Are GWR HST's definitely finishing on Saturday 14th December?

[whole diary]

[XPT]

Anyone know if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s on Plymouth-Penzance services are definitely finishing on Saturday 14th December?  According to this website they are.  http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/locohauled.html   But just wondering if that might not be the case, and they still end up going on a few months or more longer.

If they are due to finish on 14th December, I'll have to book(booking well in advance to get the cheapest fares!) a trip down to Plymouth and Penzance to get a last ride or two on them before they go.

[Timmer]

If they are, I don’t know what rolling stock is replacing them as the 175 fleet is a still someway off.

[grahame]

If they are, I don’t know what rolling stock is replacing them as the 175 fleet is a still someway off.

My understanding is that they'll be around after the timetable change in December, but be gone by the one in May.  But if I was starting this thread I would be sufficiently unsure to have it in "The Rumour Mill"

[Chris from Nailsea]

Should I do so? 

[bobm]

With the usual caveats, Realtime Trains is showing services operated by Castle sets after December 14th.

[Chris from Nailsea]

So I won't: it's bobm's fault if that's wrong. 

[Ralph Ayres]

They're a shadow of their former selves with pretty much everything that made them special removed or replaced, so as far as I'm concerned they went years ago. A bit like a once-great singer who doesn't know when to stop and is frankly embarrassing.

[REVUpminster]

With the winter timetable coming GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) might have enough 800s to replace them. The 175s are coming for the May timetable; that's in Todays Railways.

[XPT]

Thanks for the replies.  Some mixed opinions then on whether they will finish on 14th December or not.  Maybe there will be some definite news on this within the next month.  Though with having to book at least a few weeks in advance to get the cheapest fares down to Plymouth and Penzance, I think I'll book a trip down there for next month as I'd like to get a journey or two on them before they're retired.  If indeed they do finish on 14th December, I expect that last day the sets will be very busy with rail enthusiasts getting  one(or more) last ride on them before they're gone.  The last of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s, and the last of HST's in England. I wonder if there will be an additional GWR HST Farewell Tour?

I agree though that these remaining sets are not as good as they once were.  The fabulous Valenta engines long taken out and replaced with quieter engines, and the much better unrefurbished(pre 2006) seating long gone too!  Plus them no longer operating proper long distance intercity services to and from London Paddington.

[broadgage]

They're a shadow of their former selves with pretty much everything that made them special removed or replaced, so as far as I'm concerned they went years ago. A bit like a once-great singer who doesn't know when to stop and is frankly embarrassing.

I agree. No first class and no buffet= not a proper HST^▸ (High Speed Train).