Certainly not at all platforms but AIUI they have at least a rudimentary form of SDO. If not, individual coaches' doors could be locked out of use as required (certainly not a novel procedure) or,
in extremis, stations with platforms that are too short could be skipped with replacement buses put on. Even a replacement bus is better than falsely being told you can't travel!
As a former timetable planner, I am perfectly aware of the kinds of constraints that often arise in these situations. At the end of the day there are options - SWR just chose the easy way out.
Well evidently SWR are concerned that people might want to do so, otherwise one imagines they wouldn't have marked the trains as reservations compulsory!
I presume the extension to Southampton was part of an earlier, more enlightened plan to divert West of England Line passengers to London via Southampton. But even if you kept that element (which is arguably optional), you are talking about:
- 6 circuits for Exeter-Southampton - so 18 units, if all formed of 9 coaches
- 1 circuit for Andover-Basingstoke - so at most 2 units, as it wouldn't need to be more than 6 coaches if you had London passengers going via Southampton
- 3 circuits for the Romsey rocket - so at most 3 units, as again it wouldn't need to be strenghened
That would be a total of 23 units - well within the capability of the fleet.
No. All I am saying (and I am surprised at how controversial this is, on Railforums of all places!) is that SWR should have left the timetable as it was and strengthened services.
I suspect it's more a question of there not being any (reasonable) additional paths available, regardless of speed. But given their 90mph top speed, there is barely any difference between a 159 and 444 even over that sort of distance.
And I put it to you that they are taking what they see as the easy way out, which is benefitting no-one but themselves.