When did Cross Country services last divert via Yeovil and Honiton?

[Martin_1981]

I am on the Railways of Devon and Cornwall Facebook page, the other day there was a photo of a diverted Class 47 hauled XC Derby to Plymouth service passing through Feniton in January 2002.

I know XC haven't diverted that way for at least 15 years since the Waterloo to Exeter trains went to hourly circa 2009/2010 ish, however my mind tells me the last time Cross Country trains were diverted that way when Exeter-Taunton is closed was around 2005, although I can't find anything online to suggest that Voyagers were ever diverted that way. Having lived in the Exeter area since 2006, I have only ever known GWR to divert this way.

Does anyone have any information/ confirmation if Virgin XC diverted trains via the 'Mule' post 'Operation Princess'? Would be interesting to find out.

Cheers

Martin

 

[Zerothebrake!]

I am on the Railways of Devon and Cornwall Facebook page, the other day there was a photo of a diverted Class 47 hauled XC Derby to Plymouth service passing through Feniton in January 2002.

I know XC haven't diverted that way for at least 15 years since the Waterloo to Exeter trains went to hourly circa 2009/2010 ish, however my mind tells me the last time Cross Country trains were diverted that way when Exeter-Taunton is closed was around 2005, although I can't find anything online to suggest that Voyagers were ever diverted that way. Having lived in the Exeter area since 2006, I have only ever known GWR to divert this way.

Does anyone have any information/ confirmation if Virgin XC diverted trains via the 'Mule' post 'Operation Princess'? Would be interesting to find out.

Cheers

Martin

Non of the current crews sign via Yeovil - and this has been the case for many years.

In Virgin XC days there were around a dozen Plymouth based Drivers & Train Managers that used to go that way.

The only diversionary route that they have now is via Westbury from Taunton.

 

[30907]

Non of the current crews sign via Yeovil - and this has been the case for many years.

In Virgin XC days there were around a dozen Plymouth based Drivers & Train Managers that used to go that way.

Realistically, there is very little chance that paths over the single line would be available now, so maintaining route knowledge would be a waste (whereas GW run an ECS from Axminster to Castle Cary specifically for the purpose).

 

[Class 170101]

Realistically, there is very little chance that paths over the single line would be available now, so maintaining route knowledge would be a waste (whereas GW run an ECS from Axminster to Castle Cary specifically for the purpose).

With the Hourly SWR service these days GWR usually only run a service every two hours each way, I don't think they can better that

 

[superalbs]

There was one within the last year or so, but it ran empty.

 

[Martin_1981]

There was one within the last year or so, but it ran empty.

Probably would have been a night time ECS move to get a Voyager or HST to where it needed to be I guess. March 2023 was the last time there were scheduled diversions this way during a 4 day blockade, so that's probably when it would have been.

 

[superalbs]

Probably would have been a night time ECS move to get a Voyager or HST to where it needed to be I guess. March 2023 was the last time there were scheduled diversions this way during a 4 day blockade, so that's probably when it would have been.

Could well have been! I remember it was an HST. There's a photo out there somewhere, but unfortunately I didn't save it to my collection of unusual things.

 

[Bradshaw]

2019 might have been the last with HSTs

West of England line - diversions February and March 2019