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

[whole diary]

[TerminalJunkie]

We dont mind if members dont name their sources (there are often good reasons for not doing so)

In principle, neither do I, but...

but we do prefer if members make it clear whether information is a rumour or something more than that.

...I'd prefer it if these rumours from 'management' didn't turn out to be a consignment of geriatric shoe manufacturers quite so often!

[TerminalJunkie]

I think the worst feature of the 142's that we've acquired is that they still have bus seats!

These days most buses have better seats than the 142s do!

[Lee]

We dont mind if members dont name their sources (there are often good reasons for not doing so)

In principle, neither do I, but...

but we do prefer if members make it clear whether information is a rumour or something more than that.

...I'd prefer it if these rumours from 'management' didn't turn out to be a consignment of geriatric shoe manufacturers quite so often!

To quote Hansard , I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 November 2007.......

Quote from Insider (link below) :
http://indefenceoffirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/11/answering-some-questions.html

"Finally to 'abp' who commented on my 'I'm Back' post, there are no plans at all for us to swap the Adelantes with Scotrail for 170 Turbostars. I'd be interetsted to know where you got that from."

That was me. 

I wouldnt worry about it unduly , mada , nor should vacman who started the topic. Several other leads from this forum have been very close to the truth and got some interesting replies from FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Personally speaking , I would encourage members to post anything that they hear , including (as vacman did) an appropriate caveat that its a rumour , if necessary.

[dog box]

I think the worst feature of the 142's that we've aquired is that they still have bus seats! if they refurbished them then they would probably be OK.

went on a thames turbo this week and not too impressed......much better prefer The 143s in bristol with the chipman {i think }seats

[Mookiemoo]

I think the worst feature of the 142's that we've aquired is that they still have bus seats! if they refurbished them then they would probably be OK.

went on a thames turbo this week and not too impressed......much better prefer The 143s in bristol with the chipman {i think }seats

hee hee

Now spend 2.5 hours on one!

[Jim]

I think the worst feature of the 142's that we've aquired is that they still have bus seats! if they refurbished them then they would probably be OK.

went on a thames turbo this week and not too impressed......much better prefer The 143s in bristol with the chipman {i think }seats

I'll be a total vegetable and correct you there, "Chapman" seats.

[John R]

I find the interior seating on the 143's perfectly acceptable, and for units which (hopefully) will be replaced by cascaded 150s in a couple of years perfectly acceptable for the sort of use they get. Refurbing the interiors seems a bit of a waste of money to me. (I agree that some of the other units are well overdue a refresh.) I'd rather see the money spent on some other improvements though.

As an aside I had a real nostalgia trip yesterday, travelling back from Cardiff on the ex Virgin Mk 2 set after the Wales - SA match. All seats had tables, windows all lined up, and yes it did look a little worn, but I bet if you put new seat covers on and polled 100 customers which they preferred, that or a refurbed Mk 3, the Mk 2s would win.  Sorry, veering off topic from Class 142's a bit I know.

[dog box]

I think the worst feature of the 142's that we've aquired is that they still have bus seats! if they refurbished them then they would probably be OK.

went on a thames turbo this week and not too impressed......much better prefer The 143s in bristol with the chipman {i think }seats

hee hee

Now spend 2.5 hours on one!

No No!!!!!!!!!!!! and i stand corrected chapman seats............incidentally spent some time in the summer running around on 158s with rubbish aircon not pleasant....give me a 143 with all the windows open on a hot day even when it was rammed it was still reasonable much better than a b****Y turbo!!!

[Timmer]

I find the interior seating on the 143's perfectly acceptable, and for units which (hopefully) will be replaced by cascaded 150s in a couple of years perfectly acceptable for the sort of use they get. Refurbing the interiors seems a bit of a waste of money to me. (I agree that some of the other units are well overdue a refresh.) I'd rather see the money spent on some other improvements though.

As an aside I had a real nostalgia trip yesterday, travelling back from Cardiff on the ex Virgin Mk 2 set after the Wales - SA match. All seats had tables, windows all lined up, and yes it did look a little worn, but I bet if you put new seat covers on and polled 100 customers which they preferred, that or a refurbed Mk 3, the Mk 2s would win.  Sorry, veering off topic from Class 142's a bit I know.

Well there are plenty of Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) hanging around that could be put back into service and as Virgin showed a few years back, you can refurb them to a pretty high standard. With plenty of spare DVTs^‡(resolve) also available all you would need is a loco to haul them. The one draw back is the much higher charge by Network rail for running them as there is more wear and tear on the track than what you get from a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit), that is except unless you are talking about 142/143s on Devon and Cornwall branchlines!

Virtually all Mk3 ex-Virgin coaching stock is being put back in service. A few years ago they were talking about them being scrapped if they didnt find new homes. What a huge waste that would have been 

I totally agree with you when you say that most people would say they much preferred a 'traditional train' of loco and coaches over a cramped DMU.

[John R]

I agree, although I was actually comparing the ambience and comfort of travelling in the Mk2^▸ (Mark 2 coach) with recent trips to Paddington on a refurbed Mk 3. I suspect if they were "refurbed to a high standard" we would get hard high seats, no windows lined up, and no tables. And it would cost a fortune, so couldn't be justified, and wouldn't be done, which is a shame.

Of course, it's unrealistic to expect the stock to replace multiple unit stock except on exceptional ocassions (such as the summer Weymouth service). I suppose I'm trying to consider what are customers' priorities when spending decisions are made. Is it that they travel in a train that has a brand spanking new interior, or that the money has been spent on keeping more rolling stock in service, resulting in less overcrowding and more services.

An example of this is that XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are going to refurb their newly acquired Mk3s "to the same high standard as the Voyager fleet". Apart from debating whether it will be an improvement, most passengers would be more than happy to have them introduced now and overcrowding reduced. And the money saved could be spent on bringing back into service a few Mk 2s to operate some relief services at busy periods.         

[Conner]

After travelling on Loco-Hauled Ex-Virgin MK2's a couple of weeks ago in cornwall I say it would brilliant to bring loco-hauled MK2's back, theres plenty of DVT^‡(resolve)'s and 47's around so why not use them on Portsmouth-Cardiff, would work brilliantly. At table seating, lots of luggage space, just as high speed, no overcrowding and it would solve the problem of stock shortage on the west fleet.

[devon_metro]

Also needs crew training, a face lift, relivery, depot facilities, fitting for DVT^‡(resolve) use.

Don't forget a lot of 47s havn't been touched for a few years.

Its all means ^ which FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are giving to the some DafT idiot at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)

[gaf71]

Hi all, new to this forum but I'm gonna jump in with this as I am very concerned.
On good authority from FGW^▸ (First Great Western):

The 142s are not arriving in time (will they ever?) and an "emergency" timetable will be put in place come the 9th December consisting of the following:

Paignton branch - hourly (nothing new there then)
Exmouth branch - hourly!
Barnstaple Branch - road buses replace trains until further notice!!

So not only will we all be subjected to whiplash injuries (when we can find a "train", or should that be bus-on-rails or bus) but we shall have to stand at all times of the day (if we can get on in the first place that is).

To rub salt into the wound I first heard this rumour in summer '06 but didn't really (want to) believe it until I heard it again recently from someone high up in the chain shall we say (needless to say I cannot divulge for their protection), so it's not really an emergency plan but something they've known will happen for some time.

The only reason they can get away with it in Devon is because they know they can. Are you prepared to really fight for your train service? Because I think you are going to have to.

Welcome to the site.

I wouldn't be surprised if what you've written happens as it appears that not many 142s have made the journey down South yet with talk that the two original units were heading back north! Only two weeks till the start of the new timetable and thats when the lease ends on the fleet of 158s thats leaving.

Anyone able to update us with how many 142s are now down in Exeter?

I'm not sure how many are there now, but there are definately more than the 2 on Exeter depot, that were there when i was last in work on Thursday!

[gaf71]

I find the interior seating on the 143's perfectly acceptable, and for units which (hopefully) will be replaced by cascaded 150s in a couple of years perfectly acceptable for the sort of use they get. Refurbing the interiors seems a bit of a waste of money to me.

This is true, but the seating on the 142s at Exeter is BAD.

[devon_metro]

3 came down this weekend.

May still be going.