June 2010 stock changes ...

[whole diary]

[Btline]

Some of the central cabs in LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) 150s have speedos that don't work fully. As well as this, a lot of work would be needed to get the cabs overall up to scratch.

And of course the trains themselves are in a bad state. Lots more breakdowns, engine cut outs and slow journeys since LM took over (and it was bad under Central). Clearly maintenance is very poor. There has been no investment on the appalling interiors (the only members of the LM fleet not to have had refurbs): seats falling off, windows that don't open..... or close, heaters which are on in summer and off in winter, external doors where the hydraulics are knackered and interior connecting doors that don't work. They are filthy, the fumes enter the passenger "saloons" , the toilets are woefully bad.

They are clapped out, and I do not envy any FGW^▸ (First Great Western) passengers in Wiltshire who will be using them in 201X. FGW will have to spend ^ot$ of mon^y to get them up to an acceptable standard.

[Timmer]

And of course the trains themselves are in a bad state. Lots more breakdowns, engine cut outs and slow journeys since LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) took over (and it was bad under Central). Clearly maintenance is very poor. There has been no investment on the appalling interiors (the only members of the LM fleet not to have had refurbs): seats falling off, windows that don't open..... or close, heaters which are on in summer and off in winter, external doors where the hydraulics are knackered and interior connecting doors that don't work. They are filthy, the fumes enter the passenger "saloons" , the toilets are woefully bad.

They are clapped out, and I do not envy any FGW^▸ (First Great Western) passengers in Wiltshire who will be using them in 201X. FGW will have to spend ^ot$ of mon^y to get them up to an acceptable standard.

Something for all us FGW customers down in the Bristol area to look forward to then Btline. Who do the government think they a kidding all this talk of 1,300 new carriages    I'm sure they will get a good thorough refurb both inside and underneath before entering service though I suspect if Northern need their 142s back in a hurry the LM 150s may have to be pressed into service unrefurb'ed. Time will tell I guess.

[Btline]

Part of the 1,300 coaches is cascades I think!

I also hope they are refurbed by then.

[willc]

Quite right, the '1,300' certainly does include cascaded stock, not least all the LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) 150s.

A further note on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s share of the 1,300 (or is that 1,156, asks Roger Ford after doing some sums in Modern Railways?) FGW is meant to get 52 vehicles, 12 of them 150s. The other 40 are meant to be for the Thames Valley fleet. Ford says overtures about taking 165s from Chiltern, with them getting more new 168-type vehicles, were rebuffed, but Chiltern apparently hinted they might be interested in more FGW 165s, which might imply a small 172 build for FGW, but Ford notes - as discussed here previously - anyone funding these would want to see some cast-iron guarantees of long-term returns from these trains if the wires go up. Was never entirely sure FGW would want Chiltern 165s anyway, as they are speed-limited to 75mph, so not that handy on the now 90mph GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) relief lines.

And as Vacman says, Roscos want stock back in proper order, so any dodgy 150 cabs should be fixed by LM before returning them. Don't forget, FGW had to do remedial work on the 180s before they went off-lease. A refresh to match the rest of the FGW fleet seems obvious.

And if you were LM, would you bother spending money on anything more than the basics to keep them running just now? Thames Trains let the Turbos get very tatty in their final year. FGW retrimmed all the seats as an urgent priority after taking over.

[The SprinterMeister]

Depot rumour has it that the all the earmarked three car units will be supplied in that formation. Someone quite senior did tell me not to expect intermediate DKS^▸ (Door Key Switch) positions with refurb though, due to cost  constraints.  Again, only word of mouth and not an indication of official policy.

With regard to reversing the DKS on 143s. yes please, especially if we are to 'retain' a pair in the Brizzle area to work SVB services.

Depot rumor is wrong regarding 150 formations. Think it's supposedly 6 x 150/1 in two car formations. ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) / Northern to recieve the 150/2 vehicles. The only 150/0 three cars that will stay as is are 150001 and 002, possibly also the two with the unpaired 150/2 centre cars.

The centre cars of 150001 and 002 are incompatible with other class 150's as they have EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) / Pacer type gangway connections and Bar couplers

As for 143's they will be allox to 83C for maintainance but 4 sets head toward Bristol each day for WSM-Parkways and the Severn beach line. Hopefully saving taxis running up and down the M5 into the bargain......

[grahame]

As for 143's they will be allox to 83C for maintainance ...

Noting the comment "83C" I guessed "Exeter" ... but then thought that other might wonder too.  It's an old loco shed code - the 83 group was as follows:

83A - Newton Abbot
83B - Taunton
83C - Exeter
83D - Plymouth (Laira)
83E - St. Blazey
83F - Truro
83G - Penzance
83H - Plymouth (Friary)

These codes changed over time - fuller lists I found in my research:

http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Resource_data/AllTimeShedCodes.pdf
http://www.dukedog.co.uk/WR.html

[G.Uard]

Reading S. was 70C, (Sub shed of Guildford), not 70E as listed.