First Great Western rebrands to Great Western Railway and related department changes

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

The Adelantes aren't staying. While some of the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are staying beyond electrification, the Adelantes are off up north (Hull Trains?) at the time Scotrail take some HSTs. So they may not get the money spent?

I can't see all the HSTs being done in the new livery, especially those that have just had a new coat of blue.   What would the lead time be for the full HST repaint and interior changes?    From that, how many will be done by the time the first IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) arrive?

Paul

[Fourbee]

Looking at bobm's photos of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) standard interior, I'm guessing the covers have been fitted over the original seats?

If that is the case, over time the material stretches and can bunch (some of the turbos with the navy headrest/dynamic lines seats seem to do that).

I like the new GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) look, but I still think the Turbos looked best in Network SouthEast livery and worst in Thames Trains'.

[Timmer]

Tweet from Roger Ford of Modern Railways magazine:

To judge by all the kerfuffle over the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) inspired GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) rebranding you would think that they reconverted to broad gauge over the week end.

Roger also tweeted last week that Dft had wanted Stagecoach to rename the East Coast Franchise LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about)! Obviously some old romantics still work at Dft 

[43127]

The Adelantes aren't staying. While some of the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are staying beyond electrification, the Adelantes are off up north (Hull Trains?) at the time Scotrail take some HSTs. So they may not get the money spent?

I read in an issue of Modern Railways that the Adelantes are moving to Grand Central to replace their HSTs. I think the reason was that they wanted a uniform fleet.

[paul7575]

I read in an issue of Modern Railways that the Adelantes are moving to Grand Central to replace their HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)). I think the reason was that they wanted a uniform fleet.

Welcome to the forum 43127, and yes that's the intention.   The latest GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) franchise agreement confirms that the 5 units are going to GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line), and also adds that depending on IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) delivery 4 units may be subleased back to GW after Dec 2016.

In fact, GC had been known to have reserved the GW 180s for some time, as their intention to go for a uniform fleet (as you point out) was explained in one of their track access applications quite a while ago.

Paul

[RobT]

More sign-polishing in Swindon:
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/13772064.Train_firm_sets_sights_on_a_brighter_future/

[Timmer]

Surely better to have GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line)'s HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) if IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) is delayed. More reliable, more capacity than a 180 and GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) has the resources to maintain and get the best out of them.

Modified to remove quote box

[ChrisB]

May not be in a state that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) want them? Better to take back units they know & have maintained?

[Rhydgaled]

It's been a fun morning!   Most old URLs are linked on to new, but a few haven't quite made it.  In this case, JourneyCheck is probably a third party ... and perhaps a "forward" wasn't included in the contract?

I bookmarked the 'franchise benifits' interactive map (https://content.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/greater-west/?utm_source=BAGWDM&utm_medium=DM^▸ (Dilton Marsh)&utm_campaign=BAGWcrm) and that doesn't appear to have been re-directed to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (the security certificate has, so trying to access the page produces a certificate error). The comment "Please note that this is a beta version of this map and only includes stations managed by First Great Western and Network Rail. We hope to update this shortly to include stations operated by other rail providers" is still there and clicking on an ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company))-managed station still gives the "Upgrades for this station will be uploaded shortly. Please check again soon." message.

Very smart - shame the 'wraps' have come off the leading power car!

No first class yellow stripe? I'm so used to seeing them in dynamic lines that it looks a bit odd without the yellow stripe.

Are any of the 'west fleet' units due a repaint soon, or have they all been recently painted blue and hence won't be seen in the new GWR livery for a while? I hope 57604 is going to retain its more-traditional GWR lined green livery.

[Timmer]

Roger Ford has backtracked somewhat on his earlier tweet regarding GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) branding being a Dft idea:

Oops, I'm assured by First that the GWR rebranding was their idea proposed to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and not vice versa.

[ChrisB]

Not the first time Roger's got something wrong....

[JayMac]

... and yet everything he says is taken as gospel by many in the rail community. Particularly if it is at odds with what a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) or Govt. is saying.

I don't have much time for his 'analysis'.

[ChrisB]

That's a laugh! They simply publish press releases without analysing & asking pertinent questions before writing up...

[bobm]

The 07:15 to Cardiff and 09:55 return has been cancelled due to the broken down Turbos at Ealing; ironically the new green ones.  I understand the 07:15 was trapped behind.

Now looks like it took a trip to Exeter instead.  Should return on the 14:53 to Paddington.

[JayMac]

Just seen a picture of the catering area in the refreshed HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)). It's now a 'Larder' rather than a buffet, apparently.