From the FGW website :

13:13 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 13:37
This train will be cancelled. This is due to Traincrew shortages due to sickness.

Replacement road transport has been arranged.

12:44 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 13:07
This train will be cancelled. This is due to Traincrew shortages due to sickness.

Replacement road transport has been arranged.

 
Falmouth branch caped this afternoon, unit in Penzance so probably no crew again!

 
Falmouth was cancelled from 16:00, no guard, rather hilarious story behind it, but the basic jist of it is 'Swindon'.

Falmouth unit forms a Truro to Penzance passenger service at end of play so the 18:03 Paddington to Penzance was held at Truro and made additional stops at Camborne/St.Erth to cover the missing ex Falmouth working...

 
Heard today from a good source that the loop at Penryn on the Falmouth branch will now not be installed this October but in another 12 months, more red tape! will it ever happen? meanwhile, the branch will be closed for two weeks to lay continuous welded rail which is probably costing more than the installation of the passing loop!

 
Nothing surprises me with Network Rail.

They close the Paignton - Newton Abbot line for half term twice annually and replace about 200m of track whilst we are given the prospect of travelling on buses for about an hour to Newton Abbot instead of the usual 18minutes!

 

When do you suggest they close it, summer?

 
No, I suggest they do more work meaning they don't need to close it for a few years.

 
I agree, they closed the St Ives branch for two weeks in 2005 and all they did all the time was work from 10 til 4 cutting down trees and replacing the odd sleeper! and i'm not exaggerating, that's literally all they did!

 
The two weekly closures of the SW branch lines that happen every autumn and every spring are a total scandal. Fair play a couple of closures lately on the NQY/FAL have seen some lengths of new welded rail track introduced. But other two week closures on SIV/LOO/GSL have seen a couple overhanging trees removed and the odd length of rail replaced. No wonder the locals dont rely on their branch lines when they are closed 4 weeks a year for practically no reason. Why cant trees on say the Looe branch be trimmed on Sundays when theres no service in the winter anyway, if I were FGW I'd seriously question Networks Rails 'essential maintenance' program.....

 
The branches are now only closed for two weeks a year.

 
today services on the Falmouth branch were suspended due to network rail! Track circuit failure YESTERDAY which still wasn't fixed today! the two commuter trains did run this morning with a pilot man but the service was "suspended" from 0945 and was still suspended at 1300. Good old Network rail, couldn't run a p**s up in a brewery, maybe their management is shared with FGW???

 
Falmouth Branch Line services again this morning. I asume it is a lack of trains again as trains are short formed all over.

 
The Falmouth branch might open today but the train doesn't want to come out and play.

Line incident

Line problem between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

Train services between Truro and Falmouth Docks are being disrupted due to a train fault. Short notice cancellations and delays of up to 60 minutes can be expected.

Replacement road transport is in operation between Truro and Falmouth Docks.


Service incidents

11:50 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 12:14
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

Replacement road transport is in operation between Falmouth Docks and Truro.

10:47 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 11:10
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

Replacement road transport is in operation between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

10:11 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 10:35
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

Replacement road transport is in operation between Falmouth Docks and Truro.

09:45 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 10:08
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

Replacement road transport is in operation between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

09:04 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 09:28
This train has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault.

Replacement road transport is in operation between Falmouth Docks and Truro.


The dear old departed Reverend Awdry couldn't think up so many tales of woes for his Thomas the Tank Engine stories.

 
Presumably due to the failure of 150233 on the previous days last Newquay trip....

 
Ye h i expect so as the first Newquay trains were operating as 1 car sprinters instead of 2 car sprinters.

 
FGW probably have a think tank to come up with differing ways of saying 'The train is broke' 'the staff are sick or cant be done with working for us anymore' 'Network rail cant look after two parallel strips of steal or coloured lights that our trains run on'

 
Its true. They seem to come up with a new one every couple of months. The latest is resourcing difficultys. It covers no trains, no driver, no guard, no track(probaly)

 
Well, there was a train on the Falmouth today I noticed! and it ran! of interest, today was the first time this week that the 0657 Fal-Tru ran and strangely enough hardly anyone used it! The unit that caused the problems yesterday failed on tuesday night and was left at Par for fitters attention the next morning, the fitter turned up the next morning and said it was cream crackered! isn't that the reason why it was failed on tuesday night? doh!

 
Took a trip on the Fal branch on Saturday after the first weeks blockade and was pleasantly suprised with how much work has been done! replaced about 2 miles of track with welded rail/steel sleepers, and loads of cutting back, not just trimming but actually cutting down trees and killing the stumps! was like a new railway!

 
It will be better than the Main Line the way its going

 
After the second week it appears that even more work has been done! another mile or so of re laying with CWR and MAJOR cutting back all the way along the branch, so much cutting back that I didn't even realise that there was a row of houses above Perranwell station.

 
Have had a couple of trips along there this week, the rides getting better and as said a hell of a lot of cutting back you get to see places youve not seen for years

On the minus side its a shame all the old track panels are lying round everywhere and instead of cutting back between Penwithers Jct and Perranwell its just been flailed instead wich always looks so untidy

 
Neighbours are being "driven to tears" by noisy railway works behind their homes (link below.)
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=19169994&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=251466

The families want the rail service replaced with coaches so the work can be done during the day - or around the clock - as was recently the case at Falmouth.

Quote from resident :

"There are only a handful of trains and no-one can understand why they don't just put buses on."

Network Rail spokesman Ben Herbert said it would not have been "feasible or acceptable" to close the line for more than the two weeks when the work in Falmouth was done.

He added: "If residents do have any concerns or questions they can contact Network Rail."

"We expect the project to be completed and our people off site next week."

A Carrick council spokeswoman said they had not yet decided whether to issue a noise abatement notice.

 
Ahhh , sad local residents ! Tis such a shame they woke up one morning and found a railway next to their houses lets shut the A39 for a week with a diversion vis Redruth eh , they won't mind that either , will they

Pete

 
The said "handful of trains"convey an enormous amount of passengers, who would be slightly annoyed to find that they were being bussed to work/college/the main line instead. they are happy on the whole when there is planned engineering as it takes so much longer to make their otherwise 15-25 minute journey, but to enforce more road transport on them......... Is this work not to IMPROVE the already pressurised service?? Its obviously one these moaners do not use.

 
It's probably the same people that moan when the trains are replaced by busses! Penryn is full of moanin old gits like that, the railway was there before them!!

 
This isn't connected to the installation of the passing loop, is it?

 
May be the groundwork but I don't think its actually being installed yet.

 
No, they're just removing a load of rail and sleepers that were replaced during the recent blockade.

 
Do you know if there off to the Helston Railway Group?

 
All redundant track panels are taken away to Westbury to be broken up there or moved on to other disposal points.
They are not that easy to remove from where they are on the branch so it would cost the Helston group a lot of money to obtain it.

 
The Helston group had the last lot earlier this year but weren't in a financial position to get any more, plus they've got enough for the meantime!

 
The Falmouth branch was supposed to be closed all day tomorrow for engineering works but has now been cancelled, NR are replacing the set of points for the branch at Penweathers junction, the new turnout is all set out in the cess ready to go in but obviously the main line will have to be closed at the same time!

 
Well the NQY is open after two weeks closure and am completely puzzled to what has been done, looks like errrrrrrrrrrrrr nothing!! Criminal.

 
Sounds like the average Network Rail farce then, Much tea and coffee to be had!

 

Someone says the NQY is shut again soon?? Why they did NOTHING last time, about time Network Rail were put into place.....

 
Why don't they just put a blockade until HSTs need it, then of course FGW management will kick up a fuss if there good old Newquay service can't get there!!

 
The new points were commisssioned at approx 0345 on Mon 14th January.  It was a very wet possession weekend! 

 
From the FGW website :

19:42 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 20:05
This train has been cancelled.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.

Road transport will operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

20:08 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 20:32
This train has been cancelled.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.

Road transport will operate between Falmouth Docks and Truro.

20:50 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 21:13
This train has been cancelled.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.

Road transport will operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

21:20 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 21:44
This train has been cancelled.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.

Road transport will operate between Falmouth Docks and Truro.

22:00 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 22:23
This train has been cancelled.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.

Road transport will operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

 
Shortages that are bound to occur again due to conductors being trained that are going to be train managers and their repalcements have yet to be trained to be conductors!! No forward thinking as ususal, other conductors have booked annual leave and of course it was a sunday turn, which you dont have to be 'available' for.

 
From the FGW website :

18:24 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 18:47
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.This is due to a passenger having been taken ill earlier.

19:12 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 19:36
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.This is due to a passenger having been taken ill earlier.

20:00 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 20:23
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.This is due to a passenger having been taken ill earlier.

 
The Falmouth branch seems to have had two 153s for the last week so a good thing in this case as one unit could be detached to keep the service going..

I suppose this will be the way forward when the Penryn passing loop is commissioned later in the year. Single 153s on the half hourly service then joining up for the hourly service and return to base at PNZ.

 
I believe that a pair of 153s are now diagrammed on the Falmouth branch - certainly on weekdays

 

The current plan for the enhanced Falmouth service can be found in the link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2940.msg22433#msg22433


FGW Class 153 diagrams can be found in the link below.
http://www.southwesternlines.co.uk/downloads/fgwdiagmay08/SX_PM153s.pdf

 
Fal is booked 2 153's now, the reason for the revision was someone decided to vomit over half of the unit and therefore had to be taken out of service for heavy cleaning!

 
From the FGW website :

18:24 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 18:47
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.

Additional road transport will operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

19:12 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 19:36
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.

Additional road transport will operate between Falmouth Docks and Truro.

 
Rail services on a cramped Cornish branch line are set to double thanks to a ^7.8 million cash injection. The line between Truro and Falmouth will be upgraded with most of the money coming from the EU, Cornwall County Council and Network Rail, which oversees Britain's rail infrastructure.

The scheme will create passing points on the popular commuter and tourist line, which will mean that more than one train can shuttle back and forth at any time.

The Truro to Falmouth route, which is promoted as The Maritime Line by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, has witnessed an increase in passenger numbers of nearly 70 per cent in ten years. In 1997, an estimated 156,000 journeys were made on the line, while a decade later, the number had mushroomed to 261,000 journeys.

The scheme won backing worth just under ^5 million from the EU's Convergence Programme, plus ^2.5 million from Cornwall County Council and ^600,000 from Network Rail.

Train operator First Great Western also gave its support.

Detailed design work is expected to begin in October with a new timetable commencing next May.

The project will provide a passing loop near Penryn Station and mean a once-an-hour service will double.
It is also planned that passengers using Truro's new park-and-ride, which opens in August, will be able to buy through tickets.

See http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/homepagenews/Branch-line-boost-Cornwall/article-206346-detail/article.html

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7489554.stm

 

Just the one I was aware of at Penrhyn! 

Signalling equipment due to be commissioned first weekend in April

 
Good stuff - where are they gonna get the stock from though?

 
Perhaps they will use LM's 153 (soon to be replaced by a bus) from the Stourbridge branch line?

 
Evening

April is the contractors 'target' to finalise, but
not 100% it may slightly over run that.

When the loop is ready and in action, it will be
booked two c153 single cars, one coming one way and
one the other, this will be refurb stock as per we
have now.  I can see this going down like a lead
baloon with the locals and I have to agree.

Hope this helps!

Regards

Karl.

 
When the loop is ready and in action, it will be
booked two c153 single cars, one coming one way and
one the other, this will be refurb stock as per we
have now.  I can see this going down like a lead
baloon with the locals and I have to agree.

I'm not sure I understand this view. The service will have the same capacity per hour but instead of 1 2 coach train ph (or less), it'll be more spread with 2 1 coach tph. At the moment there's an arrival into Truro at 0819 which I suspect is heavily loaded with commuters. If there are also arrivals at 0750 and 0850 then the commuter load will be spread over 3 services, hence more capacity.

I know which is the more attractive service for passengers, and it appears a very pragmatic way of doubling frequency without any additional costs in leasing rolling stock. By spreading passenger loads, it should avoid any problems with 1 peak hour train taking all the load, whereas in future the load will be spread over several trains.     

 
Background quote :

 
Afternoon Lee and all

I've seen this statement posted before and I put it
forward to 'someone' who deals alot with the
partnerships TOC's e.t.c and he said that all trains
will stop at Perranwell.  Its only booked a 2min stop,
so I don't think it will throw the timetable out,
although most people I see at meetings usually use the
term a 45min timetable!

If FGW try to alternate the Perranwell stop, I got a
very good idea that "Perranworthal Town Council" plus
Perranwell and surrounding village's will have something
very strong to say about that; like errr no!  And they do
attend partnership meetings frequently!

Regards

Karl.

 
Their are still problems.

People will still use the key peak trains, so overcrowding will get worse. Virgin XC found this out when they did Operation Princess - spreading did not occur.

A more frequent service will result in additional passengers being drawn in (more convenient, reliable etc.), so loadings will increase.

Will a single carriage cope?

Where is the 150 going? And where did the 2*153s come from?

 

It totally depends at what time the trains arrive and depart from truro.

 
Afternoon

As already said it will be two FGW c153's which there
are enough to choose from!

As regards to overcrowding, I agrued that point at a
previous meeting (especially the 08:00 and 17:00
departures which will have the most), but was told
it will be c153's.  Remember a coment something to
do with funding?  As for 150's they will be deployed
alse where on the FGW network.  As for more, I think
you will have to ask FGW!  Are all the Welsh ones
going back?

Regards

Karl.

 
Evening

One extra bit of info I forgot to add earlier is
'I think' after 7:00pm, it will revert to one train
and a normal style timetable, whether they will couple
up the other c153 to make a two car formation I don't
know.  Not sure if the first train of the day will be
only one or two?

On my travels bumped into a friend at Dawlish, he
comented on Spotlight Friday.  Funny he said on the
day of filming they used an "Arriva Trains" c150/2
and they filmed a not very attractive Falmouth Town -
The Dell station!

Regards

Karl.

 

Update from Andrew Pennington :


The previous advice was :

 
Morning

Have had a word with another source of mine and
yep Lee is alternate.  My other source (who I will
have a word with his shell when I see him next as
he should know details), has good muddled up
somewhere!  I did ask him about Perranwell in
detail.

Also first train of the day is likely to be one
c153 then from 7am - 7pm will be the two c153's,
then it will revert back to a normal service.
There might be the possibility of later service
as well.

Regards

Karl. 

 

SWT on the other hand with their massive timetable rebuild put the spreading of passengers over services key into the timetable - which did extremely well. It depends how well you advertise it and also, on ticketing! Add benefits for travelling later and earlier (Early Bird come to mind, TPE offer this) then there will be more of an uptake of shoulder peak services.

 
Well lets put some things straight, the current service is actually 2 hourly near enough during the day and uses 2x153's coupled, there are currently 12 trains per day, the new timetable has I believe 27 trains per day, the 0755 from Fal usually loads around 100 passengers on arrival at Truro, if there were another service 30 mins later then it would spread the load. As it is now, after the 0755 trip you can usually just about manage when there is a 153 on the branch, with double the trains then there will be more empty seats to fill.

 

"Load spreading" may not happen - it didn't with Virgin.

 

It's happened more towards Bristol and Birmingham on Virgin - than down south...

 
Evening

The idea of the half an hour service on the Falmouth
to Truro branchline, is to provide a better more
frequent service/s.  With Tremough Campus (which
is still expanding and was given Planning Permission
again this week for more), the idea was to link this
with city of Truro and Falmouth with its port.  With
more people expected to arrive at Tremough, plus the
development of Falmouth Docks into a marina and
terminal for roll-on roll-off, the hope is to attract
more people onto the train and off Cornwalls roads a
lot of which cannot cope with more.  With this the
gaps which oooooo and others has said will arouse,
they would be hopefully be filled with more people eventually.

There are already links in place with Tremough, it
was discussed at a partnership meeting that the
information pack all students recieve should contain
information about the branchline with leaflets on
student railcards e.t.c to entise them in.  This
information pack is in different languages, although
it is possible for a student to buy a wreck in a pub
for ^350, I think there has been an improvement
in students using the train.  There usually is a rep
from the campus at our partnership meeting as well.

Regards

Karl.

 

This concurs with my comment on 5/7.  Given there will be 75ish seats on each train, this is going to be a massive improvement, even in the peak. So I hope it is regarded as the major step forward that it is, which with no increase in rolling stock is a very imaginative way of providing an increased service with minimal increase in running costs.

 

Have you ever even travelled on the Fal to make a justified comment?

 
Afternoon

Well the hope is that there will be a lot more
people travelling.  The problem with the timetable
at the moment is there are too many big gaps and
timings that are not always ideally suited for some.
Once the timetable is in place I would expect to
see double the amount we already have, with hiking
fuel prices and a return bus fare (falmouth to Truro),
being around ^4.50, it is hoped that a half an hour
or 45min timetable will entise a lot more people.

As regards to motive power it will be a 2x single
c153's, but once the service is up and running, if
funding a vailabilty are there it could be 2x c150's,
but only if its vaible.

There 'maybe' a chance of an additional train after
the last arrive at Truro (which currently is
MON - FRI 21:54pm, SAT 22:08pm) which will be 22:xxm
off Truro (probably 22:30pm for Falmouth).  I would
guess that Sundays (22:00pm) will stay the same
don't know why FGW have done this on the present
timetable; it should be either FRI or SAT?

Regards

Karl. 

 

No, I got the ferry service when I was in the area. But I said might.

 
From the FGW website :

06:27 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 06:50

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a delay on a previous journey.

06:55 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 07:19

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a delay on a previous journey.

This is the first round trip of the day, so does anyone know why there was a delay on a previous journey?

 
Late from depot...

 
For some unknown reason the unit's were at Longrock last night rather than in the station and I'm led to believe that there was no driver to bring in the set.

 
Thanks, vacman 

You don't mean someone forgot there was a train to run, do you??

Chris 

 
They go to the depot for cleaning and fuel but last night there was an engineering possesion between Pz and the depot. Should have finished in time for them to come back but.......

 
Ah, yes ... "but ..." !

Well, these things happen: thanks for your helpful local comment, jester! 

 
Today (25/09/2008) from the FGW website :

05:23 Penzance to Truro due 05:58

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a train late from the depot.

06:27 Truro to Falmouth Docks due 06:50

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a train late from the depot earlier. Replacement road transport is in operation from Truro to Falmouth Docks.

06:55 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 07:19

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a train late from the depot earlier. Replacement road transport is in operation from Falmouth Docks to Truro.

 
Well I am on it again tomorrow and I shall be mighty annoyed if it does not run yet again.

I am certainly not impressed with First's planning/ lack of planning. Once yes but not two days running.

Especially when you want to connect at Truro with the 0727 to Plymouth which is a very very slow HST.

Most likely easier to abandon FGW, get the bus to Truro and the 0806 XC instead.

 
From Monday 13 until approximately 1600 on Friday 17 October 2008 and from Monday 20 until approximately 1600 on Friday 24 October 2008 buses will be replacing trains between Truro and Falmouth Docks (links below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2935

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2947

 
The points for the loop are in the yard at Penryn now ready to be laid! never thought i'd see the day!

 
Great news, vacman - any idea when they will be laid?

 

Monday 13 until Friday 17 October. Truro to Falmouth Docks
From Monday 13 until approximately 1600 on Friday 17 October 2008 buses will be replacing trains between Truro and Falmouth Docks.

 

And also from Monday 20 until approximately 1600 on Friday 24 October 2008 (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3561.msg27681#msg27681

 
Yes, sorry: I'd missed the other topics in the calendar, relating to the associated work actually being done! 

Good news, and a great service enhancement for Cornwall, anyway! 

 
When I first heard of the passing loop my (untrained) thought was that it would be at Perranwell where there seems more room for it and it's sort of in the middle.

Or...is Penryn technically the best place for it ?

 
Isn't the improve service only coming in next May when technically it should be fine by December?

 
I believe the signalling won't be installed for a while.

 
Not to forget the other relaying jobs on the line to allow for the increase in line speed in order for the half hourly service to work

 

The signalling is being modernised during the current works (links below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7671107.stm

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3955&NewsAreaID=2

According to Network Rail, after the line re-opens, signalling work between Truro and Penryn will continue over the next six months with no disruption to passengers.

 

Preparatory works for the signalling installation are currently taking place, final commissioning is over the weekend of 4/5/6 April 2009

 
Saw Demelza & Rebbeca up at Par today - are they down at Falmouth polishing the ballast ?

 
Further article link.
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5256

 

Lots of signalling conduit at Truro today heading towards Falmouth, also looks like something is happening between Hayle and Gwinear road....a section of bank has been cut out for 'something'.

 
Update for Penryn,

The Southern extension of the Platform (Falmouth end) has been completed box wise. It needs 'filling' and the Passenger Deck added. Significant quantities of old ballast have been removed from the 'yard'. The most obscure thing is that the signalling and southerly points trunking has been located on the former up platform rather than the trackbed. Will check at Perranwell next week if the trunking has been cabled and lidded there. It does seem strange that they have gone to the expense of clearing this platform yet it won't be used for service.

 

 
Here is a plan i found about 2 weeks ago of the diagram from Truro signal box, showing the loop at Penryn:

http://craig-munday.fotopic.net/p55709127.html, or here for a larger version: http://images3.fotopic.net/?iid=yws14q&outx=2048&quality=70

Mark

 

Wow !!..what a collection of pictures.
 

 
I'm confused with the diagram.

Am I correct to assume that trains to Falmouth will pull into the northern end of the platform whilst trains to Truro will stop on the new southern extension? Once loading has completed the Truro bound service will pass the Falmouth one on the new 'outside' loop, then the Falmouth service will depart.

Or is it the other way around with Falmouth bound services taking the loop to pull into the southern end, after the Truro bound service has pulled into the northern end of the platform, which would seem to go against normal UK running?

 

I'm just a passenger...if they ever decide to run two cars both ways some reversing might be needed unless a footbridge is constructed.
With single cars it's difficult to see (from the diagram) how things will be managed.

I don't like the idea of skipping Perranwell stops either for the sake of a regular timetable - I often walk the Bissoe valley and get home via Perranwell.

Also single car running all year (again ) for the sake of a regular timetable - fridays when all the students are going home for the weekend, summer when Falmouth is a popular destination.

St Ives branch is 4 car in summer and rammed - I wonder if Falmouth's new deal will actually work ?
   

 
From the diagram, clearly the loop is for down trains. So the Up train will arrive first and stop at the northern end of the platform, and can leave as soon as the down train reaches the loop. This does look odd as effectively trains will pass on the right, but it makes sense for up trains to arrive first because Penryn is nearer Falmouth than Truro, so there is more slack at that end of the line. Should the down train arrive first, it will have to wait in the loop till the up train has arrived.

I think it's worth missing Perranwell on alternate trips, to enable a half hourly service. An hourly service for Perranwell will still be an increase on the current frequency and will make it better served than many larger towns and villages.

But you are right chrisoakes that a single car train will be a nightmare at busy times. Maybe First's commanders up in Swindon can't get their heads round the idea that there is actually a commuter line in Cornwall, taking people to work and college rather than just to the seaside.

At the very least I hope the Penryn loop is long enough for two two-car trains. Then when First are surprised by the overcrowding they can approach Cornwall County Council and ask for a subsidy to run longer trains. 

 
Thanks for the clarification. The loop is 400 metres long incidentally extending well to the North of the Station. because of the line running it's not possible to see the end of the loop from the platform as it disappears to the right as the track bends to cross the road leading directly from Penryn to Treliever roundabout around the University complex. I can see it possible to have two two car trains simultaneously on the extended platform, three could possibly, I'll check soon. As for eliminating Perranwell, shame, maybe a request stop service could be implemented on the non-stopping service without too much disturbance to the schedule.   

 
Bothe ends of the platform are being altered to accomodate 4 car trains, as for Perranwell unfortunately it is so little used that I really don't think skipping every other trip will be a problem, an hourly service will be an improvement on the current service! It will be a pain with a single car but i'm led to believe that the bid for the loop and services depended on it being budgeted on a shoestring, at least the loop is built now and we can campaign for longer trains in the future.