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

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

This is something like update number 60 since entering traffic!   More updates to come.

Gosh, worse than Microsoft!

Exactly like it.. it (Hitatchi) claims its 100% complete yet in reality it is not!

Have they tried switching it off & switching it on again?

[Timmer]

Rail manufacturers really need to make more effort to stop making something built in the 1970s look so good.

[TaplowGreen]

Can't get this one to work can they? Cancelled yesterday and delayed on Wednesday.

05:53 Plymouth to London Paddington due 09:00
05:53 Plymouth to London Paddington due 09:00 has been delayed at Plymouth and is now 46 minutes late.
This is due to this train being late from the depot

[bobm]

It has struggled a bit this week.  There was a points problem near Laira Depot this morning, not sure if that was the issue.

[Thatcham Crossing]

05:53 Plymouth to London Paddington due 09:00 has been delayed at Plymouth and is now 46 minutes late

Seems to have lost more time en-route, just ran through Newbury 66 late! Every train coming up the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) from the south-west this morning seems to be picking-up 10-15 minute delays in the Somerton to Castle Cary area (same with 1A75 which is an HST^▸ (High Speed Train))?

[SandTEngineer]

05:53 Plymouth to London Paddington due 09:00 has been delayed at Plymouth and is now 46 minutes late

Seems to have lost more time en-route, just ran through Newbury 66 late! Every train coming up the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) from the south-west this morning seems to be picking-up 10-15 minute delays in the Somerton to Castle Cary area (same with 1A75 which is an HST^▸ (High Speed Train))?

That's due to speed restrictions due to the ongoing embankment stability issues.

[Phantom]

An explanation by an insider on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum (23/08/2018):

With reference to the lack of units this week, Hitachi are doing software modifications to the fleet. Due to the way they are done they can't be done at the same time which means booking each unit in twice - one of the modifications can take up to an hour per vehicle, so getting them back in service for the following day has proven a challenge.

Hitachi have aim to have all units done by this Monday.

I assume by one hour per vehicle they literally mean per coach?

Interestingly someone I know that works for Hitachi claims this to be BS, do you have the original URL please?
He is always VERY defensive on this issue

[broadgage]

And did not my crystal ball SPECIFICALLY forecast software and computer issues ?

I cant find the post now, but I believe that I wrote something like

"Diesel engines and electric drives are mature technologies, and given competent design and manufacture should prove reasonably reliable. A reasonable level of redundancy should ensure that the train can still proceed in case of component failure. Software however is NEVER a mature technology, if it works it must be obsolete !
The new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) contain numerous computers all of which must work together, first time every time"

I fear that software issues may be ongoing. The software is no doubt complex and propriety with a significant risk that each fix introduces another flaw.

This is in contrast to say the clogged radiator issues in the recent warm weather. That sounds a very poor design but there are obvious engineering remedies to the problem.
1) re locate the radiator.
2) devise some special tool or machine to clean it
3) make the radiator bigger so that even when partly clogged it will still produce sufficient cooling.
And no doubt other alternatives.

Software that fails to function as intended does not normally have a comparably simple fix.

[SandTEngineer]

An explanation by an insider on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum (23/08/2018):

With reference to the lack of units this week, Hitachi are doing software modifications to the fleet. Due to the way they are done they can't be done at the same time which means booking each unit in twice - one of the modifications can take up to an hour per vehicle, so getting them back in service for the following day has proven a challenge.

Hitachi have aim to have all units done by this Monday.

I assume by one hour per vehicle they literally mean per coach?

Interestingly someone I know that works for Hitachi claims this to be BS, do you have the original URL please?
He is always VERY defensive on this issue.

Response given by PM.

[IndustryInsider]

And did not my crystal ball SPECIFICALLY forecast software and computer issues ?

Yes, you did write something like that and I don’t think anyone disagreed with you as it was a pretty safe bet that a new train with groundbreaking technology would have glitches.  It doesn’t help that the SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) system needs regular updates as the platform extensions slowly get completed when ideally they would all have been finished before the trains entered service.

Other glitches have taken much longer than they should have been to fix, surprising me in the process,  such as the reservation system.  Though I expect, like the 387s which now perform pretty well after a shorter bedding in period given their introduction on other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s before, Hitachi will get on top of things before long.

[grahame]

It doesn’t help that the SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) system needs regular updates as the platform extensions slowly get completed when ideally they would all have been finished before the trains entered service ...

It really should not be / have been beyond the wit of programmers to allow platform lengths to be variable and downloadable without the need for a software update, in much the way that passenger journey start and end points can be downloaded on a daily or even service by service basis.

[TaplowGreen]

And did not my crystal ball SPECIFICALLY forecast software and computer issues ?

Yes, you did write something like that and I don’t think anyone disagreed with you as it was a pretty safe bet that a new train with groundbreaking technology would have glitches.  It doesn’t help that the SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) system needs regular updates as the platform extensions slowly get completed when ideally they would all have been finished before the trains entered service.

Other glitches have taken much longer than they should have been to fix, surprising me in the process,  such as the reservation system.  Though I expect, like the 387s which now perform pretty well after a shorter bedding in period given their introduction on other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s before, Hitachi will get on top of things before long.

I accept glitches and snagging but this is very nearly a year in service now, with (it would seem) new issues popping up all the time - it's really not a very good story, and yet another example of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) raising expectations that they ultimately don't get anywhere near meeting.

[a-driver]

And did not my crystal ball SPECIFICALLY forecast software and computer issues ?

Yes, you did write something like that and I don’t think anyone disagreed with you as it was a pretty safe bet that a new train with groundbreaking technology would have glitches.  It doesn’t help that the SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) system needs regular updates as the platform extensions slowly get completed when ideally they would all have been finished before the trains entered service.

Other glitches have taken much longer than they should have been to fix, surprising me in the process,  such as the reservation system.  Though I expect, like the 387s which now perform pretty well after a shorter bedding in period given their introduction on other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s before, Hitachi will get on top of things before long.

I accept glitches and snagging but this is very nearly a year in service now, with (it would seem) new issues popping up all the time - it's really not a very good story, and yet another example of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) raising expectations that they ultimately don't get anywhere near meeting.

To be fair to GWR, there was no indication given that there was going to be issues. The testing of the units should have been undertaken by GWR. Instead the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) awarded the contract to GBRf.  I’m guessing it was just driven up and down whereas GWR could have simulated service conditions ie coupling and uncoupling, ASDO^▸ (Automatic Selective Door Operation), APCo etc.
Some of the issues can’t be rectified because they require infrastructure work or simply it’s a contract stipulation between Hitachi and the DfT.

[TaplowGreen]

And did not my crystal ball SPECIFICALLY forecast software and computer issues ?

Yes, you did write something like that and I don’t think anyone disagreed with you as it was a pretty safe bet that a new train with groundbreaking technology would have glitches.  It doesn’t help that the SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) system needs regular updates as the platform extensions slowly get completed when ideally they would all have been finished before the trains entered service.

Other glitches have taken much longer than they should have been to fix, surprising me in the process,  such as the reservation system.  Though I expect, like the 387s which now perform pretty well after a shorter bedding in period given their introduction on other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s before, Hitachi will get on top of things before long.

I accept glitches and snagging but this is very nearly a year in service now, with (it would seem) new issues popping up all the time - it's really not a very good story, and yet another example of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) raising expectations that they ultimately don't get anywhere near meeting.

To be fair to GWR, there was no indication given that there was going to be issues. The testing of the units should have been undertaken by GWR. Instead the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) awarded the contract to GBRf.  I’m guessing it was just driven up and down whereas GWR could have simulated service conditions ie coupling and uncoupling, ASDO^▸ (Automatic Selective Door Operation), APCo etc.
Some of the issues can’t be rectified because they require infrastructure work or simply it’s a contract stipulation between Hitachi and the DfT.

I guess that by definition glitches don't come with advance indications or a big red light flashing on them, otherwise they could have been addressed in advance, but there's a saying that GWR should remember for future reference which may help prevent them being quite such a laughing stock - under promise, over deliver...

……….if you launch/jump on board one expensive advertising campaign after another, promising the world ("Building a Greater West", "Famous Five", more capacity and reliability than ever before etc), and the whole thing falls apart, people are much angrier because they've been led to expect a transformational experience.

Sometimes, a softer launch is better, whereby customers are pleasantly surprised by steady improvement on a smooth curve, and are more understanding of teething problems (especially if you have an MD who has the cojones and integrity to come out and admit when things have gone wrong with an action plan & timeline for putting them right, rather than hiding in the Boardroom)

Irrespective of pointing the finger of blame at other agencies, GWR are 100% responsible for the expectations they've raised, and failed to manage.

[devonexpress]

And did not my crystal ball SPECIFICALLY forecast software and computer issues ?

Yes, you did write something like that and I don’t think anyone disagreed with you as it was a pretty safe bet that a new train with groundbreaking technology would have glitches.  It doesn’t help that the SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) system needs regular updates as the platform extensions slowly get completed when ideally they would all have been finished before the trains entered service.

Other glitches have taken much longer than they should have been to fix, surprising me in the process,  such as the reservation system.  Though I expect, like the 387s which now perform pretty well after a shorter bedding in period given their introduction on other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s before, Hitachi will get on top of things before long.

I accept glitches and snagging but this is very nearly a year in service now, with (it would seem) new issues popping up all the time - it's really not a very good story, and yet another example of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) raising expectations that they ultimately don't get anywhere near meeting.

To be fair to GWR, there was no indication given that there was going to be issues. The testing of the units should have been undertaken by GWR. Instead the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) awarded the contract to GBRf.  I’m guessing it was just driven up and down whereas GWR could have simulated service conditions ie coupling and uncoupling, ASDO^▸ (Automatic Selective Door Operation), APCo etc.
Some of the issues can’t be rectified because they require infrastructure work or simply it’s a contract stipulation between Hitachi and the DfT.

I guess that by definition glitches don't come with advance indications or a big red light flashing on them, otherwise they could have been addressed in advance, but there's a saying that GWR should remember for future reference which may help prevent them being quite such a laughing stock - under promise, over deliver...

……….if you launch/jump on board one expensive advertising campaign after another, promising the world ("Building a Greater West", "Famous Five", more capacity and reliability than ever before etc), and the whole thing falls apart, people are much angrier because they've been led to expect a transformational experience.

Sometimes, a softer launch is better, whereby customers are pleasantly surprised by steady improvement on a smooth curve, and are more understanding of teething problems (especially if you have an MD who has the cojones and integrity to come out and admit when things have gone wrong with an action plan & timeline for putting them right, rather than hiding in the Boardroom)

Irrespective of pointing the finger of blame at other agencies, GWR are 100% responsible for the expectations they've raised, and failed to manage.

Agreed GWR basically took a massive dump on themselves with the 4 years of building a greater west and the last year of the famous five.  I'm not surprised the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)'s have issues, so doesn't everything new, multimillion pound aircraft, cars, buses, ships, computer etc etc. And I did say this a few weeks before the first IET service that you can expect this for at least the next 2 years (1 year down, 1 to go).   Possibly longer,  people wonder why older stuff is better, its simple because its been run in and most of the problems are known and rectified.

Edited to fix quotes - bobm