Great Western Coffee Shop

Many references have been made on the Coffee Shop forum in the past regarding the apparent ability of pigs to fly: the most recent was,


It's a lovely concept, and this is my favourite version of such 'flying pigs' - from youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0L5V6bdbGc  ;) :D ;D

For me, that works on so many levels.  ;D

I think there are some who nickname the 5-WES (Wessex Electric) (TOPS class 442) units 'Plastic Pigs'.

These are 3rd rail EMUs, but somebody left a copy of the Western Mail open for me which suggested that some of the class 442s might be coming to Arriva Trains Wales. Since we don't have any suitable rail electrification in Wales, this sounds rather far-fetched* (I don't think there's even any OHLE live yet although the installation in the IEP depot at Swansea looked almost complete when I last saw it, which was some time ago now). Maybe Plastic Pigs can fly!

* admittedly, the article did state they would be hauled by diesel locos, but if they were going down that route surely it would be easier to use the tried-and-tested 67/68 + mark 3 combination rather than adding another type of train to the mix (unless they intend to replace the 2 mrk3 sets with 442s to eliminate slam doors, but the article didn't mention this).

The 442's are mk3 derived anyway (same body/frame/ trailing bogies) so they would not really be a different type of stock and would also be a quick fix for the slam door problem - if the fleet has been withdrawn now (certainly a few are listed as in storage), I suspect there will be considerable demand for them for future loco hauled (push-pull presumably) use, although they would need some conversion work to operate with anything other than Southern region control equipment. I seem to recall they were generally very popular with passengers and also that the reliability was very good latterly.

It's a very plausible scenario.  The Welsh Govt have got some big issues with rolling stock. 

Firstly, in one month NR will have completed the upgrade around Cardiff, but despite having taken several years, there is no additional rolling stock to take advantage of it.  That won't look good. There's the Ebbw Vale doubling too to utilise.

Secondly, there is chronic overcrowding on the Valley lines, and indeed elsewhere. If they wait for the new franchise to be let and then add in at least 2 1/2 years for delivery of any new stock, that will take them well into 2020.

Finally, much of the stock will need modification for compliance beyond 31/12/19, so if anything stock availability is going to reduce over the next couple of years.

Loco hauled Class 442s would offer a much better quality of service and additional capacity on the South Wales Manchester route, whilst releasing a fair amount of stock for a cascade. It could be in place relatively quickly and cheaply, and the modifications needed probably would be justified with a relatively short lease period. And it would pay for itself by virtue of all those Class 442 and loco haulage enthusiasts using the service.  (That last bit was a joke, by the way...)

Surely the whole last paragraph is a joke.  ;)

442's only future use will be razor blades.  :P

I agree with John R's comments that the 442s would be a much-needed boost to ATW's fleet and the Manchester services in particular, if the cascade happens. I just think it sounds a bit 'pie in the sky'* given that a solution to ATW's stock shortages (67+mrk3) has been shown to exist and hasn't been taken up in any significant quanity (presumably because ATW's franchise doesn't require them to increase capacity and the governments aren't willing to pay for ATW leasing more stock (and training staff to work LHCS)). You would presumably also have to train ATW staff to work the 442s (and whatever locos are used), which given reports I seem to recall reading of DMU subsitutions on the North Wales loco-hauled due to shortages of trainned staff might take us to the end of ATW's franchise anyway before the full benifits can be reallised.

Maybe the 442s are in better condition than the remaining stored mark 3s though

* that should be 'pig in the sky', really, shouldn't it, given the title of this topic?