Cornish Main Line.

[Kentish Paul]

I recall from other threads on this forum that the Cornish Main line can only support 1tph (passenger) in each direction. If we take Penzance to Plymouth as 80 miles and the journey time as 2 hours (allowing for an average number of stops), this leaves 1 train at the half way stage as the next leaves Penzance and the previous arrives at Plymouth. Not sure of the length of signal sections anymore but i would have thought more could be fitted in.

Maybe the other paths are filled by frieght and ECS moves. Am I right that the existing section breaks are St Earth, Truro, Burngullow, Par, Lostwithiel, Liskeard and Saltash.

As a 30 year resident of Penzance from 1959 having used Marazion and Chasewater stations (!) an update on the current situation would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks, Paul.

 

[D1009]

I recall from other threads on this forum that the Cornish Main line can only support 1tph (passenger) in each direction. If we take Penzance to Plymouth as 80 miles and the journey time as 2 hours (allowing for an average number of stops), this leaves 1 train at the half way stage as the next leaves Penzance and the previous arrives at Plymouth. Not sure of the length of signal sections anymore but i would have thought more could be fitted in.

Maybe the other paths are filled by frieght and ECS moves. Am I right that the existing section breaks are St Earth, Truro, Burngullow, Par, Lostwithiel, Liskeard and Saltash.

As a 30 year resident of Penzance from 1959 having used Marazion and Chasewater stations (!) an update on the current situation would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks, Paul.

More ARE fitted in, there are 8 trains leaving Penzance for Plymouth between 0600 and 1000 every morning ! The signalling limits headway west of Truro to around 20 minutes, east of there is mostly Track Circuit Block, but with the signals quite a long way apart. The signalling was designed to cope with the once thriving china clay traffic to and from Fowey.

 

[yorkie]

I recall from other threads on this forum that the Cornish Main line can only support 1tph (passenger) in each direction..

Who said that? A quick glance at a timetable disproves it.

 

[Eagle]

More ARE fitted in, there are 8 trains leaving Penzance for Plymouth between 0600 and 1000 every morning !

And that's not even including trains starting from Par, and trains from the Gunnislake branch which pile in at St Budeaux.

 

[TEW]

There aren't any trains that start at Par, at least not at that time, and the Gunnislake branch is only 1tp2h, and in the Plymouth area the signalling is a lot better. 3tph is the limit through Cornwall really, at least past Truro.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Thanks all for the replys. Should have read the timetable first.

I just have and came up with the following down departures from St Austell.

19:39, 19:54, 20:29, 20:43, 21:28, 21:47, 22:18, 23:35.

This alternates between FGW and XC and shows a basic 15 minute gap is possible, therefore 4tph.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[TEW]

The 19:54 and 20:43 services both usually get held at signals just west of Truro and Camborne though because of the long signal sections, so they tend to be more like 20 minutes apart by Penzance.

 

[D1009]

The longest signal section is between Truro and Roskear Jn, near Camborne. The FGW HSTs tend to be the slowest due to their longer dwell time at Redruth.

 

[Zoe]

The longest signal section is between Truro and Roskear Jn, near Camborne.

There is an IBS on the Down Main at Baldhu though.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The shortest sections are probably between Burgullow & Lostwithiel!
Burgullow, St Austell, Crinnis (Nr Holmbush Arch), Par, Treverran Tunnel IBS, Lostwithiel. This is the busiest section in Cornwall.

After Truro and Roskear Jn the next other possible restricting place is the single track into Penzance station, and Royal Albert Bridge.

They planned a bypass for St Austell, (South side) and asked BR to single the track between St Austell & Par - BR said impossible!
The unpopular plans, also cutting through 2 school's grounds, were dropped.

 

[TEW]

Roskear Junction to Penzance is the most limiting signal section in the mornings and evenings when St Erth box is closed. That limits the headways to just over 20 minutes.

 

[D1009]

Roskear Junction to Penzance is the most limiting signal section in the mornings and evenings when St Erth box is closed. That limits the headways to just over 20 minutes.

It must be open during times of operation on the St Ives branch, so it's not much of an issue.

 

[TEW]

No, but in the morning it is actually surprisingly limiting with trains at 05:05, 05:21, 05:41 and 06:00 from Penzance. This means the 05:21 and 05:41 both have unusual calling patterns so they are quicker.