Anthony Steen MP

SLEEPER SERVICE TO AXE 'LIE-IN' CARRIAGE

02 March 2006

Western Morning News article

Campaigners battling to stop reductions in rail services across the Westcountry expressed anger last night at news of a fresh cutback.

A carriage on the vital London to Penzance sleeper train is to be axed, leading to bleary-eyed travellers being asked to leave the train at Plymouth Station at 6am.

Previously, the carriage was left standing on a platform until 8am to allow passengers to catch up on their sleep.

The news comes on top of proposed cutbacks to services on branch lines across the Westcountry, and the likely withdrawal of new Adalante trains from Devon and Cornwall services.

Yesterday, the WMN revealed the cutbacks by First Great Western (FGW) were made on the orders of the Government, which wants to see losses reduced on branch lines.

Now FGW has confirmed that the special sleeper Plymouth Carriage N is to be axed.

From Sunday, April 2, when the sleeper first runs under the new FGW franchise, this carriage will no longer operate.

When travelling from Paddington, passengers will have to get off at Plymouth at 6.05am.

In the other direction at night, travellers getting off at Plymouth will get a waiting room, with no beds, before they can join the sleeper train to Paddington between 11.55pm and 12.20am.

Business leaders have condemned the move and one MP has suggested it is a stepping stone to axing the train completely.

Totnes MP Anthony Steen, who campaigned last year for the service to be retained, described the move as a "bad omen".

He said: "First they got rid of the Exeter coach, now they are getting rid of the Plymouth coach - next time they will try to get rid of the whole thing. They are favouring Cornish users over Devon and Plymouth ones. It is no way to encourage business if your transport links have been cut.

"The Government has managed to contrive a situation where they can justify cutting the Plymouth coach."

Jeremy Filmer-Bennett, chief executive of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said: "It is unfortunate that it has to go. We will hope to explore ways of solving this issue with First if it is possible."

FGW insisted yesterday it was the only way to save the sleeper.

Julian Crow, general manager for the West of England region, said: "We were faced with the stark choice of having to cut costs or lose the service altogether.

"While we would like to provide a dedicated carriage for the city, discontinuing the Plymouth coach has allowed us to save this link."