Great Western Railway (GWR) is implementing timetable reductions on services in Devon and Cornwall from Monday 7 September. This decision follows a period of disruption caused by the unreliability of its train fleet.
The operator has removed a limited number of services from sale, specifically 6 weekday cancellations and a smaller number on Saturdays, on routes between Penzance and Plymouth/Exeter. GWR stated that these changes are intended to provide more certainty for customers by addressing consistent performance issues and frequent short-notice cancellations.
Technical problems with the second-hand Class 175 trains have been cited as the reason for the disruption. GWR noted that the new trains have required more recommissioning work than anticipated and have experienced technical issues in passenger service. A technical investigation team has been established with Angel Trains and Alstom to review defects and strengthen maintenance.