June 2010 stock changes ...

[whole diary]

[TJ]

The possibility of loco hauled services on some routes is definitely being looked at for the period December 2009 to June 2010.

Did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) say which routes, xmth?

No. All still at very early stages of evaluation.

TJ

[willc]

i agree splitting the sets back into 2 car sets would create more units, but with 7 3 car sets coming, you'd end up with 1 spare 150/2 vehicle, or 1 non standard 3 car set

But if two of the sets coming from LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) are 150001 and 150002 - the prototypes - then they have to stay as three cars, as that's how they were built, whereas the other three-car sets that LM operates have a 150/2 driving car, with corridor connections, inserted into the middle of a 150/1 set, to make a 150/0, sort of.

[Timmer]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are looking at splitting some of the 3 car 150s and reforming 2 car units BUT no firm decisions have been made.

If FGW split some the 3 car 150s they are getting, what are they going to do with the middle carriage? Take 2 middle carriages and make a 4 carriage 150? The middle carriage of current three car 150s don't have driving cabs.

[The SprinterMeister]

The possibility of loco hauled services on some routes is definitely being looked at for the period December 2009 to June 2010.

Did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) say which routes, xmth?

No. All still at very early stages of evaluation.

TJ

No sign of any existing 'West' drivers being trained. Last I heard locohaulage is off the agenda.

[The SprinterMeister]

From the meeting with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) management tonight: FGW are also in discussion with DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) with regards to taking over, from Decemeber 2009, the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) services that currently operate West of Exeter.

TJ

I would be most interested to find out what they propose to use for rolling stock. Crewing them however shouldnt be an issue.

[The SprinterMeister]

SO when the units are transfered back to  ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))),how soon will this be?

I believe ATW and the Welsh Assembly can call for those subleased 150's to be returned 12 weeks after informing FGW^▸ (First Great Western) of their intentions.

[John R]

One for the Merthyr line next May possibly? Unless all the 158s being modified for the Cambrian signalling are complete by then releasing a unit or two.

[Lee]

Its really interesting how this is panning out. I put forward a plan to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) in January 2008, which included proposals for loco-hauled and 3-coach Class 150 services (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1407.msg8181#msg8181

It also included new-build units for Portsmouth-Cardiff services, which FGW are actively pushing for, and which is thought to be a key part of Network Rail's emerging RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) proposals.

[Timmer]

It also included new-build units for Portsmouth-Cardiff services, which FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are actively pushing for, and which is thought to be a key part of Network Rail's emerging RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) proposals.

I know we've said it before but the Cardiff-Portsmouth line has so much potential because of it linking quite a few major towns and cities along it's route and I think FGW recognize this hence wanting new-build units on this line. This would allow 158s to operate services currently run by 150s with 150s operating services operated by 142s/143s.

If FGW are being forward thinking then the least the Dft should be doing is supporting that even if that means looking at the terms of the current franchise if it means more investment being made by First that will bring benefits to the franchise area in the long term which will in turn bring in more revenue during future franchises.

[willc]

The middle carriage of current three car 150s don't have driving cabs.

As I said previously, except for 150001 and 002, which were the class prototypes and had centre cars built without driving cabs, all the other three-car sets currently operated by LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) do indeed have a cab on the centre car, because these were all formed by splitting two-car 150/2s, which have corridor connections, and inserting them into 150/1 sets. So yes, you can get lots of two-car sets out of the three-cars, should you want to.

Just as with all but one of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s three-car Class 158 fleet, the centre car cabs are in full working order with yellow ends and these sets do operate as two-car if there is a fault on one coach, so you do sometimes see them out there with a corridor connection at one end (from the 150/2) and the flat cab front of a 150/1 on the other.

There is a picture illustrating the arrangement at http://www.miac.org.uk/stourbridgejunction3.htm

[G.Uard]

I hear that 2 x 143 units will be dedicated to the Severn Beach Line from December 08.  These will be based at Exeter and make the journey up and down each day.  I am no fan of the Pacer, but these units are easy to work on the SVB.  From a safety perspective, the guard can see right through the train and despite sounding like a Trabant rally, they can run to time.

A class 150/1, without intermediate DKS^▸ (Door Key Switch) panels would  be a nightmare, although these units are fine for longer distance work. ( I have also heard that financial considerations may prevent fitting of 'standard' DKS when the 'new' units go for refurb).

[Lee]

I hear that 2 x 143 units will be dedicated to the Severn Beach Line from December 08.

That's exactly what FGW^▸ (First Great Western) said two months before the May 2008 timetable started.

[gaf71]

I hear that 2 x 143 units will be dedicated to the Severn Beach Line from December 08.  These will be based at Exeter and make the journey up and down each day.  I am no fan of the Pacer, but these units are easy to work on the SVB.  From a safety perspective, the guard can see right through the train and despite sounding like a Trabant rally, they can run to time.

A class 150/1, without intermediate DKS^▸ (Door Key Switch) panels would  be a nightmare, although these units are fine for longer distance work. ( I have also heard that financial considerations may prevent fitting of 'standard' DKS when the 'new' units go for refurb).

How is a 150/1 without intermediate door controls any different to work than a 143? You still have only 1 available DKS....

[vacman]

New build 4 car units are being pushed for for CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-PMH services by FGW^▸ (First Great Western), am I ever wrong about things like this? 

[Lee]

New build 4 car units are being pushed for for CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-PMH services by FGW^▸ (First Great Western), am I ever wrong about things like this? 

That's what we've been told as well :

It also included new-build units for Portsmouth-Cardiff services, which FGW are actively pushing for, and which is thought to be a key part of Network Rail's emerging RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) proposals.