319s still on the cards for Thames Valley

[whole diary]

[northwestuser]

While new EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) for Thames Valley from the outset had been looked at before, the following is from the Network Rail CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) plans dated 31st March 2014:

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) have indicated that the initial EMU operations will utilise class 319 units operating up to 12-car in length over the following core route sections:

Core routes
 Paddington to Oxford.
 Slough to Windsor and Eton Central.
 Maidenhead to Marlow.
 Twyford to Henley.
 Reading to Newbury.
 Reading to Basingstoke.
Diversionary routes
 Acton East to North Pole junction.
 Reading West Curve.

Diversionary routes
 Acton East to North Pole junction.
 Reading West Curve.

Ancillary movements
 To and from Reading Train Care Depot

They do, however, mention potential future work to allow new EMUs capable of 110mph operation.

[eightf48544]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) have indicated that the initial EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) operations will utilise class 319 units operating up to 12-car in length over the following core route sections:

Core routes

 Maidenhead to Marlow.

Interesting!

[Electric train]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) have indicated that the initial EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) operations will utilise class 319 units operating up to 12-car in length over the following core route sections:

Core routes

 Maidenhead to Marlow.

Very interesting, 4 car 319 Bourne End to Marlow  DfT are daft ...................

Interesting!

[anthony215]

I do wonder if the GW^▸ (Great Western) class 319's will be a stop gap and new units capable of 110mph being ordered after 2020 when passenger numbers will have hopefully increased.

[ellendune]

I do wonder if the GW^▸ (Great Western) class 319's will be a stop gap and new units capable of 110mph being ordered after 2020 when passenger numbers will have hopefully increased.

Even if the 319's are released before 2020.

[northwestuser]

I do wonder if the GW^▸ (Great Western) class 319's will be a stop gap and new units capable of 110mph being ordered after 2020 when passenger numbers will have hopefully increased.

Even if the 319's are released before 2020.

At one stage it was envisaged 319s would appear on Thames Valley initially and at a later date 5 car commuter IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) would replace them.  Hence, Thames Valley appeared in to the Foster Review in to IEP: http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/Foster_IEPReviewAnnex2010.pdf (P27)  The suggested alternative was re-engineered 319s would operate on Thames Valley until CP7 when new commuter EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) would be ordered as replacement.  Obviously, having new EMUs from the outset was also looked in to but the ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) was withdrawn.

[Electric train]

The 319's will need to have a refresh at the very least, some internally are worse than the 165/6 were ever in before their refresh.

They are generally a reliable unit.

[TonyK]

I do wonder if the GW^▸ (Great Western) class 319's will be a stop gap and new units capable of 110mph being ordered after 2020 when passenger numbers will have hopefully increased.

I hope so. I would welcome the cascade of the 319s to a by-then electrified MetroWest, to square the circle of a proper metro service.