'West' fleet refurbishment

[whole diary]

[Scooby]

Well its rather hard to release units for refurb, sorry refresh, when there is barely enough working to keep the daily service running....

[Timmer]

Well its rather hard to release units for refurb, sorry refresh, when there is barely enough working to keep the daily service running....

Exactly what I thought would be the case, especially over the summer months. Problem is we are getting ever closer to December timetable change when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) lose 12 158's meaning even less stock to keep things going. I hope the bright sparks at Dft are pleased with themselves for insisting on FGW losing 12 of their 158s.

[g4mby]

I've seen figures to suggest that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) actually have too many units on their books at present and that the current problem is the lack of serviceable units. Figures like needing 51 units to run the service and seven spares have been quoted. As they have 70 units at present 12 (158s) are going as they are deemed surplus to requirements. The problem seems to be that at least 10 158s are always out of service leading to the shortages.

Are these figures correct? Does anyone have any inside knowledge that confirms the daily requirement for serviceable units? I've travelled on a number recently that have been running on one engine and several of my journeys have been delayed due to fitter's attention being required. Unless they get their units back into good shape then the FGW fiasco is going to get worse, a lot worse. Remember last December?

[Scooby]

This is correct FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have more units than Wessex!

The December issue of units going off lease is helped by another major timetable change meaning less requirement. Will be like December 2006 over again with service cuts.....

[Timmer]

This is correct FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have more units than Wessex!

The December issue of units going off lease is helped by another major timetable change meaning less requirement. Will be like December 2006 over again with service cuts.....

Thats whats worrying but if Dft is insisting they lose these units then what choice have they got but to make further cuts to services and take the blame. Is that why FGW are keeping this next timetable under wraps unlike last year when they published it twice months before it was due to start?

[Lee]

According to the link below.
http://indefenceoffirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/08/so-tired.html

"I will take this time to answer Lee regarding turbos. There may be some pacers heading our way but nothing is confirmed as of yet. With regards to the turbos, we get to keep all the 165s and 166s from the Reading fleet but we are losing approximately 9 complete 158 sets from the ex-Wessex fleet. Supposedly, we will be getting somehting to replace them (maybe from those 1300 carriages the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) has ordered) but again, nothing is confirmed. Not much help I know but it's all abit up in the air at the moment."

Friday's (10/08/2007) signalling issues (South Wales / West Drayton) are also explored in the same link.

[devon_metro]

Surely they could use these 'surplus' units to ensure that I can use a seat when i Travel! Dawlish carnival featured a 2 car unit packed to the rafters!

They could easily make Porstmouth-Cardiff 4 car with so many extra units. Also why they are getting rid of the only decent units that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have.

[g4mby]

Also why they are getting rid of the only decent units that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have.

You save more money by getting rid of the most expensive (to lease) units.

[Conner]

Hi I went on a 150 today and noticed they had posters up about the refresh. There were 3 pics aswell. 1 i hadnt seen anywhere else. It also said the refurb had started and should be completed within 12 months.

[grahame]

Hi I went on a 150 today and noticed they had posters up about the refresh. There were 3 pics aswell. 1 i hadnt seen anywhere else. It also said the refurb had started and should be completed within 12 months.

The refurbishement is a rolling program scheduled to be completed in September 2008 - I can confirm that date (from a convesation I had last month with two of the very senior people making the plans) and also that the program ties up a number of units until that point.  These extra units are the 158 units at the moment, and become 142s in December 2007.

[Timmer]

Hi I went on a 150 today and noticed they had posters up about the refresh. There were 3 pics aswell. 1 i hadnt seen anywhere else. It also said the refurb had started and should be completed within 12 months.

Yes I had a good chance to see that poster today too whilst crammed into the vestibule of a 158 coming back from Bristol. Wasnt the best of mornings on services around Bristol with the trains I was using, either cancelled or running short of their destination. Dont know if it got better later in the day. Don't think it was due to lack of rolling stock as there was a couple of 150's and and 153 parked up at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI))...more likely lack of train crew.

[Lee]

Here is an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Press Release on this (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=543

Click on the link below (page 3) for a further article and pictures.
http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/BackIssues/Issue102HIGH.pdf

[Conner]

Does anybody know if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are trialling different seats on the first refurblished 158's as 158761 and 158762 are different. Any body know about 158748?

[devon_metro]

I *believe* the seats in 762 are to be put in all the refurbs as 761 was a 'trial'

The seats in 762 were from the ex FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail) 158s

[vacman]

I *believe* the seats in 762 are to be put in all the refurbs as 761 was a 'trial'

The seats in 762 were from the ex FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail) 158s

They are the same as the FSR ones but are definately new!