I fear for the 21:20 Yeovil Junction beyond Gillingham - as a frequent late long distance traveller this train is so useful but very often on weekdays I am the sole occupant at YJ - I am sure SWR are just looking for an opportunity to curtail it M-T. The F-Su Exeter student traffic justifies its weekend extension to ESD but that doesn't help me out midweek.
I feel SWR would rather not run anything west of Salisbury after 22:30-23:00 on midweek nights.
My issue with the whole idea of extended possession times is that given the considerable investment on the SWML over the last 15 years in track renewals both PL & S&C- improvements in stressing and welding techniques - new rail steels to combat RCF - improved tamping & stoneblower outputs - wholesale new access point installation & existing upgrades and the advance in taking traction current isolations & general efficiencies in maintenance techniques, etc, etc ........ what are NR needing extended times for when the infrastructure should be requiring less and less need for maintenance due to such engineering improvements - for example, PL patrolling timescales were already being extended for this reason 10 years ago due the volume of CWT installation - what has happened ........................... ??
