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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    See post 26937
     
  2. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I acknowledge that views vary, but his perception - here and elsewhere - accords with my observations of the nature of the operation of the NYMR over recent years, particularly over the use of pre-Mk1 stock.
     
  3. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    That doesn't answer the question, given how the law is written.
     
  4. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It's not on the list! :) I don't particularly see a need to do so either, the point of masks is to protect other people, if the only people in your compartment are within your household anyway it would seem a bit pointless. I'd imagine they'd be more relevant when people are getting on and off using the corridor. It's certainly going to be interesting to see how it all works out.
     
  5. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    The big difference is that the compartment stock on the IOW is non-corridor so once groups or individuals have been escorted to their compartment, there they stay until the doors are opened to let them out at the end of their journey. The only corridor vehicles are the Ventnor West set where the two carriages are joined by a bellows connection which can be locked shut leaving each third class saloon (both with peripheral seating) to accommodate small groups. Compartments will be disinfected between trips and the timetable has been adjusted to aid this.
     
  6. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Just read the website as suggested.
     
  7. Statutory Instrument 2020 No. 592, law since 15th June, doesn't appear to give 'reasonable excuse' to passengers occupying compartment stock. My interpretation is that they will be breaking the law.
     
  8. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    You don't need a face mask when...
    "where a person is allocated a cabin, berth or other similar accommodation, at any time when they are in that accommodation—

    (i)alone, or

    (ii)only with members of their own household or a linked household;"

    (From thed SI you quoted)

    Ian C
     
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  9. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I suggest it relies on the exemption contained in the regs (clause 3.3.g) which exempts a person from wearing a face covering.
    "where a person is allocated a cabin, berth or other similar accommodation, at any time when they are in that accommodation—
    (i)alone, or
    (ii)only with members of their own household or a linked household;"

    They would need to wear one in a corridor, though.

    As to whether heritage railways fall under the regulations as public transport, that is quite clear in the regs and has been discussed in other threads: .
    “Public transport service” means any service for the carriage of passengers from place to place which is available to the general public (whether or not for payment,....... and whether or not there are breaks in the journey)

    edit: Beaten by ICKDAB
     
  10. Yes, I absolutely agree with every word.

    It is utterly unthinkable that an organisation review might be conducted anywhere other than under PDG auspices.

    The County and District Councils both have opportunity of input within this forum. It is made for the job.
     
  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'd forgotten that exemption, and can see how that may work with non-corridor stock, particularly noting the IOWSR's wording about travelling with members of the same household.
     
  12. 60044

    60044 Member

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    All this may well be true but I think that there has been a big influx of retirees to the area who have then become volunteers, and have no real interest in those NER/LNER roots - the NYMR has become a place for the elderly to amuse themselves playing trains while not really being bothered what those trains are. I would prefer to see it run along similar lines to Beamish, or the Bluebell, both of which are very successful but still pay serious attention to heritage matters. It continues to astonish me that the NYMR is a registered museum but has no heritage or collections policy that I know of.
     
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  13. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    This brings the basic problem to the fore IMHO. The WSR started off as a volunteer led heritage railway but has now grown into a sizeable commercial enterprise where commercial activity brings about the involvement of legal rights and responsibilities. No longer a case of "turn up and play", the current WSR needs to have documentation covering its actions and activities (as witnessed by the ORR action earlier this year) and a responsible commercial attitude. It is this move from enthusiast to commercial activity that I believe lies at the heart of the current malaise with the WSR failing to adapt its structure sufficiently to meet the new environment. One had hoped that the hiatus of the present "lockdown" would have provided the opportunity to re-structure ready to meet the post-covid19 scenario but the unwillingness of parties to (a) accept the changed environment (b) accept the need to create a suitable structure and (c) unwillingness to sacrifice rights of one body to gain a better organisation of all bodies is leading to a finale that will lose every body every right and privilege that they currently hold dear.

    It seems that the bodies concerned are so desperate not to give up long-held rights they would rather lose everything gained over the last 40+ years. Dinosaurs indeed IMHO
     
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  14. rodders154

    rodders154 Member

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    Very few passengers were wearing face masks when I traveled on GWR on Wednesday from Bristol to Yeovil
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Just dropped in to check the latest twist in the saga of the WSR. Haven't read any of the HRA report or the official responses so I can come at this with an untainted mind.

    That said, I can already detect a sense from the comments that what is being recommended doesn't align with what some people think the report should have said. No surprises there then. However I also detect a rumbling about the report author that, of course, falls outside of Forum Rules and a few personal comments have already been removed.

    The thing about a review of anything is that you need someone to do it who is independent and who also reaches a view based on the available evidence that is not informed in any way by a solution that fits the narrative of anything they are personally familiar with. In the context of something I know a bit about, that is not railway related, I cannot think of any solution to a problem that has worked by simply importing into the distressed situation a model that is operating successfully elsewhere. Different context, different solution etc.

    So I just hope that whatever happens on the WSR, it doesn't turn into an 'out of the frying pan into the fire' situation. And with that I wish everyone the best of luck in taking forward whatever is being recommended.
     
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  16. I'd taken that to mean ferries, cruise ships and train sleeper berths but can see how it might be applied to railway carriage compartments, even if that might not have been the author's intent. Live test needed!
     
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  17. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Quite a few lines have at least the odd example of a non-corridor compartment vehicle. It will be interesting to see how many have been maintained in a condition as to be readily usable.
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    On the Bluebell we are planning to use only non-corridor compartment stock, but the instructions at the moment still require masks, though I guess it is unenforceable once in a compartment. We are only planning to sell tickets to groups, i.e. per compartment. Who knows though what the guidance will be a month from now when we actually open - the situation is very fluid.

    Tom
     
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  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I've heard various stories about compliance on trains. But the law is explicitly clear on what you or I must do as passengers.
     
  20. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    It is a legal requirement. However the operating companies are only required to notify passengers and provide the socially distanced accommodation, not police the regulations.
     

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