More Pacers for FGW 'West'

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

143619 was the first to Cornwall on 9th May 2005. 617 made an appearance on June 13th. They are thankfully now offically barred.

Was this the train where a comerative headboard or whatever you call them was made to mark the occasion?

[Jim]

A sticker on 1 outside end saying Cornwall in Cornish

[Timmer]

Next week's RAIL reports on the 'Return of the 'Skipper'! 142s set for South West revival'

Couple of interesting quotes from the article that seem to confirm that this is happening:

First Great Western is due to be handed 14 two car trains to replace Class 158s moving to Northern Rail.
That's what grates the most with me is that it is a straight swap between FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and Northern. High quality DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) for stock nobody wants.

Another interesting quote from the article, this time from Dft spokesman Warwick Smith, "One thing we try to do is find an alternative when trains leave a franchise, and look for what is available. From our point of view, we want to use every single piece of kit available and if that means Pacers, so be it."

I assume that 142's will take over branchline duties currently covered by 150's/153s so they in turn can cover for the 158s leaving to operate on mainline duties. I know its possible to end up travelling long distance on a 150 from time to time as Lee reports happens on Cardiff-Pompey services but from December we could see this increase once FGW lose the ex-Wessex 158s which are the ones RAIL says are the ones heading North not the ex-TPX sets.

You can't blame FGW for this as I bet the last thing they want is un-popular rolling stock running on their patch and just serves to prove, despite it's denials, that Dft determine who has what rolling stock.

[Lee]

I assume that 142's will take over branchline duties currently covered by 150's/153s so they in turn can cover for the 158s leaving to operate on mainline duties.

It should be remembered that an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) head office "insider" has denied this.

From Insider (link below.)
http://indefenceoffirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/08/reader-mail-vol-iii-wide-world-of.html

"Lee, tis is not strictly supposed to be in the public domain at present but it seems that Modern Railways have gotten hold of a snippet of information.

Thankfully, they are wrong (and not for the first time). Although there will probably be up to a dozen class 142s making an appearance shortly, and although they will be covering for DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) away for refurbishment, they will not be working any further west than Paignton, mostly for the reasons you mention."