Observations on the FGW network this week

[159jim]

Trains

-FGW class 153 with class 150/2 on rear, working the 12:48 Paignton-Cardiff Central, observed at Dawlish on Monday, and Torquay on Wednesday

-SWT class 159 working the 14:27 Exeter St Davids-Waterloo, unusually working a 3 car formation, then coupling to a 6 car formation, forming 9 cars at Salisbury, observed on Wednesday at Exeter Central and Salisbury

CIS system

-New screens at Westbury, now working.

-New screens at Warminster, not currently working.

-New screens and announcements at Digby & Sowton, fully working.

-New Screen Help Point at St James Park

-New screens at Torquay, currently not working

-New screen at Paignton, platform 2 only, fully working, according to Louis97 (Louis Rawlings) Platform 1 at Paignton isnt going to recive new screens and announcements.


Thanks,
Jim.

 

[Zoe]

Platform 1 at Paignton isnt going to recive new screens and announcements.

It would be a bit pointless as trains can only arrive and not depart towards Newton Abbot from platform 1.

 

[starrymarkb]

the 14:27 then forms a peak service from Waterloo. Plus last time I caught it (in 2006) it was also heavily loaded between Sailsbury and Gratley with schoolkids.

 

[Pen Mill]

For further info :-
Paignton-Cardiff was 153305 leading 150246 on Tuesday 12th at EXD
I took the 14:27 from EXD to YVJ on Tuesday , single unit 159022 , lightly loaded.

159003 was stabled opposite Riverside Yard when I left.

 

[thefab444]

SWT class 159 working the 14:27 Exeter St Davids-Waterloo, unusually working a 3 car formation, then coupling to a 6 car formation, forming 9 cars at Salisbury, observed on Wednesday at Exeter Central and Salisbury

What's interesting about that, it's booked?

 

[DavidBrown]

Noticed that the CIS system was down across the FGW network yesterday - the new help points with screens at a large number of stations were displaying "No trains are due in the next 4 hours", whilst the screens at Exeter St Davids were not updating with frequent tannoys instead.

 

[ACE1888]

Had 2 local days out this week, Penzance-Exmouth return on Monday and Penzance-Gunnislake on Wednesday, girlfriend came to Exmouth, and a day out alone with the camera to Gunny, lovely weather, days out on the rails, doesn't get any better, most relaxing, even if the 153 failed with loss of power at Bere Ferrers on the Wednesday....

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Odd turn on the Gloucester yesterday, the 0744 ex-Trowbridge was formed of a 143 and 158/9! Another 158/9 was on a Westbury terminator, so with them off the Cardiff's, there was two diagrams formed of 2 x 150s (one was a 150/2 and 150/1 combo).

Most the Class 153s were paired through Trowbridge, they may as well been reformed as 155s