FGW train faults

[Rich McLean]

So is there a reason the air con rarely works on FGW's Class 158s, or is it just FGW being stingy / incompetent?

SWT 158/159 have had new aircon systems put into their trains. FGW on the other hand is a mix between the two, but mostly the original systems which are prone to failure. If you look at the ducting above the doors, you can tell the difference

 

[Envoy]

Do you mean no rainwater leaking, no tap-water, no toilet flushing, no complementary bottled water (still or sparkling), no hot water, no tonic water on the buffet to go with your first gin of the day, or was it a really bad day and all of the above?

I mean no water for flushing the toilets or washing hands - absolutely appalling and must surely mean that those responsible did not fill the water tanks.

Many of you have picked up on my earlier comment about failed air-con on the FGW 158's being common. Does anyone know if this is a common problem with the ATW 158 fleet? As has already been suggested, SWT 158/9's seem to be OK. If the 158 ATW fleet is also mainly OK, then this would suggest slack maintenance by FGW?

It seems to me that the ATW trains look cleaner externally than those belonging to FGW. Let us hope that the DfT take note when franchises come up for renewal.

 

[455driver]

I mean no water for flushing the toilets or washing hands - absolutely appalling and must surely mean that those responsible did not fill the water tanks.

Many of you have picked up on my earlier comment about failed air-con on the FGW 158's being common. Does anyone know if this is a common problem with the ATW 158 fleet? As has already been suggested, SWT 158/9's seem to be OK. If the 158 ATW fleet is also mainly OK, then this would suggest slack maintenance by FGW?

It seems to me that the ATW trains look cleaner externally than those belonging to FGW. Let us hope that the DfT take note when franchises come up for renewal.

Or the tank/mechanism had sprung a leak?

Don't know.

A recently refurbished train looks cleaner than one which hasn't been refurbished! Well bugger me I would never have guessed that! :roll:

 

[TEW]

ATW 158 aircon is as bad if not worse than FGW 158 aircon.

 

[Flamingo]

I mean no water for flushing the toilets or washing hands - absolutely appalling and must surely mean that those responsible did not fill the water tanks.

Many of you have picked up on my earlier comment about failed air-con on the FGW 158's being common. Does anyone know if this is a common problem with the ATW 158 fleet? As has already been suggested, SWT 158/9's seem to be OK. If the 158 ATW fleet is also mainly OK, then this would suggest slack maintenance by FGW?

It seems to me that the ATW trains look cleaner externally than those belonging to FGW. Let us hope that the DfT take note when franchises come up for renewal.

There have been issues around the depots filling water, but it should have been locked out by the traincrew if it was not flushing, and they were aware of it. We're all the toilets in the same condition? There should have been two or three more in 1st, depending on the make-up.

Regarding the ATW 158's they are recently refurbished, and the condition they had been allowed get in before refurbishment was forced on ATW was truly disgraceful. I take it you were not on them in 2012 or 2013?

 

[PHILIPE]

There have been issues around the depots filling water, but it should have been locked out by the traincrew if it was not flushing, and they were aware of it. We're all the toilets in the same condition? There should have been two or three more in 1st, depending on the make-up.


Regarding the ATW 158's they are recently refurbished, and the condition they had been allowed get in before refurbishment was forced on ATW was truly disgraceful. I take it you were not on them in 2012 or 2013?

ATW stick to the letter of the law, i.e. conform to the Franchise Spec. As said, have to be pushed into a corner like this do anything if somebody else pays. So, the Franchise didn't specify the 158s should be refurbished.

 

[Parallel]

I find Arriva's 158 aircon about the same level as FGWs to be honest, but I would have thought that this has been going on long enough now for the TOCs to organise suitable maintenance or replacement. At least there are windows that open though, I've been on a 175 in high summer with failed air con, that was not pleasant!!

--

Another few train faults for FGW this evening. There were another couple listed but I believe those were the same diagrams as some of these.

 

[CC 72100]

On the subject of train faults, one of the HSTs I was on last night seemed to have an air con issue. I noticed in the vestibule that there was a sticker on there saying that the Air con had been isolated - on the 31st October. Thankfully it's rather cold anyway so it wasn't too much of an issue, but I was slightly surprised that it (appeared) to have been out of action for so long.

In unrelated news, some of the HSTs that have gone past today have a Remembrance day poppy stuck on them, which is quite a nice touch. I can't remember seeing any last night, but a good 80% or so have them on today, can only presume they were put on last night.

 

[ValleyLines142]

In unrelated news, some of the HSTs that have gone past today have a Remembrance day poppy stuck on them, which is quite a nice touch. I can't remember seeing any last night, but a good 80% or so have them on today, can only presume they were put on last night.

Was just about to make a thread on this! (Mods/admin - if you feel this needs a seperate thread please feel free to create one!)

I've heard that 43002, 43016, 43032, 43138, 43143 and 43172 have got them (43002 and 43143 are currently in a set and I didn't see any on either of them last week when I saw them at Bristol Parkway, so they must have been applied over the weekend). I would have thought 43065 would have one too, as that's got The Royal British Legion nameplate.

 

[Rapidash]

Something conked out at Teignmouth this evening around 1700, causing a slight delay for anything behind it - 25 mins in my case, but I wasn't in the caring mood after a pint of Doombar!

Guard didn't specify what it was, but I'll make a stab in the dark and say it was a 143 on general principles.

 

[plymothian]

Something conked out at Teignmouth this evening around 1700, causing a slight delay for anything behind it - 25 mins in my case, but I wasn't in the caring mood after a pint of Doombar!

Guard didn't specify what it was, but I'll make a stab in the dark and say it was a 143 on general principles.

2T21 blocked down main line at Teignmouth due to loss of power and being unable to release doors as a result. (a 143)

 

[455driver]

2T21 blocked down main line at Teignmouth due to loss of power and being unable to release doors as a result. (a 143)

Wrong, it wasnt a 143!



It was 2 143s!

 

[irish_rail]

No it was 2 x 143s! Buggers delayed me ten minutes waiting to get past!!

 

[455driver]

No it was 2 x 143s! Buggers delayed me ten minutes waiting to get past!!

Uh yeah I know it was, read the bottom of my post put up yesterday at 21:01!

Oh 143603 was the unit with the problem.

 

[387star]

Presumably the 150/2 work which will soon include new toilets is ongoing

This work has been left far too late should have been done a long time ago

A 158/9 has reverted to a 2 car as well
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
1623 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff is a 2 car 150 due to earlier set swap at bristol

Tight squeeze?

 

[Parallel]

1623 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff is a 2 car 150 due to earlier set swap at bristol

Tight squeeze?

I've seen a 150 on the Portsmouth runs the last few days. I was on one earlier in a week that was one of the two car 150/2s but with the 2+3 seating. Snug!

 

[infobleep]

I've seen a 150 on the Portsmouth runs the last few days. I was on one earlier in a week that was one of the two car 150/2s but with the 2+3 seating. Snug!

Well it is rather cold outside. So all cosy up and keep warm, whilst collecting other people's germs.

 

[Parallel]

There was a 6 car 158 operating between Portsmouth and Cardiff today. Not entirely sure why but a quick check revealed that the service before was cancelled throughout due to a train fault. Only 5 carriages were in use however due to some short platform lengths with the drivers door on the back of the hybrid gangway connection being closed to not allow passengers not use this carriage. It was full and thank goodness it was a 5/6 car unit rather than a 3 car one!

There was another Portsmouth - Cardiff service this evening which was cancelled. The said train developed a train fault so called additionally (and terminated at) Swanwick.

 

[PHILIPE]

There was a 6 car 158 operating between Portsmouth and Cardiff today. Not entirely sure why but a quick check revealed that the service before was cancelled throughout due to a train fault. Only 5 carriages were in use however due to some short platform lengths with the drivers door on the back of the hybrid gangway connection being closed to not allow passengers not use this carriage. It was full and thank goodness it was a 5/6 car unit rather than a 3 car one!

There was another Portsmouth - Cardiff service this evening which was cancelled. The said train developed a train fault so called additionally (and terminated at) Swanwick.

What was the train involved to be able to get a clearer picture ?
Was it the failed set attached to the next train to move it ?

 

[Parallel]

What was the train involved to be able to get a clearer picture ?
Was it the failed set attached to the next train to move it ?

The failed service was this one.

The doubled up service was this one. It was formed of 158955 and 158956.

All the engines seemed to be running so I don't know what the issue was originally. Maybe the issue was fixed and they just joined them together for pathing reasons?

--

More chaos on the FGW network tonight as somewhere between Bristol Parkway and Westbury - There's a broken down train which has caused cancellations and significant delays. The FGW journeycheck website isn't being too helpful but the problems started around when the 16:46 Bristol Parkway - Warminster service terminated at Stapleton Road with a train fault. This has affected Cardiff to Portsmouth and Taunton services, Bristol Parkway - Weston super Mare services, services between Gloucester - Weymouth and also the Severn Beach line. I'd imagine they are affecting XC services too.

EDIT: It was indeed this service that caused the disruption 16:46 Bristol Parkway - Warminster developing a fault at Stapleton Road, apparently the brakes locked on. I'm not sure what the unit was but it's usually either a 150/9 or a 150 + 153.

 

[Kite159]

A HST had a broken windscreen around didcot this afternoon, think it was meant to be the 15:11 departure from reading.

Paddington was a bit chaotic at 16:30 odd there was 2 HSTs in the station and one had just arrived.

 

[387star]

A FGW 158 has been parked up at fareham all day why?

 

[Matt Taylor]

It's 158959 which failed on the 1923 Portsmouth-Cardiff on Thursday evening, it has a major fault I believe.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/15954270592/

 

[455driver]

It's 158959 which failed on the 1923 Portsmouth-Cardiff on Thursday evening, it has a major fault I believe.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/15954270592/

Wheelskate job or just some big spanners?

 

[thelongestroad]

Wheelskate job or just some big spanners?

By the sounds of it it could be a low loader job for the vehicle affected!

 

[Flamingo]

A HST had a broken windscreen around didcot this afternoon, think it was meant to be the 15:11 departure from reading.

Paddington was a bit chaotic at 16:30 odd there was 2 HSTs in the station and one had just arrived.

A lump of scrap came off a freight, as far as I'm aware, took out the windscreen on the 12.28 Swansea-Pad. The problem came that the freight went on the Oxford line and got stopped for the driver to check the load, preventing a XC going on the Didcot Avoider, thereby blocking the down main for 25 minutes. There was a queue of five or six trains by that stage!

 

[cjmillsnun]

By the sounds of it it could be a low loader job for the vehicle affected!

How so? How is it beyond skating any affected bogie? The train looks intact

 

[PHILIPE]

According to Journey Check a number of short formations on the Devon Metro this morning.
Xmas shoppers going to Exeter won't be very happy.

 

[Rapidash]

Oh good Came back from London on the WoE yesterday - it was half empty all the way, but when I got back to Exeter the Metro was full and standing

Dear SWTanta Claus, Please Can We Haz Spare 159's......

*Prays to the Omnissiah all is well on Monday morning*

 

[Matt Taylor]

FGW is hiring a 159 today, next Saturday and the week after for the afternoon Brighton diagram, should release a 158 for elsewhere but it will just take the place of the now immobile 158959.