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

[whole diary]

[Richard Fairhurst]

Still undecided if the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are an improvement on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train). Both have pros and cons. However I am certain they are better than the Voyagers - whether Virgin’s or Cross Country’s.

Absolutely. Though reliability aside, I'm not sure they're an improvement over the 180s. (Reliability remains to be seen...!)

[TaplowGreen]

It would appear now (well, today at least) that service introduction to the far Southwest has been deferred from 16 July 2018 to 20 August 2018.

…………...will there be enough HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) left to maintain the service?

Probably not (cue lots of cancellations during the peak summer season).  Its apparently due to "more drivers than usual needing to be trained".....

Latest from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).....can't give a specific date for first IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) to Plymouth/Penzance other than "later in the summer" but "all timetabled services are expected to operate" in the meantime ...........we shall see!

[Worcester_Passenger]

Which summer?

[JayMac]

I'm hearing, from a source I trust, that 9 car IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) will begin operating passenger services between Paddington and Paignton on Saturday 28th July. Three down at 0818, 1018, 1218 and their return workings at 1308, 1450 and 1700.

As this is during the Newbury blockade all will travel via Swindon and Westbury. Interestingly, on the down, all three call at Swindon, but of the return workings only the 1450 ex-Paignton has a Swindon call.

[grahame]

Relatively few short formations of IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) this morning ... I note a report of the following HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars being north of the border. 

Refurbished / repainted 43012/033/036, 43134/143/146/148/163/169/183
Not redone, but in Scotaland. 43021/132, 127/145, 135/179, 003/142

With just a handful of those not yet gone, we could have 10 cars down to 8 not to 5.  Mind you, for today the problem seems to be St Ives (2 car v 4) and Falmouth (a one car not 2 on alternate trains)

[phile]

Relatively few short formations of IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) this morning ... I note a report of the following HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars being north of the border. 

Refurbished / repainted 43012/033/036, 43134/143/146/148/163/169/183
Not redone, but in Scotaland. 43021/132, 127/145, 135/179, 003/142

With just a handful of those not yet gone, we could have 10 cars down to 8 not to 5.  Mind you, for today the problem seems to be St Ives (2 car v 4) and Falmouth (a one car not 2 on alternate trains)

The short HST didn't run out of Penzance this morning due to train fault and is being replaced by a 150, although it ran down OK from Plymouth last night.   So, it would appear that this is where one of the St. Ives units has gone.

[1st fan]

My coffee fiend friend has made her first trip on an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) and wasn't impressed. She decided not to travel in 1st after seeing there wasn't a massive difference between that and standard. So she sat in standard and didn't like the lighting "far too bright" nor the seats "far too hard" but worse was to come. Apparently when the trolley appeared she asked if she could get a cappuccino. The passenger host said yes but when she realised he was about to use instant in a cup said not to bother. As she thinks instant is an abomination that's like a red rag to a bull. She'd been unable to get anything before boarding as she'd arrived late to the station when her meeting overran. Also her tablet was misbehaving when connected to the onboard power socket. Typing or any screen press often wasn't where she pressed. It didn't happen when she took the cable out. I didn't have an explanation of what might be the cause of that. Given the tablet had 80% displayed she charged her power bank instead.

[Adelante_CCT]

Also her tablet was misbehaving when connected to the onboard power socket. Typing or any screen press often wasn't where she pressed. It didn't happen when she took the cable out. I didn't have an explanation of what might be the cause of that

I've heard stories of disruptive equipment as well. I think the logic is when an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) is travelling on AC power, it appears to interfere with some devices that are plugged in. I'm led to believe it doesn't happen when switched to diesel power and suggests it has something to do with an interfering frequency from being on the overhead wires that is being picked up by the charging cable.

[IndustryInsider]

Two more trips as a passenger for me today. Didcot to Paddington and back.  Both 10 cars as booked, air-con working fine, seats plentiful, acceleration and general performance far superior to a HST^▸ (High Speed Train), the sun blind most welcome on the return in the evening sunshine, and (most unexpected of all) a ticket check in both directions!  No trolley seen on either service though.

Though of course, I’m just an apologist for the new trains... 

[broadgage]

Yes, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) you are an apologist for the new trains, this is no more a personnel insult than I feel insulted if called a critic of the new trains. Both are factual observations.

Full length IETS are undoubtedly an improvement over half length ones, and the full length ones are an improvement in capacity if compared to an HST^▸ (High Speed Train).
They still do not feel like proper intercity trains, and despite some favourable reports, are still generally considered to be a downgrade.

[IndustryInsider]

I don’t mind being described as an apologist Broadgage, and certainly don’t take it as an insult.  I know in my own mind what I am, which is somebody who strives to be objective, balanced in opinion, open to change, and quite prepared to criticise whenever I feel it is justified as well as give praise.

Sadly, there’s certainly been more criticism from me than praise so far in 2018.

[SandTEngineer]

Cross posted from the May/December 2018 timetable thread as its relevant here as well...

There is no doubt this has bought Network Rail extra time to get the infrastructure works completed but no one will talk about how late they are running with these just that its better to delay the introduction of the new timetable.

Think this confirms my thoughts above:

Modern Railways Roger Ford on Twitter:

Electrification to Cardiff has been delayed to June/July 2019.

So don’t be surprised if the May 19 timetable change comes and goes with no major timetable change on the GW^▸ (Great Western) network.

A quote on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum yesterday (11/07/2018) from a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) employee:

Mark Hopwood informed us this afternoon that electrification through to Cardiff has been put back, possibly to June/July 2019. The IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) and 802 delivery plan will stay on schedule with considerably more diesel mileage than planned.

...so expect many announcements ".....train service has been cancelled due to shortage of fuel."

[NickB]

I’m not convinced that the marriage of long trains with short platforms really works. I was on the 18.42 from Paddington which is 12 carriages. I was in coach 7 which is the last to platform at Slough (its first stop).
I counted 240 passengers emerging from coaches 8-12 once it was platformed. 240!!

It was platformed for nearly 5 minutes to do this. How does that fit into the timetable?

And then it shut its doors and proceeded, leaving 50+ still on the train who hadn’t made it through in time. They are not pleased.

[SandTEngineer]

I didn't realise IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) trains could be in 12 coach formations.  How does that work when the sets are 5 car or 9 car fixed set formations.....

[rogerw]

They can't be. 5, 9 or 10 only.  1842 booked for Cl 387 where passengers can walk through the train before Slough.  They will have to learn to listen to announcements.