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

[whole diary]

[paulsouthwales]

Which lines were the "skippers" taken away from back in the eighties? 

[vacman]

Which lines were the "skippers" taken away from back in the eighties? 

St Ives, Falmouth, Newquay, Looe, Gunnislake, Paignton, Exmouth, Barney........... taken away because they were unsuitable! and now they're coming back!

[Conner]

http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p45413890.html
Picture of two Class 142's being stabled at Exeter.

[gaf71]

http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p45413890.html
Picture of two Class 142's being stabled at Exeter.

They look great dont they?! Bet you lucky passengers cant wait to get in them. There is a rumour that airplane style sick bags will be issued on board these beauties, for when they are bouncing around the Barny branch!

[Timmer]

http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p45413890.html
Picture of two Class 142's being stabled at Exeter.

Excellent for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) that they already come in their colour. All they need to do is stick the 'F' on the side and off we go, instant trains, problems solved.

[Conner]

http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p45413890.html
Picture of two Class 142's being stabled at Exeter.

Excellent for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) that they already come in their colour. All they need to do is stick the 'F' on the side and off we go, instant trains, problems solved.

Stick F on the side. I doubt it. The never put there names on any local stock. The wessex untis still don't say fgw after 1 and 1/2 years.

[Timmer]

http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p45413890.html
Picture of two Class 142's being stabled at Exeter.

Excellent for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) that they already come in their colour. All they need to do is stick the 'F' on the side and off we go, instant trains, problems solved.

Stick F on the side. I doubt it. The never put there names on any local stock. The wessex untis still don't say fgw after 1 and 1/2 years.

They have on one of their Bristol Based 143s.

[Shazz]

that's only a temp logo/colour scheme aparently

as that one had a graffiti attack

[Conner]

Does anybody know what seating layout the 142's have? As although I live in Cornwall one is bound to end up on the Exmouth-Penzance diagram soon enough despite what FGW^▸ (First Great Western) say.

http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p45413890.html
Picture of two Class 142's being stabled at Exeter.

Excellent for FGW that they already come in their colour. All they need to do is stick the 'F' on the side and off we go, instant trains, problems solved.

Stick F on the side. I doubt it. The never put there names on any local stock. The wessex untis still don't say fgw after 1 and 1/2 years.

They have on one of their Bristol Based 143s.

Yeh that was only because it suffered a Graffiti attack and painting it FGW blue was cheaper/easier than cleaning it up. It still has destinations from the old livery on the window though.

[devon_metro]

Bus seating.

I don't think you can complain about Cornwall journeys when People could be spending surplus of 90 minutes on these in summer wedged into the trains just between Paignton - exmouth.

[Conner]

I wasn't complaining about journeys in Cornwall although i'm hoping we won't have to use them they're better than no train at all or an overcrowded train with less cariages.

[gaf71]

Does anybody know what seating layout the 142's have? As although I live in Cornwall one is bound to end up on the Exmouth-Penzance diagram soon enough despite what FGW^▸ (First Great Western) say.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but apparently the seating capacity of a 142 is a lot less than a 158, or a 150, and not a great deal more than a single 153. Anybody know the exact seating capacities?

[devon_metro]

Depends on the layout. I believe these units are in 2+3 Bus seating mode so presumably not much different to a luxurious (!!!) 150

[TerminalJunkie]

I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but apparently the seating capacity of a 142 is a lot less than a 158, or a 150, and not a great deal more than a single 153. Anybody know the exact seating capacities?

According to Wikipedia (yes, I know...), they vary between 102 and 120 per two-car set.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_142

[TJ]

In the meeting that the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Line Rail Users Group (ALRUG) had with Julian Crow (FGW^▸ (First Great Western) General Manager for the West of England) he stated that exactly how the Pacers would be used was still being worked out. Doubling them up is certainly an option but as the units have no corridor connection this poses staffing problems. There are also problems with platforms lengths, particularly at St James's Park.

Correct me if I am wrong but a 150 plus a 153 has 208 seats, two 142s have 212 so I could only ever envisage two 142s being used where there is currently a 150+153 combination but as someone has already said, the chances of getting two 142s to work together reliably and regularly may at best be wishful thinking.

Looking at the reliability figures which were published in January this year the Northern 142s have only 60% of that of a 150 but it was noticeable that the figure was on a downward trend, which is understandable as when a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) is getting rid of stock it doesn't lavish too much care on them. The Arriva Wales 142s are only a third as reliable as a 150, the difference being accounted for by the harsher terrain in South Wales. Again there was a downward trend. I suspect that the Northern 142s may not take kindly to the climb from St Davids to Central, amongst other Devon banks.

Don^t expect any sudden increase in reliability or comfort from the transfer to FGW as Julian Crow stated quite clearly that ^they would tidy them up a bit^ but that^s all, as they only have them for two years.

Looking back in magazines of the eighties I noticed that 142s were banned from being coupled to 155s except for line clearance purposes (rescue) and even then only if subject to a 30mph restriction. No reason was quoted but as 155s became 153s is there a potential problem here if ever the need arose for a 142/153 coupling?

I agree with another poster that the four 153s off lease should be brought back in place of 4 of the Pacers.  153s (dog boxes) are far from perfect for the Exmouth Branch as they are so slow in loading and unloading but at least FGW will be spared the need to dispense 142 anti-nausea tablets.

One good piece of news. We were told that Exeter depot is to have a carriage washing machine. About time is all that I can say as for years our local trains have resembled well used agricultural equipment, particularly after foul weather, and being able to see out of the windows can at best be difficult ^ a bit like FGWs refurbished HST^▸ (High Speed Train) coaches but that^s a posting for another place.

To conclude, the message from ALRUG to FGW is quite simple, Pacers, no thanks, we don^t want them.

TJ