Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Is there a good reason why 1R06, the 1757 Paddington to Reading is/was still a turbo, today Thursday 20 June?

My wife was not impressed with my  praise of electrification, as we passed countless new EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)'s both Crossrail and 387's, quietly vegetating in sidings along the way of our cramped noisy unit.

Basically the odd Turbo operated services cover for 387s away for the Heathrow Air conversions. 

Very few 387s are left loitering in sidings throughout the peak times, you may have spotted a 12-car formation in West Ealing sidings, but that comes out at 18:18 empty to Paddington to form the 18:42 to Reading, so they're not vegetating.

[ellendune]

Basically the odd Turbo operated services cover for 387s away for the Heathrow Air conversions. 

But I thought the 387's going to Heathrow services were surplus because of extra 800's?

[IndustryInsider]

Basically the odd Turbo operated services cover for 387s away for the Heathrow Air conversions. 

But I thought the 387's going to Heathrow services were surplus because of extra 800's?

In a roundabout way they are.  The 17:18 Oxford used to be a 6-car Turbo and is now an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)).  The 17:57 to Reading used to be a 387 and is now a 6-car Turbo.  Net result two 387 trains can be released for conversion.  Come December, both the IET and Turbo probably won't be needed for those diagrams as the 17:57 (and many others) will be operated by TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Rail and the equivalent to the 17:18 can then become a 12-car 387.

[onthecushions]

 The 17:57 to Reading used to be a 387 and is now a 6-car Turbo. 

There were very many 345's quietly enjoying the sunshine.

OTC

[IndustryInsider]

Well...yes, there would be.

[onthecushions]

Pardon my naivety but if the 1757 can be operated with a 345 in December, why not in June? I'm sure that our fellows further West would appreciate those two Turbo's throughout the Summer months. Aren't the 345's in use out of Liverpool St?

Perhaps TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s need fining for working diesels wholly under the wires - but its probably DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s fault ultimately.

OTC

[Noggin]

Pardon my naivety but if the 1757 can be operated with a 345 in December, why not in June? I'm sure that our fellows further West would appreciate those two Turbo's throughout the Summer months. Aren't the 345's in use out of Liverpool St?

Perhaps TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s need fining for working diesels wholly under the wires - but its probably DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s fault ultimately.

OTC

Because the 345's, their crews and their maintenance facilites are all part of TfL^» (Transport for London - about) rail. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are contracted to have the job, crew it and take the revenue until Dec 2019.

It probably could be sorted if there was a massive issue, like a fleet-wide fault was found and the 387s all had to be pulled from service. But there doesn't really seem to be a compelling argument in the meantime.   

[onthecushions]

But a number of 387's have been pulled. I appreciate that the loose ends have been tied up from the operating and contractual point of view but that hasn't put the customer experience first.

Surely there was enough notice of the 387 conversions to have enough trained drivers and 345's to operate Reading stoppers by now. If it can be done on the Eastern then why not the Western?

I shall just have to wait for Christmas!

OTC

[IndustryInsider]

I think the one or two Turbo diagrams a day, using (let's face it) trains which were a mainstay on the route for 18 years, for a temporary period for six months until December when TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Rail will take them over, is a better idea than attempting to alter long established contracts changeover dates.  They managed it on the Eastern because they stuck to the plan of TfL Rail taking over from Greater Anglia in 2015, so there was no need to amend any contracts.

[onthecushions]

I happily accede to your informed and invariably wise opinion.

My idle thoughts were only with those having another summer of Pacers etc.

OTC

[Chris from Nailsea]

Ignoring the fact this thread probably needs moving as 387s now operate to Didcot and Newbury.... they also reach Swindon (although not in service).

So obviously drivers have the route knowledge to reach Swindon.  I wonder if any of these will ever operate in service from Swindon?

Perhaps belatedly taking your hint, bobm, I've now moved this topic here. 

[eightonedee]

Bearing in mind that last week while waiting for a train for Newbury at Reading, a train for Cardiff Central comprising 2x387s pulled into the opposite platform, perhaps it should be in the "Across the West" board?

Also in the hope that one day it will really be all the way across the west!