Cutdown 125's to operate Penzance to Plymouth clockface service

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

yes, he said they'd get them "eventually"

[grahame]

Scotrail have had a contract for a while with the RoSCOs^▸ (Rolling Stock Owning Company) that own the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to take them on / over.  It would be a pretty costly exercise to breach said contract, so that's the first call on HSTs as their released, and indeed if the release isn't fast enough to meet the contract as 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.) replacements take over, some duties may be taken over by turbos. Which of course means that those turbos aren't (yet) available for the West fleet.

Perhaps the "not happening" post that caused a bit of a shake was short formed (2 words rather than 3) and should have read "not happening yet"?

[ChrisB]

Quite possibly.

Bear in mind that these short HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are to be used in Cornwall to provide the clockface 2tph service. I don't think said turbos could fill in the gaps though, should they not arrive in time?

[grahame]

Quite possibly.

Bear in mind that these short HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are to be used in Cornwall to provide the clockface 2tph service. I don't think said turbos could fill in the gaps though, should they not arrive in time?

Wasn't suggesting Turbos that far west.   Turbos that are due into Bristol area may end up temporarily running ex-HST diagrams in the Thames Valley, to the detriment (for a while) of Bristol area increased capacity, and to the detriment (for a while) of releases from Bristol to further west.   Apparently telling the Scots to be patient and we're all a bit delayed isn't considered to be a viable option as they have a pretty strong contract for the ex-GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST at a point after the date that GWR thought they wouldn't need them any more, but before the date they actually don't need them any more.

[didcotdean]

Have to hope too that the 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.) introduction into public service goes smoothly - any glitches on that would be very awkward all round.

[ChrisB]

Wasn't suggesting Turbos that far west.   Turbos that are due into Bristol area may end up temporarily running ex-HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) diagrams in the Thames Valley, to the detriment (for a while) of Bristol area increased capacity, and to the detriment (for a while) of releases from Bristol to further west.   Apparently telling the Scots to be patient and we're all a bit delayed isn't considered to be a viable option as they have a pretty strong contract for the ex-GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST at a point after the date that GWR thought they wouldn't need them any more, but before the date they actually don't need them any more.

Oh, ok, you were referring to the current HSTs?, rather than the cut down ones we were discussing?

Indeed, a possibility - these current HSTs will be going to Doncaster as projected to provide the cut-downs for Scotrail, but whether the 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.) that are going to be replacing them are delayed - there's no indication yet, is there?

I also think that the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) left out a word from the alarming 'news' too....."yet"

[LiskeardRich]

Quite possibly.

Bear in mind that these short HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are to be used in Cornwall to provide the clockface 2tph service. I don't think said turbos could fill in the gaps though, should they not arrive in time?

Wasn't suggesting Turbos that far west.   Turbos that are due into Bristol area may end up temporarily running ex-HST diagrams in the Thames Valley, to the detriment (for a while) of Bristol area increased capacity, and to the detriment (for a while) of releases from Bristol to further west.   Apparently telling the Scots to be patient and we're all a bit delayed isn't considered to be a viable option as they have a pretty strong contract for the ex-GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST at a point after the date that GWR thought they wouldn't need them any more, but before the date they actually don't need them any more.

At least its in true railway tradition and running late!

[Rhydgaled]

Have to hope too that the 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.) introduction into public service goes smoothly - any glitches on that would be very awkward all round.

There are already 'glitches' with the IEP trains apparently; another topic on this forum has been discussing electrical interference issues with the IEP trains. We'll just have to hope they get the glitches sorted in time for introduction of sufficient new units in time to release the IC125s that have to go.

[ChrisB]

That's infrastructure, not an 80x problem...these could run on bi-mode where the wires are late to release the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) on time

[Rhydgaled]

That's infrastructure, not an 80x problem...these could run on bi-mode where the wires are late to release the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) on time

How is it infrastructure when the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Electrostars are running fine without said interference issues? Where there are no wires that is Network Rail's problem, but the Reading-Didcot stretch has wires that apparently Electrostars can use without problems but 800s cannot. That's just what I've read on forums but if true I can't see how the interference issues experienced when an 800 uses the OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) are Network Rail's problem. Also from the forums, it sounds like the Reading-Didcot OHLE is needed for the 800s to keep time, if they run on diesel they will not run on time (but that might be without the engines increased to class 802 power output, I'm not sure).

[ChrisB]

your last sentence is correct, so keep your fingers crossed that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) will pick up the unmuzzled cost....

If unmuzzled, my point stands....they could run on diesel if interference remains a problem over a section. But yes, ideally it needs fixing - and you may have a point over infrastructure/80x problem. We'll need to await the diagnosis

[LiskeardRich]

A Penzance based Driver (I believe that’s his role) has posted on the Cornish railways group on Facebook, that the first cut down hst will be in service in November and for diagramming will be designated class 255

[a-driver]

A Penzance based Driver (I believe that’s his role) has posted on the Cornish railways group on Facebook, that the first cut down hst will be in service in November and for diagramming will be designated class 255

But, to my knowledge, only one power car has had the modifications to work the cut down HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) sets.

[LiskeardRich]

A Penzance based Driver (I believe that’s his role) has posted on the Cornish railways group on Facebook, that the first cut down hst will be in service in November and for diagramming will be designated class 255

But, to my knowledge, only one power car has had the modifications to work the cut down HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) sets.

I’ve been led to believe the power cars painted green have had the panels installed.

[a-driver]

A Penzance based Driver (I believe that’s his role) has posted on the Cornish railways group on Facebook, that the first cut down hst will be in service in November and for diagramming will be designated class 255

But, to my knowledge, only one power car has had the modifications to work the cut down HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) sets.

I’ve been led to believe the power cars painted green have had the panels installed.

As far as I know, only one green power car has visible modifications made in the driving cab