Barry Tourist Railway

From what I can gather the operation of the BTR won't be affected (the implication is that it'll continue at least), as the 756s will be stabled in the section largely unused by Barry Shed and not at Plymouth Road. I wouldn't be surprised to see an impact on the BTR in the longer term though.

I can see what it makes sense for VoC and I'm not particularly surprised, but the idea that it'll be an economic impact on Barry seems tenuous, the majority of drivers would already be local anyway

 

It's not mentioned in the news article, but it is mentioned on page 3 of the proposal document.
Slightly strange wording though: "TfW advise the tourist railway operated by Cambrian Transport Ltd will have the opportunity to continue operating services from Barry Island to the Waterfront."
They'll have the opportunity to continue?
When I hear phrases like that it usually means they'll hike up any rental charges and when the railway can't afford to run, then the line from the owners is "Well we gave them the opportunity to operate"
Or maybe I'm too cynical...!

 

Cynics are difficult people to disappoint ... jus' sayin'

 

To be honest, if the current operators weren't given the opportunity to operate heritage services again that wouldn't be a great loss. What was once an interesting little heritage railway has become a glorified storage yard with an ad hoc heritage operation which seems to operate at limited notice.

 

Vast majority of TfW drivers live in Barry? Are you serious? LOL

 

The depot will be used to stable 150's etc rather than new stock which will be at Canton. There will be a period where TfW transition from old to new stock with both being in service and this is why TfW need extra space.

 

Not what I said. I said they're already local, i.e. wouldn't be relocating to Barry as they were already close enough to travel to the depot

 

Do you know where Barry is located? Not near the M4 or a major dual carriageway, plus drivers have to live within a certain driving distance of the depot, rather than mileage distance. Just cause it's less than 10miles from Cardiff doesn't mean drivers will be 'local'.

 

Cardiff Canton to Barry Island is a 20 minute drive. Don't over egg your point.

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20min is a big chunk of how far away in normal driving conditions they are allowed to live away from their depot.

 

Meaning that all the drivers could still live in Cardiff, if they so wish.

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But they may not live in Cardiff.

 

... or wish to.

 

Indeed, some may live on the south side of the city and find it shortens their drive to work.

 

Yeah - I live about 10 minutes from Barry. Why have you taken particular exception at rather an innocuous point? Are you so strongly of the opinion that relocating the depot to Barry will see a flood of drivers moving into the area?

 

No not floods but it could have an impact on the local community such as people moving there for work. I don't see why it wouldn't and why that was questioned originally?

 

Any units stabled at the new TfW depot / stabling point at Barry would be crewed by Cardiff Depot based drivers, probably bringing units onto site at the end of the day or off at the start. The traincrew depot is at Cardiff, any work / diagrams from Barry would be book on at Cardiff the taxi (probably) to Barry to collect the unit, likewise dispose the unit at Barry and taxi back to Cardiff.

You may have a night or day shunter driver who again travels down on a passenger service to shunt the depot as required, no drivers will be based at Barry. Only a minimum of fitting, shunting and cleaning staff at most.

My understanding is the former EWS wagon repair shed and top yard will be used by TfW much like Canton is, with the heritage operation having the opportunity to use the low level line via the causeway to the Island and Waterfront.

What does surprise me is if the long term plan is use Barry as a mini outstation to Canton will be the large number of empty stocks moves to and from each day. TfW have also brought the former EWS Canton site now used by Pullmans, it looks like TfW may want to be masters of their own engineering functions going forward.

 

The Facebook page has gone.

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TfW start their operations on site next week, with six units onto shed at night with three formations off in the morning.

From what I’ve read they have rather big plans for the site not just stabling but light to medium maintenance and refurnishing the former shed and overall site.