Adelanted Services? (18/02/2008)

[whole diary]

[shadow]

Right.
From all this talk around here, I'm guessing that adelantes are virtually bye bye from the south west at the moment.
My friend who knows stuff about trains, has always wanted to go on an adelante, but we've never had the chance.
Can anyone tell me what the current situation with the adelantes are here in the west, whether they are still around, if they are usually on certain times, and if I've got even a slim chance of getting my friend on an adelante?
Thanks

[FCC_Boy]

My aim yesterday was to travel on one... And I succeeded 

From what others on here told me and from what I saw, the 0748 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa is your best bet. Yesterday, it actaully started from one of the bay platforms at Reading and we were told to catch the 0745 train (Swansea one) and change at Reading. Quite handy the 180s only being 5 cars... Couldn't have got a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) into the bay platform (I don't think so anyway ). Anyway, one of my friends is also a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers and he said that apparently FGW are now keeping 3 Adelantes.

I'm glad I've travelled on one. They are not that special to be honest, but nice to go on a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) that can go at those speeds and makes a difference to a HST... And nice to be on a train and hear the roar of the engine as she powers up ! I wish we had DMUs on FCC^▸ (First Capital Connect) on the Great Northern

[Lee]

Anyway, one of my friends is also a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers and he said that apparently FGW are now keeping 3 Adelantes.

Now you mention it, I do seem to recall that possibility being mentioned on here a few times before.....

[shadow]

My aim yesterday was to travel on one... And I succeeded 

From what others on here told me and from what I saw, the 0748 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa is your best bet. Yesterday, it actaully started from one of the bay platforms at Reading and we were told to catch the 0745 train (Swansea one) and change at Reading. Quite handy the 180s only being 5 cars... Couldn't have got a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) into the bay platform (I don't think so anyway ). Anyway, one of my friends is also a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers and he said that apparently FGW are now keeping 3 Adelantes.

I'm glad I've travelled on one. They are not that special to be honest, but nice to go on a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) that can go at those speeds and makes a difference to a HST... And nice to be on a train and hear the roar of the engine as she powers up ! I wish we had DMUs on FCC^▸ (First Capital Connect) on the Great Northern

That's why i like the DMU/DEMU^▸ (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) such as the voyagers. They've got a good speed and power up time (and as you said, to hear to sound of the engines as they power up!) Ok, it's hard to beat the space of the HST and the speed of an HST when they get started, but for speed and start/stop journeys, DMU/DEMU's are good.

[John R]

The RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) for the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) published today by NR^» (Network Rail - home page) states categorically that HT^▸ (Hull Trains) will have switched completely to Adelantes within a year, replacing its 222s.

[Lee]

The RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) for the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) published today by NR^» (Network Rail - home page) states categorically that HT^▸ (Hull Trains) will have switched completely to Adelantes within a year, replacing its 222s.

Here is a relevant link.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies\East%20Coast%20Main%20Line&pageid=4449&root=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies

[Conner]

This will presumally make way for the 222's to go to Cross Country as IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') with a few modifications they would be completely compatible with eachother.

[John R]

Even more compatible with EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) Meridians. With the Corby service now in hand to start in December (gosh a reopened railway line in England, flying pigs anyone?) they will need another two sets of something.

[Timmer]

I believe that the Hull Trains 222s are going to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) as they are reorganising their fleet of Meridians with them swapping HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) for Meridians on London-Sheffield services, HSTs running London-Nottingham services. This is to provide extra capacity on London-Sheffield trains.

[willc]

I think it has been mentioned already in another thread, but Modern Railways reported a month or two ago that a swap plan would see Hull Trains take up to six 180s, with their 222s going to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about), in turn freeing up an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) that is allocated to the Corby service, which would come to FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[devon_metro]

All fits together.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are soon to receive a new HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).

[Timmer]

I think it has been mentioned already in another thread, but Modern Railways reported a month or two ago that a swap plan would see Hull Trains take up to six 180s, with their 222s going to EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about), in turn freeing up an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) that is allocated to the Corby service, which would come to FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

I think its the EMT HST that's currently being operated by NatEx East Coast whilst their fleet of HSTs are in for refurb which is due for completion early next year.

[Btline]

Anyway, one of my friends is also a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers and he said that apparently FGW are now keeping 3 Adelantes.

Now you mention it, I do seem to recall that possibility being mentioned on here a few times before.....

Oh fiddlesticks! Now I am even more confused!!!!!!! 

Does anybody know what is going on with FGW and the 180s (Adelantes). 

I have heard about 3 versions on this website recently!

Lee- I take it your comment was meant to be sarcastic. Why?

[Lee]

Even more compatible with EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) Meridians. With the Corby service now in hand to start in December (gosh a reopened railway line in England, flying pigs anyone?) they will need another two sets of something.

Here is a relevant link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/7270487.stm

Anyway, one of my friends is also a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers and he said that apparently FGW are now keeping 3 Adelantes.

Now you mention it, I do seem to recall that possibility being mentioned on here a few times before.....

Oh fiddlesticks! Now I am even more confused!!!!!!! 

Does anybody know what is going on with FGW and the 180s (Adelantes). 

I have heard about 3 versions on this website recently!

Lee- I take it your comment was meant to be sarcastic. Why?

You take wrong (as the "smiley" at the end indicates.) The possibility has been mentioned on here a lot before, and it would be a sad world if I wasnt allowed to point that out in a jokey but friendly manner.

Anyway, I have run it past the moderation team, and they are happy that I meant no offence by it.

Going back to your Adelante question, according to Andrew Haines, FGW are retaining 3 Class 180's until they receive the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).

[Btline]

Even more compatible with EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) Meridians. With the Corby service now in hand to start in December (gosh a reopened railway line in England, flying pigs anyone?) they will need another two sets of something.

Here is a relevant link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/7270487.stm

Anyway, one of my friends is also a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers and he said that apparently FGW are now keeping 3 Adelantes.

Now you mention it, I do seem to recall that possibility being mentioned on here a few times before.....

Oh fiddlesticks! Now I am even more confused!!!!!!! 

Does anybody know what is going on with FGW and the 180s (Adelantes). 

I have heard about 3 versions on this website recently!

Lee- I take it your comment was meant to be sarcastic. Why?

You take wrong (as the "smiley" at the end indicates.) The possibility has been mentioned on here a lot before, and it would be a sad world if I wasnt allowed to point that out in a jokey but friendly manner.

Anyway, I have run it past the moderation team, and they are happy that I meant no offence by it.

Going back to your Adelante question, according to Andrew Haines, FGW are retaining 3 Class 180's until they receive the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).

1. I was not criticising your use of sarcasm- just wondering whether it was sarcasm or not. I understand- it has been mentioned a lot before , I was just confused at yet another anouncement. Sorry, my poor wording at fault!

2. How can 1 HST replace 3 180s? I take it that they are not axing services! 

3. Where/when did AH make the announcement?

Sorry again!