London Midland 321s/319s discussion

[Ibex]

319013 is now in service incidentally. Will all four being in service change the diagrams at all? The above failure notwithstanding.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131243157@N05/22098749760

Funnily enough 319013 is tonight's failure on the Abbey. The diagrams won't change; only three of the four units per day are required.

 

[87015]

Was on it earlier in the afternoon when it had a interlock/brake release problem, did an emergency stop outside Park Street and stopped at How Wood for 8 minutes while they checked all the alarms were still sealed/doors weren't obstructed... no surprise it has been cancelled tonight... not the most reliable introduction of trains!

Interesting then that all the trains that run prior to the cancellations are recorded as right time arrivals.

Anyone for fudge?

PPM, 'honest performance figures you can believe in'...

 

[causton]

Interesting then that all the trains that run prior to the cancellations are recorded as right time arrivals.

Anyone for fudge?

PPM, 'honest performance figures you can believe in'...

I decline to comment

 

[craig87034]

350267 and 260 0714 Bletchley-Euston today

 

[Bletchleyite]

350267 and 260 0714 Bletchley-Euston today

350/2s again today. Not going well, is it?

The guard seemed to think discussions are going on at a very high level about what to do. It does seem like they've managed to acquire duds, given that 319s are operating reliably elsewhere.

 

[87015]

350/2s again today. Not going well, is it?

The guard seemed to think discussions are going on at a very high level about what to do. It does seem like they've managed to acquire duds, given that 319s are operating reliably elsewhere.

Aah, the LM baseline of just blaming someone else. Much cheaper than spending more than about a fiver on maintenance regimes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Today LM are surpassing even their own low standards, zero 319s in traffic. Abbey branch abandoned since yesterday evening, as the one 319 that attempted to move this morning to get for it collapsed leaving Northampton (off 'maintenance') and blocked the up slow for five hours after presuming failing to make the climb to Roade.

 

[Bungle965]

Yes i was looking and trains have been replaced by buses for the WHOLE days!!
I was looking on twitter and there excuse they came up with was that these trains were brought to us in a worse condition than we expected.
Sam

 

[CharlieSpotted]

LM's "Apology" for the problems with the 319s:

At this early stage, the Class 319 trains are proving to be less reliable than the Class 321s they have replaced on Abbey Line and some West Coast mainline services. Unfortunately, we were unable to extend our lease on the Class 321 trains and the only replacement option available to us was to lease four Class 319s.

The current position is that all four Class 319 trains each have unique engineering failures and we have not been able to put any of them into service today. This is not acceptable and we are genuinely doing everything we can to fix the problems.

http://www.londonmidland.com/your-journey/your-journey/apology /

They don't seem very happy with them, that's for sure.

 

[jon0844]

Can't imagine passengers are that happy either. Were they that bad when they were on Thameslink?

 

[Bald Rick]

Can't imagine passengers are that happy either. Were they that bad when they were on Thameslink?

No, but they did operate in pairs so if one had trouble, it was usually shifted quickly.

Also, electrically, the 321s and 319s are quite different (leaving aside the dual voltage capability)

 

[AM9]

No, but they did operate in pairs so if one had trouble, it was usually shifted quickly.

Also, electrically, the 321s and 319s are quite different (leaving aside the dual voltage capability)

I see that the same GEC 315BZ DC motors are fitted. Is it right that they have motors driven from electronic traction controllers on the DC bus so that control is the same as 3rd rail and OLE, whereas the 321s have conventional transformer tap changers?

 

[MK Tom]

St. Albans branch suspended again this morning with buses running. It's becoming the new Marston Vale.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It does seem like they've managed to acquire duds, given that 319s are operating reliably elsewhere.

Hmm.

If they were duds at Thameslink then GoVia are to blame for failing to maintain them properly.

If they weren't duds at Thameslink but are duds now, then GoVia are to blame for failing to maintain them properly.

Either way, that "apology" from London Midland is an insult.

Still, Satan will be skiing to work before the omnishambles in Birmingham will admit they've scrimped on maintenance one too many times. It's always someone else's fault, isn't it?

 

[hwl]

Hmm.

If they were duds at Thameslink then GoVia are to blame for failing to maintain them properly.

If they weren't duds at Thameslink but are duds now, then GoVia are to blame for failing to maintain them properly.

Either way, that "apology" from London Midland is an insult.

Still, Satan will be skiing to work before the omnishambles in Birmingham will admit they've scrimped on maintenance one too many times. It's always someone else's fault, isn't it?

Some may have been known unreliable ones from FCC days...

 

[DarloRich]

St. Albans branch suspended again this morning with buses running. It's becoming the new Marston Vale.

hey we haven't been bustituted for ages on the Vale! Although the 150 was struggling this morning with v poor rail head adhesion.

Have any 319's made it in to traffic this morning?

 

[craig87034]

1705 Euston-Milton Keynes was a pair of 319's today

 

[GatwickDepress]

hey we haven't been bustituted for ages on the Vale! Although the 150 was struggling this morning with v poor rail head adhesion.

Bustituted last week when the 150 failed in Bletchley. From talking to the crowd at Fenny, nobody knew where the bus stop was so they waited for the next train instead!

 

[DarloRich]

Bustituted last week when the 150 failed in Bletchley. From talking to the crowd at Fenny, nobody knew where the bus stop was so they waited for the next train instead!

oh i know where the bus stop is! Level Crossing side of the station. Not the roundabout at the top as one driver keeps trying!

PS KNEW i talked to soon. Service was bad at times last week with rail head adhesion issues

EDIT although waiting for the train is often sensible if you don't fancy the walk to Bletcho as often the bus doesn't show up. Odd that...........

 

[323235]

Aside from London Midland grumbling about how bad they are, what are they doing at them mechanically or otherwise to fix the issues and make them more reliable?

Blaming others and saying they don't want them doesn't make them work

 

[Bletchleyite]

How are the 319s doing at the moment? Any likelihood of one on the 0714 off BLY tomorrow?

 

[DarloRich]

How are the 319s doing at the moment? Any likelihood of one on the 0714 off BLY tomorrow?

The last few days have seen 2 x 319 on that service................. which means it will fall over tonight

LM seem to have managed to kick the 319's into shape with a planned more intrusive repair to come in the new year.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cheers.

 

[craig87034]

350232 and 260 0714 Bletchley-Euston

 

[DarloRich]

350232 and 260 0714 Bletchley-Euston

i spoke too soon...............

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good job I didn't bother then

 

[A0]

Good job I didn't bother then

I somehow think you're probably in a minority and most of the regulars on the 7.14 are probably quietly relieved when a nice, modern, reliable Desiro turns up instead of a decidedly old hat class 319....

 

[plastictaffy]

350232

Ah, the infamous 232.....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I always thought that the 0714 off BLY was a Bletchley job, and has to be 350's. It certainly used to be.

 

[craig87034]

Ah, the infamous 232.....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I always thought that the 0714 off BLY was a Bletchley job, and has to be 350's. It certainly used to be.

It's booked a pair of 319's returning on 1705 Euston-Milton Keynes

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ah, the infamous 232.....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I always thought that the 0714 off BLY was a Bletchley job, and has to be 350's. It certainly used to be.

It often used to be 321s though not for a while.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I somehow think you're probably in a minority and most of the regulars on the 7.14 are probably quietly relieved when a nice, modern, reliable Desiro turns up instead of a decidedly old hat class 319....

I dunno, I think the seating in the 319/2 might win them over. And I would pay for First Class if I could guarantee the provision of 2+1.

 

[DarloRich]

350 x 2 again today!