Project Wareham

Not being disingenuous in anyway.
At no time over the years has there has been any stated level of service that will be provided. I think I can safely say that those who have worked and still work on the SR over the many many years believe that a commuter service is not feasible especially in the current climate

 

The public website is still asking for funds, but no clear objective s have been published.
https://www.swanagerailwaytrust.org/giving#

 

A year-round commuter service would clearly be impractical and utterly unviable. What sort of service might be viable is unclear at present, but are we not awaiting the trial service to find out? Different potential customers, from near and far, will have different needs and priorities. There are surely some who would make use of a service of one or two trains a day each way between Wareham and Norden, but whether there are enough of them to make the service viable will remain guesswork until the trial is running.

That does imply that they want significantly more resources for a Wareham service than they have at present (besides the other separate projects).

 

I get the sense that the best and cheapest solution might be to rebuild the Drummond Bug, so that @oliversbest can have personal transport from Wareham whenever he so desires, because that seems to be what he is asking for.

Tom

 

Never mind "Where have all the flowers gone" I think

 

I will settle for the T3 and those two Titanic coaches thst could be restored

 

When I go to Gatwick, I find the through train from Southampton far more easy than messing about going via Waterloo/Clapham.
Also I would recommend changing at Weymouth and not Upwey.

 

Isn't the saloon part of Mr Drummonds Bug preserved? There something for the New Builds to consider.!!

 

Still around, certainly. Preserved? Depends on your definition of the word!

 

As could be said of a lot of the vehicles strewn around various Heritage Centres!

 

Including Canada and USA !

 

I use the Southern service from Southampton to East Croydon when I go up to London to steward on a railtour as the via Barnham price is about 50% of the via Clapham Junction price. But even with a small amount of luggage the 377's are a nightmare. Two small racks on a 4 coach unit and nothing other than a coat that fits in the overhead rack. On Oliver's go anywhere £41 a day give a way deal for non Brits I would use SWR from CJ for the comfort of a 444.
Interestingly the Wareham ticket office was at pains to point out to my father to always change at Upwey as the often late running by both SWR and GWR means you may end up held outside Weymouth, due to that small single line section watching your connecting train depart.

 

NNR trains from Sheringham to Cromer are actually operated under the NYMR's safety case. With regard to the NYMR having grandfather rights, I don't think such things exist on the big railway. You need derogations from the various regulations.

 

I can understand (the view of Oliver from his perspective) but it did not of course answer the question of how many folks with luggage staying more than one day my arrive at Wareham on SWR to connect.
Looking at it in reverse I have just checked what it would cost (without the link) to go to the GCR Gala next weekend. In a normal non Covid time I would probably attend, almost certainly due to 257's presence. But I would not be deciding until a few days before. Going to other railways or to London to steward a mainline tour being my skewed view of the need/ benefit of a link. Probably quite unique, but I suggest no less valid than your one or two trips a year to the UK.
So the best fare I can get is £84.25. This is via London, but far preferable to a rammed XC Voyager anyway. Journey time between 5 and 6. 5 hours without getting to & from Wareham (or Bournemouth).
I have to carry my luggage, presumably take it to my hotel before I go to the GCR, and then maybe go back to the GCR to pick it up the day I leave.
By car it is 4 hours each way door to door (yes a boring drive and some of it on the A34 which I regard as this country's most dangerous road) but I can leave when I feel like, take as much stuff (camera's etc) with me get there earlier, leave later and can stop and eat something I might want if I want to. I can also get to more lineside locations if I want to spend time doing that. Petrol will probably cost around £65, hotel costs will be the same either way. I see no other car expenses as it now gets used so little it would benefit from the use and the tyres likely will need replacing due to age next time not mileage.
So for my needs what would a link give me other than perhaps a better journey experience to & from Wareham if the trains run when I need them to and compare well with a free bus pass ride at least one way?
The bottom line of all this of course is that I would probably give up the flexibility of the car if it cost less to take the train, but why would I, or anyone else, pay more to have more hassle.
I want the rail link to work as long as the SR does not loose money operating it, but I fear lots of the demand will be driven by costs outside of their control.

 

For clarity, I have no issue with Oliver's desires and appreciate his perspective. My issue is that this perspective is decidedly atypical of potential customers.

 

Why are the 117 and 121 class DMUs not on your list?

 

I assume because they are not locomotives.

 

And the DMU are not main line registered

 

I have (with a light luggage load) walked in both directions from Dorchester South to Dorchester West. Haven't been in the BrewPub which is a successor to The Station Master. That is another pleasant aspect about letting the Train take the Strain. The ability to pop in for a pint at some nearby hostelry. No roundabouts,pulling into hedgerows to let approaching traffic pass,no losing wing mirrors and no outrageous bill for rental cars..its all good i will have to get my trip in this year before that previous poster gets his oar into GBR about the prices that turistas are paying to roam the network!!@

 

Ok, thanks. What’s going to be used for the Wareham trial possibly starting in under four months time?