IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues

[whole diary]

[ray951]

There don't appear to be any IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))'s running today (19th Oct), maybe Hitachi/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) don't want them getting wet:-)

[lordgoata]

There don't appear to be any IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))'s running today (19th Oct), maybe Hitachi/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) don't want them getting wet:-)

Probably wrong type of fog - maybe it was too thick 

[BerkshireBugsy]

There don't appear to be any IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))'s running today (19th Oct), maybe Hitachi/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) don't want them getting wet:-)

I'm sure it is purely coincidence but on the first day the new IETs aren't running all other services out of Reading seemed to be running to schedule.

If there are general issues with the 80x services I guess it's best they sort them out now.

[JayMac]

There are SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) issues apparently. That's all I've been able to find out.

[BerkshireBugsy]

There are SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) issues apparently. That's all I've been able to find out.

I would say that is probably a good reason to take them out of service.

[stuving]

The Guardian had an update to their report of Monday's "events" on Tuesday:

More details of what caused the “teething problems” on Monday have emerged. Hitachi said the maiden journey of the Class 800 left the depot 25 minutes late because of an “IT router issue”.

I guess that could disrupt the whole train-wide communications system (and I bet it's got lots and lots of that stuff). I don't see how that could affect coupling two units, but it might explain the problems with the per-seat reservation displays and even SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening).

[Tim]

The Guardian had an update to their report of Monday's "events" on Tuesday:

More details of what caused the “teething problems” on Monday have emerged. Hitachi said the maiden journey of the Class 800 left the depot 25 minutes late because of an “IT router issue”.

I guess that could disrupt the whole train-wide communications system (and I bet it's got lots and lots of that stuff). I don't see how that could affect coupling two units, but it might explain the problems with the per-seat reservation displays and even SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening).

I assume that the coupling procedure is only regarded as complete once the computer in one unit has correctly recognised the presence of the other unit (and is therefore able to communicate with and control it). Even if the physical attachment is successful, an IT communications issue could be regarded as a coupling failure. 

[bradshaw]

According to Richard Clinnick (@Clinnick1) on twitter

To carry out software mods, no 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.) are running today I'm told. @HitachiRailEU has found a solution, which is being tested says @GWRHelp

[1st fan]

The Guardian had an update to their report of Monday's "events" on Tuesday:

More details of what caused the “teething problems” on Monday have emerged. Hitachi said the maiden journey of the Class 800 left the depot 25 minutes late because of an “IT router issue”.

I guess that could disrupt the whole train-wide communications system (and I bet it's got lots and lots of that stuff). I don't see how that could affect coupling two units, but it might explain the problems with the per-seat reservation displays and even SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening).

I assume that the coupling procedure is only regarded as complete once the computer in one unit has correctly recognised the presence of the other unit (and is therefore able to communicate with and control it). Even if the physical attachment is successful, an IT communications issue could be regarded as a coupling failure. 

I was thinking the same thing.

[ChrisB]

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[chuffed]

.

!

[ellendune]

Further update from The Guardian

Excerpts below

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) takes intercity express trains out of service after PR^▸ (Public Relations) fiasco

Technical issues plagued new trains in £5.7bn fleet envisaged as replacements after electrification projects are scrapped....


....A spokesman for GWR added: “It’s not a single technical issue, but in order to fix some of the initial issues we saw on Monday, the computer system software on the trains has been updated at the depot. We want to make sure those changes are effective, and the trains are running on the network today to test they’ve worked. We hope to put them back into passenger services ASAP.”

The spokesman said there were also some technical issues on Tuesday and Wednesday but nothing that stopped them carrying passengers. He added: “This week, they’ve successfully covered around 4,000 miles in normal traffic.”

A Hitachi spokesperson said: “The trains are expected to be running again as soon as possible, after we’ve fully tested some improvements made overnight to the passenger experience.”

....

[TaplowGreen]

Further update from The Guardian

Excerpts below

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) takes intercity express trains out of service after PR^▸ (Public Relations) fiasco

Technical issues plagued new trains in £5.7bn fleet envisaged as replacements after electrification projects are scrapped....


....A spokesman for GWR added: “It’s not a single technical issue, but in order to fix some of the initial issues we saw on Monday, the computer system software on the trains has been updated at the depot. We want to make sure those changes are effective, and the trains are running on the network today to test they’ve worked. We hope to put them back into passenger services ASAP.”

The spokesman said there were also some technical issues on Tuesday and Wednesday but nothing that stopped them carrying passengers. He added: “This week, they’ve successfully covered around 4,000 miles in normal traffic.”

A Hitachi spokesperson said: “The trains are expected to be running again as soon as possible, after we’ve fully tested some improvements made overnight to the passenger experience.”

....

What an utter farce already.....they've only had.....oh....several years & loads of testing to get it right?

Fits in quite well with the rest of the GWR offering though.......although when I saw all the short forms this morning due to "more trains than usual needing repairs" I didn't realise it included those that have only been in service for a few days......😩

[plymothian]

There are SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) issues apparently. That's all I've been able to find out.

Doors were opened that shouldn't have been according to the inputted SDO settings.

[JayMac]

What an utter farce already.....they've only had.....oh....several years & loads of testing to get it right?

I'm not old enough to remember the introduction of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) in 1976 but have read about it extensively. Their introduction came 4 years after the first prototype ran. Despite that 4 years of testing they were plagued with teething troubles. Soon sorted.

The issues with the Class 800s will be fixed in short order.

It's also worth remembering the APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train). Another train that had some issues on introduction to passenger service. Issues that would have been fixed were it not for an anti-rail Tory government who swallowed the press hyperbole hook, line and sinker. Thank God this time the government can't pull the plug.

3 days of passenger operation is far to short a time to describe minor faults as 'an utter farce'.