Problems with IET trains from April 2021

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Simin Calder is stating that a ‘core service’ will be running on all ling distance routes next week as stock is released into service. So some sort of limited? service using IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) on all routes that use them

[lbraine]

This might not be the time to post ths question - or indeed the correct thread to do it in - but has anyone else noticed that the Class 387 doing the emergency PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve)-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains)-SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) 'shuttles' are actually doing so in times that are the same as the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

It got me thinking if there was long term value in keeping these services, in some form..

I can see benefits with longer distance services being able to 'skip Swindon' to provide better times to further points (or is skipping Swindon comitting some kind of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) heresay!); a service that is (arguably) using stock with more comfortable seats than the IETs; the tax payer getting more use/more value out of those very expensive wires that have just been erected.

Current timings are showing a end to end time of 1 hour (or just under) - thats acceptabe in a 387, right ?

[ChrisB]

I’m not sure thaylt there’scany spares once the May timetable is introduced fully?

Until then, I’m sure GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are looking at what they can do with the 387s once they can train up sufficient staff.

Btw, XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) shuttles seem to have their last day tomorrow (Friday), they’re saying chevk with GWR for services next week. So IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) expected back in some quantity next week it seems

[IndustryInsider]

To add to ChrisB’s comments, whilst there won’t be a huge difference in the Section Running Times, it’s worth bearing in mind that there are very few trains currently running.  Throw the usual number of 125mph trains out there and pathing everything then becomes more difficult with more of a mix of running speeds. 

Not to say a Swindon<>Paddington service using them couldn’t work in principle.  Though the whole market is changing as a result of the virus, so probably not worth considering seriously at the moment, especially if the large majority of IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)’s are back sooner rather than later, but certainly not something to rule out if less 387s are needed for the services they currently work in the future.

Mind you, I find Class 387 seats far worse than IET ones.

[stuving]

This is GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s latest public statement, e-mailed out this evening:

News about our Intercity Express Hitachi train services
Recently, the trains which are manufactured by Hitachi, and used on our long-distance routes, were withdrawn for precautionary safety checks, as cracks were found during maintenance.
 
Unfortunately, this led to the cancellation of nearly all the services we operate on the long-distance routes to and from London Paddington.
 
Your safety is, as always, a priority to us. These trains have now been rigorously checked and rechecked and are starting to be cleared to travel. Our services are now operating again and over the coming days will see a return to a near normal timetable.
 
We thank you for your patience during this time and will, of course, keep you updated.

So, "near normal timetable", eh? Which "normal" would that be, I wonder.

[Electric train]

This might not be the time to post ths question - or indeed the correct thread to do it in - but has anyone else noticed that the Class 387 doing the emergency PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve)-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains)-SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) 'shuttles' are actually doing so in times that are the same as the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

Not surprising, 387 are 110mph units.   387 power to weight ratio is better than the class 800's   387 are built and geared as outer metro units with the gearing and breaking to match that duty..  

It got me thinking if there was long term value in keeping these services, in some form..

I can see benefits with longer distance services being able to 'skip Swindon' to provide better times to further points (or is skipping Swindon comitting some kind of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) heresay!); a service that is (arguably) using stock with more comfortable seats than the IETs; the tax payer getting more use/more value out of those very expensive wires that have just been erected.

Current timings are showing a end to end time of 1 hour (or just under) - thats acceptabe in a 387, right ?

377 / 387 are used on may routes to proved the equivalent of the 'inter-city' type services,

[broadgage]

How many GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) were in service today ? (reports elsewhere give very varying numbers from 4 up to 20)
How many might reasonably be expected in service tomorrow ?

Are the hired charter trains going to be used ? or is the hope that enough IETs will be serviceable to negate that need.

Is the number of available IETs likely to increase (more at present stopped sets passed after inspection) or is it likely to decrease (presently passed sets withdrawn as cracks spread)

[ChrisB]

I doubt Hitachi have given GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) any definite numbers yet - they've said a core all-routes timetable will be offered from Monday, so I reckon they're working flat out to see what forms of stock might be likely available for then, then work out a timetable that fits stock availability.

You'll get your answer in a day or so, possibly over the weekend.

[ChrisB]

This is GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s latest public statement, e-mailed out this evening:

News about our Intercity Express Hitachi train services
Recently, the trains which are manufactured by Hitachi, and used on our long-distance routes, were withdrawn for precautionary safety checks, as cracks were found during maintenance.
 
Unfortunately, this led to the cancellation of nearly all the services we operate on the long-distance routes to and from London Paddington.
 
Your safety is, as always, a priority to us. These trains have now been rigorously checked and rechecked and are starting to be cleared to travel. Our services are now operating again and over the coming days will see a return to a near normal timetable.
 
We thank you for your patience during this time and will, of course, keep you updated.

So, "near normal timetable", eh? Which "normal" would that be, I wonder.

Did you click on the "see latest update' button?

In brief - an hourly direct service both to Swansea & Plymouth. As Thursday for other routes.

Updated: Thursday 13 May
A number of Class 800 series Hitachi trains in use by several train companies, including GWR, were withdrawn from service earlier this week as a precaution. After completing rigorous safety checks, we will begin reintroducing train services. Trains on some routes will be less frequent than usual, and your journey might take longer than it normally would. Please check your journey on our online journey planner before you leave.

Trains may be busier than usual, including local services. We recommend making a reservation wherever possible to facilitate social distancing.

Online journey planners are updated daily. Check your journey before you travel.

Thursday 13 May

Customers are advised not to travel.


Friday 14 May
Customers are advised not to travel. Online journey planners will be updated overnight and will be accurate at 06.00 on Friday 14 May. Check your journey before you travel.

Saturday 15 May

A limited number of services will be running. Please only travel if your journey is essential. Online journey planners will be updated by 13.00 on Friday 14 May. Check your journey before you travel.


Tickets and Refunds
If you no longer want to travel, you can claim a refund from where you bought your ticket, free from admin fees – Find out more about claiming a refund
Tickets for travel between Saturday 08 May and Sunday 16 May, can instead be used on any alternative day up to and including Sunday 16 May.
If you do travel on another day, please travel as close to the time of your original ticket as possible. New reservations should be made where possible.
Using your GWR tickets with other train companies:
You can use your GWR tickets on the following routes:

between London Paddington, London Euston and London Waterloo with London Underground
between London Paddington and Reading with TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Rail
between London Marylebone, Banbury and Leamington Spa, also, Bicester North for Bicester Village and Oxford with Chiltern Railways
between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, between London Waterloo and Reading and also between London Waterloo, Basingstoke, Salisbury and Bristol Temple Meads with South Western Railway
between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads, between Cardiff Central and Worcestershire Parkway via Cheltenham Spa, between Basingstoke and Birmingham New Street via Reading and between Bristol Temple Meads and Birmingham New Street via Worcestershire Parkway with CrossCountry
between Carmarthen and Cardiff Central via Swansea, between Cardiff Central and Cheltenham Spa and between Newport and Hereford with Transport for Wales
between London Euston and Birmingham New Street with Avanti West Coast
between London Euston, Birmingham New Street and Hereford with West Midlands Railway
We have also arranged for bus companies to accept tickets on relevant routes.

Disruption is likely to continue for some time.

We have had to adapt many of our direct high-speed routes into a series of separate services. Expect your journey to take longer. This may lead to train services being busier than normal and is likely to make social distancing difficult. 

 

London Paddington - Swindon - Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads

Thursday 13 May A limited shuttle service will run between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads. This is being operated by CrossCountry Trains. Your GWR ticket is valid on these trains. At Swindon, connections will be available to/from Didcot Parkway and you may need to change at Reading.  

Customers travelling to/from London Paddington may need to change trains at Swindon. 

Extra shuttle trains will run between Didcot Parkway, Reading, and London Paddington. 

Friday 14 May A shuttle service will run between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads. This is being operated by both GWR and CrossCountry Trains. Your GWR ticket is valid on these trains. 

Customers travelling to/from London Paddington will need to change trains at Swindon. 

Extra shuttle trains will run between Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading, and London Paddington. 

London Paddington - Swindon - Bristol Parkway - Newport - Cardiff Central - Swansea.

Thursday 13 May Special shuttle trains will run, but only between Newport (South Wales) and Reading - calling at Bristol Parkway, Swindon, and Didcot Parkway. 

Customers coming from Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, or Cardiff Central should travel to/from Newport on Transport for Wales services (GWR tickets will be valid) and connect with shuttle train services to/from Reading. 

At Reading alternative GWR services will be available for travel to/from London Paddington. 

Friday 14 May An hourly service will run between London Paddington and Swansea. 

London Paddington - Reading - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Plymouth - Penzance.

Thursday 13 May All direct trains between London Paddington, Reading, Taunton, Exeter St Davids, Plymouth, and Penzance, in both directions, have been withdrawn. A few services will run between Plymouth and Penzance, serving stations on the route. 

Local trains in Devon and Cornwall are not affected and will continue to run as normal.  Only direct services to/from London Paddington have been withdrawn. 

CrossCountry trains between Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Exeter St Davids, Plymouth, and Penzance will continue to run as normal. GWR customers can use these services. 

South Western Railway (SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)) run trains to/from Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo station which GWR customers can use. 

Friday 14 May An hourly service will run between London Paddington and Plymouth. 

Local trains in Devon and Cornwall are not affected and will continue to run as normal.  Only direct services to/from London Paddington have been withdrawn. 

CrossCountry trains between Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Exeter St Davids, Plymouth, and Penzance will continue to run as normal. GWR customers can use these services. 

South Western Railway (SWR) run trains to/from Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo station which GWR customers can use. 

London Paddington - Reading - Oxford - Evesham - Worcester - Great Malvern - Hereford.

Thursday 13 and Friday 14 May The direct train which normally runs between London Paddington, Reading, and Oxford for stations via Evesham to Worcester, Great Malvern and Hereford has been withdrawn. A revised service will run along the Oxford - Evesham - Worcester route. 

CrossCountry trains can be used by GWR customers between Reading and Oxford. 

Customers from the London area for this route will either need to travel from London Paddington to Reading and change there for the CrossCountry trains services to Oxford, or travel on Chiltern Railways services direct from London Marylebone to Oxford. 

Customers from the London area who need to travel to stations in the Worcester area, or destinations via Great Malvern to Hereford, can use Avanti West Coast trains from London Euston to Birmingham New Street and change there for West Midlands trains to Worcester, Great Malvern, and Hereford. 

London Underground will accept GWR tickets for travel between London train terminals. 

London Paddington - Reading - Swindon - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa

Thursday 13 and Friday 14 May There will be a shuttle service between Swindon and Gloucester. Customers can take other services from London Paddington and Reading to Swindon to connect to the shuttle service.

GWR customers will be able to travel between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa using CrossCountry Trains and Transport for Wales services.

[IndustryInsider]

How many GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) were in service today ? (reports elsewhere give very varying numbers from 4 up to 20)

There’s a lot of ‘additional’ trains now entered into JourneyCheck for this evening, some to/from Paddington, so availability has increased throughout the day.  I don’t have the exact numbers, but an initial four rising to twenty might not be far from the mark.

[stuving]

So, "near normal timetable", eh? Which "normal" would that be, I wonder.

Did you click on the "see latest update' button?

No - but the data on that page only cover today and tomorrow, so must have been put up this morning.

Perhaps I should have also asked:  how many days into the future count as "coming" ones?

[grahame]

Summary for today, extracted from JourneyCheck

11.5.2021 Almost all of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) High Speed Train fleet is out of service at present.
14.5.2021 Many of the GWR High Speed Train fleet is out of service at present.

Friday 14 May

* An hourly service will run between London Paddington and Swansea.

* Trains between London Paddington - Reading - Swindon - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa will run as a shuttle service between Swindon and Gloucester only.

* An hourly service will run between London Paddington and Plymouth.

* Customers travelling to/from London Paddington [to Chippenham, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads] will need to change trains at Swindon.  A shuttle service will run between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads. This is being operated by both GWR and CrossCountry Trains. Your GWR ticket is valid on these trains.

* Extra shuttle trains will run between Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading, and London Paddington.

* The direct train which normally runs between London Paddington, Reading, and Oxford for stations via Evesham to Worcester, Great Malvern and Hereford has been withdrawn. A revised service will run along the Oxford - Evesham - Worcester route.

* Train services between Bedwyn and London Paddington, will require a change of train at both Newbury and Reading.

Further details in on each line group board and in the main passenger thread at http://www.passenger.chat/24974

London to Bath and Bristol - http://www.passenger.chat/24980
London to Taunton, Devon and Cornwall - http://www.passenger.chat/24981
London to Cardiff and Swansea - http://www.passenger.chat/24982
London to Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa - http://www.passenger.chat/24983
London to Oxford, Worcester and Hereford - http://www.passenger.chat/24984
London to Newbury and Bedwyn - http://www.passenger.chat/24985

Edit - to clarify Swindon - Bristol Temple Meads shuttle

[IndustryInsider]

There’s a lot of ‘additional’ trains now entered into JourneyCheck for this evening, some to/from Paddington, so availability has increased throughout the day.  I don’t have the exact numbers, but an initial four rising to twenty might not be far from the mark.

17 IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) units required for today’s train plan.

[grahame]

From the Swindon Advertiser (URL may change - looks like admin error at the Adverister!)

Mark Hopwood, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) managing director, said: “Our customers have shown great patience over the past couple of days, and I am grateful for their understanding as we have worked with Hitachi to allow trains to return safely. This news will allow us to run some additional services today and reintroduce more consistent robust timetables for customers after the weekend.

“The industry has come together to help support those travelling – with other operators allowing each other’s tickets to be used on their networks; adding in extra shuttle services to help move people; and in sharing rolling stock to provide it to those who need it most.”

My bolding.

It has been good to see the industry coming together across TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company); so often, they do (and much praise due) under emergency / crisis situations.   Can we look forward to that as the norm?  I'm conscious of the "wrong owner of fuel" issue at Exeter very recently, which lead (as I understand it) to several days of trains replaced by buses from Axminster to Exeter, and wonder if under management contracts and the new Shapps-Williams regime (to be published in August, but we don't know which August) such issues won't arise.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Presumably, over the coming days and weeks, the number of available IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) units can only reduce as cracks are going to propagate more quickly than a Repair Plan can be devised and implemented.

Or maybe, as the cracks in these 17 are closely monitored, the experience gained will allow more stopped trains to run.