The Anonymous Widower

How Many Direct Trains Should There Be Between London Paddington And Newquay?

The Mid-Cornwall Metro will see the following improvements on the Atlantic Coast Line between Newquay and Par stations.

• A second platform built at Newquay station.
• There will be a passing loop across Treegoss Moor.
• There will be a step-free bridge at Par station.

This will allow the current service on the line to be increased from two-hourly to hourly.

FirstGroup’s services in the UK, include several services, where a service is extended to a terminus away from the main line.

• Avanti West Coast – two trains per day (tpd) to Blackpool
• Great Western Railway – six tpd to Carmarthen
• Hull Trains – five tpd to Hull.
• Hull Trains – two tpd to Beverley.
• Hull Trains (proposed) – two tpd to Worksop and Sheffield.

Given that there will only be an hourly local service on the Atlantic Coast Line, I suspect that FirstGroup will be able to run up to six tpd to Newquay to satisfy the traffic needs of the London and Newquay service.

How Will Great Western Railway Run A Service To Newquay?

Last weekend, when I went to Ebbw Vale, I wrote My Train To Wales Today Divided At Swansea.

My train, that day was a ten-car train formed of a pair of Class 800 trains.

• The front train was signed as going to Swansea.
• The rear train was signed as going to Carmarthen.
• At Swansea the trains split into two.
• The front train finished its journey.
• The rear train reversed out and continued to Carmarthen.

Returning to London Paddington, trains join at Swansea.

Will Great Western Railway use a similar operation with Newquay services.

The train would be a ten-car train formed of a pair of Class 802 trains.

• One train would be going to Plymouth and the other train to Newquay.
• At Plymouth the trains split into two.
• One train finishes its journey at Plymouth.
• The other train continues to Newquay.

As Bodmin General station, has a second platform, that was recently built with financial help from Great Western Railway, could this be another destination served by splitting a train at Plymouth?

I discuss the implications of the second platform at Bodmin General station in Beeching Reversal – Increased Service Provision Bodmin General-Bodmin Parkway

How Long Would A Round Trip Take Between Plymouth And Newquay?

Current timings are as follows.

• Plymouth to Par – 34.7 miles – 50 minutes
• Par to Newquay – 20.8 miles – 51 minutes
• Turnround at Newquay – 5 minutes
• Newquay to Par – 20.8 miles – 51 minutes
• Par to Plymouth – 34.7 miles – 50 minutes

Note.

1. Times are from Class 802 trains between Par to Plymouth.
2. Times are for Class 150 trains between Par and Newquay.

Total time is 207 minutes or three hours and twenty-seven minutes.

February 11, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Atlantic Coast Line, Automatic Splitting And Joining Of Trains, Bodmin General Station, Carmarthen Station, Class 800 Train, Class 802 Train, FirstGroup, Hull Trains, Mid-Cornwall Metro, Newquay Station, Paddington Station, Par Station, Swansea Station