Class 180 Adelantes - discussions, including their return to FGW

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Hammond is attending a Press Briefing at Padd tomorrow. I wonder why?....

There's always the possibility it will be some sort of Crossrail do, I think they've just announced who is building the Crossrail station...

Paul

[ChrisB]

Indeed, there's the electrification project too....

[inspector_blakey]

Subsequent discussion about the launch of the Great Western Improvement Programme can be found here.

[ChrisB]

But if anyone hears about the Adelantes, please post in this thread!

[Btline]

What's the latest on this? Saw a First Hull Trains 180 sitting at Old Oak the other day. Are they coming back to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)? Please say they're going to rid the Cotswold line/Oxford fasts of Turbos!

[paul7575]

What's the latest on this? Saw a First Hull Trains 180 sitting at Old Oak the other day.

HT^▸ (Hull Trains)'s units have been maintained at OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) for over a year now, that alone doesn't indicate anything significant.

Are they coming back to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)? Please say they're going to rid the Cotswold line/Oxford fasts of Turbos!

Probably, yes.

[Btline]

Sorry - didn't realise. Bit of a pain getting them to Kings Cross surely? I suppose it's like Eurostar at the North Pole..

[paul7575]

Sorry - didn't realise. Bit of a pain getting them to Kings Cross surely? I suppose it's like Eurostar at the North Pole..

Guess so.  Probably they reverse at Acton Main Line then go via Willesden Jn, Crouch Hill, Hornsey, or via the Camden/North London Incline (that may be out of use - not sure though), but there are other routes available off the NLL used by ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves, such as at Canonbury...

Paul

[pbc2520]

Sorry - didn't realise. Bit of a pain getting them to Kings Cross surely? I suppose it's like Eurostar at the North Pole..

Guess so.  Probably they reverse at Acton Main Line then go via Willesden Jn, Crouch Hill, Hornsey, or via the Camden/North London Incline (that may be out of use - not sure though), but there are other routes available off the NLL used by ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves, such as at Canonbury...

...or even that nifty little freight link by Gospel Oak to allow Action Main Line to Crouch Hill via DHL+MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about).  (Really?!)

[ChrisB]

Are they coming back to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)? Please say they're going to rid the Cotswold line/Oxford fasts of Turbos!

Probably, yes.

HMmm - Mark Hopwood was hopeful of the odd Cotswold service getting a 180 if FGW did get them, but there's no promiose of seeing them there wholesale. My guess is that the shoulder-peak might see one where a turbo is used now.

But the middle of the day services could be served capacity-wise by a bubble car 120.

[IndustryInsider]

But the middle of the day services could be served capacity-wise by a bubble car 120.

'Bubble Cars' are Class 121's.  The Class 120 was a 3-car DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) which I always thought looked a little menacing! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:British_Rail_Class_120.jpg

[ChrisB]

yup, thanks!

[Westernchallenger]

Class 120 Swindon-built cross-country DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) were one of the best DMUs built. Pity none survived into preservation.

[Btline]

Once reliability and service speed/ frequency gets better, there's no reason why a 180 can't be filled (not crammed, but "reasonably well used) all day.

[Richard Fairhurst]

The latest Modern Railways, a 'Great Western special', has an interview with Mark Hopwood. It states that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is seeking the five 180s for use on the Cotswold Line (and doesn't mention anywhere else), so that the Turbos freed up as a result can be reallocated to suburban services.

I know ChrisB will be along in a flash with his opinion of MR^▸ (Midland Railway, or Motor Rail, depending on context) so I'll just say that, in my view (and speaking as a magazine editor), it's a generally terrific magazine.