When is a direct train not a direct train?

[apbj]

It seems GWR's 0710 Penzance-Paddington (1A78) now involves a change of set for all passengers at Plymouth. It used to be that one 5-car set was attached to another at PLY to make 10, but now it seems to be diagrammed as a set change.

The first time this happened the train manager mumbled some apology about "needing extra carriages" which made no sense. The second time the train manager said it had always been done this way, which isn't true. Happened again today.

Despite the code remaining 1A78, seat reservations were not transferred over which means absolute bedlam on a busy peak (expensive!) service into London. Various assistance passengers cut loose in the process, too.

Can GWR sell through tickets for trains that are no such thing? Journeys that break in Plymouth are sold at a discount in advance so there's a fare premium as well as an issue of convenience.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Looks like you were just unlucky today with a set swap. RTT shows that your unit was swapped on to 2C09 (0809 Exeter to Penzance) at Plymouth and the unit from that was swapped on to your train, which ran as a 10-car from Plymouth.

 

[apbj]

No, it was diagrammed this way last week and so far every day this week.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looks like you were just unlucky today with a set swap. RTT shows that your unit was swapped on to 2C09 (0809 Exeter to Penzance) at Plymouth and the unit from that was swapped on to your train, which ran as a 10-car from Plymouth.

It worked as expected Mon Tue this week, and Wed-Fri last week. According to RTT

 

[Tetchytyke]

No, it was diagrammed this way last week and so far every day this week.

Not according to RTT it hasn't.

Example from yesterday: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W34562/2026-06-30/detailed#allox_id=1

802005 operated throughout, with 802004 added at Plymouth.

Same last Wednesday: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W34562/2026-06-24/detailed#allox_id=1 (802015 throughout, 802009 added at Plymouth).

Unless RTT is relaying duff allocation info, of course.

 

[apbj]

Ah, maybe .. we definitely had to swap on Friday and again on Monday, hence asking the question but perhaps I have indeed just been unlucky with set swaps

On the plus side, the absence of reservations following each swap also means an absence of automated announcements so there's relative peace and quiet at least!

 

[LittleRedTrain]

At one point you could pretty much guarantee that a large percentage of Cambrian 'direct trains' to/from Birmingham would actually involve a set swap at Shrewsbury, depending on how many ERTMS-fitted 158s were actually working and in the right place.
Don't know how common it is now that more 197s have come on stream.

There were also trains on SWT where you would have to move coaches if you were making certain journeys.
(E.g. on a Sunday when a 4 car Alton train joined an 8 Car Basingstoke train at Woking, anyone travelling from the Alton portion to Clapham Junction or Wimbledon would have to move coaches as only the front 8 cars could be opened there).
I believe the Class 450 SDO has since been upgraded and this is no longer required.

 

[321362]

At one point you could pretty much guarantee that a large percentage of Cambrian 'direct trains' to/from Birmingham would actually involve a set swap at Shrewsbury, depending on how many ERTMS-fitted 158s were actually working and in the right place.
Don't know how common it is now that more 197s have come on stream.

Was about 50% a few months ago, but now barely any end up being swapped.

 

[The exile]

Ah, maybe .. we definitely had to swap on Friday and again on Monday, hence asking the question but perhaps I have indeed just been unlucky with set swaps

On the plus side, the absence of reservations following each swap also means an absence of automated announcements so there's relative peace and quiet at least!

This happens quite regularly at Temple Meads. On the last occasion, it was actually announced as being due to the fact that the new driver wasn’t trained to drive “this type of train” (158) - which I suspect was a major departure from script!

 

[QueensCurve]

When it uses a non-direct route?

 

[DS25]

Was about 50% a few months ago, but now barely any end up being swapped.

Wasnt that because of 197s though?