On Monday 8 August 2011 the Falmouth branch service was reduced to hourly due allegedly to a lightning strike having upset the control of the passing loop at Penryn.
The very next day main lines services were delayed by a 25 year old man trespassing on Trenance viaduct with a view to ending his life. Long delays were caused not only to rail traffic but also to road traffic as the roads beneath the viaduct were closed for the duration of the event which is understood to have lasted for about three hours. Truro station also had to be closed due to overcrowding and a shuttle service was introduced between Truro and Penzance. FGW have to be congratulated in attempting to provide alternative road transport around the incident. Whilst one feels sorry for the young man being driven to such lengths one must also think of the hundreds of passengers and road users affected by his actions. There must have been thousands of wasted hours.
The very next day main lines services were delayed by a 25 year old man trespassing on Trenance viaduct with a view to ending his life. Long delays were caused not only to rail traffic but also to road traffic as the roads beneath the viaduct were closed for the duration of the event which is understood to have lasted for about three hours. Truro station also had to be closed due to overcrowding and a shuttle service was introduced between Truro and Penzance. FGW have to be congratulated in attempting to provide alternative road transport around the incident. Whilst one feels sorry for the young man being driven to such lengths one must also think of the hundreds of passengers and road users affected by his actions. There must have been thousands of wasted hours.