Perranwell Station: Stopping Trains

Given the articles in this month's Perran News, I felt the debate would be assisted by the following comments which were included in my report to the March meeting of Perranarworthal Parish Council:

"The question of seeking to automatically stop all, current request, trains has been considered before.  There are two reasons for it not occurring and hope for change in the future.  The negatives are: the tightness of the timetable and, less importantly, the cost in time and money of stopping/starting a train.  As a guide the annual cost to stop/start a mainline diesel train at one station every day for a year is £5,000 (cost of braking and fuel to accelerate) – it is accepted that the cost on the Maritime Line is less (more precise figure is not available as First Great Western (FGW) representative was not at the recent Cornwall Rail Forum meeting).  The Maritime Line timetabling is currently having a negative impact on mainline punctuality with increased stops at Perranwell Station only likely to worsen the mainline punctuality.

The positive message is that if (a) we can get to a position where most ‘request stop’ trains have to stop for passengers (suggesting an increase in use), and (b) FGW obtain permanent twin carriage trains, which accelerate quickly, then the pressure to move away from ‘request stop’ might become easy.  I understand that FGW are in negotiation to obtain twin carriage trains for the Maritime Line.

Network Rail and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership are keen on ‘friends of’ groups for individual stations provided they are about general interest/involvement with a station rather than single issue pressure groups.  Given that there are a few initial volunteers – two names are mentioned in the Maritime Line papers and I have received an offer of involvement from (name removed) - to consider forming such a group I would appreciate the Parish Council deciding whether they want to be involved or not in creating such a group.  A speaker from Cornwall Council can be arranged to come and discuss ‘friends of’ arrangements with a prospective group."