Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Ferry disruption continues after breakdown at sea - Southampton, 24 July 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [363519/30483/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:03, 24th July 2025 |      |
From the BBC:
Ferry passengers are continuing to face disruption as repair work is carried out to a vessel that broke down mid-crossing.
Red Funnel said its Red Eagle vehicle ferry, sailing between between East Cowes and Southampton, suffered a technical issue with its aft main engine on Wednesday afternoon. It broke down on Southampton Water and needed assistance from a tug boat to make it to port in Southampton. Some crossings on Wednesday evening and Thursday were cancelled as a result.
Services were also disrupted in April when the same vessel broke down at sea, having just returned to service.
Following Wednesday's breakdown, Red Funnel's operations director Neil Chapman said: "While everyone on board was safe, we know this caused a longer journey than our passengers expected, and we're truly sorry for that. Our technical teams have been working hard through the night to complete the repairs, and we're doing everything we can to get Red Eagle back into service as soon as possible."
The company's website is showing the cancellation of the 12:30 BST and 15:30 services from East Cowes, as well as the 14:00 and 17:00 sailings from Southampton.
It is the latest in a series of problems to affect Red Eagle, with Red Funnel extending its winter timetable due to its delayed return from its annual refit. It then suffered a "technical issue" at sea on 5 April after it returned to service.
| Re: Seagulls, particularly in Cornwall - ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363518/29073/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:44, 24th July 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Appeal to identify man after seagull roof attacks
Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify after a series of attacks on seagulls in a city centre.
A man was reported for attacking and killing baby seagulls with an umbrella on the roof of Bath's Corridor shopping centre at around 16:50 BST on 15 July.
Avon and Somerset Police described the man as black, middle aged, of slim build, and wearing a checked shirt and carrying a blue bag at the time of the incident.
Anybody who had any information about the incident, or who might know who this man was, has been asked to contact the force.
Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify after a series of attacks on seagulls in a city centre.
A man was reported for attacking and killing baby seagulls with an umbrella on the roof of Bath's Corridor shopping centre at around 16:50 BST on 15 July.
Avon and Somerset Police described the man as black, middle aged, of slim build, and wearing a checked shirt and carrying a blue bag at the time of the incident.
Anybody who had any information about the incident, or who might know who this man was, has been asked to contact the force.
| Re: Plane crashes at Southend Airport - BBC News 13/07/2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [363517/30450/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:25, 24th July 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Four people killed in Southend Airport crash named
Four people killed in a plane crash at London Southend Airport have been named together for the first time.
The medical evacuation aircraft fatally plummeted shortly after takeoff at about 16:00 BST on 13 July.
Capt Danny Franken, 53, first officer Floris Rhee, 24, Dr Mathias Eyl, 46, and Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, died at the scene, the BBC can now report.
Flight operator Zeusch Aviation said it was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the tragedy.
Witnesses described seeing a "fireball" when the Beech B200 Super King Air crashed in Essex.
The plane was returning to its base at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, having transported a patient into the UK for treatment.
Southend Airport was closed following the incident so investigations could be carried out, before reopening on 17 July.
Those inquiries have been ongoing, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
Capt Franken and Mr Rhee were described as "highly-respected and cherished colleagues" by Zeusch Aviation, which is based at Lelystad Airport.
Managing director Marco Rietvelt said: "Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team. Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out."
In an additional statement given to Dutch media, Mr Franken's family said his loss was "unbearable".
The group were on their way back to Lelystad, having flown to Southend from the Greek capital Athens, via Pula in Croatia.
German national Dr Eyl worked as an emergency paramedic for his country's Red Cross. The charity said it had lost "not only a reliable doctor, but above all a special person", adding his loss was "immeasurable". "With his warm, honest, and humorous nature, he has not only provided medical assistance, but shaped our community," a statement read. "He was a man who listened, tackled and encouraged."
Also killed in the crash was Ms Rojaz Ortiz, who was on her first day as a flight nurse. Born in Chile but raised in Germany, her friend said she was the "kindest soul". "She had a giving heart and was humble, and chose a profession that reflected that," Anna Smith added.
Four people killed in a plane crash at London Southend Airport have been named together for the first time.
The medical evacuation aircraft fatally plummeted shortly after takeoff at about 16:00 BST on 13 July.
Capt Danny Franken, 53, first officer Floris Rhee, 24, Dr Mathias Eyl, 46, and Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, died at the scene, the BBC can now report.
Flight operator Zeusch Aviation said it was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the tragedy.
Witnesses described seeing a "fireball" when the Beech B200 Super King Air crashed in Essex.
The plane was returning to its base at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, having transported a patient into the UK for treatment.
Southend Airport was closed following the incident so investigations could be carried out, before reopening on 17 July.
Those inquiries have been ongoing, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
Capt Franken and Mr Rhee were described as "highly-respected and cherished colleagues" by Zeusch Aviation, which is based at Lelystad Airport.
Managing director Marco Rietvelt said: "Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team. Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out."
In an additional statement given to Dutch media, Mr Franken's family said his loss was "unbearable".
The group were on their way back to Lelystad, having flown to Southend from the Greek capital Athens, via Pula in Croatia.
German national Dr Eyl worked as an emergency paramedic for his country's Red Cross. The charity said it had lost "not only a reliable doctor, but above all a special person", adding his loss was "immeasurable". "With his warm, honest, and humorous nature, he has not only provided medical assistance, but shaped our community," a statement read. "He was a man who listened, tackled and encouraged."
Also killed in the crash was Ms Rojaz Ortiz, who was on her first day as a flight nurse. Born in Chile but raised in Germany, her friend said she was the "kindest soul". "She had a giving heart and was humble, and chose a profession that reflected that," Anna Smith added.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [363516/30461/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:03, 24th July 2025 | |
From the BBC:
A 10-year-old boy who was killed when a coach carrying schoolchildren crashed died of a head injury, an inquest has heard.
Oliver Price died when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.
The children and teachers onboard had been returning from an end-of-year trip to Exmoor Zoo. In total, 21 people were taken to hospital.
An inquest at Wells Coroner's Court heard earlier that Oliver had been found in his seat with his seatbelt on, and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
The coach was carrying about 70 people when it left the A396 and overturned between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe at about 15:15 BST. A major incident was declared, with 60 firefighters sent to the scene alongside 20 double-crewed ambulances.
Opening the inquest into Oliver's death, coroner Vanessa McKinlay said his death was confirmed by paramedics at 17:00. "Oliver was found seated in the coach with his seat belt on," she added. "At the time of his death he was identified by his father Matthew Price to the police who were in attendance."
Ms McKinlay said the provisional cause of Oliver's death was a head injury, subject to further tests.
A full inquest is set to take place on 14 January next year and will look into the events of the day before the crash, the circumstances in which the coach left the road and Oliver's medical cause of death.
The inquest is due to hear from Oliver's family, adult passengers on the coach, witnesses, the coach driver, emergency service workers and a pathologist.
Oliver's family, the coach driver and the coach operator Ridlers have been named as interested parties in the inquest.
Ms McKinley ended the hearing by offering her condolences to Oliver's family.
Oliver Price died when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.
The children and teachers onboard had been returning from an end-of-year trip to Exmoor Zoo. In total, 21 people were taken to hospital.
An inquest at Wells Coroner's Court heard earlier that Oliver had been found in his seat with his seatbelt on, and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
The coach was carrying about 70 people when it left the A396 and overturned between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe at about 15:15 BST. A major incident was declared, with 60 firefighters sent to the scene alongside 20 double-crewed ambulances.
Opening the inquest into Oliver's death, coroner Vanessa McKinlay said his death was confirmed by paramedics at 17:00. "Oliver was found seated in the coach with his seat belt on," she added. "At the time of his death he was identified by his father Matthew Price to the police who were in attendance."
Ms McKinlay said the provisional cause of Oliver's death was a head injury, subject to further tests.
A full inquest is set to take place on 14 January next year and will look into the events of the day before the crash, the circumstances in which the coach left the road and Oliver's medical cause of death.
The inquest is due to hear from Oliver's family, adult passengers on the coach, witnesses, the coach driver, emergency service workers and a pathologist.
Oliver's family, the coach driver and the coach operator Ridlers have been named as interested parties in the inquest.
Ms McKinley ended the hearing by offering her condolences to Oliver's family.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [363515/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 13:07, 24th July 2025 | |
Thursday July 24
1W01 09:52 London Paddington to Hereford (12:46) arrived Great Malvern +5 and was cancelled thereafter.
13:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 16:24 will be started from Great Malvern.
This is due to a points failure.
Last Updated:24/07/2025 11:57
12:52 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 15:00 will be starting late from London Paddington.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:24/07/2025 12:50
Departed Paddington +4, held Reading (+16).This is due to a points failure.
Last Updated:24/07/2025 11:57
12:52 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 15:00 will be starting late from London Paddington.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:24/07/2025 12:50
13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 16:15 will be starting late from London Paddington.
This is due to a points failure.
Last Updated:24/07/2025 12:58
This is due to a points failure.
Last Updated:24/07/2025 12:58
The 13:50 is formed of the stock from 1P26 1059 Great Malvern to London Paddington (13:25), which arrived +34. 13:50 has now departed +23.
| Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance In "London to the West" [363514/489/12] Posted by TaplowGreen at 12:51, 24th July 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
And to be clear that £199 is just for the cabin. There is the travel ticket to pay for on top of that.
Like so many things, over the years quality and expectations have risen and so have prices.
.......and so has subsidy presumably.
| Re: IEP seats in 2025 In "Across the West" [363513/29826/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 09:55, 24th July 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby | |
I’ll also add a standard class wheelchair space on the 5-car units to the wishlist. Just the one as that would give three in total.
| Obstruction on the track - Bath, 23 July 2025 In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [363512/30482/10] Posted by matth1j at 09:04, 24th July 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Timmer | |
On yesterday's 1700 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington, it stopped just after pulling out of Bath. The train manager announced that branches had been placed on the track deliberately; this was in the vicinity of Sydney Gardens where the track is easily accessible https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mcg4GQfJ6Hwmvq1W6
There was a train in front of us - the (delayed) 1647 Warminster service I think - whose crew apparently got out and removed the obstruction. In the end we were delayed by about 30 mins.
Fortunately no one was injured and no equipment was damaged. Worrying though.
Of course I missed my connection with the 1750 Melksham service at Chippenham; the next one would have been at 1900, but a taxi was provided for myself and another chap heading that way. It didn't arrive until about 1835, but was appreciated.
| Re: The next adventure ... and a comparison between passenger experiences In "Introductions and chat" [363511/30476/1] Posted by grahame at 06:38, 24th July 2025 Already liked by Timmer, PrestburyRoad, matth1j, GBM, froome, Chris from Nailsea | |
That story got rather off public transport - posted (here) in public on Faceplate. More later, but it look like I'm shortly on a rail replacement bus which will cut my ability to write without being travel sick.
And so on - to Ludvika in a 2 carriage train, and then a long journey on a rail replacement coach (also a 2 coach service) all the way to Mora. Engineering works - line closed for a few weeks in high summer; we were scheduled to arrive in Mora at 14:24, got here more like 14:40 ... and when the railway is working I could have been here at 12:46. All allowed for in my planning though.
The two coach train was a delight - the Swedes have their rural trains right in so many ways. The Trains Manager checks tickets and then serves teas, coffees and snacks in the buffet (we used to have those on GWR). Clean loo, good views, comfortable seats - what more could one want? Oh - luggage racks and overheads fit for luggage, plenty of cycle spaces, and a low entrance / wheelchair accessible place with a build in lift and turntable. Our train was quiet, but passing one going the other way (and the passing was quick at a station loop - not the protracted performance in some UK locations) was slick and we were on time at Ludvika.
The rail replacement was - err - to be endured. It's warm in Sweden, and the air conditioning was either failed or not switched on until near the end of the journey. Seats were "OK" but pitch was such that even my tiny laptop was not useable. No escape from child opposite travelling with (was it mother or granny?) who was giving every vocal indication of finding the journey a torture. There was a power point, but it was not working. And in any case the driver had INSISTED (by physically blocking the door) that my pack go in the hold under the coach; I can understand this if it had coach had been fully laden. Scenery lovely - ability to more. around and take pictures from both sides - zero. A good and straight road most of the way, with diversions off to serve intermediate stations.
From the rail replacement coach
But Mora IS worth a visit
And when a thunderstorm strikes, what better than the "Glassbatten"
| Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance In "London to the West" [363510/489/12] Posted by grahame at 05:50, 24th July 2025 | |
And to be clear that £199 is just for the cabin. There is the travel ticket to pay for on top of that.
Like so many things, over the years quality and expectations have risen and so have prices. Some of the continental sleepers remain at six beds per cabin. And part of the financial model is (or should be) the cost of replacement of the rolling stock every "n" years.
| Re: Bus Service 205 In "Transport for London" [363509/30357/46] Posted by grahame at 05:46, 24th July 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Chris from Nailsea | |
I was doing a few sums yesterday on the back of a fag packet (OK - on an A6 slip of paper as I travelled on a rail replacement bus).
If you take 5 passenger on each bus that used to go through (that's a very conservative number - I have watched) and say 6 buses per hour for 12 hours per day for 350 days in the year, multiply those numbers together and then double them again for people going the other way, you have a minimum estimate onconcervative numbers of 250,000 journeys a year being "encouraged" to divert to more expensive and less convenient alternatives. Quiet "little" price rise - probably nets TfL an extra sum between half a million and a million, on top of the financial saving they're making by running fewer buses. Strangely, they did not give this as one of the reasons for the change.
I am reminded of GWR's moving the Groupsave start time from 09:00 to 09:30, which rendered it useless for southbound weekday days out from Melksham and resulted in certain family groups costing an extra 50%.
| Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance In "London to the West" [363508/489/12] Posted by bobm at 05:21, 24th July 2025 | |
And to be clear that £199 is just for the cabin. There is the travel ticket to pay for on top of that.
| Re: Fifteen hurt after double-decker bus hits bridge - Eccles, Manchester, 21/7/2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [363507/30478/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:51, 23rd July 2025 | |
That's the aqueduct carrying the Bridgwater Canal ...
With my genuine thanks to my colleague Mark A for his post on this topic, may I please enter a word of caution here?
Lest we offend (m)any of our readers down in Somerset (and I know at least two of them), may I record that the correct spelling in Somerset is 'Bridgwater' but the correct spelling in Manchester is 'Bridgewater'.
I thank you. CfN.
| Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance In "London to the West" [363506/489/12] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:35, 23rd July 2025 Already liked by GBM | |
Personally, I don't have a spare £199 lying around.
| Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance In "London to the West" [363505/489/12] Posted by Sleepy at 23:32, 23rd July 2025 | |
Friday night's (25th July) down sleeper still has vacant berths (as does Friday night next week) - do you think GWR pricing has reduced demand ? Or is it lower holiday demand in Cornwall this year ? The price for a single cabin is £199
| Re: Fifteen hurt after double-decker bus hits bridge - Eccles, Manchester, 21/7/2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [363504/30478/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:28, 23rd July 2025 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Changes considered after bus bridge crash
Transport bosses are looking at changing routes and adding more warning signs after a double decker bus crashed into a bridge.
The vehicle's roof was torn off as it struck the Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct on Barton Lane in Eccles, Salford on Monday, with three people seriously injured and 17 others also hurt.
The Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt said passengers' safety was the Bee Network's "top priority" as he revealed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had asked him to produce an "urgent report" on the incident.
As well as a police investigation, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched its own probe into the crash.
A 19-year-old woman, and two men, one aged in his 20s and another in his 40s, sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in a stable condition, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
Everitt said TfGM is fully supporting GMP's investigation and all available CCTV from the bus has now been recovered by the operator, Stagecoach, and passed to the force.
TfGM was working with Stagecoach, Salford City Council as the local highway authority and Peel, as the owner of the aqueduct, on its own probe into the collision, he said. This includes why the 100 service bus was "not taking its usual route", a TFGM spokesman said.
They have also agreed several short-term measures to be implemented as soon as possible including new and additional warning measures – including further signage at and near the bridge.
TfGM has also sought reassurances from bus operators, local authorities and others with responsibility for managing and maintaining low bridges about how they will mitigate measures to prevent further strikes.
Everitt said it was looking at potentially re-routing services away from the Barton Lane bridge. He said Burnham has asked him to look into the circumstances around the crash and make recommendations about wider implications for safety on the network. "I have heard very clearly the concern from the local community that there have been many other collisions at this location over many years," the transport commissioner said. He said he has also spoken to the head of a bus operator involved in a separate collision into a low bridge on Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath on Tuesday.
A Metroline Manchester training bus was being driven by a trainee driver when it struck a bridge, but no passengers were onboard, and nobody was injured.
Everitt said that incident would be thoroughly investigated, too, and form part of his report. He said it was also helping to support those impacted by the "deeply distressing event". "Our commitment to safe operations is absolute. Core to this will be the further development of a Bee Network safety standard, as part of our long-term Vision Zero strategy and plan to eliminate death and serious injuries on the city region's roads."
Transport bosses are looking at changing routes and adding more warning signs after a double decker bus crashed into a bridge.
The vehicle's roof was torn off as it struck the Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct on Barton Lane in Eccles, Salford on Monday, with three people seriously injured and 17 others also hurt.
The Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt said passengers' safety was the Bee Network's "top priority" as he revealed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had asked him to produce an "urgent report" on the incident.
As well as a police investigation, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched its own probe into the crash.
A 19-year-old woman, and two men, one aged in his 20s and another in his 40s, sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in a stable condition, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
Everitt said TfGM is fully supporting GMP's investigation and all available CCTV from the bus has now been recovered by the operator, Stagecoach, and passed to the force.
TfGM was working with Stagecoach, Salford City Council as the local highway authority and Peel, as the owner of the aqueduct, on its own probe into the collision, he said. This includes why the 100 service bus was "not taking its usual route", a TFGM spokesman said.
They have also agreed several short-term measures to be implemented as soon as possible including new and additional warning measures – including further signage at and near the bridge.
TfGM has also sought reassurances from bus operators, local authorities and others with responsibility for managing and maintaining low bridges about how they will mitigate measures to prevent further strikes.
Everitt said it was looking at potentially re-routing services away from the Barton Lane bridge. He said Burnham has asked him to look into the circumstances around the crash and make recommendations about wider implications for safety on the network. "I have heard very clearly the concern from the local community that there have been many other collisions at this location over many years," the transport commissioner said. He said he has also spoken to the head of a bus operator involved in a separate collision into a low bridge on Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath on Tuesday.
A Metroline Manchester training bus was being driven by a trainee driver when it struck a bridge, but no passengers were onboard, and nobody was injured.
Everitt said that incident would be thoroughly investigated, too, and form part of his report. He said it was also helping to support those impacted by the "deeply distressing event". "Our commitment to safe operations is absolute. Core to this will be the further development of a Bee Network safety standard, as part of our long-term Vision Zero strategy and plan to eliminate death and serious injuries on the city region's roads."
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363502/30206/44] Posted by ellendune at 22:17, 23rd July 2025 | |
I don't think this has yet been signed off
Publishing the award notice this week on a public tenders site if hadn't signed off doesn't make any sense, why publish the award now if not agreed. Maybe it was done in wrap up before Parliament summer recess.
But if you know it hasn't been signed I accept your superior knowledge.
There is typically a standstill period after an award has been announced. I believe this is a requirement of public procurement law, but I am not an expert on this. It gives a chance for an aggrieved supplier who feels the award is not fair, to lodge a legal challenge before the contract is signed.
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363501/30206/44] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:47, 23rd July 2025 | |
Thanks for that detailed update, ChrisB.
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363500/30206/44] Posted by ChrisB at 21:04, 23rd July 2025 | |
Here you go
Standstill period
End: 31 July 2025
9 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
1 August 2025
End: 31 July 2025
9 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
1 August 2025
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041655-2025
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363499/30206/44] Posted by ChrisB at 20:55, 23rd July 2025 | |
Other Information
** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **
** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363498/30206/44] Posted by John D at 20:39, 23rd July 2025 | |
I don't think this has yet been signed off
Publishing the award notice this week on a public tenders site if hadn't signed off doesn't make any sense, why publish the award now if not agreed. Maybe it was done in wrap up before Parliament summer recess.
But if you know it hasn't been signed I accept your superior knowledge.
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363497/30206/44] Posted by ChrisB at 19:34, 23rd July 2025 | |
I don't think this has yet been signed off
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [363496/30206/44] Posted by John D at 18:49, 23rd July 2025 | |
Appears an award had happened with Chiltern taking all the mk5s and associated class 68 locos
Contract is recorded as worth £300m and for 144 months
Description
The contracting authority will enter into contracts with the supplier for the supply of existing rolling stock for use on the Chiltern Railways routes. These contracts will be for the leasing by the supplier to the contracting authority of the supplier's full fleet of Mark5A coaches and Class 68 locomotives, for operation by the contracting authority, with associated maintenance.
On 22 December 2023 the contracting authority issued a contract notice - utilities with Notice reference 2023/S 000-037814 for the replacement of existing rolling stock. Beacon Rail Finance (Europe) Limited was the only supplier that could offer rolling stock units that meet the contracting authority's technical requirements of having units able to be utilised in fixed formations of 5 passenger vehicles to enter into passenger service from 31 March 2026 on a turnkey basis.
Under the agreed contract terms, the supplier will be responsible for procuring preventative and corrective maintenance for the units on an interim basis for a period between contract award and 6 December 2026. This will cover services in respect of 4 units to be provided for the purposes of driver training and 3 units to enable passenger service commencement on 1 April 2026. The contracting authority will be responsible for certain train preparation, cleaning, fuelling and minor defect rectification services (as agreed from time to time between the contracting authority and the supplier's maintenance providers) during this interim period and will be a party to the interim service agreement in order to reduce interface risk with its self-delivered services and facilitate the performance and reliability of the units. The contracting authority intends to carry out a separate procurement for the long-term provision of preventative and corrective maintenance over the remainder of the 144 month period.
https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2025/W30/850985284
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [363495/28982/26] Posted by ellendune at 16:28, 23rd July 2025 | |
According to Modern Railways-
A tender notice for the modification of Laira for '175s' and withdrawal of the Castle sets has been issued. Work set to begin next year.
https://x.com/modern_railways/status/1939627842465149298?s=61&t=VlafMC5gF9tidw36b1Y8JQI know a few have moved from storage near Ely, to Wolverton. And some have been there many weeks now.
So are the ones now at Wolverton there for assessment of the scope of work?
| Re: A trip on GWR's Battery Electric Train - 17/12/2024 In "Thames Valley Branches" [363494/29641/13] Posted by ellendune at 16:25, 23rd July 2025 | |
My own battery charger is a 7 kW job. That is a pretty normal option, being able to deliver the charge at household voltage with a 30A current. 14 kW would need a 60A current, doable with a 3-phase supply. I would assume the battery charger would take that. I didn't realise it was only a 14 kW supply, given that high speed DC chargers for cars can run at 150 kW. Given the information in grahame's report of his trip, 14 kW would be enough to keep the West Ealing to Greenford service running, but without capacity for much more. But would much more be needed?
A three-phase charger is typically 22kW, but a typical three-phase supply has 100 Amps on each phase, so if it was totally dedicated to charging it could deliver around 65 kW. In the right location I am sure more current could be provided.
| Re: A trip on GWR's Battery Electric Train - 17/12/2024 In "Thames Valley Branches" [363493/29641/13] Posted by matth1j at 13:51, 23rd July 2025 | |
A modern electric car has a battery of at least 60 kwh
Being pedantic, that's not quite true. For example the battery of the recently released Renault 4 is 52kWh, while its 5 sibling also has a 40kWh option. A Ford Puma's is 53kWh.| Re: Bus Service 205 In "Transport for London" [363492/30357/46] Posted by Timmer at 11:11, 23rd July 2025 Already liked by grahame, rogerw, Oxonhutch, Mark A, froome | |
When the ‘environment’ is being used to justify cuts to public transport then you have a problem as this completely goes against one of the benefits of public transport.
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [363491/28982/26] Posted by John D at 10:46, 23rd July 2025 | |
I know a few have moved from storage near Ely, to Wolverton. And some have been there many weeks now.
I am guessing they are being repainted, getting a mechanical service/overhaul and possibly a light refurbishment, but seems ages that some have been there, so does anyone know when first one in GWR spec (as in planned passenger spec, not crew training spec) is expected to be ready, and delivered (or driven) to Laira.
| Re: The next adventure ... and a comparison between passenger experiences In "Introductions and chat" [363490/30476/1] Posted by grahame at 09:46, 23rd July 2025 | |
... Which gave me an extra hour to look around the town, the 7th largest in Sweden, but that's the next story.
That story got rather off public transport - posted (here) in public on Faceplate. More later, but it look like I'm shortly on a rail replacement bus which will cut my ability to write without being travel sick.
