SVR General Discussion

If it is substantial I’m sure they will put out an appeal, I would be very surprised if it wasn’t an insured risk but there will be an excess, the true cost will come with next year’s renewal!

 

Great to hear this news

 

From SVR Diesels Facebook group.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17tksP6JyX/

Service Modifications 20 - 26 July

Hi All,

Due to a slight shortage of available steam power for a week or so (we only have 813 & 7714 available this week) the diesel diagrams are modified. 813 is limited to 5 coaches so is covering the N1 Diagram vice Diesel (D9551), whilst 7714 works the S1 turn. S2 is therefore Diesel vice Steam, but not worked by D9551 which remains at BH. Expected is a mix of Clayton and Peak. S3 is Diesel as booked, namely D1062 this week.

Updates as follows - Diesel Turns :-

Tuesday 21st

D8568

1100 KR - BH
1405 BH - KR

D1062

1145 KR - BH
1450 BH - KR

Wednesday 22nd

20048 (Double Headed with Steam 7714 on S1 due to the train being load 9, overweight for the Pannier with Diners attached for a Wedding.)

1015 KR - BH
1230 BH - KR
1415 KR - BH
1615 BH - KR

46045

1100 KR - BH
1405 BH - KR

D1062

1145 KR - BH
1450 BH - KR

Thursday 23rd

46045 (Final TBC tomorrow, Driver Dependent)

1100 KR - BH
1405 BH - KR

D1062

1145 KR - BH
1450 BH - KR

Friday 24th

No Diesel Diagrams - Railway Open for Steam Hauled Private Wedding Event Only.

Saturday 25th

Normal Diagram expected, with 13268 back in traffic alongside 813 & 7714. D1062 on standard turn 1145 ex KR.

Sunday 26th

Normal Diagram expected, with 13268 back in traffic alongside 7714. D1062 on standard south end turn 1145 ex KR and D9551 on Standard north end turn 1045 ex BH.

 

Not sure what the SVR will do when 7714 is withdrawn from traffic!

 

Find out next year! It’s got some months left yet

 

I may be completely wrong, but wasn't there a plan to keep a pannier in traffic at all times at one stage by rotating 7714 and 5764 and using a spare boiler?

Chris

 

My recollection is of the same objective but that it was stated a long time ago.

 

Good announcement to have on the same day as the reduced bus fare cap is announced. At least the trial is before that comes in.
I assume the Safari Park are not looking to have people arrive at that time of the morning as they open 10:00 to 18:00. The return services would not seem to help timing wise either.

 

Thinking outside the box, could it be for their own staff? I guess not everybody lives extremely locally who is employed there.

 

There was talk at one time of opening a new "Safari Park" station on the Bewdley side of the tunnel, but I've not heard anything about it now for years.

 

The SVR news item
https://svr.co.uk/news/heritage-trains-to-carry-commuters-as-bewdley-rail-link-trial-gets-under-way/

 

Two of the Thursdays will coincide with the Autumn Steam Gala and Autumn Diesel Bash. Be interesting to see how they fit into the timetable.

 

I remember it cropping up as a proposal during one of the TOC changes, along with a proposal to add an additional 100 parking spaces at the mainline station in Kidderminster.

If you go right back in time, when Bewdley first opened in 1974 there was a serious plan for a direct connection from the island platform to the Safari Park using a footbridge recovered from Burlish Halt as part of the route!

 

I assume only 3 days a week based on the fact many apparently WFH on Mondays and Fridays.
Also hope that unlike SWR who advertised it in the PR for the Wareham service, but never provided it in reality, through ticketing is offered.

 

Do all three boxes (two at Bewdley and one at Kiddy) need to be open for this to run? If they do, as it's more than a 12 hour day from start to finish, they should really need two shifts to cover it. 6 signallers, two drivers, two guards, four station staff, and I assume someone to prep and FTR the DMU for service in the morning.

Is there much demand for public transport to the safari park? If it was a zoo, maybe, but the attraction of a safari park is being able to drive round it. I know they offer minibus and private Jeep tours round the site, but I don't recall seeing many when we visited a couple of years ago. The fact the online booking shows plenty of availability for the coming days would appear to show it's not that popular an option. The railway is the opposite end of the site to the main entrance and the pedestrian parts as well - the walkway from Bewdley station as mentioned by @Robin would be a much easier option, as the edge of the site is only about quarter of a mile from the station.

 

Steam Gala - Thursday AM is with 1450 on the Auto, and the PM is with 2 visiting engines! Talk about a commuter job in style!

 

Yes all 3 boxes must be open for Passenger working.

Taking a non-service day in to account (Ie a Tuesday when not running normal trains) you’ll need 2 DMU drivers, 6 signalmen, 2 Duty Officers, 2 Station Staff, and 2 guards.

 

So completely unsustainable long term then without a lot of volunteers and some serious funding. Better off running the service with a small bus.