lymington branch to go all electric

[341o2]

just learned via local paper that SWT propose as from December 2015 that the line will go all electric, presumably 450 on daily basis

 

[higthomas]

Presumably 450 not 455.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Is the 3rd rail on the Lymington branch continuous (not switching sides at all or any breaks)? I'm wondering if they might use a 456 on the branch.

 

[pompeyfan]

456's would be a hassle to train the guards and drivers on a tiny fleet.

 

[21C101]

My guess is a pox box (455)

 

[infobleep]

Wow. 450 on such a small branch seems like overkill. What do they use currently?

 

[embers25]

Wow. 450 on such a small branch seems like overkill. What do they use currently?

450 weekdays and 158 at weekends.

 

[47802]

Not before time the line is currently and embarrassment, with the push for electrification and continuing to operate this line with diesel.

 

[matt]

Is the 3rd rail on the Lymington branch continuous (not switching sides at all or any breaks)? I'm wondering if they might use a 456 on the branch.

There is a level crossing at Lymington Town so no the 3rd rail is not continuous.

 

[louis97]

450 weekdays and 158 at weekends.

Wrong way around, its a 158 in the week with a 450 at weekends.

 

[158722]

Presumably this is being made possible by the rather belated introduction of the 456s and 458/5s giving SWT a little bit more flexibility with the 450s. It might seem a waste to have a 450 on the branch (assuming its a 450 anyway), but as others have said, to have a fully electrified branch and not use the juice is wrong, when the 158 could be used elsewhere in the country. Indeed, hasn't comment been made elsewhere that SWT are to loan a 158 or two to EMT again?

 

[cjmillsnun]

That is going to save SWT a ton of money on diesel.

 

[Bigfoot]

Surely this could be a use for all of the 442s...



Chuckle Chuckle.

 

[TheGrew]

Surely this could be a use for all of the 442s...



Chuckle Chuckle.

You can have one end on the platform in Brokenhurst and the other in Lymington

 

[bishdunster]

Is the 3rd rail on the Lymington branch continuous (not switching sides at all or any breaks)? I'm wondering if they might use a 456 on the branch.

Not sure I understand the relevance of this question, after all the emu fleet do have shoes on both sides !

 

[cjmillsnun]

Not sure I understand the relevance of this question, after all the emu fleet do have shoes on both sides !

At the moment the minimum length that SWT will allow a train comprised of 456 units is 4 cars. If however, there is a continuous juice rail (no gaps) then they could make an exception and allow a 2 car service as the unit won't get gapped.

I would think it's more likely that a 450 will be used.

 

[swt_passenger]

My guess is a pox box (455)

Why? No first class, no local train crew knowledge, no local depot knowledge. A 450 was always the plan for weekdays once they became available.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Why? No first class, no local train crew knowledge, no local depot knowledge. A 450 was always the plan for weekdays once they became available.

Is first class really necessary for the Lymington branch?

EDIT: I think it will be a 450 for the other reasons stated though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My guess is a pox box (455)

*waits for 455Driver*

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Class 455 & 456's have recently been passed for use between Brockenhurst & Lymington Pier. 450 would seem to the more likely candidate, but a 455 or 456 could be substituted, should it be necessary.

Using either a 455/456 could be indicative of the start of BM crews doing some suburban work, in between a 1Wxx or 1Bxx service.

 

[swt_passenger]

Is first class really necessary for the Lymington branch?

I'd expect they sell quite a few First tickets to London, rather than on the branch only - so I guess it depends if you think longer distance passengers should still have First available on their connection.

 

[contrex]

Not sure I understand the relevance of this question, after all the emu fleet do have shoes on both sides !

Perhaps that person was wondering if a 2 car unit stood more chance of getting gapped?

 

[infobleep]

I'd expect they sell quite a few First tickets to London, rather than on the branch only - so I guess it depends if you think longer distance passengers should still have First available on their connection.

If South West Trains needed first class elsewhere and had non first class trains in use in that area already, I'm sure the branch would be given non first class trains.

They took first class away from the Guildford to Ascot line.

However from people's comments I can see why they would use 450s even if it seems like overkill. It would no doubt be more expensive to use much else.

 

[341o2]

the person who wrote to the Lymington Times raised enviromental and noise issues regarding the 158's

Traffic on the branch is somewhat seasonal. At this time, the 158 is usually more than adequate. however, when first introduced in September 2007 for one day in preperation for replacing the 3CIG units, it drew criticism from certain quaters in that a maximum of 2 cycles per train, while the CIG's had a guard's compartment and could carry as many as it would accomodate

In the summer months with ever increasing visitor numbers and road traffic a 4 car unit certainly isn't overkill, the line is an important link to the IOW ferry especially as recently the bus route which runs alongside from Brockenhurst to lymington was halved in frequency during weekdays from 30 mins to hourly. It might bee deemed OT but increasing numbers of animal fatilities are raising concern and what does HCC do? Propose another round of bus cuts which are currently being feircly opposed

 

[Class 170101]

Presumably this is being made possible by the rather belated introduction of the 456s and 458/5s giving SWT a little bit more flexibility with the 450s. It might seem a waste to have a 450 on the branch (assuming its a 450 anyway), but as others have said, to have a fully electrified branch and not use the juice is wrong, when the 158 could be used elsewhere in the country. Indeed, hasn't comment been made elsewhere that SWT are to loan a 158 or two to EMT again?

Indeed you are correct comment here and elsewhere (on this board or otherwise) says EMT are borrowing an SWT Class 158 for extenstion of Matlock services from Nottingham to Newark Castle from May 2015 TT change.

 

[yorksrob]

Is first class really necessary for the Lymington branch :

If you'd coughed up for a 1st class fare to Lymington from London, it would be a bit of a let down to get turfed into steerage. In my view, if the railway is going to offer 1st class, it might as well offer it all the way through as far as practical. Generally, it would be impractical to offer it on every route across the country, but as the Lymington branch is primarily an extension of the South Western main line which has 1st.

Personally, I have been a paying customer of 1st class on the Lymington branch, however I would be unlikely to pay for it again, now that the service no longer includes a compartment.

 

[cjmillsnun]

If you'd coughed up for a 1st class fare to Lymington from London, it would be a bit of a let down to get turfed into steerage. In my view, if the railway is going to offer 1st class, it might as well offer it all the way through as far as practical. Generally, it would be impractical to offer it on every route across the country, but as the Lymington branch is primarily an extension of the South Western main line which has 1st.

Personally, I have been a paying customer of 1st class on the Lymington branch, however I would be unlikely to pay for it again, now that the service no longer includes a compartment.

It seems pointless for a train journey of 1 mile.

 

[ainsworth74]

It seems pointless for a train journey of 1 mile.

But as above it's for people either making a journey to/from the mainline.

 

[Chris125]

On a related note, from this year Yarmouth-Lymington will only use two ferries.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Using either a 455/456 could be indicative of the start of BM crews doing some suburban work, in between a 1Wxx or 1Bxx service.

Possibly,but I doubt it.

 

[455driver]

Possibly,but I doubt it.

So do I, they wont want to drive the horrible red trains, you know the ones they wont even wave at!