Withdrawal of Adelantes and 142 news

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but according to Tony Miles column in the November edition of Modern Railways, the first four 180s will go into storage at Eastleigh at the December TT change following the reduction of diagrams. You would have thought that they would store them somewhere else following the press attention given to the stored ex-Wessex stock that was stored at Eastleigh following the last December timetable change whilst commuters crammed into less rolling stock.

Also he reports that things are not looking rosy on the 142 front with the units not proving very popular with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) engineers who I think its safe to say feel that they are not fit for purpose with one fleet manager reported to have taken the view that plan to put them into service should be abandoned.  I dont think FGW have a lot of choice as they will be chronically short of stock once the 12 158s go in December.

This is only a very brief summary of what Tony has to say on the matter in my own words so its worth reading if you can get hold of a copy.

There are still many challenges ahead for FGW and Dft are not helping them by taking away more rolling stock (158s) and placing 180s into storage at a time when FGW are barely coping with the stock they do have. Knowing this I think it would be unfair of the Dft to pull the trigger on a company that has all the odds well stacked against them. There simply is no spare decent stock that they could use.

[mada]

Except the Adelantes... 

[Timmer]

Except the Adelantes... 

Exactly!

[grahame]

... the first four 180s will go into storage at Eastleigh at the December TT change following the reduction of diagrams. You would have thought that they would store them somewhere else following the press attention ....

Unless someone *wants* press attention in which case it's an excellent place to store them 

[Timmer]

Unless someone *wants* press attention in which case it's an excellent place to store them 

I hadn't thought of that one Graham, good point 

[vacman]

The 142's have been used for driver familiarisation runs lately and most drivers have been pleasantly suprised by them! as they are quite quick and aren't too bad on welded rail. Hull trains are to have one Adelante from December to cover for a 222 "Pioneer" that is poorly!

[mada]

... the first four 180s will go into storage at Eastleigh at the December TT change following the reduction of diagrams. You would have thought that they would store them somewhere else following the press attention ....

Unless someone *wants* press attention in which case it's an excellent place to store them 

In order to shed light on the ridiculous amounts asked for by the ROSCO^» (Rolling Stock Owning Company - about)?

[martyjon]

Forum members may remember the furore that erupted last December when 4 class 153's from the Wessex local fleet were put into store at Eastleigh and passengers were forced to cram onto short formed trains. I think pictures of those units were published on this forum and in the railway press.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) stated there was no suitable stock available. Well those 4 153's have lanquished at Eastleigh for what, the last 10 months unused. What do we make of FGW statement now, damn lies ?

Today (24/10/2007) they were moved to Bournemouth depot, an electric train depot, to be worked on and readied for a move up north.

Were they offered to FGW LAST December / Jaunuary to alleviate the FGW "unforeseen" stock shortage, I doubt whether we shall ever know the truth.

I think there has been a massive cover up on this stock issue to mask another of FGW's failings, staff. With the current level of staff shortages, we see daily, handfuls of services cancelled due to a member of crew being unavailable.

Even with staff shortages they could have tagged one of those 153's onto the back of a 150 and alleviate some of the overcrowding experienced by passengers in the last 10 months or so.

Who knows without the staffing problems, with these 4 153's back on the books they would even have had stock to allocate and to provide a more frequent service on the Trans-Wilts line.

Andrew Haines has a hell of a task before him, I dont have his CV in front of me but can any member of this forum post when he joined SWT^▸ (South West Trains) as I seem to remember that when SWT were first privatised, that TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) had a clearout of staff. This put them in the position of having a staff shortage like FGW have today. Would be interesting to know whether AH joined SWT after that fiasco and now hes been head hunted for FGW to sort out the similar mess left by the previous watch.

 

[grahame]

Who knows without the staffing problems, with these 4 153's back on the books they would even have had stock to allocate and to provide a more frequent service on the Trans-Wilts line.

It was those very 153 units that sat, unused in a siding at Eastleigh for almst a year that were used to provide the Swindon to Southampton service until December 2006.

Basically ... they withdrew our increasingly popular train service and parked up the stock that had been used to provide it in a siding near to one end of the line, in full public view.

[Jim]

Who knows without the staffing problems, with these 4 153's back on the books they would even have had stock to allocate and to provide a more frequent service on the Trans-Wilts line.

It was those very 153 units that sat, unused in a siding at Eastleigh for almst a year that were used to provide the Swindon to Southampton service until December 2006.

Basically ... they withdrew our increasingly popular train service and parked up the stock that had been used to provide it in a siding near to one end of the line, in full public view.

Actually, only 2 were used for it

[devon_metro]

The 153s were technically and internally knackered, not the best choice for stock. The 142s are no better though! I'd like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to refuse to use them and demand the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) does something useful for once.

Its a shame to see a modern fleet of stock stored at Eastleigh. Why don't FGW pull out all the stops and either use them on Cardiff - Portsmouth or strenghthen any 180s left with FGW running as permenant 10 car units.

[vacman]

The 153s were technically and internally knackered, not the best choice for stock. The 142s are no better though! I'd like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to refuse to use them and demand the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) does something useful for once.

Its a shame to see a modern fleet of stock stored at Eastleigh. Why don't FGW pull out all the stops and either use them on Cardiff - Portsmouth or strenghthen any 180s left with FGW running as permenant 10 car units.

With the exception of 153308 all of the 153's at Eastleigh were no worse than any of the other clapped out 153's with FGW! 153308 is a jonah unit, had plenty of hits on the Newquay branch with cars!!!

[devon_metro]

You could say that!!

With the exeption of 329 and 369 our 153s are wrecks!

What are the chances of a fleet of new trains for us in the SW then under Andrew Haines?

I can dream...

[vacman]

372 should be OK in a couple of weeks after refurb!

[martyjon]

Who knows without the staffing problems, with these 4 153's back on the books they would even have had stock to allocate and to provide a more frequent service on the Trans-Wilts line.

It was those very 153 units that sat, unused in a siding at Eastleigh for almst a year that were used to provide the Swindon to Southampton service until December 2006.

Basically ... they withdrew our increasingly popular train service and parked up the stock that had been used to provide it in a siding near to one end of the line, in full public view.

Actually, only 2 were used for it

It would have only needed 1 153 to provide a Westbury - Swindon shuttle.