| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by eightonedee at 12:43, 14th August 2025 |     |
Fair comment about changing, but that applies to a bus, too. The problem with a bus around Wallingford is that it's quite a challenge to devise a route that does not result in quite a long journey for those on the "later" part of the route that will not actually deliver them that far away as the crow flies from the current terminus, as Wallingford has a series of satellite suburbs around the centre with little connectivity between them. It would be easier to encourage walking and fill in the gaps in the pedestrian routes across the town.
| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by Ralph Ayres at 10:06, 14th August 2025 | |
If they were allowed, and were funded, these would make a possible fleet to run a shuttle service on the C&W between Cholsey and Wallingford to connect to Didcot to Paddington services to provide a realistic commuter route by rail into London and Reading.
Could be done, but as you'd still have to change at Cholsey rather than settle down for the full journey, would it be any better than a frequent shuttle bus that picked up at various points in and around Wallingford rather than having to walk to a fixed station on the edge of town? I do struggle with seeing the advantage of short branch lines as public transport rather than a heritage/leisure experience, except where high passenger numbers or road congestion are a factor.| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:16, 14th August 2025 | |
With some experience of riding in 4-wheeled vehicles on the Minehead branch, and with some experience of riding in Pacers, I have to say that I would not enjoy a 25 mile, 75 minute boneshaker ride between Taunton and Minehead. And I'm someone who would love to see a regular Taunton/Minehead service. I don't think it's being unduly pessimistic to say Pacers wouldn't be the answer
| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by eightonedee at 07:48, 14th August 2025 | |
If they were allowed, and were funded, these would make a possible fleet to run a shuttle service on the C&W between Cholsey and Wallingford to connect to Didcot to Paddington services to provide a realistic commuter route by rail into London and Reading.
| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by grahame at 05:20, 14th August 2025 | |
Minehead to Taunton, and perhaps beyond would be my favoured use.
Not my first choice of rolling stock, but any train is better than no train.
In the summer season, a full length set of loco hauled coaches, preferably with a steamer would be preferable, but almost certainly too expensive in the off season.
Not my first choice of rolling stock, but any train is better than no train.
In the summer season, a full length set of loco hauled coaches, preferably with a steamer would be preferable, but almost certainly too expensive in the off season.
If that could be a low hanging fruit to run from this December, I would love to see it.
| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by broadgage at 00:28, 14th August 2025 | |
Minehead to Taunton, and perhaps beyond would be my favoured use.
Not my first choice of rolling stock, but any train is better than no train.
In the summer season, a full length set of loco hauled coaches, preferably with a steamer would be preferable, but almost certainly too expensive in the off season.
| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by TonyK at 17:31, 13th August 2025 | |
Go-Op might afford them.... 
They'll be just the job when they finally start their slimmed-down first route, Bedminster to Parson Street.
| Re: Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by ChrisB at 10:12, 13th August 2025 | |
Go-Op might afford them....
| Fleet of diesel trains for sale - any uses in the South West? Posted by grahame at 09:03, 13th August 2025 | |
This graphic came up on a Facebook feed:
One of the problems that heritage and small independent operators have is that almost all of their operational stock is unique, making spares, expertise and service robustness a very serious concern. With a fleet of 3 units, could this make a difference somewhere? Perhaps to connect into Network Rail / GBR lines for an off-tourist-peak service?
In the South West ... totally detached running ... Bodmin General, Kingswear, Buckfastleigh, Parked. And with through running into a GBR station ... Minehead, Swanage. Contentious extension - would an open access operator locally find them a useful fleet and/or would an otherwise track-isolated branch run well with them?
