Are HSTs still cleared for XC's South Coast network?

[159jim]

Hi

I was just wondering if HSTs are still cleared for XC's Birmingham-Reading-Southampton-Bournemouth route since Virgin withdrawn their own HSTs as I think it may be a good idea to run summer extensions with HSTs on the Newcastle to Reading/Southampton route. What do you think?

Thanks,
Jim.

 

[Ferret]

I think if there's a full SSL bogie set knocking around, XC trams could still go to Bournemouth, BUT it would have to be worked throughout by Birmingham TM/Driver due to traction knowledge issues!

 

[159jim]

I think if there's a full SSL bogie set knocking around, XC trams could still go to Bournemouth, BUT it would have to be worked throughout by Birmingham TM/Driver due to traction knowledge issues!

Meh it should be alright for the crew, it's only a 5-7 hour round trip Isn't it :P

 

[Ferret]

Well, it'd be two Brummie crews involved - one works it down, the other works it back, with their balancing working being a Voyager. Simple enough!

 

[David10]

I was just wondering if HSTs are still cleared for XC's Birmingham-Reading-Southampton-Bournemouth route since Virgin withdrawn their own HSTs as I think it may be a good idea to run summer extensions with HSTs on the Newcastle to Reading/Southampton route. What do you think?

As XC's HST are not fitted with short swing bogies, no.

 

[hello]

some of the coaches are

 

[richw]

some of the coaches are

Some are, but for clearance the whole of the set needs to be which they don't have at present.

 

[TEW]

FGW seemed to have enough trouble making up SSL sets for services in to Waterloo when Reading was closed and they have a rather large fleet of MK3 trailers, so for XC to form even one set would probably be pretty hard.

 

[leedstraindude]

I had this conversation with someone in XC's fleet team a while back, they have enough to form one rake apparently, but they would have to shuffle coaches round from every set to do it so it wont ever be done.

 

[Rich McLean]

Just for info, Currently on a XC HST now, and it has had its Wi-Fi installed, using it as we speak