in the South West into one?

 

[swt_passenger]

But would it not be possible to reinstate the service I mean aren't there plans to merge the services in the South West into one?

I thought the plan was to split the GW franchise, not combine with the SWR.

Not without extra rolling stock. The services were considered lightly loaded beyond Exeter and were removed from the SW franchise spec prior to the main West of England service going hourly. A few corresponding additional trains were added to the GW franchise, but SWT didn't actually run many services west of Exeter anyway, it wasn't a major part of the overall provision.

Question is though, if SWR had more DMUs, would they be better off strengthening trains on the existing route, or spreading the stock more thinly over a longer distance?

 

[PHILIPE]

Post #2 provides the answer. One result was that the DFT had to fund LHCS for some FGW (at the time) services in order for FGW to fill the gaps which they had originally overlooked

 

[MatthewRead]

I thought the plan was to split the GW franchise, not combine with the SWR.

Not without extra rolling stock. The services were considered lightly loaded beyond Exeter and were removed from the SW franchise spec prior to the main West of England service going hourly. A few corresponding additional trains were added to the GW franchise, but SWT didn't actually run many services west of Exeter anyway, it wasn't a major part of the overall provision.

Question is though, if SWR had more DMUs, would they be better off strengthening trains on the existing route, or spreading the stock more thinly over a longer distance?

Clearly they haven't seen how crowded the GWR services are and fewer trains call at Dawlish Warren since that withdrawal!

 

[Parallel]

Clearly they haven't seen how crowded the GWR services are and fewer trains call at Dawlish Warren since that withdrawal!

GWR have proposed to run a half-hourly local service in the future. No idea when this will happen, but I assume it’ll be when more stock becomes available. A lot of the GWR Network is crippled by overcrowding.

 

[swt_passenger]

Also because I work for South Western Railway so if they ran west of Exeter I could travel to places such as Torquay and Paignton for free.

Yes, that's exactly how the railway should be operated. For the benefit of the staff, not passengers...

 

[Lrd]

Also because I work for South Western Railway so if they ran west of Exeter I could travel to places such as Torquay and Paignton for free.

£6 day ranger exclusive to First Group Staff not good enough?

 

[Melancholia]

£6 day ranger exclusive to First Group Staff not good enough?

Or even a PRIV, £1.90 Off peak day return, £3.10 Off peak open return...

EDIT: Or even £3 for a Devon day ranger, which will cover Exeter - Paignton, and more.

 

[MatthewRead]

Yes, that's exactly how the railway should be operated. For the benefit of the staff, not passengers...

No it would benefit passengers because it would provide additional capacity where it is needed especially on summer Saturdays. I wish I could get free travel with Great Western Railway as well, after all they are still part of the First Group franchise?

 

[JamesRowden]

No it would benefit passengers because it would provide additional capacity where it is needed especially on summer Saturdays. I wish I could get free travel with Great Western Railway as well, after all they are still part of the First Group franchise?

I think that a GWR operated Paignton-Exeter-Taunton-Westbury-Southampton-Brighton regional express service would be better

 

[A0]

Yes, that's exactly how the railway should be operated. For the benefit of the staff, not passengers...

It seems to be how the RMT, ASLEF and TSSA think it should be.

 

[davetheguard]

Or even a PRIV, £1.90 Off peak day return, £3.10 Off peak open return...

EDIT: Or even £3 for a Devon day ranger, which will cover Exeter - Paignton, and more.

Are you sure there's a PRIV version of a Devon Day Ranger? It would be useful if you're right.

However even if there isn't, as has been said before above, fares in this part of the world definitely seem lower than in some places elsewhere in the U.K. Even a three hour trip to Penzance is only just over £20 day return, just over a fiver for a PRIV.

 

[pdeaves]

I wish I could get free travel with Great Western Railway as well, after all they are still part of the First Group franchise?

You do, use one of your ten FirstGroup 'boxes' (each valid for two consecutive days). The chances are if you work for SWR you live in that area so you won't want to use HT or TPE very much so make the most of them on your neighbouring TOC.

 

[swt_passenger]

No it would benefit passengers because it would provide additional capacity where it is needed especially on summer Saturdays.

It isn't really SWR's problem to solve. GWR are already required to improve services to Paignton, following upcoming changes to XC services.

 

[Melancholia]

Are you sure there's a PRIV version of a Devon Day Ranger? It would be useful if you're right.

According to BRfares, there is, as with most rangers and rovers, PRIV discounts apply.

 

[HowardGWR]

I think that a GWR operated Paignton-Exeter-Taunton-Westbury-Southampton-Brighton regional express service would be better

That would be the Great Way Round!

 

[jimm]

No it would benefit passengers because it would provide additional capacity where it is needed especially on summer Saturdays.

Did you not see Parallel's post about the timetable enhancements?

These will take effect from the end of next year, including 2tph Exmouth-Exeter-Paignton.

 

[MatthewRead]

Did you not see Parallel's post about the timetable enhancements?

These will take effect from the end of next year, including 2tph Exmouth-Exeter-Paignton.

That is if there is sufficient rolling stock.

 

[bb21]

No it would benefit passengers because it would provide additional capacity where it is needed especially on summer Saturdays. I wish I could get free travel with Great Western Railway as well, after all they are still part of the First Group franchise?

Punctuality through the single track sections is bad enough. Pointless extending it further making the service even more unreliable for the sake of a token through service.

Strengthening of the core route into Waterloo will always be a priority. In addition, services east of St Davids need additional capacity too.

Are you sure there's a PRIV version of a Devon Day Ranger? It would be useful if you're right.

There is even a priv discount on the Devon Evening Ranger. £1.25 when I last used it iirc.

 

[Envoy]

I think that a GWR operated Paignton-Exeter-Taunton-Westbury-Southampton-Brighton regional express service would be better

Surely, you would want to connect these places with the shortest possible route = via Sherborne not Taunton!

 

[jimm]

That is if there is sufficient rolling stock.

That's in 12 months' time - give them a chance!

Never mind that SWR doesn't have sufficient diesel rolling stock to operate west of Exeter these days, as what is available is kept rather busy east of Exeter.

 

[JamesRowden]

I think that a GWR operated Paignton-Exeter-Taunton-Westbury-Southampton-Brighton regional express service would be better

Surely, you would want to connect these places with the shortest possible route = via Sherborne not Taunton!

As far as I can see the single track sections between Exeter and Yeovil limit that line to one through train in each direction per hour. Running via Westbury would allow it (a potentially very useful service for me ) to run as an express service and not inhibit the Waterloo service. But at the end of the day I'm just stating a service which would be useful to me and I can't prove that it doesn't have a business case

 

[mrcheek]

As far as I can see the single track sections between Exeter and Yeovil limit that line to one through train in each direction per hour. Running via Westbury would allow it (a potentially very useful service for me ) to run as an express service and not inhibit the Waterloo service. But at the end of the day I'm just stating a service which would be useful to me and I can't prove that it doesn't have a business case

What was that service that Wessex Trains used to run? Something like Plymouth to Portsmouth (or was it Brighton) via Westbury?

 

[TheWalrus]

What was that service that Wessex Trains used to run? Something like Plymouth to Portsmouth (or was it Brighton) via Westbury?

Think it was Penzance to Portsmouth and SWT ran Brighton to Paignton.

 

[MatthewRead]

Think it was Penzance to Portsmouth and SWT ran Brighton to Paignton.

Do you think any of those services will ever be reinstated in the mere future?

 

[Ianno87]

Do you think any of those services will ever be reinstated in the mere future?

No.

Especially in the latter example, given that DfT are consulting on transferring the Brighton GWR services to the GTR franchise.

What desperately needed through connectivity do you think is needed that isn't already catered for by a change of train(s)?

 

[JamesRowden]

No.

Especially in the latter example, given that DfT are consulting on transferring the Brighton GWR services to the GTR franchise.

What desperately needed through connectivity do you think is needed that isn't already catered for by a change of train(s)?

Rubbish connections between the Tarka line (Barnstaple-Exeter) and the Exeter-Waterloo service combined with there being only an every 2 hour service between Exeter and Westbury.

 

[Ianno87]

Rubbish connections between the Tarka line (Barnstaple-Exeter) and the Exeter-Waterloo service combined with there being only an every 2 hour service between Exeter and Westbury.

It would be interesting to see the breakdown of demand of Barnstaple line passengers. I would guess
-Bulk are going to Exeter Central
-Most of remainder are connecting to London Paddington or XC services elsewhere

Given its a 2/3 car train on the Tarka line most of the day, new services just to improve comnections for a handful of passengers aren't going to cut the mustard.