XC HST on hire to VTEC 12Apr18

[Swimbar]

Today formed of a 'Cross Country' train.
Seems very odd! Is thus going to become a feature when VTEC are short of stock?

 

[Chris172]

They were using two East Midlands class 43s last Thursday

 

[E_Reeves]

Power cars or the full set in XC livery?

 

[Chris172]

Just the power cars, I was at fitzwillam when it sped through

 

[E_Reeves]

Just the power cars, I was at fitzwillam when it sped through

Ah right, thanks!

 

[Chris172]

They were using two East Midlands class 43s last Thursday

Just the power cars, I was at fitzwillam when it sped through

Ah right, thanks!

I was refer to EMT I’m not sure of the XC set

 

[E_Reeves]

I was refer to EMT I’m not sure of the XC set

Oh right, it'd probably be the same set up as the EMT ones, although YouTube is showing that they've used a full XC rake before

 

[Swimbar]

They don't normally comment about the EMT VTEC painted set, which they use every day, on their travel updates other than they sometimes mention that there are 8 coaches instead of 9. Never seen reference to a XC set before.

 

[skyhigh]

They don't normally comment about the EMT VTEC painted set, which they use every day, on their travel updates other than they sometimes mention that there are 8 coaches instead of 9. Never seen reference to a XC set before.

Note today on Journey Check:

Facilities on the 17:00 London Kings Cross to Edinburgh due 21:21.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 7 coaches instead of 9. Catering is reduced. There are no reservations on this service.
Additional Facilities Information:
We are sure you have noticed we have borrowed a train from Cross Country. We would like to apologise that due to this swap our catering offer is a little different from usual. However, we will still be offering hot and cold beverages and tasty cold sandwiches and snacks instead."

 

[158820]

VT East Coast have hired a crosscountry hst set the last 3 days.

Edit to say it was XC04 on all days.

 

[Swimbar]

Understood, XC have one spare at EDB Tuesday - Thursday

 

[Kite159]

I did wonder when I spotted it in Kings Cross on Thursday

 

[mjn]

This was taken at Doncaster last Saturday and was listed as a VTEC

https://www.flickr.com/photos/134890679@N05/40602874744/in/album-72157692282052272/

 

[Master29]

This has happened before with a full XC set.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

Today formed of a 'Cross Country' train.
Seems very odd! Is thus going to become a feature when VTEC are short of stock?

This has been happening a lot lately. I presume XC passengers end up getting a Voyager instead of their scheduled HST when XC loans one of their very few HSTs to VTEC.
Seems sadly ironical that XC has been lumbered with all those Voyagers back from the days when Virgin ran the XC service and got rid of all HSTs, now with XC having a handful of HSTs most seem to be going to help Virgin out.
Would be better if VTEC got a double 221 of 10 coaches from XC instead of XCs few HSTs.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

Note today on Journey Check:

Why can’t XC loan VTEC a double 221 Voyager formation (10 coaches) instead of loaning them one of its very few HSTs?

 

[Agent_Squash]

Why can’t XC loan VTEC a double 221 Voyager formation (10 coaches) instead of loaning them one of its very few HSTs?

VTEC drivers are already trained on HSTs - it's not worth training on Voyagers just for a short loan.

 

[marcouk2]

Plus Tuesday - Thursday XC have 2 HST sets spare.

 

[najaB]

Plus Tuesday - Thursday XC have 2 HST sets spare.

That's something that often gets missed in the 'Why doesn't X borrow Y from Z?' confederations l conversations. You can only borrow what's free to be loaned.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

Plus Tuesday - Thursday XC have 2 HST sets spare.

So if XC has only 5 HSTs in total why do they only use 3 of them and leave 2 sets spare? Which brings me to the question of why did XC get those 5 HSTs when they took over from Virgin XC if they are reluctant to use HSTs, there are a lot of services especially west of Exeter where all 5 of their HSTs should be used. Seems XC is now looking for a way of getting rid of their HST sets.

 

[najaB]

So if XC has only 5 HSTs in total why do they only use 3 of them and leave 2 sets spare?

Because they are more expensive to operate than their Voyager sets. So given the choice (as they do on Tuesday to Thursday) they park the HSTs and use the Voyagers.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

Because they are more expensive to operate than their Voyager sets. So given the choice (as they do on Tuesday to Thursday) they park the HSTs and use the Voyagers.

But if they are expensive to operate then why did XC acquire any HSTs back in 2008, why didn’t they just use Voyagers only?

 

[najaB]

But if they are expensive to operate then why did XC acquire any HSTs back in 2008, why didn’t they just use Voyagers only?

Because there aren't enough Voyagers to operate the Friday to Monday timetable.

 

[jopsuk]

they need 3 HSTs in service to fulfill their timetable. They have 5 to cover for maintainence and reliability issues. If one of those spares is available, they can hire it out to VTEC if they're desperate.

Not just the driver- the VTEC guards aren't trained on Voyagers either.

 

[najaB]

they need 3 HSTs in service to fulfill their timetable.

I thought they needed an extra one at the weekend?

 

[PaxmanValenta]

Because there aren't enough Voyagers to operate the Friday to Monday timetable.

If XC needs the extra capacity but is reluctant to use HSTs because they are too expensive to run, then would it not have made more sense if XC had acquired 9 coach Meridian sets or even Adelantes at the start of their franchise? They could have let East Midlands trains have the HSTs in exchange for 5 class 222s.

 

[yorkie]

Because that wasn't an option. There are threads that covered that at the time.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

Because that wasn't an option. There are threads that covered that at the time.

Do you have any links to those threads so I can join their discussion? Thanks.

 

[Trainfan344]

They will be long locked by now I suspect! But if you have a look in various forums around the times they were introduced you can find stuff, I think people forget this board has existed since Summer 2005...

 

[Jonny]

Why can’t XC loan VTEC a double 221 Voyager formation (10 coaches) instead of loaning them one of its very few HSTs?

According to the public version of the Sectional Appendix, they are not allowed on the Doncaster to London King's Cross section (probably just due to lack of paperwork).