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

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Another time record set by an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) today, 23rd October 2019.

Cardiff to Paddington in 93 minutes.

Unit 800318 departed Cardiff at 1347, arrived Paddington 1520. I think this is the second* publicised (after the fact on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) social media feeds) IET record with a traction changeover. Presumably this was done on the fly at Bristol Parkway. The timimgs certainly support that, with 3 minutes allowed in the schedule at BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) for pathing purposes, but not taken.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V02815/2019-10-23/detailed

*The first was, I believe, a run between Oxford and Paddington.

[The Tall Controller]

800001 entered revenue earning service for the first time today, completing GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s fleet of 93 IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train). Its currently paired up with 800010

[grahame]

A pair of pictures of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 800 bogies ... driving and non-driving, I believe.   A little bit like "completing the record" as I note various other pictures already posted.

[grahame]

800001 entered revenue earning service for the first time today, completing GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s fleet of 93 IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train). Its currently paired up with 800010

First in, last out!

- 1B27 1115 Paddington - Cardiff Central
- 1L65 1356 Cardiff Central - Paddington
- 1C22 1630 Paddington - Taunton

according to GW^▸ (Great Western) Modernisation group.                                 

[Incider]

A pair of pictures of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 800 bogies ... driving and non-driving, I believe.   A little bit like "completing the record" as I note various other pictures already posted.

Not quite.  The outboard bearings (top picture) are driven and non driven, the driving cars have this type of bogie, but they have not got driven wheels.  The inboard bearings are trailer cars - non driven - these are only in 9 car units.

[grahame]

From Rail Magazine on Azumas^▸ (Brand name for Class 80x trains on LNER)

In a members’ update released on October 21, RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) General Secretary Mick Cash said serious concerns had been raised about “inadequate facilities which are detrimental to passengers and staff alike”.

Concerns have been raised about available luggage space, with Cash remarking: “With the upcoming Christmas period there will likely be a large increase in health and safety issues and stress for frontline staff.”

Issues highlighted by RMT include: toilets going out of use randomly; taps flooding floors; bicycle storage spaces that are unable to accommodate bicycles; ovens leaking; no rubbish storage provision; disabled toilet doors failing; and seat reservation failures.

Some of those sound familiar from the introduction of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) ... are there any new issues here?   How are we doing in the west in fixing /overcoming those that we have suffered too?

[ray951]

From Rail Magazine on Azumas^▸ (Brand name for Class 80x trains on LNER)

Issues highlighted by RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) include: toilets going out of use randomly; taps flooding floors; bicycle storage spaces that are unable to accommodate bicycles; ovens leaking; no rubbish storage provision; disabled toilet doors failing; and seat reservation failures.

Some of those sound familiar from the introduction of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) ... are there any new issues here?   How are we doing in the west in fixing /overcoming those that we have suffered too?

I can't answer for all of those issues but there are still issues with the seat reservation software as there were no seat reservations on the 21:15 Paddington to Bristol TM^‡(resolve) train last night (Sunday 27th Oct), which surprised me by being very full on leaving Paddington. Note I was slightly irritated by this as I had seat reservations on this train that I was unable to take up.

[rogerw]

At least 5 diagrams operating 5 v 10 today according to journey check

[Celestial]

In think there's a unit down in Cornwall with a scratched nose that might account for one of those short formations.

[IndustryInsider]

The final long term casualty, 800305, is expected to join the party in a couple of weeks, so barring any (more) collision damage, the whole fleet will then be available for use in time for the December timetable.  It will be interesting to see what levels of shortforms occur then.

[TaplowGreen]

The final long term casualty, 800305, is expected to join the party in a couple of weeks, so barring any (more) collision damage, the whole fleet will then be available for use in time for the December timetable.  It will be interesting to see what levels of shortforms occur then.

Irrespective of the length of the train, if there aren't enough staff, they aren't going to run - how can GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) promise to run more frequent services if they can't round up sufficient staff to run the current service, as is the case today across the region.

It used to be a Sunday issue, now it seems to be every day.

Good question to put to Hopwood perhaps?

[IndustryInsider]

Good question to put to Hopwood perhaps?

Not relevant to this thread at all, but certainly a very good question to ask Mark.

[grahame]

Good question to put to Hopwood perhaps?

Not relevant to this thread at all, but certainly a very good question to ask Mark.

Summarising the questions overnight / giving Mark a heads-up tomorrow.

[broadgage]

The final long term casualty, 800305, is expected to join the party in a couple of weeks, so barring any (more) collision damage, the whole fleet will then be available for use in time for the December timetable.  It will be interesting to see what levels of shortforms occur then.

I cynically expect that the new timetable will almost eliminate short forms.
Not of course by lengthening the trains, but by declaring that 5 car formations are now "normal, correct, or sufficient"
All very Voyager like ! When it was claimed that the new half size trains were going to cope fine due to being more frequent.
Did not a Princess turn into a pumpkin or something ?
It all went so splendidly that another large batch of 5 car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) was ordered for routes previously worked by full length trains.

[Incider]

In think there's a unit down in Cornwall with a scratched nose that might account for one of those short formations.

Shame it’s not just a scratch.....