FGW announce summer loco hauled service on the Bristol-Weymouth

[Timmer]

As discussed a couple of months back, its finally starting and FGW
have decided two days before it starts to let the world know its
officially running following all the rumours and speculation. Does not
appear on the journey planner however. Leaving it this late to let
everyone know its running seems a bit of an 'own goal' as nobody knew
about it till now. Just need some good weather and some publicity that
a decent service is operating on this popular summer route.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=510

First Great Western has added a further train to the Weymouth line's
weekend schedules, this is in addition to an extra Sunday morning
service from Westbury to Weymouth that was added for the summer
timetable in May.

Now, to meet the demand for a south coast summer Saturday service from
the Bristol and Bath areas, First Great Western is also adding a
locomotive hauled train on this popular route. The train is hired-in
from EWS trains and will complement the First Great Western services
at weekends from Bristol, Bath and Westbury to the coast.

From 7 July, the new service will leave Bristol Temple Meads at 0834

on every Saturday in July and August, and arrive at Weymouth at 11.03.
It calls at local stations ranging from Keynsham, Oldfield Park,
Bruton, and Maiden Newton - as well as the major towns along the route
such as Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Yeovil Pen Mill and Dorchester
West.

The train will return from Weymouth at 1747, arriving back in Bristol
Temple Meads at 2004. This means that day trippers can choose from
homeward bound services on offer from Weymouth to Bristol - with two
leaving at 1721 and at 1747.

Julian Crow, First Great Western's Regional Manager West of England,
says: "This locomotive hauled train can accommodate several hundred
people and complements the enhanced local train services that link
Avon, Somerset and West Wiltshire with the Dorset coast on summer
weekends. We have hired this extra train to add what we hope will be a
popular addition for the summer. All we and our customers need now is
better weather."

Andrew Griffiths. First Great Western's Regional Manager Severn and
Solent adds: "We are pleased to be able to respond to customer
requests and can now offer a wider choice of services linking Bristol
and Bath to the Dorset coast for day trips. This special service is
ideal for taking the kids to the seaside, and means there are the
highest number of seats on the route for many years."

The service will run until 25 August 2007.

Ends

[allan tracy]

Post by Timmer
Just need some good weather

Oh dear.

[Pyromancer]

Post by Timmer
As discussed a couple of months back, its finally starting and FGW
have decided two days before it starts to let the world know its
officially running following all the rumours and speculation.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=510

What stock are they going to be using? And come to that, what
locomotive(s)?

[Mark B]

Post by Pyromancer

Post by Timmer
As discussed a couple of months back, its finally starting and FGW
have decided two days before it starts to let the world know its
officially running following all the rumours and speculation.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=510

What stock are they going to be using? And come to that, what
locomotive(s)?

Last I heard was 67s

[John Tattersall]

Post by Pyromancer

Post by Timmer
As discussed a couple of months back, its finally starting and FGW
have decided two days before it starts to let the world know its
officially running following all the rumours and speculation.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=510

What stock are they going to be using? And come to that, what
locomotive(s)?

EWS (or is it Riviera) Mark 2s and Class 67s, IIRC.