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

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

But I thought that the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) only have to be paid for when they are available ? The recent levels of non availability should be SAVING GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a lot of money, some of which they could spend on spot hire or monthly hire of a few HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

Short term hire may be considerably more expensive that long term hire so it may not match. 

[sikejsudjek3]

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) never had this problem......

[TaplowGreen]

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) never had this problem......

APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train)?

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

In our Sunday paper there is a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) “Famous Five” advert claiming “More seats, more trains, more adventures”.

I wonder how this would stand up to a complaint to and a subsequent investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority.  The third claim is probably true, but the first two?

[Timmer]

In our Sunday paper there is a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) “Famous Five” advert claiming “More seats, more trains, more adventures”.

I wonder how this would stand up to a complaint to and a subsequent investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority.  The third claim is probably true, but the first two?

If you call being stuck on one of their brand new trains that’s broken down for six hours an adventure then yes.

[TaplowGreen]

In our Sunday paper there is a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) “Famous Five” advert claiming “More seats, more trains, more adventures”.

I wonder how this would stand up to a complaint to and a subsequent investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority.  The third claim is probably true, but the first two?

If you call being stuck on one of their brand new trains that’s broken down for six hours an adventure then yes.

Beat me to it!!!  (I wonder how much these adverts cost by the way?)

[didcotdean]

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) never had this problem......

APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train)?

And the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to some extent. I can recall the announcement 'the next train will be instead formed of locomotive-hauled coaches' being all too frequent right through the early 1980s, heralding the arrival of some tatty old mixed rake. Or maybe I was just unlucky ...

[SandTEngineer]

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) never had this problem......

APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train)?

And the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to some extent. I can recall the announcement 'the next train will be instead formed of locomotive-hauled coaches' being all too frequent right through the early 1980s, heralding the arrival of some tatty old mixed rake. Or maybe I was just unlucky ...

Yes, but at least some form of train turned up.....

[broadgage]

HST^▸ (High Speed Train) failures did indeed occur regularly, but this was not comparable  to the present situation with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).
A failed HST usually resulted in a FULL LENGTH loco hauled train being substituted, with padded seats, reservations, and a buffet.

Today we get a half length DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) if lucky, or nothing if less lucky.

I, and I suspect many others, would have accepted the IETs if firstly they had been proper inter-city trains, full length, gangwayed throughout, with a buffet car, working reservations, padded seats, and so on, AND if the inevitable initial unreliability had been covered by retaining enough HSTs so as to minimise effects on passengers.

[didcotdean]

HST^▸ (High Speed Train) failures did indeed occur regularly, but this was not comparable  to the present situation with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).
A failed HST usually resulted in a FULL LENGTH loco hauled train being substituted, with padded seats, reservations, and a buffet.

Or a complete cancellation. And some of the substitute Mark 1 carriages with the bouncy seat springs, fabric impregnated with years of smoke, drafty non completely closing windows or no noticeable heating weren't that pleasant either 

Wasn't it BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Western Region that if it got hold of stock formally used elsewhere as 3 abreast with armrests used to try and stitch them back upright to seat 4?

[CMRail]

93% of the time a half formed Class 800 turns up due to a shortage of stock. Not because the seats were too hard for operation.

What do I expect as a semi-frequent commuter?
A seat, a catering offer and leg room. Also when I used to daily commute my block reservations.

What do I expect as a leisure commuter?
A seat/table, a decent catering offering, leg room and a nice view.

The catering offering on the 800 is the same as the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) at the moment, and the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) is capable of offering more food variety. I like the buffet but if I was traveling solo on a semi busy train I don’t want to lug everything through the train to get a cup of tea. If they had 2 on the 9 car that would be better, apparently they are looking into this.

What needs improving for me is the seat quality, food offering (including refrigeration) and 2 trolleys on the nine cars. All things that are possible on the new trains.

If a five coach mark 3 turned up do you expect people to say “at least it’s not a 800?” , no they want a seat.

[martyjon]

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) never had this problem......

APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train)?

Yep, but they didn't press on with production producing a lame duck (so far with the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s) offering.

[eightonedee]

And we have to stir into this mess another depressing thought.

If the electrifcation had not been cut short by (let's blame the real culprit) HM Treasury, the potential of 110 mph Electrostars to step into the breach in emergencies could have been considered too

[TaplowGreen]

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) never had this problem......

APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train)?

Yep, but they didn't press on with production producing a lame duck (so far with the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s) offering.

They probably thought spending £50 million was enough.

[ChrisB]

Other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have enquired about those Ely HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) and been told that they're spoken for apparently. So I'm guessing they're not interested in spot-hire either.