Network Rail West of England Line Study 2020

[30907]

Skipping stops has the unfortunate effect of destroying the local connectivity. A line like this isn't busy enough to justify separate fast and slow services, and only skipping half the halts doesn't get the time back.

I was assuming alternating fast and slow trains, each 2-hourly. The smaller stations don't warrant hourly, I agree.

Resignalling maiden Newton doesn't help much as the trains are stopping anyway because it's the only reasonable settlement between Dorchester and Yeovil.

davetheguard explains it all, and a fast service needn't stop there.

 

[zwk500]

I was assuming alternating fast and slow trains, each 2-hourly. The smaller stations don't warrant hourly, I agree.

Which fails Dorset council's ambitions for hourly services at each station.

davetheguard explains it all, and a fast service needn't stop there.

I fully agree it could be streamlined, but my point was that every train will stop because it's the 2nd biggest opportunity for revenue. Raising turnout speed and removing the token exchange doesn't get enough benefit to the travel time between MN and YPM to achieve the hourly pattern.

 

[30907]

Which fails Dorset council's ambitions for hourly services at each station.

I fully agree it could be streamlined, but my point was that every train will stop because it's the 2nd biggest opportunity for revenue. Raising turnout speed and removing the token exchange doesn't get enough benefit to the travel time between MN and YPM to achieve the hourly pattern.

Sorry, hadn't realised the full implication of "hourly standard pattern timetable" - but you are probably right, Dorset wouldn't like MN omitting.

 

[zwk500]

Sorry, hadn't realised the full implication of "hourly standard pattern timetable" - but you are probably right, Dorset wouldn't like MN omitting.

As it happens, I've gone back and checked the paperwork - Dorset's agreed proposal (which may be short of its original intention) is for a regular hourly service at Castle Cary, Yeovil, Dorchester and Weymouth with all other stations being 2-hourly as you suggested. Redoing MN doesn't resolve any of the critical issues though.