GWR offers improvements in new timetable

Image showing GWR deckchairs denoting the number 4200 at Penzance

21st May 2019

With the start of the new timetable on 20th May, train services between Plymouth and Penzance are set to double as part of the Great Western Railway (GWR) new timetable. Operated by a mixture of new Intercity Express Trains and the refurbished Castle Class HST, the improved timetable will see half-hourly stopping services between Plymouth and Penzance. This amounts to an increase of over 4,000 seats every weekday.

This increase in frequency has been facilitated bu a £30 million signalling upgrade that was delivered by Network Rail between Plymouth and Penzance. This modernisation included the addition of 21 new signals along the Cornish mainline as well as upgrades to seven level crossings. These upgrades allow more services to run and offer greater resilience. £3.2 million of this total was provided by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) from the Government’s Local Growth Fund.

In addition to these improvements, many other changes have been implemented as part of the new timetable:

On the Riviera line, additional trains run to and from Paignton on Saturdays, including more through trains to and from London
On the Tamar Valley line, a later last train on Sundays runs in each direction at 2001 from Plymouth and 2050 from Gunnislake
On the Tarka line, trains to and from Sampford Courtenay and Okehampton are reintroduced on Sundays for the summer period
On the Looe Valley line, some Saturday and Sunday trains are re-timed and a later last train runs on Saturdays in each direction at 2041 from Liskeard and 2113 from Looe
On the Atlantic Coast line, most local stopping trains are withdrawn on Saturdays, to allow direct long-distance services from London and the North of England to operate to and from Newquay. On Sundays, an enhanced level of service is introduced for the summer period
On the St Ives Bay line, the new Park & Ride facility is planned to open at St Erth at the end of May 2019. This will replace the existing site at Lelant Saltings, which will only be served by one train in each direction. All trains will now call at Carbis Bay, and some will call additionally at Lelant. On Sundays, train services will start earlier at around 0900

Announcing the timetable change, GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to deliver these improvements today, and another significant step to provide more modern trains, and more frequent services on almost every part of our network. These new, routine half-hourly services will have a significant impact for those who travel in Devon and Cornwall and the communities we serve; and paving the way for mainline improvements between London and Devon and Cornwall to come later in the year."

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport Geoff Brown said:

“We know that good public transport connections are important to our residents, businesses and visitors. That’s why improving public transport in Cornwall is a priority for this Council. The introduction of this new and improved rail timetable by GWR is a major milestone in the creation of a One Public Transport System for Cornwall - a fully integrated and sustainable public transport network which will link bus, rail, ferry and airport timetables.”

LEP Chief Executive Glenn Caplin said:

“These new services give better connectivity to Cornish businesses and improved access to employment and education for people across Cornwall. With more capacity in the public transport system we can boost productivity and grow the economy.”

Author: Darren Porter
Image: GWR