Problems with IET trains from April 2021

[whole diary]

[stuving]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Journey check still saying it's shortformed but good news if you're correct.

It still is, after the train has left Reading, where it was on the screens (and Tiger) as a 9-car. Ain't these modern computer thingies amazing?

[IndustryInsider]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Journey check still saying it's shortformed but good news if you're correct.

Confirmed with a visual sighting.

The journeycheck entry was last updated at 05:20 I note.  Again, you have to question the point of it sometimes!

[grahame]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Journey check still saying it's shortformed but good news if you're correct.

It still is, after the train has left Reading, where it was on the screens (and Tiger) as a 9-car. Ain't these modern computer thingies amazing?

Confirmed with a visual sighting.

The journeycheck entry was last updated at 05:20 I note.  Again, you have to question the point of it sometimes!

I go with the visual sighting.   The days of "Computer says, so must be right" are long passed - and especially so in this case where the computer feeds differ. RIRO on Journey check (Rubbish in, Rubbish out!)?

[bobm]

12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05

Facilities on the 12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05.

Service full and standing from London Paddington. First class is declassified.

..and it is nine carriages.

[Timmer]

12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05

Facilities on the 12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05.

Service full and standing from London Paddington. First class is declassified.

..and it is nine carriages.

As is the 13:03. Both trains, which would have been busy anyway, covering for the loss of the 12:36 to Paignton.

[JayMac]

First time in a fair old while since I've been on a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

Clean. Perfectly acceptable seat comfort. Quiet, comfortable ride with lovely cooling aircon. Reservations clearly marked. Well stocked trolley just passed. Clear PA^▸ (Public Address) announcements.

All the things to make for a relaxing, albeit short, journey from Bath to Swindon.

Great trains.

[TonyN]

An Update on the automated on-board announcements on the Cotswold line.

Worcestershire parkway has now been added to the announcements. However a quiet male voice has been used in among the other stations announced in the usual loud female voice.
 
Yesterday I caught the early morning down Turbo service. On this the female voice announces all the stations including Worcestershire Parkway.

[IndustryInsider]

First time in a fair old while since I've been on a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

Clean. Perfectly acceptable seat comfort. Quiet, comfortable ride with lovely cooling aircon. Reservations clearly marked. Well stocked trolley just passed. Clear PA^▸ (Public Address) announcements.

All the things to make for a relaxing, albeit short, journey from Bath to Swindon.

Great trains.

I can only assume you’ve mislaid your rose-tinted spectacles, Justin? 

[bobm]

First time in a fair old while since I've been on a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

Clean. Perfectly acceptable seat comfort. Quiet, comfortable ride with lovely cooling aircon. Reservations clearly marked. Well stocked trolley just passed. Clear PA^▸ (Public Address) announcements.

All the things to make for a relaxing, albeit short, journey from Bath to Swindon.

Great trains.

I can only assume you’ve mislaid your rose-tinted spectacles, Justin? 

Justin and I had a bet on who would respond first to that post.... and we lost.   

[JayMac]

I can only assume you’ve mislaid your rose-tinted spectacles, Justin? 

Morning journey across SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) & GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) with two connections went swimmingly.

GWR returning to form on my return journey. Planned connection at Westbury cancelled due to staff shortages (1F21 CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) - PMH). One hour plus delay. Next service to Salisbury very busy with aircon in one of the two units not working. Consequently other unit rammed. I'm sat on a lovely luggage rack (now - THAT is a hard uncomfortable seat, broadgage!) At least the aircon blower is directly above. Small mercies.

EDIT: And SWR doing their bit too. No aircon in either unit on 1754 from Salisbury to Exeter. Suspected that might be the case before boarding. Guard waiting on platform with crates of water. I suppose a job lot of bottled water is cheaper than actually fixing, or fitting reliable, aircon.

Dear SWR. Can we have some of those lovely air conditioned Hitachis for the WAT-EXDs^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) please.

This is JayMac
reporting for the CoffeeShop
wilting in Wiltshire and sweating in Somerset.

[BBM]

European railway channel Nonstop Eurotrip has posted a review of a trip from CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) in first class on a Class 800:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_pE5sH62Vg

The general verdict at the end is 'good but not amazing'.

[CyclingSid]

I noticed two parts (of the same set?) in Eastleigh works on Saturday. Does this mean something is happening?

[stuving]

I noticed two parts (of the same set?) in Eastleigh works on Saturday. Does this mean something is happening?

I hope so! The modifications were seen on test in March and the "production" line was being set up at Eastleigh in around May. That suggests there should now be several treated units back in the fleet, but as I've not seen any pictures I suspect that can't be true. And I don't think they'll be running about unnoticed - the strengthening is quite chunky. It may be that there's been some tweaking of the add-ons for serial semi-industrial application, or some other delay.

[grahame]

Very familiar ...

11:32 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:09

Facilities on the 11:32 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:09.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9.

Additional Information

We're sorry for any changes this brings to your travel plans today.

Yesterday, several members attended GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s central area timetable briefing and it was confirmed that IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) will take over 4 or 5 diagrams for Cardiff to Penzance services from December, retiring Castles.   Question raised as to where the IETs will come from, and it transpires that GWR are not at present running as many diagrams as they could be doing - there are spare IETs which could have been running the "super fasts".  It seems that the problems such as the one above are more due to the lack of 9 car units in the right places at the start of the day, and there could be enough 5 car units to run the Cardiff to Penzance service.   Question asked (not answered, I don't think) as to whether 1st class will be declassified for these journeys.

I would also need to look back at my notes from yesterday, but some main line changes which will see a return of the 2nd South Wales train in each hour on a Saturday - with Paddington to Cardiff services using electric units - class 387 rather than class 801.    As I read it, GWR has 33 x 387 units and with Crossrail taking over Heathrow and Reading services, there is some logic in this, though I wonder about the services being a bit slower (110 v 125 mph?) and wonder if 387s have things like catering capability.

[Red Squirrel]

Re declassification of Cardiff to Penzance IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train): Someone did answer the question, but the answer was ‘I don’t know, I’ll find out’