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

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Facinating photograph published elsewhere of stored (redundant) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets at Ely: https://www.flickr.com/photos/robmcrorie/43879066534/in/photostream/

Some of those sidings must be new, as they don't appear currently on Google maps...

I think they may have been put in only about two years ago in time to take the off lease 442s?

Paul

[stuving]

Facinating photograph published elsewhere of stored (redundant) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets at Ely: https://www.flickr.com/photos/robmcrorie/43879066534/in/photostream/

Some of those sidings must be new, as they don't appear currently on Google maps:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Ely/@52.4097715,0.2907868,3606a,35y,60.7h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d80b13a8c66535:0xd5c9b00306add425!8m2!3d52.399539!4d0.262363

I don't follow - I can see the same six sidings, and even the same arrangmemnt of points lading to them!

[IndustryInsider]

5 car west of Plymouth was indeed the plan for many trains, but I thought that the intention was that all busy services would be either 10 car to Plymouth, or 9 car throughout.
This service was 5 car throughout, in each direction.

All busy trains, hopefully, yes.  Though GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have hardly inspired confidence in that regard since their introduction.  I thought you were referring to all long distance routes though, not just the west country, so apologies if that wasn't the case. 

For West Country trains, I can see some of the off-peak Paddington to Exeter semi-fasts (in whatever form they finally take) being 5-cars.  The first morning departure from, and last evening arrival at, Paddington to/from Penzance on weekdays could also be a 5-car at the Paddington end quite comfortably.

The rest should, and hopefully will, be 9 or 10-car.

[Rob on the hill]

Facinating photograph published elsewhere of stored (redundant) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets at Ely: https://www.flickr.com/photos/robmcrorie/43879066534/in/photostream/

Some of those sidings must be new, as they don't appear currently on Google maps:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Ely/@52.4097715,0.2907868,3606a,35y,60.7h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d80b13a8c66535:0xd5c9b00306add425!8m2!3d52.399539!4d0.262363

I don't follow - I can see the same six sidings, and even the same arrangmemnt of points lading to them!

The sidings on the far side of the photo (approx. 12 roads) are new.

[paul7575]

The sidings on the far side of the photo (approx. 12 roads) are new.

Found online coverage of them being opened.  A commercial venture by Potter Logistics, opened Oct 2016, e.g. here:
http://www.elyenterprisezone.co.uk/news/view,potter-logistics-ely-rail-freight-terminal-growth-on-track_58.htm

Paul

[JayMac]

Discussion on the failure and subsequent protracted evacuation of an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) - 1A93 the 1400 Penzance to Paddington, 13th September 2018 - has been given its own dedicated topic on this board.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20391.0

My thanks to forum Admin Chris from Nailsea for doing the splitting off of posts. 

[martyjon]

I'm confused.

When the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s were introduced we were told that the HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s were going off lease because they had been promised to other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s, yes some have gone to another TOC and one (?) only converted and shortened and returned to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

From the recent aerial view of sidings at Ely showing in what looked like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) liveried HST mk3 carriages and power cars stored there. I cannot recall the presence in the vicinity of Ely any railway works capable of converting the mk 3 carriages to sliding door operation or overhaul of the power cars, I believe such works done already on ex GWR vehicles was done at Doncaster a mere 200 miles to the north of Ely.

Surely with this stock languishing in those sidings,some of it could have been retained by extending the leases and run in place of a 5 car IEP, or a 2x5 car IEP with 5 locked out of use or a cancelled train because of lack of trained staff to operate the new trains.

Passengers have had to suffer many months of travelling hell due to high-ups making stupid decisions for which the passengers has had to endure the consequences. Any new footage for a future episode of Paddington 24/7 should be shot of these trains laid up at Ely followed of footage of well overcrowded 5 car IEP's with the narrative for the shot film emphasizing that the 5 cars should be 9 or 10 carriages.

Overall to me it doesn't make sense.

See why I'm confused.

[JayMac]

Finances.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) can't continue leasing HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) alongside IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

They won't take the financial hit, and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) won't bankroll it as they'd be admitting their IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) project is struggling.

[martyjon]

Finances.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) can't continue leasing HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) alongside IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

They won't take the financial hit, and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) won't bankroll it as they'd be admitting their IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) project is struggling.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

If an IEP is unavailable for service then a "lease credit" should be given for the unavailable IEP which should adequately cover the lease of a 40 year old, fully depreciated HST.

I think all readers of this forum are aware that the electrification of the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) and the IEP project are both floundering deep in the brown stuff.

[ellendune]

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

If an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) is unavailable for service then a "lease credit" should be given for the unavailable IEP which should adequately cover the lease of a 40 year old, fully depreciated HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

I think all readers of this forum are aware that the electrification of the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) and the IEP project are both floundering deep in the brown stuff.

That might work if they were available for spot hire, but they are not and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) don't know when Hitachi might get the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)'s working. GWR would have to hire them for some period without knowing when the IET's might be fixed.

[martyjon]

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

If an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) is unavailable for service then a "lease credit" should be given for the unavailable IEP which should adequately cover the lease of a 40 year old, fully depreciated HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

I think all readers of this forum are aware that the electrification of the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) and the IEP project are both floundering deep in the brown stuff.

That might work if they were available for spot hire, but they are not and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) don't know when Hitachi might get the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)'s working. GWR would have to hire them for some period without knowing when the IET's might be fixed.

Then introduce a "spot hire" regime, simple.

[ellendune]

Then introduce a "spot hire" regime, simple.

For that to happen the owner of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) must make the offer and to do that they must find somewhere to stable them in the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) area and keep them in a state that they can run at a moment's notice.  That will cost them money with no guarantee of income  - unless they believe Hitachi are going to be unable to solve the problems quickly.

In the mean time they are less able to look for a new long term use for the HSTs. 

[martyjon]

Then introduce a "spot hire" regime, simple.

For that to happen the owner of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) must make the offer and to do that they must find somewhere to stable them in the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) area and keep them in a state that they can run at a moment's notice.  That will cost them money with no guarantee of income  - unless they believe Hitachi are going to be unable to solve the problems quickly.

In the mean time they are less able to look for a new long term use for the HSTs. 

Isn't anyone in GWR HQ^▸ (Headquarters) got a tongue in their head who could ask the owner to discuss a spot hire arrangement, GWR has the ability to maintain HST's still and with the current performance of the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) fleet a "spot hire" arrangement for a couple of HST's could well last for some time and could be negotiated at least say monthly, there are more than one way of skinning a cat you know.

[broadgage]

So have we moved from

"HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) have got to go, they are promised to other operators and some promises cant be broken"
To
"Well there might be some HSTs available, but the logistics of hiring them for an unknown period are just too much trouble"

[broadgage]

Finances.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) can't continue leasing HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) alongside IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

They won't take the financial hit, and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) won't bankroll it as they'd be admitting their IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) project is struggling.

But I thought that the IEPs only have to be paid for when they are available ? The recent levels of non availability should be SAVING GWR a lot of money, some of which they could spend on spot hire or monthly hire of a few HSTs.