I had the misfortune to be on that 142 and was able to speak to the BBC South Wests local business corespondant about the matter.The 142 had problems with the doors not closing and finally ground to a halt coming down the bank into Exeter St Davids with an AWS problem.The unit was terminated at Exeter and passengers transfered to a 150.The Dfts penny pinching in the south west is causing problems everywhere on the regions rail network.Only last Saturday at Plymouth FGW had to lay on relief road coaches stopping Liskeard and Bodmin for the 1757 Two car class 150 Plymouth/Penzance service which was overwhelmed by passengers returning to Cornwall as indeed most services are on Saturdays.Indeed the 2 car class 150s which operate Plymouth/Penzance services are totally unsuitable and are regularly overcrowded by passengers off terminating HSTs and Voyagers at Plymouth,hardly an inducment to Cornwalls longer distance passengers.All in all the Dft is now sending all the wrong signals to the regions rail users and one has to wonder is this the thin end of the wedge especially given FGWs onerous premium profile in the coming years.Oh dear oh dear oh dear, they're in trouble already! lol Just watched the local BBC news, & they had a report on the 'Pacers' coming down here, problems they had with them in the '80s etc., & happened to be on one at the time, asking passengers what their thoughts are etc. Train was running ok so far on Barnstaple to Exmouth route, & broke down few stops before it got to Exmouth, as conductor couldn't close a set of doors! Once unit managed to get back to Exeter, the AWS decided to pack in as well! Is this a sign of things to come!?
Mart
Time for a change of Government I think,Labours/Dfts record on the South Wests railway has been appalling.