In article ,
Tom Anderson wrote:
Hi,

I recently discovered that First Great Western operates a motorail
service to Penzance. Came as a bit of a surprise - i thought motorail
had gone out with BR!

Cars are loaded from the remnants of the former excursion platform 1a,
which can be reached on foot by walking right to the country end of
platform 1 and just keep on going. Most of this area is now a covered car
park, and is served by a separate road access (off Bishops Bridge Road ?)
which also leads to another car park on the site of the former Ranelagh
Bridge loco servicing depot. At one time there was a parcels depot here
with two platforms. I have twice caught passenger trains from here in the
dim and distant past. It was a long long way from the main concourse !

After cars are loaded, the Motorail vehicles are shunted by the train
engine onto the front of the sleeper train in platform 1. The reverse
operation takes place on arriving services using the ecs loco from Old Oak.

David