Class 142 Pacers in service on Devon branch lines, 2007 to 2011 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

The latest RUMOUR is that Network Rail Have barred FGW^▸ (First Great Western) from using 142's as of today, 12th November, and that FGW will now be using 150/1's instead for the new timetable. I must stress this is not confirmed, and wondered if anyone has any more info?

It is believed that it was a 'paperwork' issue which has now been resolved and that crew traing resumes today so the 142s December debut is still very much on! This despite the arrival of 2 150/1s seen at Bristol yesterday.

[TJ]

The latest RUMOUR is that Network Rail Have barred FGW^▸ (First Great Western) from using 142's as of today, 12th November, and that FGW will now be using 150/1's instead for the new timetable. I must stress this is not confirmed, and wondered if anyone has any more info?

I have it on good authority that the ban has been lifted today and that four more 142s will be nodding their way down to Devon this weekend.

Anyone confirm?

TJ

[vacman]

The latest RUMOUR is that Network Rail Have barred FGW^▸ (First Great Western) from using 142's as of today, 12th November, and that FGW will now be using 150/1's instead for the new timetable. I must stress this is not confirmed, and wondered if anyone has any more info?

I have it on good authority that the ban has been lifted today and that four more 142s will be nodding their way down to Devon this weekend.

Anyone confirm?

TJ

Heard the same rumour too but not from anyone who usually knows though?

[TJ]

From a meeting of the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Rail Line Users Group (ALRUG) with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) management last night there is now no doubt that 142s are coming to Exeter and apparently four more have already arrived, although not as yet seen by me. FGW have promised to spend some money on them to make then fit for purpose but it is questionable as to just how much can be achieved between now and 10th December. Also will all staff training have been done by then? FGW were talking about having  'contingency plans', so they must have at least some doubts about the whole operation.

The units will apparently be used on 8 daily diagrams, often in pairs but with just one Conductor and will be with us until 150s are released by the West Midland franchise in a couple of years.

Could a multitude of problems lie ahead.

TJ

[Jim]

From a meeting of the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Rail Line Users Group (ALRUG) with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) management last night there is now no doubt that 142s are coming to Exeter and apparently four more have already arrived, although not as yet seen by me. FGW have promised to spend some money on them to make then fit for purpose but it is questionable as to just how much can be achieved between now and 10th December. Also will all staff training have been done by then? FGW were talking about having  'contingency plans', so they must have at least some doubts about the whole operation.

The units will apparently be used on 8 daily diagrams, often in pairs but with just one Conductor and will be with us until 150s are released by the West Midland franchise in a couple of years.

Could a multitude of problems lie ahead.

TJ

Anyone for a free ride, you know where to go then! Thats the only problem with Pacers

[Timmer]

From a meeting of the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Rail Line Users Group (ALRUG) with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) management last night there is now no doubt that 142s are coming to Exeter and apparently four more have already arrived, although not as yet seen by me. FGW have promised to spend some money on them to make then fit for purpose but it is questionable as to just how much can be achieved between now and 10th December. Also will all staff training have been done by then? FGW were talking about having  'contingency plans', so they must have at least some doubts about the whole operation.

The units will apparently be used on 8 daily diagrams, often in pairs but with just one Conductor and will be with us until 150s are released by the West Midland franchise in a couple of years.

Could a multitude of problems lie ahead.

TJ

You had better get used to them as the 172 project for the West Midlands franchise to displace the 150/1s that are coming down to the West has been delayed according to Modern Railways Tony Miles by a further 6 to 12 months. No deal has yet been signed for the building of these units.

Did the planned move of another batch of 142s happen as planned over the weekend?

[oooooo]

Am hearing rediculous quotes on how much it is going to cost to extend St.James Park to accommodate a 4 car class 142 (they will be running in pairs). ^750k?? Never, someone is talking rubbish there surely??

The 142s are *supposed* to be making their first passenger carrying workings on 26th Nov...

[TerminalJunkie]

Am hearing rediculous quotes on how much it is going to cost to extend St.James Park to accommodate a 4 car class 142 (they will be running in pairs). ^750k?? Never, someone is talking rubbish there surely??

Not necessarily: in 2004 eight stations on the East Kilbride line had their platforms extended "by up to forty-three metres" at a cost of ^4.2million (more than ^500k per station) - see www.spt.co.uk/news/story239.html

[devon_metro]

I always thought that the 142s were to be coupled with a half decent unit only and therefore never running on their own giving the passengers a choice of where to travel.

[Jim]

I always thought that the 142s were to be coupled with a half decent unit only and therefore never running on their own giving the passengers a choice of where to travel.

We all know 1 unit would be full up, and the other would have pacer cranks (is there any?!)

[gaf71]

I always thought that the 142s were to be coupled with a half decent unit only and therefore never running on their own giving the passengers a choice of where to travel.

NO, i have seen some of the draft diagrams for december, and the only things i noticed coupled to a 142 was a 142!

[vacman]

Let's hope the put Assistant Ticket Examiners on the 142 diagrams then!

[grahame]

Am hearing rediculous quotes on how much it is going to cost to extend St.James Park to accommodate a 4 car class 142 (they will be running in pairs). ^750k?? Never, someone is talking rubbish there surely??

Not necessarily: in 2004 eight stations on the East Kilbride line had their platforms extended "by up to forty-three metres" at a cost of ^4.2million (more than ^500k per station) - see www.spt.co.uk/news/story239.html

And I have seen a quote of 3 million pounds for a new station on a double track section - one million for each of the two platforms and a further million for a footbridge with all the neccesary ramps.  That related to a section where redoubling was under discussion and the suggestion was that the current single platform station that would need to be rebuilt would end up being shut down in the process.

[TerminalJunkie]

And I have seen a quote of 3 million pounds for a new station on a double track section [...]

Another example is Etruria, which closed in 2005 because it would have cost ^9m to realign the platforms after the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) upgrade left too big a gap between trains and platforms to allow trains to stop there.

[Jim]

Let's hope the put Assistant Ticket Examiners on the 142 diagrams then!

Yep! Then again, it will probabally take the Exeter chavs quite a while to think about it!