GWR to Axminster

[northernbelle]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere, but I'm told that the 1746 Exeter to Axminster service is to be reinstated from the May 2022 timetable as a GWR service - the first regular GWR working along the route.

This previously used to run as a SWT/SWR train to provide extra capacity at peak time but has been missing from the timetable for a while now.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere, but I'm told that the 1746 Exeter to Axminster service is to be reinstated from the May 2022 timetable as a GWR service - the first regular GWR working along the route.

This previously used to run as a SWT/SWR train to provide extra capacity at peak time but has been missing from the timetable for a while now.

Isn’t this part of Devon Metro whereby eventually there’s a two-hourly ‘overlay’ service on top of the roughly hourly South Western?

And isn’t it supposed to go on to Okehampton or Barnstaple!

 

[Xavi]

I read there will be an additional morning GWR service too.

 

[Dieseldriver]

And yet the SWR Bristol services were withdrawn as they were a ‘duplication’......

 

[swt_passenger]

This was mentioned in the SWR Timetables thread by @RPI a few days ago, but he didn’t give exact times:

SWR - Further Timetable Reductions from 17/1

Looking open train times earlier there were to two out-of-service trains between Ascot and Bracknell so these could have provided an hourly shuttle - or half-hourly with extremely tight turnaround times. There was also a set or two at Reading, so plenty of resources to run a shuttle. But SWR...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[RPI]

And yet the SWR Bristol services were withdrawn as they were a ‘duplication’......

Slightly different at the Exeter end of the West of England line, SWR removed two short workings that were very busy and took the strain off the 16:24 and 17:25 Waterloo services. This at least will help relieve the 17:25 departure. There has been talk for a long time of plugging the morning gap in service between 07:52 and 09:16 from Honiton towards Exeter, but there doesn't seem to be any mention of this currently from the right places.

 

[northernbelle]

And yet the SWR Bristol services were withdrawn as they were a ‘duplication’......

The difference being that GWR already sign the route via Axminster for diversionary purposes and have a gap in their unit requirement that means one is available at the required time. The SWR operation to Bristol required bespoke crew knowledge and traction.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The difference being that GWR already sign the route via Axminster for diversionary purposes and have a gap in their unit requirement that means one is available at the required time. The SWR operation to Bristol required bespoke crew knowledge and traction.

and was an addition to two trains per hour between Salisbury and Bristol anyway*, whereas the West of England Line gets only an hourly service south of Yeovil

*Hourly Portsmouth Cardiff, hourly Westbury Gloucester with some starting at Southampton, Salisbury or Warminster if not Weymouth, roughly two-hourly Salisbury Westbury Yeovil SWR service

 

[Train Boy]

Some timetables from May 2022 (to state the obvious, it may change between now and then... etc) are now on RTT, including this one: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W44794/2022-05-16/detailed

 

[swt_passenger]

Some timetables from May 2022 (to state the obvious, it may change between now and then... etc) are now on RTT, including this one: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W44794/2022-05-16/detailed

Interesting that that particular services carries on empty to Castle Cary then returns to Exeter, so presumably it subsumes a route learning service?

 

[Parallel]

Interesting that that particular services carries on empty to Castle Cary then returns to Exeter, so presumably it subsumes a route learning service?

Would be good if it could run to Yeovil Pen Mill in passenger service, though there is an extended wait at Chard Junction.

 

[fgwrich]

Would be good if it could run to Yeovil Pen Mill in passenger service, though there is an extended wait at Chard Junction.

Or even as a service back to Exeter - considering it has a 28 minute wait at Honiton.

 

[northernbelle]

Would be good if it could run to Yeovil Pen Mill in passenger service, though there is an extended wait at Chard Junction.

It would be a waste of time as the empty stock from Axminster to Castle Cary is overtaken at Chard Junction by the following 1825 Exeter - Waterloo.

Or even as a service back to Exeter - considering it has a 28 minute wait at Honiton.

The diagram also serves to ensure crew competency is maintained between Exeter and Castle Cary - hence the dead onward run from Axminster. Running back to Exeter instead would remove this efficiency for a very limited gain in terms of passenger demand.

 

[MP393]

It’s worth noting there’s possibly a morning service going to be added at some point as the timetable gets further added in, as there is this empty stock shunt currently in but nothing to form from or to yet.

Realtime Trains | 5L97 0701 Axminster to Axminster | 16/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 5L97 0701 departure from Axminster to Axminster on 16/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[RPI]

It’s worth noting there’s possibly a morning service going to be added at some point as the timetable gets further added in, as there is this empty stock shunt currently in but nothing to form from or to yet.

Realtime Trains | 5L97 0701 Axminster to Axminster | 16/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 5L97 0701 departure from Axminster to Axminster on 16/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I hope so, plug that gap from Honiton between 07:52 and 09:16 and would hopefully relieve both of those services slightly, the 07:52 being absolutely rammed as a six car and the 09:16 being one of the few remaining three car diagrams on the WoE.

 

[Ashley Hill]

The diagram also serves to ensure crew competency is maintained between Exeter and Castle Cary

Only for drivers,it runs DOO. Guards refresh the route by service trains.
Don’t forget Provincial/Regional Railway’s also ran a morning and evening return Exeter to Honiton and back in NSE days.

 

[RPI]

Only for drivers,it runs DOO. Guards refresh the route by service trains.
Don’t forget Provincial/Regional Railway’s also ran a morning and evening return Exeter to Honiton and back in NSE days.

I'm assuming the Guard will travel back pass on the 19:04 from Axminster then?

There is currently a booked route learner most days from Exeter TMD to Castle Cary via Honiton, usually a 150

 

[Ashley Hill]

The route refresh 150 is DOO not the return from Axminster.

 

[davetheguard]

Isn’t this part of Devon Metro whereby eventually there’s a two-hourly ‘overlay’ service on top of the roughly hourly South Western?

And isn’t it supposed to go on to Okehampton or Barnstaple!

Some timetables from May 2022 (to state the obvious, it may change between now and then... etc) are now on RTT, including this one: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W44794/2022-05-16/detailed

GWR-operated 16.31 Barnstaple to Axminster from May timetable change.

I wonder how long since the last advertised through service ran?

 

[RPI]

The route refresh 150 is DOO not the return from Axminster.

There is no return from Axminster as a passenger service

 

[pompeyfan]

I'm assuming the Guard will travel back pass on the 19:04 from Axminster then?

There is currently a booked route learner most days from Exeter TMD to Castle Cary via Honiton, usually a 150

I can’t say I’ve noticed it, and I probably would have. What headcode, time etc does it run?

 

[northernbelle]

I can’t say I’ve noticed it, and I probably would have. What headcode, time etc does it run?

3Z50 1513 Exeter TMD - Castle Cary
3Z51 1747 Castle Cary - Exeter TMD

It doesn't run every day but has certainly picked up in frequency in recent months.

 

[RPI]

3Z50 1513 Exeter TMD - Castle Cary
3Z51 1747 Castle Cary - Exeter TMD

It doesn't run every day but has certainly picked up in frequency in recent months.

Beat me to it, passed it at Honiton the other evening!

 

[pompeyfan]

Are Turbos cleared along that route? And would it be beneficial to do so?

 

[RPI]

Are Turbos cleared along that route? And would it be beneficial to do so?

I don't think they are currently, obviously there's the benefit of them being able to do 90MPH

 

[fgwrich]

It would be a waste of time as the empty stock from Axminster to Castle Cary is overtaken at Chard Junction by the following 1825 Exeter - Waterloo.


The diagram also serves to ensure crew competency is maintained between Exeter and Castle Cary - hence the dead onward run from Axminster. Running back to Exeter instead would remove this efficiency for a very limited gain in terms of passenger demand.

I was thinking more as a service back from Axminster or Honiton after it has completed its Castle Cary trip, particularly if the guard remains on the same unit throughout. However, in this current climate it would probably bring little reward.

 

[Ashley Hill]

The Castle Cary route refresher is DOO throughout. I’d love to see a guard on it and run it as a service.

 

[Parallel]

Interesting that the train isn’t currently scheduled to stop at St. James’ Park. No idea when the last train to stop at both St’ James’ Park and Pinhoe would’ve been!

 

[TheWalrus]

Interesting that the train isn’t currently scheduled to stop at St. James’ Park. No idea when the last train to stop at both St’ James’ Park and Pinhoe would’ve been!

I can’t remember this happening in my lifetime but I thought the plan was for GWR to operate Axminster-Barnstaple all stations Axminster-Exeter? That was some years ago so may have changed now.

 

[Class800]

I can’t remember this happening in my lifetime but I thought the plan was for GWR to operate Axminster-Barnstaple all stations Axminster-Exeter? That was some years ago so may have changed now.

All stations Axminster-Exeter would typically exclude St James Park, because while physically on this line, it is operationally only on the Avocet line to Exmouth