Intercity Express Programme (IEP) - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Bmblbzzz]

Rail magazine reports that driver & staff training ahas commened

Driver training is under way for Great Western Railway drivers and staff, ahead of the introduction of Intercity Express Programme Class 800/0s from October.

A GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) spokesman told RAIL that officially the plan was to launch the trains in the ‘autumn’. It is understood, but not confirmed, that the first train to use an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) will be the 0600 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington, with the train leaving Stoke Gifford depot at 0445.

It’s planned that at least one five-car set will be used, after which more will enter traffic each week until all 36 five-car sets are in use. They will release High Speed Trains that will be sent to ScotRail, as well as for storage.

Yet again, superb journalism....the 0600 BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) on which date? Richard Clinnick - do you ever re-read what you write?

Taken with the use of

in the ‘autumn’

it would suggest to me the date hadn't been set, or at least the magazine hadn't been told, at the time of writing.

[patch38]

I'd be very surprised if a 10-car formation isn't used.  It's always been a 10-car when I've heard talk about the first diagrammed public service before, and I wouldn't think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and Hitachi would want to risk headlines of overcrowded new trains.

Also, if it becomes widely known that this is the inaugural service, it will probably have more than its fair share of 'enthusiasts' to add to the roster of regular Monday-morning yawning commuters.

[ChrisB]

Just been placed on the web, with the story in the next paper edition - hints that it's been written in the last 24 hours, no enquiry made.

however -

Also, if it becomes widely known that this is the inaugural service, it will probably have more than its fair share of 'enthusiasts' to add to the roster of regular Monday-morning yawning commuters.

that is a serious point and likely to be the reason.

[grahame]

Also, if it becomes widely known that this is the inaugural service ...

I can't imagine it getting widely known with it being broadcast on places like here   

[John R]

The cost of fares on the 0600 from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) will put off all but the hardened enthusiast, unless doing a short hop.

[patch38]

They can pay my £135 from SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and I'll tell 'em what it's like 

[broadgage]

Perhaps a small celebration could be held in the buffet to mark the occasion

[JayMac]

The cost of fares on the 0600 from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) will put off all but the hardened enthusiast, unless doing a short hop.

I dunno. £28.90 (Railcard) seems pretty reasonable for Bristol-Reading.  

[John R]

That's certainly better than an anytime single at £69 (no railcard).

Of course you have to pay to get back as well, and it's an early-ish start (if you really want to be on it from the start of the journey), so I still reckon there will be fewer enthusiasts than if you chose a later departure.

[Electric train]

Think I can wait ................. I travelled on a 395 today so have had my Hitachi fix for a while 

[SandTEngineer]

As we are now rapidly heading towards a new era I thought a little bit of nostalgia wouldn't be out of place 

http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/SpeedForTheSeventiesHSTissue.pdf

[SandTEngineer]

Well, these times have been published on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) forum so they are in the public domain now.  Not sure how accurate they are though....

Week Effective 16 October 2017

5C03 06+33 North Pole Iep Depot to London Paddington 0640
1C03 0700 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads 0846
1A11 0930 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington 1114
1B28 1145 London Paddington to Swansea 1451
1L76 1524 Swansea to London Paddington 1832
1C27 1900 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads 2045
5C27 21+09 Bristol Temple Meads to Stoke Gifford 2140

5A03 04+45 Stoke Gifford to Bristol Temple Meads 0517
1A03 0600 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington 0746
1B12 0815 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway 0945
5B12 09+54 Bristol Parkway to Stoke Gifford 0959
5L51 11+15 Stoke Gifford to Bristol Parkway 1120
1L51 1132 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington 1300
1B40 1345 London Paddington to Swansea 1651
1L90 1724 Swansea to London Paddington 2037
5L90 20+51 London Paddington to North Pole Iep Depot 2100

[John R]

So Cardiff Central loses a service to and from London then? 

[paul7575]

So Cardiff Central loses a service to and from London then? 

The earlier posted details had 1B12 as a Cardiff train (and return) but not starting until October 30th because of some engineering work?

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) shows it running to Newport week commencing 23 Oct, and then to Cardiff the following week...

Paul

[PhilWakely]

Going slightly off at a tangent (well, diverting down the Berks & Hants rather than the South Wales Main Line)......

There have been a number of driver training runs down to Tiverton loop and beyond recently even though we are unlikely to see passenger services down here for a while. A thought occurred to me whilst passing a very wet Cowley Bridge Junction earlier today.......... Have the 802s been cleared for any diversions from Castle Cary to Exeter via Yeovil Junction or will services just be terminated either side of any blockage?