Adelante

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Precisly - Buffet is the least safe coach!

[Btline]

  Not sure how we went from "Adelante" to the safety of Mk3 Buffet Cars! 

Could someone please give me a source telling me what is happening to the 180s. I have counted a least 5 different versions of the story.

1. Are any staying with FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?

2. Are Arriva Trains Wales taking any or not?

3.Are Hull Trains talking any?

If they do go, I can tell you all one thing...

...it'll be back to Thames Turbos for many long distance services! This will happen each time an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) shortage/problem happens on the "proper" Great Western Line.

Where do FGW get the Thames Turbos from. How can they magic them (sometimes up to 2 diagrams) to work the HST services. Do the Cherwell/Thames Valley go without, or are there some in storage?

This will happen much more often:

"http://www.youtube.com/v/S8J-Qy5gXC0&rel=1&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=1"

Look! A Thames Turbo heading for the Cotswold Line- oh hell!

[Conner]

1. Are any staying with FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?

2. Are Arriva Trains Wales taking any or not?

3. Are Hull Trains talking any?

1. Supposedly 3 are staying for the Cotswold Line.

2. Although reported it now seems unlikely.

2. Yes, two.

[vacman]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's for Cotswold line work, 2 diagrams apparently, thats from May onwards though so they may all go into store for a while.

[Btline]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's for Cotswold line work, 2 diagrams apparently, thats from May onwards though so they may all go into store for a while.

And what will happen to the 3 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)?

[vacman]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's for Cotswold line work, 2 diagrams apparently, thats from May onwards though so they may all go into store for a while.

And what will happen to the 3 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)?

Your guess as good as mine, they need an extra set for the summer for the weekday Newquay, maybe they're going to run more services??

[John R]

Surely it only releases 2 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) diagrams? I understand summer Newquay is going to run for longer this year, so that's one set. Could usefully use another to make London-Weston half hourly in the evening peak, but I expect there are other causes equally as worthy.       

[Conner]

Surely it only releases 2 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) diagrams? I understand summer Newquay is going to run for longer this year, so that's one set. Could usefully use another to make London-Weston half hourly in the evening peak, but I expect there are other causes equally as worthy.       

2 HST diagramms and a spare HST set.

[John R]

So, if HT^▸ (Hull Trains) take on 2, and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) keep 3, that leaves 9.  That will nicely provide enough units (with cover) to meet the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about)'s stated intent to provide an hourly North-South Wales service from December. And with a mini-cascade a few 150s drop off the bottom and voila, FGW has its 5 units. It's all making sense now.

The only bit that doesn't quite make sense is that if I were ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) I would let a few pacers drop off the end of the cascade, but maybe there's a bit of industry cooperation to ensure that FGW get something half decent.

If this is correct, then compare and contrast the North & West route with Cardiff-Portsmouth. They are very similar in history, both had 7 or 8 trains a day of Class 33 + Mk 1 stock in the 80s. Both became hourly with the introduction of Class 158s in the late 80s. Now one will have moved to a half hourly service with Adelantes and Class 175s..... and the other will have clawed its way back to 3 car 158s. Admittedly it will be a bit political. There's not quite the same political will to link Cardiff and Portsmouth as there is Cardiff and Holyhead. Though the traffic potential of the latter route is much greater given the centres of poulation en route. 

[Btline]

How about giving the Bristol area an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) for their "8.32" (or whatever it is) commuter service from Bath to Bristol.  

That would stop MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) "in their tracks" !!!!!!  

Or how about a shortened Version for a longer distance service (e.g.Cardiff to Portsmouth). Or run a few trains from Oxford to Bristol using an HST.

Or give one to Grand Central- they have a bit of a stock problem, I believe!

Or take out the 2nd class carriages and use them to strengthen 5/6 other HSTs!

Really- I must stop talking about HSTs on a post entitled "Adelante!!!!!!"

[vacman]

So, if HT^▸ (Hull Trains) take on 2, and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) keep 3, that leaves 9.  That will nicely provide enough units (with cover) to meet the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about)'s stated intent to provide an hourly North-South Wales service from December. And with a mini-cascade a few 150s drop off the bottom and voila, FGW has its 5 units. It's all making sense now.

The only bit that doesn't quite make sense is that if I were ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) I would let a few pacers drop off the end of the cascade, but maybe there's a bit of industry cooperation to ensure that FGW get something half decent.

If this is correct, then compare and contrast the North & West route with Cardiff-Portsmouth. They are very similar in history, both had 7 or 8 trains a day of Class 33 + Mk 1 stock in the 80s. Both became hourly with the introduction of Class 158s in the late 80s. Now one will have moved to a half hourly service with Adelantes and Class 175s..... and the other will have clawed its way back to 3 car 158s. Admittedly it will be a bit political. There's not quite the same political will to link Cardiff and Portsmouth as there is Cardiff and Holyhead. Though the traffic potential of the latter route is much greater given the centres of poulation en route. 

ATW would probably sooner loose 150's as their leasing cost's are higher and the valleys have always had 142's so not too much of a political issue of "bringing back old trains" as BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) put it, even though 142's are the same age as 150's!

[Shazz]

Plus, the 142's have had a "refresh" fairly recently.

If it were in 2-3 years time, you'd probably get sent a load of 142's instead of 50's

This still however "paves the way" for ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to take on the remaining 180's with a subsidy/financial assistance from the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) come may time

[John R]

Fair comment Vacman, though there is a difference between ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) which is constantly adding to its fleet and FGW^▸ (First Great Western), which hasn't been. If you add to your fleet, then the trains may be old but at least you haven't taken away anything which you currently have, and you have some more besides. If you reduce your fleet, or swap 158s for 142s, then you are (rightly) more exposed to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) talking about bringing back old trains.

Having tried an ATW Class 150 on the long journey from Central to Queen St on Saturday, I preferred them to the refurbed FGW 150s. Warmer feel to them, instead of the ice blue walls and deep blue seats of FGW units. Still, this is getting off topic for the subject of Adelantes... whoops!  

[Btline]

It seems like the subject of "Adelante" is not enguaging enough! 

[devon_metro]

Fair comment Vacman, though there is a difference between ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) which is constantly adding to its fleet and FGW^▸ (First Great Western), which hasn't been. If you add to your fleet, then the trains may be old but at least you haven't taken away anything which you currently have, and you have some more besides. If you reduce your fleet, or swap 158s for 142s, then you are (rightly) more exposed to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) talking about bringing back old trains.

Having tried an ATW Class 150 on the long journey from Central to Queen St on Saturday, I preferred them to the refurbed FGW 150s. Warmer feel to them, instead of the ice blue walls and deep blue seats of FGW units. Still, this is getting off topic for the subject of Adelantes... whoops! 

On the subject of warm, the 150s are lovely and the heating is simply top class. I quite like the blue colour scheme myself! Perhaps I am travelling on too many 142s!