Might this be a forerunner of making all Cornish services start/stop at Exeter St Davids I wonder?
Hopefully not.

Might this be a forerunner of making all Cornish services start/stop at Exeter St Davids I wonder?
Hopefully not.

Now duly added to the Coffee Shop forum's 'abbreviations & acronyms' page.

The correct name being CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles), the Spanish train manufacturer.

Or, as discussed, other trains will be shortformed.  There are still some trains running around as MULTIPLE units (IETs, Turbos and sprinters) - and it would be possible though unpleasant to inadequate - to provide shorter trains on some services.

At a Local forum this afternoon, GWR were insistent that the Castles will be withdrawn on the current expected date, so it looks as though the 175s will start...

‘More’ as in more from the existing fleet.

Which is May?

Or will more IET’s or other stock simply be drafted in for the interim?

At a Local forum this afternoon, GWR were insistent that the Castles will be withdrawn on the current expected date, so it looks as though the 175s will start...

I'm getting increasingly doubtful that the units will be in service before the end of the summer.

who I believe were Cheap As F***

I'm getting increasingly doubtful that the units will be in service before the end of the summer.

That was another tour of England! Will they still need two Class 37s when they go into service?

175002 arrived a Laira yesterday.

175002 left Ely Tuesday at 1306 (2hours late) hauled between two diesel locos maximum speed 30mph did a tour of England and arrived at Laira  Wednesday at 0735 on time. I suppose the long route was for the speed restriction.

1. A contract award notice informs interested parties that the contracting authority intends to enter into a public contract with a specified supplier (or, where relevant, multiple suppliers).

2. The standstill period is the period between the contracting authority announcing its intention to enter into a contract (by publishing the contract award notice) and actually entering into that contract; the contracting authority cannot enter into the contract during the standstill period. The standstill period provides an opportunity for suppliers to raise any concerns about, or formally challenge, the award decision before the contract is entered into. It must be at least eight working days beginning with the day on which the contract award notice is published.

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

It's a notice to explain why the contract hasn't been put out to tender, as is normally required for new kit, rather than "I'll get back to you when I find my pen". I'm not aware that it caused any cries of "Foul!", so hopefully it will happen soon.

Subject to internal governance approvals and receiving no notice of any intention to legally challenge the award of this contract, First Greater Western Limited intends to award the Contract on a date following conclusion of the voluntary standstill period (i.e. no earlier than 10th September 2024).

I have given 24 hours notice - purely because it's a move from a restricted to a private area to a public one and so everyone who's posted needs an opportunity to object.    Whichever of us wakes first in the morning, Chris.

Personal view - to me the age of a train does not matter.

If it is reliable to run an appropriate advertised timetable, safe, clean, comfortable and affordable that suits me.

It is a done deal, just being held up by “red tape”.

GWR should get their first look at a 175 very soon at Landore. 

GWR are recruiting class 175 specific staff on their recruitment page, which makes me think they’re a pretty much done deal

As readers of the Coffee Shop forum will have seen, I've got some serious 'previous' for moving topics - but purely in the interests of housekeeping and ease of future reference.

However, in this case, if grahame is happy to do it, I'll leave this one to him.  That way, if it even possibly turns out to be the wrong call, he'll get the blame, not me.

CfN 

I was - err - thinking of moving this thread from the Rumour Mill into a public area - the "Rumour Mill" was set up for when we saw just a whiff of smoke and suspected a flame and clearly it's more than that now.

Suggestion - unless anyone objects I will move this tomorrow (Sunday 8th) morning - I see nothing that should be a secret ...

I'm concerned that GWR top brass are saying the deal hasn't yet been agreed by the DfT.   

I was - err - thinking of moving this thread from the Rumour Mill into a public area - the "Rumour Mill" was set up for when we saw just a whiff of smoke and suspected a frame and clearly it's more than that now.

Suggestion - unless anyone objects I will move this tomorrow (Sunday 8th) morning - I see nothing that should be a secret, nor could it it now be suggested that the forum is spreading significant rumours; sure, there are some things to be confirmed and like 769s to Gatwick or new trains from Cardiff to Portsmouth, well founded plans can change.

As we’re in the rumour mill (despite 175s actually coming so not a rumour),according to a GWR employee friend the mess room rumour is Penzance to Cardiff will be split at Exeter once the 175s arrive.
175s working Exeter to Penzance, Falmouth branch and Newquay branch.

As we’re in the rumour mill (despite 175s actually coming so not a rumour),according to a GWR employee friend the mess room rumour is Penzance to Cardiff will be split at Exeter once the 175s arrive.
175s working Exeter to Penzance, Falmouth branch and Newquay branch.

We are where we are.  The long term replacements for the 150s, 158s and 166s still look to be five years away.  If the 175s do come, that will help in the meantime.  Not a cheap option but what else can be done?   The only option available right now not to use IETs on the Cardiff - Penzances is to withdraw much of the service because, currently, there is nothing else to run it.  No-one wants that.

The 175s - if they come - will allow the IETs to go back to main line work and also allow much else too.

Yet more hand me downs and cast offs being used by the West side of the business.

Statement of fact.

The part of the former SW&W which eventually became Wessex Trains is the only TOC from 1994 that has never had any brand new rolling stock built for them. EVER!

Other companies cast offs, 150/1s and 175s.
Redeployed stock Turbos.
And the IETs on the Cardiff WofE services which they were never designed for or originally planned to be used on.

Looks like the 175s are coming to Laira plus the two simulators. The 158s at Exeter to go to Bristol.