Oh First Great Western, what shall we do?

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

They have CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking), not SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening).

IMO^▸ (in my opinion) Cardiff-Ports would be difficult as it would need more driver training and they are further away from 'base' at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) if anything goes wrong.

Cardiff - Taunton - Westbury, where peak capacity is at a premium would be more suitable and units released due to this could then be coupled to Portsmouth trains etc.

[Timmer]

They have CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking), not SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening).

IMO^▸ (in my opinion) Cardiff-Ports would be difficult as it would need more driver training and they are further away from 'base' at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) if anything goes wrong.

Cardiff - Taunton - Westbury, where peak capacity is at a premium would be more suitable and units released due to this could then be coupled to Portsmouth trains etc.

I agree, better to release some 158s by running loco/coaches on local services so they lengthen Cardiff-Pompey services.

[Shazz]

IMO^▸ (in my opinion) Cardiff-Ports would be difficult as it would need more driver training and they are further away from 'base' at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) if anything goes wrong.

They could always sub contract someone local like Cotswold rail to run the services for them. Such as "one" did when london > norwich services got diverted in summer 04

[vacman]

IMO^▸ (in my opinion) Cardiff-Ports would be difficult as it would need more driver training and they are further away from 'base' at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) if anything goes wrong.

They could always sub contract someone local like Cotswold rail to run the services for them. Such as "one" did when london > norwich services got diverted in summer 04

It's a great idea in principal using loco+stock but it has it's down sides 1) less seats per coach (quite a lot less!) unless they were to be refurbished but then more cost, 2) higher track access charges, 3) more fuel consumption, however, with CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking) loco+stock still retain their "grandfather rights" as long as SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) isn't fitted, bear in  mind that the sleeper is yet to be fitted with SDO and therefore can still call at Hayle and Lostwithiel which have very short platforms.

[Btline]

I would like to apologise for my rather harsh words earlier on this thread concerning staff. 

I was having a rant, and admit that I generalised too much.

Of course, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff have to put up with a lot of stick, and it IS primarily down to management that there are shortages.

I have experienced a lot of very good staff, and I praise the drivers.

Once again, I am sorry for my comments, and will try to control my rant next time.

Merry Christmas 

Well done for apologising and I'm sure all the FGW traincrew who post here and visit the coffee shop will appreciate it.

As you can see by the many posts that appear on this site that have been posted by FGW staff, they are about as fed up as the rest of us on how things are at the moment. This is the right place to have a rant but we always have to remember the human element involved and its the set up of this franchise thats at fault. Yes there are those organisations who have to take responsibility and we all know who they are 

No problem. I agree that I went too far and I hope that I have not insulted staff on this forum- it was not my intention!

[vacman]

Appology accepted. 

[Conner]

When FGW^▸ (First Great Western) used MK2's when the line was closed between Plymouth and St Austell, the MK2's seemed to please customers a lot. All the seats where at tables, they had 6 carraiges so everybody thought FGW had increased capacity, basically it improved the image of FGW. And FGW could use the Riviera Alliance or someone like that to operate the services.

The only thing is Network Rail won't let FGW run Loco Hauled trains.

[Lee]

Got a list

Class 142 (12)
142001
142004
142009
142028
142029
142030
142062
142063
142064
142067
142068
142070

004, 028, 062, 067, 070 Short-Leased until October 2008 to cover for refresh program.

Thanks for the pic Liam. I saw some pics of the basic 'refresh' of the 142s in a recent edition of Railway Heraldand all in all they don't look too bad. As its been said a few times, better than no train at all and as its only a temporary arrangement before the cascade of 150/1s from West Midlands with orders for their new fleet of 172s placed BTW^▸ (by the way).

How long is the lease on the other 7 Class 142 units, Tom? If it is long-term then perhaps when the other 150/1 units arrive some of those "new" units could be used to provide extra capacity in the Greater Bristol area?

[devon_metro]

004, 028, 062, 067, 070 Short-Leased until October 2008 to cover for refresh program.

 

[Lee]

004, 028, 062, 067, 070 Short-Leased until October 2008 to cover for refresh program.

 

Perhaps I should clarify.....

I know that 004, 028, 062, 067 and 070 (5 units) are short-Leased until October 2008 to cover for the refresh program. What I want to know is how long 001, 009, 029, 030, 063, 064 and 068 (7 units) are being leased for.

[devon_metro]

Oh sorry, misread the post.

[Lee]

Ok going back to loco-hauled stock (assuming FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could get approval from Network Rail) :

CLASS 67 LOCOS IN STORAGE :

67008
67010
67013
67015
67016
67017
67020
67021
67025

All of the above locos are stored at Toton depot, are part of the tactical reserve, are serviceable, and are in EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) livery.

MARK 2 COACHES IN STORAGE :

Frankly, loads. Anyone want to be more specific about their requirements (for example, standard class only?)

[Conner]

It doesn't really matter what the MK2's where, they could be refurblished to whatever class was required but each train would need a brake coach, it would be nice if they where the F sub-class as well.

[Timmer]

It was interesting to see that when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hired in loco-hauled stock for the Bristol-Bath-Chippenham shuttle service on the 15th of Dec, they even had two first class carriages on both rakes. With good reason of course as these services were connecting with trains from London with passengers changing at Bath Spa so anyone travelling first class could complete their journey in a degree of style.

[Lee]

It doesn't really matter what the MK2's where, they could be refurblished to whatever class was required but each train would need a brake coach, it would be nice if they where the F sub-class as well.

Restricted to F sub-class :

Open 2+1 Seating - gangwayed, First Class :

13 possibles.

Open 2+2 Seating - gangwayed, Standard Class :

Over 100 possibles.

Open Brake - gangwayed, Standard Class :

9 possibles.

Driving Open Brake - gangwayed, Standard Class :

6 possibles.