2+7 HST's

[whole diary]

[Conner]

http://www.therailwaycentre.com/News%20February%202008/070208_FGW.html

The previously announced plan by First Great Western to introduce 2+7 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets, formed without a buffet car looks set to start from Monday 11 February 2008.

Two HST sets are to be reformed without the buffet vehicle on the night of 10 February, one at Old Oak Common and the other at Bristol St Philips Marsh.

Services scheduled to operate in high-density mode without a buffet are:
Train 1
1A79 06.08 Westbury to Paddington
1C79 08.18 Paddington to Exeter SD
1A89 11.54 Exeter SD to Paddington
1D45 15.22 Paddington to Oxford
1P64 1700 Oxford to Paddington
1D63 1833 Paddington to Oxford
1P81 2100 Oxford to Paddington


Train 2
1D13 07.22 Paddington to Oxford
1P27 09.07 Oxford to Paddington
1D27 10.51 Paddington to Oxford
1P43 12.30 Oxford to Paddington
1B42 14.15 Paddington to Cardiff
1L82 16.55 Cardiff to Paddington
1C28 19.30 Padd to Weston-super-Mare

Thoughts anyone?

[Ollie]

There are already sets going around without the buffet...

[devonian]

Are these set diagrams or will they change? Bit of a stitch if you board expecting to find a buffet for a sandwich etc and it isn't there 

[Conner]

There are already sets going around without the buffet...

I thought that too actually but I found this and these are different diagramms to the current ones.

[Timmer]

Thoughts anyone?

Not a good move and that applies to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) as well who are planning to do it as well. Why not reverse and refurbish the remaining buffet cars with standard accomodation like it used to be on the Western region, some TRFK and some TBS^▸ (Tokenless Block System). Surely that makes more sense then scapping them .

[Ollie]

They definitely are, I've been on 2 already.

So maybe these are additional or changes maybe.

[Btline]

Not good. I wish good luck to the customer hosts who will have to start pushing a wonky trolley down packed commuter trains!

Bad move. Does it really improve reliability? I thought that the reason for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s unreliability was due to FGW's incompetence!

Really! Track problems, signal problems, stock problems, problems with the onboard toilets. Blah, blah, blah. Other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) manage to deliver an acceptable service with all these obstacles for goodness sake!!!!!!! And do they complain? No! They just deliver a competent service instead!
 

[redskin125]

We are using the same 2 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s that had the buffet cars removed for a trial period in January for the above mentioned trains for the next couple of weeks for 'further trials'. If this is the begining of the slippery slope of non buffet HST's, then the ivory tower merchants better think again. As both nominated HST's are supposed to be high density 2+8 sets with buffet cars.

[vacman]

We are using the same 2 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s that had the buffet cars removed for a trial period in January for the above mentioned trains for the next couple of weeks for 'further trials'. If this is the begining of the slippery slope of non buffet HST's, then the ivory tower merchants better think again. As both nominated HST's are supposed to be high density 2+8 sets with buffet cars.

If they REALLY must go ahead with this mad idea why don't they remove the buffet (the heaviest vehicle) and replace it with a TSO^▸ (The Stationary Office (now OPSI)), 80 more seats per train!

[swlines]

Thoughts anyone?

Not a good move and that applies to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) as well who are planning to do it as well. Why not reverse and refurbish the remaining buffet cars with standard accomodation like it used to be on the Western region, some TRFK and some TBS^▸ (Tokenless Block System). Surely that makes more sense then scapping them .

There is a small difference between EMTs and FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) plans... EMT are providing an alternative cooking facility with a galley in a TF.

[devon_metro]

At least it is on a train that needs as much speed as it can get.

I'd rather a trolley as i don't leave personal belongings/my seat on a busy train!

[smokey]

Just how long will it take before the 2+7 HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) (no Buffet) sets, become switched around due to operational reasons and work a Restuarant Car Service like the Golden Hind.

Mind you then the MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s and DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) staff who use the service will kick up and hopefully......, well I can dream.

Making HSTs with and without Buffets REDUCES operational flexibility.

BRIGHT MOVE FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[devon_metro]

Just how long will it take before the 2+7 HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) (no Buffet) sets, become switched around due to operational reasons and work a Restuarant Car Service like the Golden Hind.

Mind you then the MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s and DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) staff who use the service will kick up and hopefully......, well I can dream.

Making HSTs with and without Buffets REDUCES operational flexibility.

BRIGHT MOVE FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Considering how many HSTs are usually available at Paddington I can see it being a very rare occurence as set swaps are fairly common.

Anyhow, the only reason this is happening is because there aren't enough buffet cars on lease for all of the sets!

[Btline]

A refurbed HST^▸ (High Speed Train) was at Worcester today at about 4pm, with an unreferbed buffet car!

[Conner]

A refurbed HST^▸ (High Speed Train) was at Worcester today at about 4pm, with an unreferbed buffet car!

Thats quite common evrywhere at the moment. If the no buffet trial is succesful the un refurbished buffets will be removed. If not they will be refurbished.