IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues

[whole diary]

[LawrenceHillbilly]

My huge apology, LawrenceHillBilly - in adding your post to the diary, I deleted your original text ... and it had only been posted for such a short time that it hadn't made the hourly backups     - Grahame

[JayMac]

This has already been discussed in the existing IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) thread.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=10150.msg220164#msg220164 et seq

The passenger service mentioned will be the first operated by an IET, Intercity Express Train, which is the name chosen for these trains by the current operator of the Greater Western franchise.

IEP, Intercity Express Programme, is the name given to the procurement, design, build and testing of these trains.

Mods, perhaps this thread (IEP in title changed to IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)) can be the start of discussion into the passenger service operation of these trains. The existing thread is on the 'Looking Forward' board. The future is almost here...

[grahame]

Mods, perhaps this thread (IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) in title changed to IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)) can be the start of discussion into the passenger service operation of these trains. The existing thread is on the 'Looking Forward' board. The future is almost here...

I have indeed added to the calendar ... and as you'll note, I made an error in my editing (thinking I was quoting not editing) and deleted the original post

First services is the 06:00 Bristol to Paddington on 16th October 2017

[JayMac]

My plans for a trip on (and review of) the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Intercity Express Train (IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)) are now fixed for Monday. With thanks to another forum member for helping out with tickets.

All being well I plan to be on the 0930 from Bristol Temple Meads, which is the back working of the 0700 off Paddington. If there's any other forum members planning to take this service then do come and say hello. I'll be very easy to spot. Usual grey flat cap, and additionally my dog, Finn.

I'll try and get plenty of pictures of the interior, hopefully including 1st Class before departure.



Mods, thread title still needs IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) changed to IET on a couple of posts.

[Timmer]

My plans for a trip on (and review of) the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Intercity Express Train (IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)) are now fixed for Monday. With thanks to another forum member for helping out with tickets.

All being well I plan to be on the 0930 from Bristol Temple Meads, which is the back working of the 0700 off Paddington. If there's any other forum members planning to take this service then do come and say hello. I'll be very easy to spot. Usual grey flat cap, and additionally my dog, Finn.

I'll try and get plenty of pictures of the interior, hopefully including 1st Class before departure.



Mods, thread title still needs IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) changed to IET on a couple of posts.

Done.

Look forward to your report and pics of this important milestone for our region. My gosh we've waited long enough.

[JayMac]

Attached is a picture doing the rounds on social media and rail enthusiast forums. The planned passenger diagrams for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) introduction.

[NickB]

I took a peak at the new year timetable for Maidenhead to Paddington. National rail have details up to 3rd Jan today.  I'm really pleased with what I can see so far, with double the number of fast direct services in the 7am-7.30am peak.
I have my fingers and toes crossed for a deployment that mirrors the timetable.

Edit: I've just checked the evening return leg and that is quite depressing. There is no increase in the current poor provision of fast services. It's 2tph at xx.18 and xx.48 or thereabouts.  I had hoped that a better evening provision was on the cards as that's what I was promised by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) at their meet the manager events for years.

[JayMac]

One major requirement for the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) to enter front line service was completed yesterday.

Ian Prosser, Chief Inspector of Railways at the Office of Rail & Road, signed off the Class 800s to enter revenue earning passenger service.

[IndustryInsider]

I took a peak at the new year timetable for Maidenhead to Paddington. National rail have details up to 3rd Jan today.  I'm really pleased with what I can see so far, with double the number of fast direct services in the 7am-7.30am peak.
I have my fingers and toes crossed for a deployment that mirrors the timetable.

Edit: I've just checked the evening return leg and that is quite depressing. There is no increase in the current poor provision of fast services. It's 2tph at xx.18 and xx.48 or thereabouts.  I had hoped that a better evening provision was on the cards as that's what I was promised by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) at their meet the manager events for years.

There will be significant changes every December and May until the end of 2019 when Crossrail starts, so hopefully the evening peak should improve too.  What happens after Crossrail for Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough will be interesting.

[Adelante_CCT]

I had hoped that a better evening provision was on the cards

As well as the 18 / 48 pasts, Maidenhead also gets some not quite as fast services with the 17:26 (33mins), the 17:57 (29mins) and the 18:56 (34mins).

As II says the timetable will keep changing over the next two years with the start and then full implementation of crossrail, the full implementation of the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) and the working of the class 387s operating at 110mph all to come.

With 6 crossrail trains per hour, it will be expected that Maidenhead passengers to use these, slower yes, but also more frequent. I agree that Maidenhead is a large commuting hub, though we've had this discussion in the past whereby everyone wants a fast direct service into London which is not possible. For every stop that is made on the main line, you lose a path for fast services heading further west. Having say 4 trains per hour call at Maidenhead gives you potentially 4 less trains per hour heading to further away destinations*, start throwing in calls at Slough and Twyford as well and an even greater headache is caused for the timetable planners.

* I can think of numerous forum members who would complain if a reduction of services to places such as Taunton, the Cotswold branch or Swindon (For Melksham) were to occur to facilitate additional stops in the Thames Valley.

* Yes, one way round this would be to have all long distance trains stopping at one TV location to minimise the loss of paths, but other problems would occur such as long distance passengers complaining of standing due to short distance commuters etc.

[ChrisB]

For that final point, more so on the evening trip, I feel.

[grahame]

* I can think of numerous forum members who would complain if a reduction of services to places such as Taunton, the Cotswold branch or Swindon (For Melksham) were to occur to facilitate additional stops in the Thames Valley.

Hmmm ... when the new timetable to take advantage of the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)'s improved electric performance envelope and reduced station dwell time is introduced Swindon switches from being "all trains call at Swindon" into a service that selected services miss out, like Didcot is at present.

Provided that there are gaps of no longer than 20 minutes in fast services to London (let's define that as "no more than 2 intermediate stops on a train running at well over 100 m.p.h), with the ability for everyone to get their luggage on and have a seat, that's OK by me personally.    I would also like to see a gaps of no longer than 30 minutes in trains that call at Didcot (for Oxford) after Swindon ... unless some kind soul would like to provide a direct Swindon to Oxford service which they're starting tomorrow ... then withdrawing again at the end of Sunday   .


One of the draft timetables / ideas (not sure if it's the current flavour) has 4 trains an hour Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington - two with the current stopping pattern, one calling at Bristol Parkway then fast to Reading, and one calling at Bath Spa and Chippenham and fast to Reading.

From a TransWilts viewpoint, this is going to complicate the advise we give to Trowbridge and Melksham to Reading and London passengers, which is currently "always change at Swindon on the way up". That advise is based on the knowledge that if the main line services aren't running to schedule, getting to Swindon and changing onto first available train makes sense.

And I do hope that the new schedule takes great care of Chippenham to Bath and Bristol traffic - with 3 trains an hour rather that 2, indications are positive on that front;  worthwhile to log a reminder that more passenger journeys from Chippenham start out heading west than heading east, even though more revenue is generated by passengers heading east rather than west.

[ChrisB]

Provided that there are gaps of no longer than 20 minutes in fast services to London (let's define that as "no more than 2 intermediate stops on a train running at well over 100 m.p.h), with the ability for everyone to get their luggage on and have a seat, that's OK by me personally.

Hmmm - I see no/little difference between Swindon & Oxford, who only get 2tph 'fast'. Frankly, a 2tph service (on the same route - so 2tph BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) via BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains), and 2tph via CPH is good) west of RDG^‡(resolve), is the minimum.

If SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) demands 3tph, and I'm not sure it does frankly, the OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) ought to get the same (but won't)

[PhilWakely]

One major requirement for the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) to enter front line service was completed yesterday.

Ian Prosser, Chief Inspector of Railways at the Office of Rail & Road, signed off the Class 800s to enter revenue earning passenger service.

All that could possibly stand in the way of a Monday launch is the dreaded 'Engineering Works Overrun'.

[ray951]

I picked this up this morning: