Cardiff - Taunton / Cardiff - Portsmouth and their implications for Brighton services

[whole diary]

[Rhydgaled]

Could be what it is however  there is now some conflicting reports.

So I think it is going to be best to assume the worst case scenario and we wont be getting a loco hauled rake although we can keep out fingers crossed.

From higher up the page:

Checking again, (I didn't get all the way down the page) it is from Dec 2014 for 18 months...

Paul

I wonder whether it will be 67s and DVTs^‡(resolve) though or if the new class 68s will come and play.

[4064ReadingAbbey]

I wonder whether it will be 67s and DVTs^‡(resolve) though or if the new class 68s will come and play.

I attended a presentation about the Class 68s recently. They will only be able to multiple work among themselves and, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), the Class 88 electrics. As the DVTs use RCH connectors for the TDM signals for current push pull operation I don't think this is likely. Unless of course the coaching stock is modified to suit.

Pity, though. 3,700bhp out of an 84 tonne loco would go quite well.

[Rhydgaled]

I wonder whether it will be 67s and DVTs^‡(resolve) though or if the new class 68s will come and play.

I attended a presentation about the Class 68s recently. They will only be able to multiple work among themselves and, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), the Class 88 electrics. As the DVTs use RCH connectors for the TDM signals for current push pull operation I don't think this is likely. Unless of course the coaching stock is modified to suit.

Pity, though. 3,700bhp out of an 84 tonne loco would go quite well.

Not all DVTs use TDM over RCH, the ones that work with class 67s for Chiltern and ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (numbered in the 823xx series) and the EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom)))/DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) management train have been modified to use a different multiple working system (something to do with association of American railroads I think).

Also, Direct Rail Services has a DVT (82101) which I saw outside their Crewe depot last winter and was moved to Barrow Hill on 30/01/2014. No idea what they inted to do with it though.

[4064ReadingAbbey]

I wonder whether it will be 67s and DVTs^‡(resolve) though or if the new class 68s will come and play.

I attended a presentation about the Class 68s recently. They will only be able to multiple work among themselves and, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), the Class 88 electrics. As the DVTs use RCH connectors for the TDM signals for current push pull operation I don't think this is likely. Unless of course the coaching stock is modified to suit.

Pity, though. 3,700bhp out of an 84 tonne loco would go quite well.

Not all DVTs use TDM over RCH, the ones that work with class 67s for Chiltern and ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (numbered in the 823xx series) and the EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom)))/DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) management train have been modified to use a different multiple working system (something to do with association of American railroads I think).

Also, Direct Rail Services has a DVT (82101) which I saw outside their Crewe depot last winter and was moved to Barrow Hill on 30/01/2014. No idea what they inted to do with it though.

Ah! I had forgotten the Chiltern setup when I wrote my post. Yes, the 67s use the Association of American Railroads (AAR^» (Association of American Railroads - about)) system for multiple unit operation. I don't think the Class 68s use the AAR system (I don't have the notes I made at the presentation to hand) but it is entirely possible that they could modify their DVT to work with the new locomotives, although I suspect the intervening coaches will also require some changes.
DRS^▸ (Direct Rail Services Ltd) certainly emphasised the dual purpose use of their new locomotives, they can supply 500kW of ETH power, so it is entirely likely that they will be used in passenger service in the future. Whether that will only be charter trains - already a significant market for DRS - or also include scheduled trains was not entirely clear.