If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Swanage Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Rumpole, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2015
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Honiton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The train crab at Salisbury might cause the start up to be delayed as swanage junction is the same with a line curbing in so it depends what they find and if there had to be more rules now about using junctions that corner into another. The dmu might have to go a lot slower so it can stop before it gets to the mainline properly. The old trains would break up more in a crash and the
     
  2. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2009
    Messages:
    1,624
    Likes Received:
    534
    Location:
    Swanage
    1) There is a speed limit [both directions - 30 mph - I believe] for Branch trains at Worgret [NOT Swanage] Junction.
    2) The branch line rises from bridges [over the River Frome flood plain] before joining the main line at Worgret Junction.
    3) There is a trap point which will derail a branch train away from the main line if it passes the controlling signal (5750) at danger.
    4) Sunday's SWR train was skidding downhill to the site of the collision with the GWR train.
    In all, there should be minimal similarities with the recent crash to cause further delays with Project Wareham.
    However, we will all have to await the official findings to see if any rule changes will apply.
    No point in raising queries now.
     
  3. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Schedule 8 performance regime payments are redacted. I recall that initially they were set at £200 per minute.

    With franchising on the way out the ORR's consulting on scrapping much of the regime as it will shuffle money that's ultimately all the DfT's

    Patrick
     
  4. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2019
    Messages:
    1,252
    Likes Received:
    1,566
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Alton, Hants
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    While I / we / all of us would welcome an end to the pointless money-go-round between franchises and Network Rail, I assume that actual money will still be required to / from Freight Operators and Open Access Passenger operators. TWT.
    Pat
     
  5. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Yes, as I understand it that’s what’s being reviewed

    Patrick


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. 80104

    80104 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2020
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    451
    Location:
    a small town in germany
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    There is of course the endless flow of money back to passengers in the form of delay repay compensation.

    The concern for Swanage Railway must be that if a DMU or other SR operated train failed at Swanage / on the mainline the repercussions in terms of delays and thus DR compensation by SWR and possibly Cross Country to their delayed passengers. SWR and CC will surely seek to recover (some of) those moneys from SR.

    I suppose if SWR or CC delayed SR from accessing Wareham then SR passengers would receive DR and SR would seek to recover those costs from SWR or CC as appropriate.

    As part of any agreement SR would surely need to have someone at Wareham Station to ensure that if there were issues with SR operations then there was assistance readily available. SR trains would appear on the information screens but of course the help point facility may not be able to help.
     
    Sunnieboy likes this.
  7. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I did wonder about the staffing aspect at Wareham the other day. As far as I know there is one person in the booking office in the morning and one in the afternoon. There are no platform staff I have ever seen. There are of course many stations where one TOC "looks after" other TOC's trains. SWR at Bournemouth covering XC. There are even I believe TOC's who manage a station they no longer call at up in places in the North.
    Not sure what "mess" you could get into contractually if you have SR staff, even (especially?) volunteers, working on an SWR station. What happens if an SWR pax does not like the response to their question and complains to SWR? I know from railtour stewarding you only have to stand on a platform for 5 minutes in a high viz and someone will come and ask you the most obvious question. What platform is x train going from, where are the toilets etc. Sometimes the desire to say read the signs or indicator board above you, is almost too great. Of course you never do though.
    I suspect that may be why for the original trial the ticket hut was in the car park.
     
    ax1709cjm likes this.
  8. 80104

    80104 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2020
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    451
    Location:
    a small town in germany
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I seem to recollect that the ticket caravan was in the car park because there was insufficient time to come up with the means and reach an agreement whereby swt could sell tickets for sr. There were technical (system) and hr issues to resolve. Power was supplied to the ticket caravan by a generator.

    The booking office staff at Wareham do not get involved with customer issues other than to sell tickets. If customers need assistance they are directed to the help point.

    Putting sr staff at Wareham has its challenges: secure counter / desk space, access to power / comms, a mess area (or area out of sight of customers), access to toilets etc etc. The space where the ticket caravan was is no longer available as it is now occupied by a cycle rack. Equally getting agreement with SWR for the staff at Wareham to sell SR tickets may be challenging and of course on at least one day the ticket office isnt manned at the likely times of SR operation.
     
  9. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    218
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Padstow
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Sorry you are wrong there
     
  10. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,338
    Likes Received:
    421
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    From my experiences with SWR getting refunds and complaining about services was hard work.
    Some staff are good, but some others could not care. Hopefully the new GM is improving things and offering customer facing training to staff.
    Passengers are also now more used to booking tickets online or from someone using a portable ticket machine using contactless cards. So at Wareham a SR ticket caravan may not be needed anymore, just someone on the platform?.

    Seems at Swanage there are some who are keen on getting the hurdles for Project Wareham overcome for 2022, and others who just want to concentrate on the existing services especially making sure the December Lights and dining train services go well if COVID is under control.
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2021
  11. 80104

    80104 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2020
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    451
    Location:
    a small town in germany
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The person on the platform has to have access to messing facilities, toilet facilities and some where to sit. They cant be expected to take a flask, a pack of sandwiches and use the public toilets (if these have now reopened at Wareham) and sit on the public benches. Will SWR give SR access to their facilities?
     
  12. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,338
    Likes Received:
    421
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  13. 80104

    80104 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2020
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    451
    Location:
    a small town in germany
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  14. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
    I refuse to believe that any of the molehills raised in the above comments are beyond the wit of well intentioned railway persons(SR and SWR) to solve. Wareham 2022~!
     
    mdewell likes this.
  15. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Knowing that at least one of the members on here is very keen on the 4TC project. A few images from this morning a cracking Autumn day, although I do not often find it was really too bright, but I had to darken one of these.
    The shape of things to come in the future?
    Also some great clearance work by the track gang at Corfe Viaduct.
    IMG_7339b.jpg IMG_7352.JPG IMG_7354.JPG
     
    5944, 30854, beavis and 1 other person like this.
  16. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
    Okay,I'll bite. Will there be a GoFundMe for a paint job for that class33?
     
  17. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Just T-Cut it. You'll need the paint for that RMB! ;)
     
    oliversbest likes this.
  18. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2019
    Messages:
    1,173
    Likes Received:
    1,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brighton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Strange that a buffet car has been acquired for the TC unit. I thought the SR had phased out the use of buffet cars on their steam services, and indeed sold one off in fairly recent years, as they didn’t see the value in using them.
     
  19. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Messages:
    2,369
    Likes Received:
    281
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Post office
    Location:
    South
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The BSOT was still in use until the Pandemic struck
     
  20. 80104

    80104 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2020
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    451
    Location:
    a small town in germany
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    One was in use as the static Norden Nest but had to be removed so that there was adequate line of site for services to / from Wareham. The facility has been replaced by a kiosk on the platform. The carriage was in store not sure whether at Harmans Cross or Corfe. This is owned by a private owner on long term loan to SR.

    One was in use as the static Birds Nest Buffet at Swanage but is closed replaced by a kiosk type facility in the booking hall at Swanage. This one could be converted back into a TSO.

    The micro buffet has been used at galas and for Santa Specials but not for high season services because of the need for seating capacity. Sadly a volunteer who was a regular staffer of the micro buffet passed away a short time ago.

    AFAIK the consensus is that static buffets are a better commercial proposition than on train buffets on normal running days.
     

Share This Page