Class 43 stock at Laira Depot

[whole diary]

[lj2]

Hi All,

Reading this article: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-visit-South-West/story-20595996-detail/story.html
One of the photos implies that at least one Class 43 loco was moved by road to London after the tracks got wiped out at Dawlish. (Presumably by London they mean Old Oak Common.)
Was all the stranded Class 43 stock moved out by road and if so, were mark 3 coaches moved with them or was it just locos?

Also does anyone know if many other DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) were stranded south of Dawlish post-storm?

Thanks!

[paul7575]

In the case of the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) it was those east of Dawlish that were the ones stranded.  Laira is the only HST depot that does the major exams, so a number of HSTs had to be got to/from Laira.

There were sufficient DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) west of Dawlish to run the branch services, and these are being maintained at Laira by fitters from Exeter or Bristol who travel down, so in effect nothing is actually much of a a problem.

Don't know what the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) solution has been for their isolated units.

Paul

[Pb_devon]

the Yahoo Groups SWRG site has reported many 43s plus the occasional Mk3 coach on the M5/A38 since the Dawlish breach.

[rogerw]

According to the latest edition of Rail (out today) there will have been 100 or so movements by road during the closure.

[Southern Stag]

Don't know what the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) solution has been for their isolated units.

Paul

As far as I know Bombardier staff have also been sent to Laira to carry out maintenance on the Voyagers. XC initially weren't making much use of their trapped units but there are now 2 Voyagers in use every day.

[LiskeardRich]

Don't know what the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) solution has been for their isolated units.

Paul

As far as I know Bombardier staff have also been sent to Laira to carry out maintenance on the Voyagers. XC initially weren't making much use of their trapped units but there are now 2 Voyagers in use every day.

Its odd seeing voyagers in daylight going Penzance direction as they normally run down later than 8pm time they reach this far west.

[SandTEngineer]

There is the (normally in daylight most of the year) 0543 (Mondays) and 0628 (Tuesdays to Fridays) XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Plymouth to Penzance service.  And when the service is back to normal after the Dawlish washout, an early afternoon Sunday service.

[lj2]

The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Voyager stock didn't occur to me before. Is Laira equipped to service the voyagers in that case?
Thanks.

[paul7575]

The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Voyager stock didn't occur to me before. Is Laira equipped to service the voyagers in that case?

In normal circumstances Laira is one of the locations for XC overnight stabling (and hence overnight servicing of Voyagers).   Realtimetrains shows three XC units visit overnight in the usual timetable, (via the carriage washer!), and this link should show the times for mid May:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/XLZ/2014/05/19/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=XC

Paul

[LiskeardRich]

Two Voyagers have been stabling at Long Rock all day on Saturdays the last couple of weekends.


Arriva Cross Country by Rich.W., on Flickr

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Tiverton Mid Devon Gazette:

Repaired rail link takes trains off road

One of the more remarkable side-effects of the severed rail link at Dawlish has been the sight of modern locomotives travelling up and down the M5 and A38 on the back of giant flat-bed trucks.

But now that the line is back open, engines can now make their own way or be pulled by rail to the Traction Maintenance Depot, in Plymouth.

Officials at First Great Western are breathing a sigh of relief at the end of the complex and costly operation which has seen some 139 engines and carriages hauled long distances in the eight weeks the mainline has been closed.

The Laira yard is responsible for the overhaul and daily servicing of First's fleet of High Speed Trains and also the diesel units used on local services.

A spokesman for First said the haulage costs had run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. "Quite apart from the challenge of getting our customers around the demolished sea wall we have had trains trapped either side of Dawlish," he added. "It is great news that we have now got the ability to move services around the network."