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

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, while the 9-Cars remain thin on the ground they have to be on diagrams that end up in the right place at the end of the day.  As more and more are delivered and accepted that flexibility will increase.

[broadgage]

Broadly similar today, about 20 short formations.
The usual mix of 5 car instead of 10, 5 car instead of 9, and HST^▸ (High Speed Train) instead of 10 car.

From the passengers point of view, an HST instead of an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) is not bad since it is what was expected until recently  and is a proper train.

Reports suggest that reservations wont be honoured on any of the short trains, and the trolley, if provided at all will be hiding in first class.

[a-driver]

Broadly similar today, about 20 short formations.
The usual mix of 5 car instead of 10, 5 car instead of 9, and HST^▸ (High Speed Train) instead of 10 car.

From the passengers point of view, an HST instead of an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) is not bad since it is what was expected until recently  and is a proper train.

Reports suggest that reservations wont be honoured on any of the short trains, and the trolley, if provided at all will be hiding in first class.

I wonder if they’ve shortened some 10-cars in order to release an HST for the additional Newquay workings.

[old original]

Looking ahead, there's going to be a few short forms instead of hst's especially on Monday as there are seven hst's  running from Newquay to London after boardmasters.  They'll have to come from somewhere!

[bobm]

At least one HST^▸ (High Speed Train) has been made available by replacing the usual 10:49 Penzance to London HST with a unit running only between Penzance and Plymouth.    Another of course is the usual summer Newquay service formed from the 09:03 from London.

[BBM]

Looking at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s Twitter tonight there are several complaints about the 17.42 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-Cheltenham being cancelled, and the response from GWR is "this has temporarily (today and tomorrow) been removed from the timetable to support the extremely high demand on services in Cornwall for Boardmasters Festival". Needless to say, customers are not impressed!

[bobm]

That 17:42 to Cheltenham is always popular not least because it *doesn't* call at Reading.

[Adelante_CCT]

Looking ahead, there's going to be a few short forms instead of hst's especially on Monday as there are seven hst's  running from Newquay to London after boardmasters.  They'll have to come from somewhere!

The following services are 'cancelled' on Monday:

05:15 Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Paddington (via Newbury)
07:59 Swansea to Paddington
10:49 Penzance to Paddington
12:00 Paddington to Bristol TM
13:36 Paddington to Cheltenham
14:30 Bristol TM to Paddington
16:20 Cheltenham to Paddington

[bobm]

The loss of that 10:49 from Penzance will be felt as it’s a Monday. It is replaced by a train only as far as Plymouth but that doesn’t connect into anything.  You’d arrive in London earlier by waiting for the 12:04 from Penzance.

[TaplowGreen]

The loss of that 10:49 from Penzance will be felt as it’s a Monday. It is replaced by a train only as far as Plymouth but that doesn’t connect into anything.  You’d arrive in London earlier by waiting for the 12:04 from Penzance.

Agree the loss of the 1049 stands out but none of the others should cause major issues. I think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) called this one about right and I hope it signals an ongoing improvement in planning &
capacity provision for major events and notably busy days.

[bobm]

Introduced today is a crazy scheme to tell everyone how the train is assembled before it arrives in the station. Didcot 06:25 this [2-8-18] morning and the Platform 2 display announces 'First Class in Coaches D, E, K, and L'. Well like that is useful - those are the first class coaches on a 10 car set.

I enquire of platform staff. Their puzzlement matches mine.

Finally, over the tannoy, 'Sonya' (as opposed to her father) announces that First Class is in coaches 1,2, 6 and 7.  I get that (front and middle) - and agree with the platform staff that, at last, we have some tangible information.

Also at Didcot they have painted the stopping places on Platform 1 (Down Main).



However someone needs to decide whether the carriages are identified by numbers or letters....

[martyjon]

Introduced today is a crazy scheme to tell everyone how the train is assembled before it arrives in the station. Didcot 06:25 this [2-8-18] morning and the Platform 2 display announces 'First Class in Coaches D, E, K, and L'. Well like that is useful - those are the first class coaches on a 10 car set.

I enquire of platform staff. Their puzzlement matches mine.

Finally, over the tannoy, 'Sonya' (as opposed to her father) announces that First Class is in coaches 1,2, 6 and 7.  I get that (front and middle) - and agree with the platform staff that, at last, we have some tangible information.

Also at Didcot they have painted the stopping places on Platform 1 (Down Main).



However someone needs to decide whether the carriages are identified by numbers or letters....

haven't they put the 10 on the platform the wrong way round, when the driver looks out of his side window the 10 will appear to him upside down ! Here we go again.

[bobm]

Drivers have their own stop markers

[grahame]

However someone needs to decide whether the carriages are identified by numbers or letters....

haven't they put the 10 on the platform the wrong way round, when the driver looks out of his side window the 10 will appear to him upside down ! Here we go again.

Ah yes - what is "??" in 16 06 68 88 ?? 98 sequence!

"10" as in ten car, 9, 5 for driver's train stops are logical, whether letters, digits or signs of the zodiac are used for passengers!

[CMRail]

Drivers have their own stop markers

Didcot and Bath do not have on train announcements for short platforms as they are going to be extended, so manual SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) is used instead by the driver.