X Country HSTs

[whole diary]

[woody]

 Not FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but I heard that X country are going to revert 2 of their 4 westcountry HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) diagrams to Voyagers for the winter as they claim the HSTS are too expensive to operate.Can anyone confirm or deny the rumour.Sad if its true although its common knowledge among train crew that some of these HSTs are really needed on some up rather than down services to replace 4 pack Voyagers "sardine cans" from Penzance in particular.Unfortunately I understand they have to be diagrammed to return North at the end of the day for maintenance reasons.

[paul7575]

These rumours, and I think it's just that, were about this time last year.

They cannot be used for weekday services to/from Penzance because their diagrams are designed to meet the franchise requirement to provide increased numbers of seats between Leeds and Birmingham southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. Extended services to Penzance would not allow them to pass through the midlands in both peaks, as has been discussed before. 

I wouldn't even refer to them as 'West Country HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)' really, the fact they happen to get to Plymouth in the middle of the day is not their primary role.

So it isn't a case of planning the services for the convenience of the depots either, the depots have been chosen to support the required service pattern.

Paul

[John R]

It's a franchise commitment to have 4 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) diagrams as far as I am aware, so I would be surprised if they are allowed to.  And leasing 5 HSTs and only using 2 will be very expensive unless they can sublease (and who wants to sublease and have to hand them back in May.)

[Btline]

They're not going to shorten Midlands' peak trains! XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) put them on these services for a reason.

[readytostart]

I've just been taken on by XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) at Bournemouth and will be trained up on HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) even though at present they don't operate on my route, so it could be that they are looking at moving a couple of them, also cross training on 170s too. Hate to think in twelve months time the following appearing on journey check: "This train will run with two coaches instead of ten, this is due to a train fault."!

[Super Guard]

These rumours, and I think it's just that, were about this time last year.

They cannot be used for weekday services to/from Penzance because their diagrams are designed to meet the franchise requirement to provide increased numbers of seats between Leeds and Birmingham southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. Extended services to Penzance would not allow them to pass through the midlands in both peaks, as has been discussed before. 

I wouldn't even refer to them as 'West Country HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)' really, the fact they happen to get to Plymouth in the middle of the day is not their primary role.

So it isn't a case of planning the services for the convenience of the depots either, the depots have been chosen to support the required service pattern.

Paul

I fail to see how a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST leaving Exeter going north to Leeds at 1823 or 1923 (can't remember which one is the HST) is going to offer any needed increase in capacity by the time it reaches Birmingham

[devon_metro]

These rumours, and I think it's just that, were about this time last year.

They cannot be used for weekday services to/from Penzance because their diagrams are designed to meet the franchise requirement to provide increased numbers of seats between Leeds and Birmingham southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. Extended services to Penzance would not allow them to pass through the midlands in both peaks, as has been discussed before. 

I wouldn't even refer to them as 'West Country HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)' really, the fact they happen to get to Plymouth in the middle of the day is not their primary role.

So it isn't a case of planning the services for the convenience of the depots either, the depots have been chosen to support the required service pattern.

Paul

I fail to see how a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST leaving Exeter going north to Leeds at 1823 or 1923 (can't remember which one is the HST) is going to offer any needed increase in capacity by the time it reaches Birmingham

1823 Is an HST. Its quite busy from Plymouth, the down working 0632 Dundee - Plymouth is well loaded throughout.

[caliwag]

Another "informed source"

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2009/10/xc-and-lm-believe-less-is-more.html

[Btline]

Another "informed source"

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2009/10/xc-and-lm-believe-less-is-more.html

If that's true then it is a disgrace. Yet again, the midlands looses out and more people have to stand.

[devon_metro]

Yet again, the midlands looses out

Huh?

[Btline]

Referring to the chronic overcrowding caused by the 4/5 car voyager introduction.

And the fact that if the trains were to serve London, they would NOT be shortened

Remember this is basically a HALVING of seats on already busy services!

[IndustryInsider]

Cross Country continue to fall well short of a good train operator in my opinion as well. I saw the 15:40 from Reading to Edinburgh, now the only direct train from Reading, Oxford, Banbury and Leamington to Scotland on a weekday. It was a 4-car Voyager. It was a Friday afternoon. Need I say more?

Long gone are the days of four or five direct trains a day from the South Coast to either Glasgow, Edingburgh, or even Aberdeen. I know that the remapping of franchises and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) may have meant that Arriva had little say in that, but what a dreadful service is now provided to those long distance passengers, and to plonk a 4-car on it is ridiculous!

[Timmer]

Indeed Industry Insider, thats why its better to go via London. I just feel sorry for those who can't. Cross Country so often the Cinderella of the Intercity network came good in the early days of Virgin operating it until they gave us Voyagers with aircraft styled interiors.

[devon_metro]

I'm still interested as to how XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) can meet their franchise commitments w.r.t the number of seats.

[Btline]

I'm still interested as to how XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) can meet their franchise commitments w.r.t the number of seats.

Good point.

Perhaps it is temporary. Otherwise, what is happening to the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train). They'd better not just sit in sidings or get sold abroad. There are places all over the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) that need them.