FGW train in Plymouth to London non-stop record attempt - 13 October 2010

[whole diary]

[LiskeardRich]

226mile 30ch, i believe is the shortest route, taking the following route,

Route: Plymouth, Lipson Junction, Laira Junction, Tavistock Junction, Hemerdon, Ivybridge, Aish Emergency Crossovers, Totnes, Dainton Tunnel, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Starcross, Exeter St Thomas, Exeter St Davids, Cowley Bridge Junction, Stoke Canon Level Crossing, Hele & Bradninch Level Crossing, Tiverton Loop, Tiverton Parkway, Wellington (Somerset) Crossover, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Cogload Junction, Athelney Crossing, Castle Cary, Bruton, East Somerset Junction, Blatchbridge Junction, Clink Road Junction, Fairwood Junction, Heywood Road Junction, Lavington, Woodborough, Pewsey, Savernake, Bedwyn, Hungerford, Kintbury, Newbury, Newbury Racecourse, Thatcham, Midgham, Aldermaston, Theale, Southcote Junction, Reading West, Reading Oxford Road Junction, Reading, Twyford West, Twyford, Ruscombe, Maidenhead West, Maidenhead, Maidenhead East, Taplow, Burnham (Bucks), Farnham Road (Slough) Loop, Slough, Dolphin Junction, Langley (Berks), Iver, West Drayton Junction, West Drayton, West Drayton East, Stockley Bridge Junction, Heathrow Airport Junction, Hayes & Harlington, Southall West Junction, Southall, Southall East Junction, Hanwell Bridge Loop, Hanwell, West Ealing Junction, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, Acton West, Acton Main Line, Friars Junction, Old Oak Common West, Old Oak Common East, Ladbroke Grove, London Paddington

2hrs 17 would be an average of approx 100mph taking this route,

sourced this info using http://www.mileage.railmiles.org/

[ChrisB]

and local press - one of which writes on the ukr newsgroup....

The train wasn't supoosed to show that the time could be achieved
every day - in fact FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is looking to extend some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) so some slight
performance "loss" will follow that. In "daily service" you also don't
get slow trains held in loops, signallers sitting with "minders" in
every box or a Heathrow Express moved to the slow lines. The run
carried local press from Plymouth and some business people from the
area and was partly to show how good the HSTs are - and can be for
many years, if looked after, if the recession requires this. It also
enabled FGW to work with Network Rail and build a few "bridges" where
things have been a bit poor recently and delays have got worse and
enabled the railways to get the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)/ITV and newspapers to run a
positive railway story - how hard is it to get that these days.


I was on the train - there were staff on many stations waving the
station through and signallers at quite a few boxes were there waving
to the train as well - which is great for the relationship between the
signallers themselves and the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)/Traincrew etc.


Unlike the TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse) runs the power cars were not specially selected or
prepared - they were picked because they both carried names! - and the
5 car rake had been used for a naming a few days earlier and stayed as
formed.


Interestingly apart from slightly more sprightly acceleration from
starts (there was only one start) most of the run was at line speed (3
slows unexpectedly, all three being "investigated") and so the length
of the set probably didn't make a lot of difference to the timing
either. The "aim" was 2h 40 - it was actually 2h 43 and the three bits
of regulation cost just over 3 minutes... hence the investigation!!!


Just a chance to show what a middle-aged train is still capable of,
the ride in the Mk3s was excellent - I felt that the track was in
better state than last time I travelled on the route when I thought it
had deteriorated significantly and the senior journos from the local
Plymouth press who were sitting by me were very keen to go off and
write a positive story - its what the railways need!!

[Boppy]

Thanks for quoting that report!

Those 3 minutes are being "investigated" - love it! 

[inspector_blakey]

Hang on...we've got this discussion happening in two separate places - I've merged the threads together

[johoare]

So.. does anyone know if any Heathrow express trains were held up to let this train break it's record attempt? 

Err.... so what if one was? Airport Junction is a converging junction for up trains on a very busy line so HEX's and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains get held up all the time.  Maybe trains were held up at Reading too.  I frequently get held up leaving Reading towards Didcot for Freightliner trains crossing at Reading West Junction, and they aren't even on a record-breaking attempt (unless it's for how many pass trains they can hold up!)

I just wondered as in the "real world", Heathrow express is by far the most important, followed closely enough by intercities, and then last and by a lot of means least, poor old turbos.. My (timetabled) train every morning is delayed due to this hierarchy ... That is why I wondered..

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I wasn't aware of any hierarchy for regulation of trains at Airport Junction or that HEX's get priority over FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains. I'd assumed that Class1 trains would be treated as equal status and that regulation of them would be based on the normal principle of minimising overall delay.  Perhaps someone on the inside can enlighten us?

[Zoe]

I wasn't aware of any hierarchy for regulation of trains at Airport Junction or that HEX's get priority over FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains. I'd assumed that Class1 trains would be treated as equal status and that regulation of them would be based on the normal principle of minimising overall delay.  Perhaps someone on the inside can enlighten us?

Slough New IECC^▸ (Integrated Electronic Control Centre) uses ARS^▸ (Automatic Route Setting) so I don't think the decision would usually be made by the signalman.

[The SprinterMeister]

passengers carried were local business delegates i believe

And most of the higher echelons of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as well. They had an interesting trip down to Plymouth on 2C43 at Ivybridge as well I believe...
 

[SDS]

I always thought that HEX paid a premium to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to get priority running.
I also notice that HEX 'bell out' (TRTS^▸ (Train Ready To Start. A plunger/switch pressed by platform dispatch staff that informs the signaller that a train is ready to depart.)) their trains 5 mins before departure and we are told to do it 2 mins before departure. Sometimes we also have to wait for a HEX to leave before we get the signal on one of our 'on-time' departures.

[woody]

Was thinking that given the timing of this run so close to the Government Spending Review does FGW^▸ (First Great Western) already know or strongly suspect that Electrification and IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) have been dumped and that they are therefore stuck with their HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) and journey times for the for the foreseeable future,so lets start the PR^▸ (Public Relations) campaign now before the inevitable negative media stories start and business leaders in Devon and Cornwall start complaining about FGW being stuck in the past,just a thought.

[Electric train]

I always thought that HEX paid a premium to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to get priority running.
I also notice that HEX 'bell out' (TRTS^▸ (Train Ready To Start. A plunger/switch pressed by platform dispatch staff that informs the signaller that a train is ready to depart.)) their trains 5 mins before departure and we are told to do it 2 mins before departure. Sometimes we also have to wait for a HEX to leave before we get the signal on one of our 'on-time' departures.

The "priority running" was indeed part of the original contract signed between BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))/Railtrack and BAA.  BR/Railtrack were in a difficult position regarding the funding for the link BAA had the upper hand also being fully supported by DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) at the time, this agreement also goes someway to explain why HEX uses plat 6 & 7 as these give best access to main and relief lines.  The contract was changed a few years ago between NR and BAA, HEX being an "open access operator." HEX trains will often be given the head over FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains because their units can out accelerate and break HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s and 165/6's

I was working in the BRB^‡(resolve) Electrification Group at the time, HEX was originally a "branch" of the then Crossrail scheme; the government at the time deferred Crossrail so that private investors could fund and build it post privatisation    BAA still sore the airport link as vital as they were a private company and the government want it to be seen that private money could work in the rail industry they backed it, also ensuring contractually it would be a success operationally

[SDS]

Was always told hex use 6/7 because its the closest platforms to the tube!

[devon_metro]

HEX trains will often be given the head over FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains because their units can out accelerate and break HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s and 165/6's

Shouldn't that be a reason for delaying their access to the mainline? Particularly at Airport Jn. 125mph HST hurtling along slowed to stand will lose more time than an EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) being brought to stand on a lower speed section of line!

[eightf48544]

Shouldn't that be a reason for delaying their access to the mainline? Particularly at Airport Jn. 125mph HST^▸ (High Speed Train) hurtling along slowed to stand will lose more time than an EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) being brought to stand on a lower speed section of line!

In a rational world yes but under the current regime not a chance.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

wonder how fast a 180 could do it