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

[whole diary]

[ray951]

It's going to feature in the next series of the Paddington "fly-on-the-wall" documentary, apparently.

When I was at Reading a couple of weeks ago they were recording a Reading 'fly on the wall' documentary for Channel 5, so it could be used for that.

[Rob on the hill]

From RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website), unfortunately it was 12 late by Swindon!
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C55335/2018/01/19/advanced

[eightf48544]

Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

Due to the streamlined nose the driver loses sight of the coupler on the set he's approaching so has to guided with hand signals.

The problem with auto couplers is they have to be given a fairly hard bang to couple but hard enough  to cause damage  or too soft not to couple properly.

Maybe they should fit a camara in the nose like a reversing camera on  cars with lines showing distance from the other unit.

Apparently that's why the 387s have the a white light on the right front level with the coupler to assist coupling.

[Rob on the hill]

Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

If that is correct then there would seem to be problems with both coupling and uncoupling, issues which Hitachi will surely need to resolve asap.

[Tim]

The problem with auto couplers is they have to be given a fairly hard bang to couple but hard enough  to cause damage  or too soft not to couple properly.

I assume that the speed of these trains is electronically controlled.  If the drivers can't judge that reliably, then can't there be a setting on the console that gets it right every time?   

[TaplowGreen]

Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

If that is correct then there would seem to be problems with both coupling and uncoupling, issues which Hitachi will surely need to resolve asap.

"Can the units couple together" Seems a pretty basic detail for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to have ascertained during/after testing and before signoff acceptance into service?

[paul7575]

Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

Due to the streamlined nose the driver loses sight of the coupler on the set he's approaching so has to guided with hand signals.

The problem with auto couplers is they have to be given a fairly hard bang to couple but hard enough  to cause damage  or too soft not to couple properly.

Maybe they should fit a camara in the nose like a reversing camera on  cars with lines showing distance from the other unit.

Apparently that's why the 387s have the a white light on the right front level with the coupler to assist coupling.

The Dellner/Scharfenberg pattern coupler widely used in the older Electrostar and Desiro fleets (and on 387s and 800s) doesn’t normally require a ‘fairly hard bang’ to make it work.  The coupling action is hardly noticeable in the stationary portion.

I think the forward facing white light on more recent electrostar variants was reported to be for track illumination for the forward facing CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision).

[eightf48544]

Basing my experience on the Chiltern Simulator coupling a 168! 

[Rob on the hill]

Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

Due to the streamlined nose the driver loses sight of the coupler on the set he's approaching so has to guided with hand signals.

The problem with auto couplers is they have to be given a fairly hard bang to couple but hard enough  to cause damage  or too soft not to couple properly.

Video of IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) coupling at Swansea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiitEoXTrbE&feature=youtu.be

[4064ReadingAbbey]

Basing my experience on the Chiltern Simulator coupling a 168! 

Pedant mode ON
These units use the BSI^▸ (British Standards Institute) coupler, not the Dellner/Scharfenberg design.
Pedant mode OFF

[eightf48544]

Video of IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) coupling at Swansea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiitEoXTrbE&feature=youtu.be

Interesting guy signalling driver wasn't wearing Hi-Vis.

[IndustryInsider]

Looks like it was a fellow driver on the platform.  No need for hi-viz.

[mjones]

0659 from Didcot this morning, definitely still on diesel approaching Reading... Starting to feel like there are some persistent problems switching over.

[ellendune]

Does anyone know whether the different Class 800 variants are considered to require separate traction knowledge?  I am thinking in particular of the version for the Plymouth and Penzance trains.

[IndustryInsider]

I don’t know for sure, but I would doubt it.  Unless the location of equipment and controls are radically different.  Small differences are to be expected but, like the 165/166 fleet, I don’t think there will be enough for them to be considered different.