Pacer trains

[whole diary]

[John R]

And given the majority of sets remaining with XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are non-tilting 220s, it would be a nightmare to try and roster particular services with 221s to enable the timings to benefit from tilt.

But it is a good example of a non-joined up railway shooting itself in the foot. Imagine if tilt was enabled on Edinburgh to Newcastle, also in the Durham area, and then south of Taunton. I imagine a fair bit could be shaved off the overall journey time. But of course, being at the extremities of the network, the benefits wouldn't be felt by the majority of passengers, and the costs of installation for typically 1 train per hour would be too high.   

[Btline]

That is why IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)/HST2 should be 100% electric and tilting compatible.

It would ensure certain lines are electrified, and would encourage NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to do a large sweep of the country to update lines for tilt.

Then many trains would use the tilt on parts of the network (i.e. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) would benefit west of Taunton, making it worthwhile; and both XC and NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) would benefit on the Northern parts of the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line)).

[Super Guard]

Sorry to go off topic there

 

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) double up Voyagers over the weekend, so that is why you were seeing double 

[The SprinterMeister]

Speaking of  Pacers and AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) services, FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s 142067 and 'West' traincrew were hired in to cover a part journey for AXC on their 9S49 06:25 Plymouth - Edinburgh service yesterday. A replacement Voyager was laid on from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) but this succumbed to faults on the doors at Cheltenham Spa.

I believe there were some crewing issues at XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) yesterday, one of the results being the booked 22x not being able to reach Plymouth in time to start 9S49.

[John R]

Which service is 9S49 for those of us not in the know as to reporting numbers?

[Super Guard]

Speaking of  Pacers and AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) services, FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s 142067 and 'West' traincrew were hired in to cover a part journey for AXC on their 9S49 06:25 Plymouth - Edinburgh service yesterday.

[John R]

Apologies.

I saw a 142 heading south from Bristol around 9.15, so presumably that was it going back? 

[northwesterntrains]

Apologies.

I saw a 142 heading south from Bristol around 9.15, so presumably that was it going back? 

I thought FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were returning units only after refurbishment had been completed on their 150s?

[John R]

I meant heading back south to Exeter having deputised for a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Voyager as far as Bristol.

[dog box]

I meant heading back south to Exeter having deputised for a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Voyager as far as Bristol.

i expect the passengers found the ride much better and the the train less smelly

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

voyagers do not wear well! and also in my experiance altho it may be coincidence with age setting in have the conditions of the trains gone down hill since ariva took over?

as far as the post topic.... surly the pacers should have been renovated before the 150's and im sorry but a paint job is not renovated thats like saying a small kictchen where you cant move is cosy!!

swt's class 159s are great that is a renovation the inside of those is so much better than the voyagers

[northwesterntrains]

"Vehicles" reads coaches to me, so they only need 10 more units.

If you look at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan?page=2 if the future Northern will be expected to give 17 3 car 323s to London Midland in exchange for '23 EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) vehicles'  So it looks like the definition of 'vehicle' the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) use is a complete unit with however many carriages/coaches it has.

[eightf48544]

"Vehicles" reads coaches to me, so they only need 10 more units.

If you look at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan?page=2 if the future Northern will be expected to give 17 3 car 323s to London Midland in exchange for '23 EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) vehicles'  So it looks like the definition of 'vehicle' the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) use is a complete unit with however many carriages/coaches it has.

Roger Ford in his excellent analysis of the 1300 new coaches promised by the DfT in Septembers Modern Railways, confirms the cascade of 17 3 car 323 or 51 vehilces, from Northern to London Midland for Birmingham area.

However, his analysis of "new"  stock for suggests Northern is down for 25 * 3 car brand new Seimens units making 75 vehicles in all. They are also down for "new" DMUS amounting to 158 vehicles. Although net Northern will get only 182 "new" vehicles, (75+158-51=182). Although apparently 182 will depend on the exact  150 cascade.


Some of the 158 extra DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) vehicles are suppose to be the first of a new generation DMUs, powered it is sugegsted by Captain Deltic "bionic duckweed", rather than 170 derivatives (172) curently on order
.
So as per the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) cascade to Bristol area of "new" stock comprising 52 150 vehicles (2 & 3 car units) from London Overground and London Midland, Northern won't be getting 182 "new" vehicles.

The whole article is well worth reading to see how DafT have got themselves in a complete muddle over the provision of new units and resulting cascades of still servicable units. Throughout Roger Ford refers to vehicles as being coaches rather than units.

Also as far as I can see there appears to be no sign of any replacements for the 14X units, as the cascades are counted as "new" vehicles for the receiving TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).