Short formations/failed trains

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Looking back over my text alerts which cover Padd-->Maidenhead for the 6pm-7.30pm peak and the reverse in the morning:

06/06 - 19:05 will have 2 not 3
06/06 - 07:13 will have 3 not 5
04/06 - 07:23 will have 3 not 5
04/06 - 07:08 (HST^▸ (High Speed Train)) cancelled
03/06 - 19:18 will have 2 not 3
03/06 - 06:53 will have 5 not6
03/06 - 07:17 will have 3 not 5
28/05 - 07:13 will have 4 not 5
27/05 - 19:42 will have 3 not 4

and so on and so on....

....thanks - so there is definitely a pattern emerging...a more recent phenomenon?

[NickB]

By my records this pattern started on 10/04.  Before that they were an infrequent occurance.

Since that time (and of course my alerts only cover the small subset of trains that I'm interested in) I have received 39 messages specifically about short formations.

Equally I've been on trains during this period that were short-formed and didn't receive a message!

[ChrisB]

That's probably when the first turbo went for it's C6?....now on a rolling basis....

[TaplowGreen]

That's probably when the first turbo went for it's C6?....now on a rolling basis....

You'll have to forgive me but I'm not sure what a C6 is......but would this just represent one 3 car unit?

The effect seems a little disproportionate if that's the case

Does this mean that this will carry on indefinitely? (or at least until they've all be done?)

[ChrisB]

A C6 exam - every unit has go through one every xx thousand miles.....(don't know what xx is, possibly digfferent for each type of stock too)

Bear in mind that all turbos are out during the peaks, so there will be planned shortforms while these are going on. If units then fail also, unplanned further shortforms are needed.

Yes, the planned shortforms (which should show p on journeycheck alerts - if you notice one every day, that'll be one of these) will continue until all those needing a C6 have had it done.

[TaplowGreen]

Thanks for the explanation..........I wonder why FGW^▸ (First Great Western) don't try to explain this to customers rather than this (from today?)

"12:21 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 15:11 Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5.
This is due to an earlier train fault"

..........unless there are a load of trains falling over as well as being overhauled of course?

I reckon people would be more understanding if posters were displayed explaining the ongoing maintenance programme and its effects?

[ChrisB]

Certainly a thought...I suspect they do have at least one out with a fault too.

[TaplowGreen]

-just had a quick look on Journeycheck - as of now there are 11 updates/cancellations/formation updates etc listed and EVERY SINGLE ONE is due to "train fault/earlier train fault"!

Admittedly not all are Reading to Paddington services but this must be becoming a real concern?

[bobm]

At the Community Rail Conference last week it was stated that many of the unit problems in the West relate to the issues caused by the closure at Dawlish.  Many units could not get to depots for routine maintenance and they are now playing catch-up.  This of course doesn't explain the problems in the east of the area.

[ChrisB]

If its HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train), it could well do. If turbos/Adelantes then, agreed, no

[bobm]

Here is a list of shortforms this afternoon caused by the unavailability of one Class 180

14:21 Paddington to Worcester FS will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.
16:16 Paddington to Oxford will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches between Paddington and Reading.
16:47 Paddington to Oxford will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.
15:57 Paddington to Banbury will be formed of 2 instead of 3 coaches.
17:15 Didcot Parkway to Gt Malvern will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches.
17:28 Worcester FS to Paddington will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.
18:37 Banbury to Paddington will be formed of 2 instead of 3 coaches.
19:44 Gt Malvern to Paddington will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches.
21:12 Paddington to Reading will be formed of 2 instead of 3 coaches.

[ChrisB]

Here is a list of shortforms this afternoon caused by the unavailability of one Class 180

17:15 Didcot Parkway to Gt Malvern will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches.
17:28 Worcester FS to Paddington will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.

Think that's two Adelantes? :-)

[TaplowGreen]

Here is a list of shortforms this afternoon caused by the unavailability of one Class 180

14:21 Paddington to Worcester FS will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.
16:16 Paddington to Oxford will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches between Paddington and Reading.
16:47 Paddington to Oxford will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.
15:57 Paddington to Banbury will be formed of 2 instead of 3 coaches.
17:15 Didcot Parkway to Gt Malvern will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches.
17:28 Worcester FS to Paddington will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.
18:37 Banbury to Paddington will be formed of 2 instead of 3 coaches.
19:44 Gt Malvern to Paddington will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches.
21:12 Paddington to Reading will be formed of 2 instead of 3 coaches.

Just serves to highlight the fragility & lack of robustness of the service if one or two missing sets can create all these problems

[Rhydgaled]

Here is a list of shortforms this afternoon caused by the unavailability of one Class 180

17:15 Didcot Parkway to Gt Malvern will be formed of 2 instead of 5 coaches.
17:28 Worcester FS to Paddington will be formed of 3 instead of 5 coaches.

Think that's two Adelantes? :-)

Unless one of the two workings was booked for 2x ThamesTurbo (2-car + 3-car) and one has been uncoupled to cover the Adelante diagram?

[ChrisB]

All down to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) unfortunately, and their failed franchises....