Problems with IET trains from April 2021

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) news reporting that LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) have stated that the issue will continue for "some weeks". No reason to assume that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will do any better. In fact more likely worse?

Agree, or in more detail GWR are worst affected, but cant get much worse than at present since only 2 IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) out of about 80 are serviceable. The remaining 2 will probably be stopped soon, but zero out of 80 is not much worse than 2 out of 80.

LNER are less badly affected at present, but the position may be expected to steadily worsen as more IETs succumb. Wont be as bad as GWR as LNER do have electric locomotives and suitable coaches, these being sidelined due to the pandemic but are about to re enter service.

GWR=already cracked
LNER= yet to develop cracks in most units

[Celestial]

How long would it take to get clearance for Cl 387s to run to Bristol Parkway? Surely given the emergency it wouldn't be that long would it?

I would have thought that might make a meaningful difference in the level of service that could be operated if the number of Cl 800s in use remains at current levels.

[grahame]

How long would it take to get clearance for Cl 387s to run to Bristol Parkway? Surely given the emergency it wouldn't be that long would it?

I would have thought that might make a meaningful difference in the level of service that could be operated if the number of Cl 800s in use remains at current levels.

387 drivers already know the road Paddington to Swindon.  Cross County drivers known Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads as a diversionary route; interestingly, they also know Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff. 

[Surrey 455]

There are several Eurostars not doing anything at the moment. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why they won't be used on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line). What are those reasons?

[grahame]

There are several Eurostars not doing anything at the moment. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why they won't be used on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line). What are those reasons?

Won't fit through the holes (bridges and tunnels) - too tall?
Won't fit into the stations (platforms) - too long?
Won't plug in at the depots - square pins and round holes?

[broadgage]

Out of gauge I suspect, and also electric, which would be very limiting as to where they could go.

[nickswift99]

Lack of ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection), no bi-mode (which scuppers Bristol), route clearance, route knowledge (the drivers would need to be conducted), lack of UK^▸ (United Kingdom) based drivers, and the most important of all:

Decent catering, including wine in First Class, along with a buffet car.

[johnneyw]

From Facebook "Railways of Devon and Cornwall" group showing photo said to be of stock move of HST^▸ (High Speed Train) carriages southwest as a temporary measure due to problems with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=261318518792855&id=100047441276109&set=gm.520365982708065&source=48&ref=m_notif&notif_t=group_highlights

[grahame]

I have summarised the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services for each route from today (11th May 2021) - quoting from JourneyCheck - as follows:

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

Overview is that passengers are using local services with a series of connections where they are running. Gaps are being filled with additional shuttles where practical. Pewsey served by buses to Newbury.

Some of the write-ups just talk about today, others talk of longer (unspecified) periods.

Summary thread for newcomers on current situation - http://www.passenger.chat/24974 - this is where Facebook posts land people.

[broadgage]

Does anyone know how many IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are expected to be available today for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)  services ?
And what if any additional rolling stock will be available ?
Are the 5 extra High Speed Train (HST^▸ (High Speed Train)) coaches to be used ? 5 is a bit paltry, but better than nothing.

And is there any public admission by GWR that this will be a long term problem ? Or are they still at the stage of announcing each day that "disruption is expected to continue into tomorrow"

Any public updates from Mr Hopwood ?
Any SUBSTANTIVE news from Hitachi, rather than just apologies ?

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[REVUpminster]

1M41, 10.14 Paignton -Bristol Temple Meads is again extended to Swindon. It must have worked out ok yesterday.

[Electric train]

There are several Eurostars not doing anything at the moment. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why they won't be used on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line). What are those reasons?

Eurostar e320 (Class 374) are 16 car units manufactured by Siemens to the European loading gauge and hence are only cleared to run in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) on Highspeed One

Eurostar e300 (Class 373) or TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse) TMST, (TransManche Super Train) whilst in theory could run however the standard formation is 16 cars with 2 power cars makes them excessively long even the North of London/Regional Eurostar sets are 14 cars and 2 power cars.

 

[plymothian]

And is there any public admission by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) that this will be a long term problem ? Or are they still at the stage of announcing each day that "disruption is expected to continue into tomorrow"

The stock reply on twitter now appears to have change to:

Hi there, we expect disruption to continue, but we can't say how long for, or exactly how services will be affected just yet. Please check back closer to the time at http://gwr.com/check

[a-driver]

Does anyone know how many IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are expected to be available today for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)  services ?
And what if any additional rolling stock will be available ?
Are the 5 extra High Speed Train (HST^▸ (High Speed Train)) coaches to be used ? 5 is a bit paltry, but better than nothing.

And is there any public admission by GWR that this will be a long term problem ? Or are they still at the stage of announcing each day that "disruption is expected to continue into tomorrow"

Any public updates from Mr Hopwood ?
Any SUBSTANTIVE news from Hitachi, rather than just apologies ?

2x IETs in service today.

Additional High Speed Train (HST) carriages that came yesterday will be in use once staff are retrained.

Additional class 387’s to arrive from C2C.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[TaplowGreen]

And is there any public admission by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) that this will be a long term problem ? Or are they still at the stage of announcing each day that "disruption is expected to continue into tomorrow"

The stock reply on twitter now appears to have change to:

Hi there, we expect disruption to continue, but we can't say how long for, or exactly how services will be affected just yet. Please check back closer to the time at http://gwr.com/check

From the National Rail website re: GWR

"Disruption is likely to continue into next week, and details of the timetable are currently being finalised. Please keep checking this page for updates".