Stock cascade of class 150s

[whole diary]

[phile]

The fact they want to run them so close to the depot does concern me, as they cant have much faith!

No - it's logical to keep the oddball units on a line that's close to the depot whatever their MTBFs (Mean Time Between Failure)s are - i.e. faith or not. If a unit that was different to the rest of the "pack" were to require attention (even rarely) a long way from home, it would potentially mean a long trip for one of the handful of people who knew about it, whereas a failure of a regular unit at a far outpost wouldn't be so much of a problem - chance would be that one of the local fitters out there would know what to do. 

This has been thought through rather carefully, and seems a sensible way to add some extra capacity onto the line in question and at the same time release capacity for use elsewhere. Good heavens - we could do with those extra carriages on the TransWilts where 600 people have said they want to use the line to commute to their place of work, and of course there are many other contenders where they could be used to relieve overcrowding ... it looks like they'll get them as existing customers can shout louder than potential customers, even though the impact on each individual user would be far greater on the TransWilts.

There does not seem to be overxrowding on the Trans Wilts route.    There are not enough trains and at suitable times, unfortunately.



_{Edit note: Quote marks fixed. CfN}

[Devon Donkey]

I'm just curious that this could be a tactic from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) if they win the franchise. If they allocated all the 150/1s to Reading after electrification there should be enough units to cover all the unelectrified branches. The depot concentrates on one diesel traction. All the turbos go west. They are DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) capable units now, some just need CSR^▸ (Cab Secure Radio) fitted but they will all have GSMR in the future so no problem. Only downside is branches will lose the through services which I suspect will happen anyway after electrification.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for your thought-provoking observations, Devon Donkey - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum! 

[anthony215]

 Slightly off topic, But I have been reading the latest issue of rail magazine which i purchased in Tesco  at 06:00 this morning. There is an article on  page 8 concerning FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Seem that there may be a chance that FGW will receive new emu's to work electrified services around Reading etc to allow more class 319's to go to Northern with the remaining units being used by FGW around Bristol, Cardiff.

Also the article states that a proportion of scotrails class 170's will become available around 2015-2016 when  the Edinburgh - Glasgow electrification is completed.

Perhaps a possibility that whoever gets the next GW^▸ (Great Western) franchise could try to get some of these units?

[northwesterntrains]

Seem that there may be a chance that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will receive new emu's to work electrified services around Reading etc to allow more class 319's to go to Northern with the remaining units being used by FGW around Bristol, Cardiff.

Does it mention any more details? 

There's two ways I can think of that'll use extra 319s at Northern:
1. Electrify North TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) and use 319s on the local services that will switch to EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) as a result of that electrification.
2. Cascade the Northern 323s to LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) and use the 319s as replacement.

However, doing one of the above would seem to leave Northern with an excess of 319s, while doing both of the above would leave them short of EMUs.

If I'm honest it would seem to make more sense to order new EMUs for Northern and use the 319s for Thames Valley and the Valley Lines (assuming electrification is approved.)  The North West is set to have OHE^▸ (Over-Head Electrification) ready long before the 319s are available to cascade, never mind having them fully refurbished before being put in to service as was supposed to happen.  Delaying the OHE in the North West would in turn delay Thames Valley electrification.

[anthony215]

I do  share the idea that Northern would be better getting new units especillay since the thameslink order has been delayed.

Perhaps  ordering more class 377's on the back of the order Southern are due to put in?

That should allow more 319's to FGW^▸ (First Great Western), perhaps also allowings ome to go to ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to work Maesteg - Ebbw Vale services etc if those routes are wired as part of the valley lines electrification.

That should enable the WG to have a smaller order for brand new emu's for thew core valley lines service's to Treherbert, Rhymney, Merthyr Tydfil,Penarth etc.

[phile]

150122 now with FGW^▸ (First Great Western).    I have not been able to keep tabs on the arrivals recently due to thick and fast arrivals so I am not sure how many still to come.    Should be almost there.

[anthony215]

Anyone heard, if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are getting those 2 3-carriage class 150's for the Reading - Bassingstoke route?

It seems to have gone quiet, since they trialed that class 150 on the route last week.

[paul7575]

Whatever gave you the impression such a lease could be sorted out in a week?   

These things take many months normally - this side of Christmas would be quite incredible...

Paul

[grahame]

Whatever gave you the impression such a lease could be sorted out in a week?   

Indeed ... but then the trial wouldn't have been the first step in exploring what could be done along those line, no would it.  The seed of an idea was probably planted in the spring

[phile]

There would be question of where they would be maintained.    Hardly, Reading I should think which would mean ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) Movements to and from PM

[inspector_blakey]

Haven't we been here before somewhere else in the thread...? Contrary to popular belief, Reading can and has done heavy maintenance on Sprinter/Pacer units on occasion so there seems to be no reason why it couldn't look after a pair of 150s.

[phile]

Silly me.  Of course it has been.    I have seen mention on so many Forums but did not immediately recollect seeing posts on this one

[Ollie]

This may possibly be of interest to some on here: http://www.londonmidland.com/your-journey/farewell-150/

[JayMac]

This may possibly be of interest to some on here: http://www.londonmidland.com/your-journey/farewell-150/

And an absolute bargain at ^20 for a days trundling around the Midlands in 150001 + another unspecified Class 150. The special train will also be making a return trip on the Severn Valley Railway.

Tickets: http://www.svr.co.uk/TicketOffice.aspx
Schedule: http://www.londonmidland.com/download/57248.1/farewell-150-times/