Class 319. Porterbrook brochure detailing refurbishment and modernisation

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Porterbrook Leasing have released a brochure that details their plans to refurbish, modernise and possibly reconfigure the Class 319 EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) fleet.

http://www.porterbrook.com/downloads/brochures/319%20Brochure.pdf

Following electrification of the Thames Valley area there's a good chance these trains could be providing the passenger service when the juice is turned on. That is if the new build that will replace them in their current operational area comes in as planned.

In the brochure they detail the possibility of reducing some of the EMUs to 3 car length. This could be beneficial for the TV branches, particularly Bourne End/Marlow.

The Thames Valley area isn't alone in having a call on the cascaded Class 319 fleet. Envious eyes from 'oop' North are also on the look out for stock to go with their new electrified lines. There's also the Welsh Valleys - they'll be wanting some leccy trains to go with their plans to erect the wires.

[lbraine]

Interesting read - but the proposals would not seem to lend themselves to GW^▸ (Great Western) use.

Top speed is still 100mph, which will have operational impact on the 125mph RL lines. For operational flexibility they propose 3 car units, giving 6 car trains on strengthened services. But, in the small print it states they recommend regearing the 3 car units for maximum of 75mph.

This differential would be a significant headache for the timetable casters.

[grahame]

From the brochure, I was struck by how the artist's impression looked different to current photos, then I read:

In seeking the revenue boost which comes from rolling stock improvements a new impression is needed from the moment the train arrives. Use of the ^new^ train as an advertising image is enabled by a complete new look to the front end. The existing cab with emergency egress could be modernised to create the appearance of a new train by the replacement of the cab moulding.

Perhaps we should have new mouldings on the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars, sets reduced to 2 + 6 to improve acceleration, running regional services such as hourly Cardiff -> Portsmouth and Paddington -> Newbury and all stations to Taunton ...

[anthony215]

Porterbrook Leasing have released a brochure that details their plans to refurbish, modernise and possibly reconfigure the Class 319 EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) fleet.

http://www.porterbrook.com/downloads/brochures/319%20Brochure.pdf

Following electrification of the Thames Valley area there's a good chance these trains could be providing the passenger service when the juice is turned on. That is if the new build that will replace them in their current operational area comes in as planned.

In the brochure they detail the possibility of reducing some of the EMUs to 3 car length. This could be beneficial for the TV branches, particularly Bourne End/Marlow.

The Thames Valley area isn't alone in having a call on the cascaded Class 319 fleet. Envious eyes from 'oop' North are also on the look out for stock to go with their new electrified lines. There's also the Welsh Valleys - they'll be wanting some leccy trains to go with their plans to erect the wires.

The welsh valleys are supposed to be getting refurbished/overhauled class 315's which could also be getting reduced to 3 carriages as certain lines cant accomodate 4 carriage trains (The Coryton Branch is a perfect example)

In addition I wouldnt be surprised if some of those additional carriages currently being ordered/opplanned for ordering by Southern/DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) could end up being used on the GW^▸ (Great Western) especially the examples which could run up to 110mph

[paul7575]

The welsh valleys are supposed to be getting refurbished/overhauled class 315's which could also be getting reduced to 3 carriages as certain lines cant accomodate 4 carriage trains (The Coryton Branch is a perfect example)

I don't think that's ever been suggested by anyone official, so it's nothing more than enthusiast speculation.  It is just as likely that the 315s will be scrapped...

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

It is just as likely that the 315s will be scrapped...

They would be fast approaching their 40th birthday if they were to start work on the Valley Lines.

[Network SouthEast]

I know it is a favourite of folks to speculate on the 319s coming to the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line), but I really doubt it.

* No SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening)
* No provision for ERMTS
* No 110mph running

The above three points were stated as being essential from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) in the GW^▸ (Great Western) Franchise ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) when ordering procuring new electric rolling stock. It's more likely we'll see a 110mph Desiro train, some kind of 110mph Electrostar or even something similar like class 395s in a four car formation.

I think refurbished 319s are more likely to end up replacing the older class 455s or class 313s even.

[anthony215]

Slightly off topic but for those of you who are interested in the Cardiff Valley Lines electrification this document may interest you:

http://wales.gov.uk/docs/det/policy/electrification/120830vleobc.pdf


Seems the Cardiff Valley Lines has a better case for electrifcation if it has cascaded roling stock. Someone mentioned on another forum about the Merseyrail order, could a possible joint order be done by the WG and Merseyrail for 3 carriage emu's?

[paul7575]

I know it is a favourite of folks to speculate on the 319s coming to the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line), but I really doubt it.

* No SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening)
* No provision for ERMTS
* No 110mph running

The above three points were stated as being essential from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) in the GW^▸ (Great Western) Franchise ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) when ordering procuring new electric rolling stock. It's more likely we'll see a 110mph Desiro train, some kind of 110mph Electrostar or even something similar like class 395s in a four car formation.

You are quite right about the 319s almost certainly now having been 'overtaken by events' as per the info in the GW ITT, but on the other hand their use on the GW wasn't actually speculation either because they were explicitly proposed for the electrification of GW suburban services by the DfT in the original announcement...

Paul

[John R]

Am I the only one to question the need to spend money putting a sleek new front end on them, just so that passengers think they are a new train. The design echos the current trend in cars with regard to light clusters - fair enough but many of these designs are transient and will look out of date in a few years, so I'm not sure how appropriate this is for rolling stock.

As for the Valley Lines, there is a precedent for very old cast off stock being used to keep the costs of electrification affordable (Leeds Skipley), and then for new stock to be procured a bit later.

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Meanwhile, a slightly belated but still very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, lbraine.

[anthony215]

Am I the only one to question the need to spend money putting a sleek new front end on them, just so that passengers think they are a new train. The design echos the current trend in cars with regard to light clusters - fair enough but many of these designs are transient and will look out of date in a few years, so I'm not sure how appropriate this is for rolling stock.

As for the Valley Lines, there is a precedent for very old cast off stock being used to keep the costs of electrification affordable (Leeds Skipley), and then for new stock to be procured a bit later.

 

Agreed more than likely I think the class 315's will work the Cardiff Valleys til around 2025 before being replaced.

Of course we could see the WG decide to just go ahead and order brand new emu's

[welshman]

All the Valley Lines stock has always been old, cast-off, cascaded scrap iron.  142/143/150.  So we're used to slumming it.  On the Rhymney Valley line there was occasionally a 37 with 4 Mark 2s behind.  A real treat that.

There'd be no point in having 100 mph stock since most of the VL are limited to 60mph or less and there's rarely more than about 7-8 minutes between stops.

Can't we scrounge some leftovers from SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways)?

[John R]

The Class 150s were new trains when introduced onto the network. Though unfortunately many were subsequently whisked away and replaced by Pacers which wasn't such a positive move. 

[Trowres]

Am I the only one to question the need to spend money putting a sleek new front end on them, just so that passengers think they are a new train. The design echos the current trend in cars with regard to light clusters - fair enough but many of these designs are transient and will look out of date in a few years, so I'm not sure how appropriate this is for rolling stock.

Agreed. Sadly there are plenty of people who would be duped by the external appearance, before complaining about the high fares etc. etc...