Trimode cl 769 to operate Reading to Oxford and Gatwick.

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

These are a long way from introduction - driver training can't start until ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) sign the units off, and there are recognised adjustments required before they can be accepted in service. It was thought very unlikely they'll make the May timetable change.

[RichT54]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) was so full of promises back on 26/08/20:

https://news.gwr.com/news/great-western-railway-receives-the-uk-s-first-tri-mode-train

GWR has received the first train in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) able to run on overhead and third-rail electric lines, as well as under its own diesel power, which is expected to be introduced on services between Reading and Gatwick by early 2021.

Provided by Porterbrook Leasing, the first of 19 Class 769 Flex trains has arrived at GWR’s Reading Depot for an extensive programme of staff training and testing.

Offering more carriages than the trains they are replacing, the Class 769 fleet was specially commissioned by GWR to be able to run under overhead wires in London and the Thames Valley, and to take advantage of third rail provision where it exists on the North Downs line. The trains will support GWR to realise long-held plans to expand services over the North Downs line between Reading and Redhill and then through to Gatwick.

The trains will enable the release of some of GWR’s diesel-powered Turbo trains to add capacity in the Bristol area and support the ability to launch new routes through the city.

The innovative fleet of tri-mode trains will operate in four-carriage sets which have been refurbished inside and out, with free WiFi and power at each seat, air cooling, bigger luggage racks, and new seat covers. Equipped with new diesel engines and combined with their electric capability, each Class 769 will offer a quieter and cleaner experience for customers than the trains they are replacing.

GWR Head of Fleet Production John Murphy said:

“A lot of hard work has been done to make sure people feel that they can travel safely at the present time, and that includes running more trains and carriages to make extra room.

“Planning is well under way for a further uplift in services in mid-September, re-introducing even more services across the GWR network to help accommodate a return to travel for school, college or for work and adding some new services for the first time.

“This news shows we have not stopped looking at ways to further improve our service for customers.”

On the GWR North Downs line, the trains will facilitate a return to usual Sunday frequencies of two trains an hour, and the ability to run three trains per hour from Reading to Redhill on Saturdays. GWR is working with industry partners to extend this to further off-peak weekday services as well as extending these through to Gatwick Airport, as works at the station are completed.

We’re currently seeing the biggest investment in the network since Brunel so we can offer more trains, more seats, and shorter, more frequent journeys and continue the network’s heritage of helping connect more businesses to new and prosperous markets. Through a series of initiatives we aim to be a good neighbour to the communities we serve and are committed to making a positive social impact in those regions.

[bobm]

I noticed some residing in the up carriage sidings at Oxford on Tuesday.

[IndustryInsider]

Part of a training programme for local graffiti artists.

[TonyN]

Not good news.

Northern have instructed drivers of 769's to run on Diesel at all times due to Interferance with signalling equipment.

[stuving]

Not good news.

Northern have instructed drivers of 769's to run on Diesel at all times due to Interferance with signalling equipment.

Followed by better news - that order was in place for four weeks and rescinded on 20th June. It always was a "play it safe" overreaction while diagnosing the fault which, being the VCB^▸ (Vacuum Circuit Breaker - electrification), was an unchanged part of the original 319. 

[stuving]

It's now being reported as official (within GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), I presume) that the lease for the 769s will be allowed to expire next April 23rd and Porterbrook will be left to work out what to do with them. It remains to be seen what, if anything, will be added to the fleet instead.

[IndustryInsider]

Embarrassing though that is, I’m quite glad.

[JayMac]

Will this lead to a stay of execution for the Castles Class HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) sets?

[IndustryInsider]

I doubt it given how recent that announcement was.  I still wonder whether a whole host of ex TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) 150s might get transferred as and when their new trains enter service.

[Electric train]

It's now being reported as official (within GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), I presume) that the lease for the 769s will be allowed to expire next April 23rd and Porterbrook will be left to work out what to do with them. It remains to be seen what, if anything, will be added to the fleet instead.

Embarrassing though that is, I’m quite glad.

I have always had the view that trying to convert these units method of traction power was not a good plan, there never was a diesel powered version of this class.

[Timmer]

One suspects these units will follow the 442s on a one way ticket to Newport or Rotherham.

[grahame]

One suspects these units will follow the 442s on a one way ticket to Newport or Rotherham.

And meanwhile GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) can't find a single train all day yesterday to operate the Swindon to Westbury line - my analysis suggests that just three out of 17 (single) journeys happen - at 07:36 and 20:06 from Westbury, and at 08:44 from Swindon.

How much of who's money has been spent on converting the 19 class 369 trains (that's 76 carriages) that have never and probably never will now enter service?  How much rail traffic has been lost because of inadequate provision across the GWR regional / local fleet, with trains short formed and overflowing, and simply not running at all?

Question - $64,000 - how do we move on and get an appropriate and reliable service running across GWR territory? "Appropriate" means both the timetable and the capacity of trains running to that timetable. 

[Bob_Blakey]

Question - $64,000 - how do we move on and get an appropriate and reliable service running across GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) territory? "Appropriate" means both the timetable and the capacity of trains running to that timetable. 

Answer:
1) Temporarily reinstate some of the recently retired rolling stock currently rusting away in various locations around the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), e.g. not ideal I know but the UK Rail Log presently lists 31 stored Class 153 units many of which could probably be resurrected with a little TLC^▸ (three letter code ) (or a sledgehammer).
2) Prohibit the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) 'incompetents' from interfering in the micromanagement of rolling stock provision.
3) Get all interested parties (e.g. TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s, rail passenger groups, rolling stock manufacturers - and the DfT but only for the purpose of organising finance)) together to design and build a 'go anywhere' bi-mode MU^▸ (Multiple Unit) fleet for use on the many routes which are in desperate need of additional capacity.

N.B. I have now woken and this slightly odd dream has finished.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, very sadly, back wide awake Bob and we see ClarenceYard over on Railforums saying that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) want eye watering savings on lease costs next financial year:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/gwr-class-769-information-discussion.174866/page-78#post-5978660

All very worrying.