Rolling stock now oldest since 2001 ... GWR oldest diesels of the lot!

[whole diary]

[simonw]

Very true, but how many people who use the train daily will experience 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.) based improvements?

Local train commuters, the vast majority of train users, will still experience

• overcrowded, with infrequent small trains
• continual delays due  lack of line capacity. The much talked of Filton Bank Four Track was supposed to be delivered by 2015. Now NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are talking about 2018
• continual delays waiting for cleared platforms. Is this a lack of platforms or a signalling issue?

My main gripes will always be Bristol centric because of the chronic train and bus services it suffers, however I appreciate that many other areas will see little or no improvements in the next 6 months either.

[ellendune]

Very true, but how many people who use the train daily will experience 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.) based improvements?

Local train commuters, the vast majority of train users, will still experience

• overcrowded, with infrequent small trains
• continual delays due  lack of line capacity. The much talked of Filton Bank Four Track was supposed to be delivered by 2015. Now NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are talking about 2018
• continual delays waiting for cleared platforms. Is this a lack of platforms or a signalling issue?

My main gripes will always be Bristol centric because of the chronic train and bus services it suffers, however I appreciate that many other areas will see little or no improvements in the next 6 months either.

When the London Suburban services get new electric trains the Turbos will be cascaded to Bristol, which I assume will increase capacity and give longer trains so that should reduce overcrowding.

The 15X's will go further west, I assume, increasing capacity there.

[grahame]

Very true, but how many people who use the train daily will experience 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.) based improvements?

When the London Suburban services get new electric trains the Turbos will be cascaded to Bristol, which I assume will increase capacity and give longer trains so that should reduce overcrowding.

The 15X's will go further west, I assume, increasing capacity there.

My understanding of current plans (some of which should probably be in the Rumour Mill!) ...

The first 3 car turbos to be cascaded will take over services on the Severn Beach line.  The current trains from the Severn Beach line will allow four to six 15x carriages to be released to reform other trains operating out of St. Philip's Marsh. However - there's competition as ever for stock; all 153 units were supposed to go back to their RoSCOs^▸ (Rolling Stock Owning Company) in May for redeployment in places that are neither great nor western, but the timing of part of that move may be varied. The loss of all 153s over - let's say - the next 13 months will force all GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) trains currently running with a single carriage up to 2 carriages; with one or two diagrams, that may lead to overcapacity but in certain cases it will allow the brakes to be taken off promotion and passenger growth which has been stifled by people finding other ways to travel.

Hard to say if these are indirect "IEP based" or "387 based" improvements; it depends on the inward flow of new bi-mode and electric units, how far the electrification has got, and political decisions as to whether the more flexible IEP units take over services such as Oxford and the Cotswolds (in which case 16x units are released) or other services (in which case HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are released for shortening and cascading across a very much wider area).

[devonexpress]

From what I've heard, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are looking at bringing in loco hauled stock on Cardiff to Paignton services, this will allow the 158s to build up Bristol services where Thames turbo's are still up in Thames Valley.  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.)'s will run as 5 car Oxford to Padd fast services, with a shuttle service between Oxford and Didcot for slower services. And 150/2 going down to the Westcountry.  The main issues I have with GWR's plans are that how will some of the Cornish branch lines cope with 2 car 150s when it only just survives with 153s in the winter, and 2nd how will the half hourly Exmouth to Paignton work when it can barely work in the current timetable between St Davids and Paignton.

[grahame]

The main issues I have with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s plans are that how will some of the Cornish branch lines cope with 2 car 150s when it only just survives with 153s in the winter ...

But if the 153s aren't compliant from 1.1.2020 to run stand-alone, what choice is there?   We're told a disabled loo would eat into the seating capacity in a serious way if the conversion was done; that might leave enough winter capacity on the lightest used of diagrams but would be a serious setback in summer.  In theory (can someone confirm this?) if you removed the toilets from 153s that would also make the compliant

You identify (as we have done on TransWilts) the enormity of the step up from a 1 coach train to a 2 coach train.

[JayMac]

Minister granted derogations remain an option for non compliant rolling stock.

Not forgetting that some of the legislation is European in origin...

[ChrisB]

From what I've heard....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.)'s will run as 5 car Oxford to Padd fast services,

When 8car HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) do now.....think you've heard wrong!

[simonw]

What effect will the new Oxford-Marylebone service have on Oxford-Paddington services?

Perhaps a 5-car train will do.

Who knows, it will depend on which destination in London suits passengers best, and the reliability and frequency of services.

[ChrisB]

Possibly, but they won't be planning for any reduction - it would be commercial suicide in a huge tourist town. The 9car bi-modes will fit the bill.

[IndustryInsider]

5-car trains would be ok for off-peak trains, but not enough for peak or many of the shoulder peak services, especially if they are Cotswold Line trains.  Two 5s could run together of course.

[ChrisB]

Not until the Cotswold stations are lengthened in 2018....

[devonexpress]

When 8car HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) do now.....think you've heard wrong!

Yet so do 3 car 165/166s?   Maybe not so wrong after all!

[IndustryInsider]

Not until the Cotswold stations are lengthened in 2018....

Though between Oxford and London they could.

[ChrisB]

It was tou who referred to trains iff the Cotswolds...might be an idea to stay on topic?

[IndustryInsider]

How have I strayed off topic?