HSTs - How long will they last?

[support-uk-rail]

HST's have been in frequent operation since the mid 1970's. They became an icon of British Rail and have seen privatisation and almost every mainline rail operator. A couple have been scrapped, however, most are still kept to the usual every-day timetable. The Adelantes tried to succeed them with FGW, but failed miserably, yet even the optormistic builders only predicted these trains would last in regular service until the late 90's. A decade later they are still the passenger high speed workhorses of Britain.

When do you predict -

A) The first HST will be put into Heritage rail operations
B) Who will operate the last mainline HST
C) The last HST to leave service#

 

[rail-britain]

A) The first HST will be put into Heritage rail operations
2012

B) Who will operate the last mainline HST
Great Western Trains

C) The last HST to leave service
2015

 

[Donny Dave]

You could argue that A) has already happened when Cotswold Rail took on 43070/087.

Anyway, my predictions are ....

A) (If the above doesn't count) 2015

B) Either FGW (or whoever is running the franchise then) and NEEC

C) Mid to late 2016

 

[Jord]

A) 2013

B) FGW or whoever with that franchise

C) 2022, Being as they are all being re-engined that i should think last another 30 years? but i'm being abit more realistic.

 

[me123]

I'll be backwards.

C) 2020 is the latest date I would imagine for withdrawal from passenger service. An assumption of 2012-2016 is most likely.

B) I can see the ECML franchise looking into a replacement train, leaving Great Western as the final home of the HST.

A) Very soon after the first withdrawals. They are popular trains, and they will be snapped up quickly by heritage operators.

 

[Bonemaster]

A) 2012
B) Not one that currently uses them
C) 2020 would be my guess maybe later

 

[W14Fishbourne]

The DfT has just announced the short list for the Intercity Express Programme to build the replacement for the HST.

This announcement says that the Invitation to Tender will be issued to the shortlisted bidders in the autumn this year. Proposals will then be received from bidders in summer 2008, with the award of the contract in winter 2008/09. A pre-series batch of the trains will be introduced on the East Coast Main Line from 2012. Full production of the fleet will follow, with trains entering full service from 2015, starting on the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines.

That's the plan, anyway.

Of course, HSTs are likely to continue in main line service after that, if only because they're bound to prove popular with charter operators.

How many heritage lines are going to want to operate a part-HST set, let alone a full-length one? Unlike existing rolling stock, they can only be used in their power-car/rake/power-car formations, not hauled by steam or diesel locomotives, so for much of the time they're likely to sit around occupying valuable siding space.

 

[Turbostar]

A) The first HST will be put into Heritage rail operations
2012

B) Who will operate the last mainline HST
Great Western Trains

C) The last HST to leave service
2015

It's First Great Western. :roll:

Mart

 

[djw1981]

Mart: but the Franchise is called Great Western. First may not be the Franchise holder by that time.

NEEC / ICEC get the new Intercity project hybrid / HST2 in early 201x's for testing, with implementation by 2015, so that may see the HSt moving away from the mainline franchises, as the HST2 is introduced to Great Western, and maybe even WCML! HST will then be mainly on XC and MML, but may be cascaded onto other franchises, however will fall foul of the DDA in 2020.

 

[Jim]

It's First Great Western. :roll:

Mart

Trading name is Great Western Trains

 

[Ascot]

The heritage will come later than that, we still got the 47s and that to enter fully and the steams to go. Infact i was only going on about that on saturday when everything will come through.

 

[Mojo]

Trading name is Great Western Trains

I thought their trading name was First Great Western, with the company name First Greater Western Ltd.

 

[support-uk-rail]

I'm suprised no heritage railway has snapped up and HST yet.

-random statement with a question:_

Do you ever see photos of a Class 47 (or any locomotive) hauling a Class 86 (or any locomotive) to a final resting place to either be abandoned or scrapped, and think... hang on, those trains work, they are just old. Now answer me this:

- If they are gonna throw them, they may as well offer them for free to a heritage railway, right?

 

[Dennis]

Reasons they cannot be given free to preserved railways include;

.....out of use locos (and other stock) costs money to store, so this is money down the drain for the ROSCOs if no future work is likely for them.

.....although of no asset value, locos have significant scrap value

.....there is a finite number of preserved railways and these have a limited amount of resources and space available

.....electric locos are not much use on preserved railways

 

[class 313]

Why is no one saying Midland Mainline (East Midland Trains)?

They wont be replaced with 222s just yet if at all as the production line has been closed for them.

 

[djw1981]

Also, with the demand from Grand Central, MML, FGW, ICEC and AXC for HST/mkIII combo trains at the moment, any herirtage line wanting to buy one will have to pay through the nose.

 

[support-uk-rail]

Thanks for the replies, yeah I suppose those reasons do make sense.

Do you know of any heritage line in the uk with overheard wires?

 

[Jord]

Because all of HSTs are being re-engined, will at least one Valenta engine be preserved? or are the Cotswold Rail power cars Valenta's?

 

[matt]

are the Cotswold Rail power cars Valenta's?

They used to be but 43070 (what used to be the silver power car) has now been MTU'ed. http://mattspencer.fotopic.net/p44710144.html

 

[support-uk-rail]

How many HST's do Angel Trains have in comparison to Cotswold Rail, and are all of FGW's HST's leased, yes?

 

[Mintona]

Cotswold have none. Zero. Zilch.

Porterbrook and HSBC are the other companies who lease them. Most of First's HSTs are leased, but some are their own.

 

[support-uk-rail]

thanks alistairtrainfanman.

 

[scotrailtosleeperzzz]

Cotswold Rail no longer have the power cars.

 

[support-uk-rail]

Hang on, hang on... what about on the cotswold rail website and stuff, they have pictures of HST's, like the unique HORNBY liveried unit.

 

[westcoaster]

iirc they both went to fgw, dont think they were a great hit in the charter market

 

[class 313]

iirc they both went to fgw, dont think they were a great hit in the charter market

Saying that, the Hornby one was HELLFIRE wouldn't be surprised if people said it was the best Valenta.

 

[Mintona]

Yep. That website hasn't been updated for a while.

43070 has now completed MTU-ification, and will shortly be in service for First. 43087 will follow!

 

[support-uk-rail]

Actually, I read in a HST book that the Hornby liveried unit and it's sister car were on lease from Porterbrooke Leasing to Cotswold Rail.

 

[Mintona]

I didn't say they weren't...

 

[support-uk-rail]

chicken pie.