I really don't accept that argument, there's sufficient time to get passengers briefed to cooperate quickly on Arrival./ Departure. The worst thing that caught me last year is the insane in my view shoving pax incoming from services from the west and the east at Truro into the main queue. Surely if you're in the network you shiuld get preferential treatment over those entering for the first time. Operating two queues has to be the fairest system.

 

but it would take longer to load / unload at the docks as only the front half would platformed and so a lot of passenegers would have to walk through the train...

 

GWR sent an HST to Falmouth to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the branch, so, probably, yes ?

 

Naive question.   Is it still 2 car?  Could in be 3?  4? Could a 5 car IET go down the docks?

 
Sea Shanty weekend 2025 - steered well clear. Huge queue at Truro for the Branchline, clearly going to take over an hour, possibly 90minutes, to get on a service for Falmouth at 1100 this morning. GWR/GBR can and must do better getting resilience support buses at hand. The event itself needs to be supported adequately by public services. I suspect once again those on the network were forced out of the station to join the queue again.

 
I too got caught up with this issue, surely if you're already on the network thus having paid more priority should be given to you rather than 'new' passengers arriving at Truro. I was using PAYG too and was 'forced' by gateline staff to logoff at the gateline with no facility to log back in when returning in via the special entrance. Sorting the issue out took 20 minutes on livechat on the GWR site. I too was unamused.

 
The remainder of your bus fare will be taken in a few days. Something to do with their tap and cap system they take the full amount later.

As a word of warning if the funds aren’t available or the bank decides not to pay for some reason when they go to collect your card gets hotlisted on their systems and will not work in future on their systems

 
Took the opportunity granted by unexpected fine weather, to day trip to the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival which was hugely well supported with the Town being very busy.

Opted to travel by train from Lostwithiel, and on changing at Truro we were once again shepherded out of the station into a queue for the branch service, and informed of a 1 hr 45 minute wait to catch the connection.

Please don't get me wrong, GWR staff were absolutely on the ball, communicating, updating, issuing water, everything you would expect - even pointing out the opportunity to catch the U1 bus from adjacent to the queue, (additional fare of £ 12.00 for 3 of us, rtn, although First bus only seemed to want to take 10p from my account).

Having made the return queue by 1900 at Falmouth Docks, we had to stay over with friends as the numbers of people ahead of us meant that we would have made it to Truro, but not in time for the last train to Lostwithiel.

My question is that Falmouth has an eviable reputation for being the key outdoor events destination in Cornwall, and every encouragement is rightly made to use public transport, but public transport always seems to be taken by surprise with these events.

What do we think could be done to improve the situation?

 

I can understand the logic - when it comes off the branch, system sees negative trains down there and panics!

 
Seems to have been caused by an overnight road-rail survey vehicle being used over the line after being put on at the Falmouth Docks end.  It seems accessing it from that end upset the axle counters.

 
Odd.
Delays to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Following a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Truro and Falmouth Docks:
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until 10:00 02/10.

One train ran at 0815 as shown on RTT, but opening that train shows
 This service is cancelled.

This service was cancelled due to a problem with signalling equipment (J3).
UID P76081, identity 2F69

but showing arrival and departure times more or less on time.

 
Looks like one train out of service ... could be a problem that's put the loop at Penryn out of use but trains can get through.  I don't recall tokens - I think it is tokenises there now.

 
Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:00 02/10.

No mention of ticket acceptance.
But surely, as it's a branch, surely one train in service could be run.
That train holding the token - or two tokens if two are required for through running?
Permissive working?

 
FTS https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/rail-transport-solutions
https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/

So maybe not quite joined up down here as yet!
Camborne I believe doesn't open up until around 5am, possibly the same for Summercourt.

 

GWR will have phoned FTS to arrange transport or ticket acceptance. FTS will probably phone the Truro office number which won’t have been manned that early in the morning. For out of normal office hours (8-6 ish) they’d likely get a better response from Camborne or summercourt duty control?

 
I'm three miles as the crow flies from Penryn, Not surprised at all, Lunchtime yesterday was Armageddon with a 90 minute storm. All hell broke loose on the roads so I'm totally understanding of the Bus and Taxi companies not willing to operate a RR service at all. Extraordinary as there really wasn't much notice and once the storm passed a respectable afternoon for early September followed.

 

Unlikely if fixing and testing of axle counters is taking place (multiple ones failed AIUI)...

 
Could not a basic service be offered without any signaling ? "one engine in steam"

 

 
Any clue as to when the line will be open again? Due to go to Falmouth this Saturday.

 
From journeycheck
Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line is closed. (Lightning strike yesterday)
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 09:00 06/09.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the disruption to your journey this morning.

We have been unable to source any replacement transport to run in place of the train service as local operators have no taxis or coaches available. (First day back for most school/College pupils)

We have also been unable to arrange for your tickets to be accepted on the local buses between Truro and Falmouth, we are still trying to do this. Until then, if you wish to use local buses, please purchase a ticket on the bus, keep it and send it, together with your train ticket, to us to claim for a refund of the bus fare.

Lightning strikes damaged signalling equipment at Penryn yesterday. Network Rail are finishing their work to fix and test this this morning.

I don't understand why no bus acceptance of rail tickets.  This has always come in to force when the branch goes down. Radio shout from control to accept all tickets.
Truronian did have a contract with GWR to be on standby 24x7, but that hasn't come into play it seems.
GoCornwall were wanting the standby contract, but that's another query.
Cornwall Council were trying to integrate rail and bus interchanges, etc.
Puzzled of Penwith

 
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
Owing to difficulties sourcing replacement road transport customers are advised not to travel. Customers may use the local bus routes below to complete their journey.
First Kernow route T1: Penzance (Station) - St Erth (Station) - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro, First Kernow route T2: St Ives (Bus Station) - Carbis Bay - Lelant - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro, First Kernow route U1: Truro (Bus Station) - Penryn (Station) - Falmouth (The Moor) and First Kernow route U2: Redruth (Station) - Penryn (Station) - Falmouth (The Moor) are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.

Tiger indicates all services cancelled for the rest of the day.

 

Not beyond Plymouth

 
Are 165/166s cleared to use the Falmouth branch?

 
There should be 165/166s available. Exeter should be getting at least 4 this weekend to replace the eight 143s due to go at the timetable change.

I hoping someone here in the know posts the event or GWR does on it's website.

 
There are still lots of questions over the event at present. The length of the preliminaries to the start being one. The start of the race being midweek (Wed) will reduce numbers significantly too.

Whether there'll be the 'party' and open ships of previous occasions is unclear and be dependent on how things are in the run-up. There are lots of C19 caveats in the advanced publicity as well.

 
In the past with large events in Falmouth the branch service has been increased to three cars, a 150 and 153 with crowd controls at Truro and Falmouth.

Now all the 153s have left the region I wonder what the plan will be for next year?

I do not know if the platform lengths can accommodate 2 X 150 especially at Penryn.

Will there be 3 car turbos available and cleared for the route?

 
Parc Signs of St Austell finished the signing at Perranwell last Friday.  Here is what went up then (PS - sorry, no idea why these photos are on their side)

 
Still a bit more to do.  Main things are the running-in board to go on those new posts, some car park signs and an explanatory sign by the well pump.

 
Very nice! Much like the treatment of stations on the Looe branch.

 
The plaque more or less explains what's happened this week, The station looks rather nice if a little 'antique', with it's replica signage, yet matches Penmere in style and presentation. One large sign is still to be installed. I'm wondering what next will appear or whether this is it.





















Personal Pics, taken today, between the showers on 27 Nov 2019, as usual copyright waived.

 
And again today but only for a very short time.

 
Gone again !!!

 
The Falmouth branch, the Maritime, line has been getting increasingly unreliable over the last few weeks.

The service keeps either getting the chop or reverting to an hourly service.
Anyone know what these problems are as Network rail do not seem to be able to rectify them permanently?

This morning there were cancellations and then back to an hourly service, many people missed their onward connections at Truro. Not good on a Saturday in the peak holiday season.

Annoyingly I checked on line as I left home and everything was on time!! Got to the station and all trains cancelled. I was not the only one who commented on this incorrect information.

It is a good thing that there is a reliable half hourly bus service between Truro and Falmouth.

 
Yes, I received that earlier today and deleted it before reailsing it was the 'other' Penryn

Interesting to note that the technical investigation is still ongoing some two months after the incident.  I have heard a slightly different story about events leading up to the derailment (can't repeat it here), and I'm not yet convinced as to the preliminary conlusions reached by RAIB.  Time will tell.

 

Now out at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-digest-032019-penryn/passenger-train-derailment-at-penryn-28-january-2019

not to be confused with yesterday's safety digest about a level crossing collision at the other Penryn!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-digest-022019-penrhyn-lc/level-crossing-accident-at-penrhyn-ffestiniog-railway-6-january-2019

 
They will be publishing a safety digest.

 
As suspected, but not a full investigation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/passenger-train-derailment-at-penryn

 
I don't think this was anything to do with the problems at Penryn.   There was a signalling issue getting the second unit onto the branch.

 
Some cancellations again this morning

 
Still, given the discussions we had sometime back about the use of these type of points on the Melksham single line, it would be good to get any bugs out of the design before they come to Wiltshire. 

 
Seconded.

<Tongue-firmly-in-cheek mode>
If you ask me, the problem would appear to be the big block of wood between the switch rail and the stock rail near the platform edge, and the two yellow G-clamp thingies holding the other switch rail to the other stock rail.

 
Maybe in the course of commissioning and testing they have discovered why the train was able to split the points and cause the derailment.  The issue might be larger than the points themselves.

 
Surely GWR should have posted an explanation for the continuing delay. Just restating the cause was a slow speed derailment no longer cuts it.

 

Have to go back to the beginning when someone orders up an ST 240 and only when it's delivered realises they should have ordered an ST 241 

 
Nope, thought so.... hourly all day, last three journeys cancelled again. 

How long does it take to fix one set of points?

 
Well that hasn't happened.  Now expected full service at 14.00hrs, but I'm not holding my breath...

 
Work to be performed tonight, line closing early with RRB services in place. Full service restoration expected from 04-Feb-2019

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Truro and Falmouth Docks the line will be blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations will be suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
From 19:55 train services from Truro to Falmouth Docks will be suspended until the end of service and from 20:22 train services from Falmouth Docks to Truro will be suspended until the end of service.
Replacement road transport services will convey passengers between Truro and Falmouth Docks in both directions between 19:55 03/02/19 and 23:30 03/02/19.
Additional Information:
This line closure will allow Network Rail to carry out testing on the points and signalling equipment which has been damaged in the Penryn area and allow GWR to run the full train service.
Once these tests are complete, we are planning to run a full timetable of train services from the start of service on Monday 04th February.

(gwr.com)

 

Lovely shots RC. Thank you for them 

 

I suspect so, and how times have changed.  After the Harrow and Wealdstone smash on 8th October 1952, all lines were re-opened on the evening of 12th - four and a half days. So far it's been five and a half days at Penryn ... which (thank goodness) was a low speed derailment with no-one hurt, compared to 112 killed in 1952 at Harrow and Wealdstone.

 
Thanks for posting those.

Speculation Alert: Well, as far as I can tell, from the damage caused (that looks as its subsequently been repaired) as if the points moved as the train was passing over them.....

Its usually no more that a day or two to repair such damage, so I suspect more to it than we know.  As it was a passenger train derailment I suspect RAIB will be involved and we will hear something from them in the next few weeks.

 
Been on a reccy as hourly service continues .... Photos taken at around 5.30pm tonight.

 

Buses are in operation to supplement the reduced train service

 

Looking at Tiger, it would appear not.   http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/renderstaffsoad.asp?file=30475D.xml

 
I've seen some photographs elsewhere that seem to show (well they aren't very clear) that the point switch rail tip has been broken on the set of points involved.  Knowing that NR doesn't normally keep spares of everything to hand, I suspect delivery and installation of the replacement will take some time.

Speculation Alert: Wonder if it was broken before the derailment......

 

Has there been an ongoing issue? Halved services have been regular occurrence due to points issues for some time before the derailment

 
Now into fifth day of halved service; Journey check suggesting disruption to end of day, and an update within two hours.  Very much the same yesterday ... does anyone know when the service is likely to be back to half hourly?

Are the two units that normally cross a Penryn running coupled, to make for half the trains but each with double the capacity?

 
I still smile at his explanation that he was taught "should of" at school.  Really? Should of gone to a better school then.

 

You are Dispatch Box, and I claim my £5. 

 
The points must have been damaged as only one train an hour in each direction running today (Tuesday 29 January).

 

I didn't get where I am today without knowing how to avoid a homonym when I wish too... 

 


Should have steered right..  Falmouth to Truro stays next to the platform.  Truro to Falmouth then pass around on the loop. Obviously this is 150234 making a bid for freedom....

 

Oh blige. Not deliberate either. I'm usually so careful not to mistype when pointing out the errors of others. My petard is suitably hoisted.

 
or the altar of grammar even.
 

 

The 'wink' smiley is for both the 'steering' comment and the 'should of' I hope.

Otherwise, you'll have to prostrate yourself at the alter of grammar.

 
Far from it. I'm sure he "bravely battled to control his loco", as was reported some years ago, and "wrestled desperately" to keep it on the rails.   

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/hero-at-100mph-1632744

It's quite something to think that is nearly 12 years ago now, and it remains the last fatality due to a crash on the railway (Network Rail that is.)

 

No need for an enquiry; it is very clear that the driver did not steer left when he should of.

 
Going to be an interesting inquiry.  Looks as though its come off on the single to loop points.  Its all our (my) fault for discussing the Penryn solution elsewhere on here

 
Picture on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/FF_Diabir/status/1089866405338595330

 
Is there still a Bruff re-railer at Laira? And if so, is it on its way?

 
Is this what is known as the Penryn Problem?

 
Reports coming in of a derailment at Penryn on the Truro-Falmouth branch.


Interesting photograph of Penryn in that report.....

 

The display on the WebTIS is already laggy in that way - with a train that was late onto the single line that's made up time (166s are good at this!), you can get off the train, watch it go, and see it still on the screen.

With rail replacement buses, there seems to be an assumption that the buses are on time ... and they disappear soon after the scheduled time even if they were significantly delayed from Trowbridge / Chippenham and haven't yet arrived at Melksham.  This is a serious worry for those few  non-technical passengers who trust the system and assume the bus has simply driven past at the top of the road.

 
Probably down to the way the signalling system works.

I have been told when Melksham gets similar screens they will be set to clear information a certain number of minutes after the previous timing point.  This will be set slightly generously to allow for any delays between there and the station and extended dwell time at the actual station.

 


No audio announcements yet but at least, at last, the indicator is now live, albeit not quite synchronised with the actual train movements.

 
Pictoral Evidence taken today ...

 

Classic ... like the platform numbers at Chippenham which are blocked by other newer signage.   Perhaps the contractors installing the electronic indicators will be back tomorrow to move the Help Point sign?

 
Houston, we have a problem, the electronic indicator was test live tonight. Almost everywhere on the platform however it is obscured by the 'Help Point' sign which obliterates the information displayed.

 

Great to see this.  Similar at Penryn very soon too. 

 
Another photo I saw on a friends Facebook was more square from the rear and he’s over to the left side and off centre. It would have been tight though...
I came across a 10ft arch bridge today in my 9’10 sprinter. That was taken very cautiously

 
Hmm.  I'm not convinced it was ever possible: the Falmouth Post picture shows he tried the central approach, but still failed:



The maximum height of that bridge is apparently 11’ 9” (3.58m) (arch bridge).

 
A touring coach hit it in the summer as well. I suspect this weekends m&s lorry would have cleared it if he got down the centre... he hit the arch!

 
That's not the First time that particular bridge has been bashed - from the Falmouth Packet of 1 April 2011:

 

Good news but how long before the neighbours complain about the noise from the announcements!

 
Just need to stop the local supermarket crashing their lorries into the bridge next to the station as one did yesterday...

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/15888660.M_S_lorry_gets_more_than_it_bargained_for_when_it_gets_stuck_under_railway_bridge/

 
In addition to the standard GWR display and push to talk terminal and the recently installed (and working) WiFi at the station a new platform indicator and speakers have been installed in the past few days ....

 
This'll be great for all the Falmouth Week evening events.

 

Finding staff is easier than finding a train.   Financing is an interesting case and we have a number of learn-ed gentlemen looking at various elements of that.

 

I can't believe that is beyond the wit of those who plan such things. Indeed I would expect rostering of staff to be the least of the hurdles to jump after stock (no issue), pathing (apparently no issue) and financing (which is I guess where the real issue arises).

 
Dependent on a driver with hours available though

 
It seems such a "no-brainer" and is not dependent on additional stock (which is so often the constraint).  Ironically, once the 153 is replaced by a 2 car unit the marginal cost will increase of running it, (fuel, track access charges), so it's a shame it hasn't been trialled before that happens to enable custom to build.

 


Agreed all around.   Crew is not quiet so hard to find as a train if it were in the peak, though.   I limited initial comment so as not to dilute a Cornwall thread away to Wiltshire, but as this is a follow up I can split it off if need be, so here goes ...

I commented before that mid-eveing is quieter than late evening.  We have local bus evidence for that as well as train evidence. The 20:06 off Swindon on Wednesday carried 18 people between Chippenham and Trowbridge - not a massive number, but pretty good for the quietest train of the day when we were called on to average 20 to be deemed a success. So a 22:36 would be on the right side of the balance.

A 22:36 (or perhaps a few minutes earlier, but we need to let events finish!) off Swindon would - in addition to John R's earlier comment - also reduce the longest gap in the day on London / Swindon to Chippenham services.  Half an hour all day, then a gap of over an hour at this one point in the evening.

A 21:20 off Westbury would provide excellent connections off the 19:23 from Portsmouth Harbour, the 19:45 from Paddington and the 19:55 from Exeter St David's. None would be huge flows, but they would add up and they would encourage people who would otherwise use their cars all day onto the trains [daytime, outward leg]

Currently, the final Bristol to Melksham connection is off the 19:30 from Temple Meads (arrives 20:32). Later services would be available - 20:22 and 21:51, giving Melksham arrivals 21:37 and 23:05.  And finally it would make those long evening journeys for me home so much easier ... last connection off Birmingham New Street moving from a 17:42 departure to a 20:12 departure.

 
You'd also need additional 'free' hours on a drivers turn to make that feasible. Presumably this was the case for that Falmouth train.

 

So latest departure from Paddington would push back from 1900 to a much more useful 2115, and evening events in Swindon (football, theatre etc) would be do-able by train.

 
From The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership


Congratulations on the later evening train.

We have similar requests from passengers on the Swindon -> Westbury service, where the final train on Monday to Friday is as early as 20:06 from Swindon.  As the train's then parked up at Westbury overnight, the rolling stock's available to run a 21:20 from Westbury and a 22:36 from Swindon. 

Observing trains from Bristol and Bath to Trowbridge and Westbury, there's a quiet period mid-evening, but the final train(s) get busier again.  So I'm sure this venture on the Maritime Line will go well, and help encourage other similar ventures.   And who knows - we may end up with Gladys Knight singing "Midnight train to Falmouth" in future years!

 
The NMT suffered a computer glitch and as a result was 15 late leaving Falmouth throwing the entire branch operation out of sync this morning,

 
Seems Network Rail are having a blitz in the West Country. Yesterday one of the Measurement trains came down from Exeter to Penzance last night via Looe and Newquay.

It has spent the day parked up by Penzance station before going to Bristol overnight via St Ives and Falmouth.



http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U42068/2016/06/02/advanced

Not sure why both trains have to cover the branch in quick succession.

 

Sounds as if 'safety inspection' is a poor choice, but perhaps there isn't another more suitable option.

These things are apparently selected in information systems from a drop down menu. 'Condition monitoring' or something would probably sound more re-assuring...

Paul

 
Just noticed one round trip on the branch cancelled tomorrow. Assuming the inspection has no real safety impact for all other services to be running between now and 1051 tomorrow morning.



Edit- I have just seen on Facebook the NMT is going to Falmouth tomorrow due in Falmouth at 1120, so looks like the branch service has been cancelled for the NMT in its place.
Is the loop at Penryn big enough for the NMT to pass the other unit running on the branch?

 

I believe that the loco involved in this tragic incident was a class 22