ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

[Mingulay]

I was on the 1741 from Haymarket to Aberdeen tonight in first class.

Unrefurbished HST.

Both first class toilets were locked out of use (one marked "leaking roof", the other "awaiting spares").

The nearest available toilet in the next coach was in total darkness for the whole journey due to lack of a working light.

It could be a new game show segment: "piss into a toilet bowl on a moving train in pitch darkness".

That corrosion won’t be getting any better after your visit to the loo!

They do look good and surprisingly contemporary as refurbished in that colour scheme . Just seems the start of a long journey against a headwind to complete the fleet and the potential for a change of heart.

 

[najaB]

Here's set 3 this morning in Dundee DMU sidings.

 

[InOban]

It would seem that a delegation from Scotrail were visiting Wabtec yesterday. They've posted pictures on Twitter. I'm even wondering whether they hitched a ride back North...

 

[jingsmonty]

I was on the 1741 from Haymarket to Aberdeen tonight in first class.

Unrefurbished HST.

Both first class toilets were locked out of use (one marked "leaking roof", the other "awaiting spares").

The nearest available toilet in the next coach was in total darkness for the whole journey due to lack of a working light.

It could be a new game show segment: "piss into a toilet bowl on a moving train in pitch darkness".

Unfortunately, you can guarantee that the 'classic' sets will have the bare minimum of maintenace time & money spent on them, as they are supposed to be a short term fix. Not ideal.

 

[jingsmonty]

Here is a video of the above mentioned
43152 & 43031 on the move to Dundee.

Only been on for an hour.

The refurbished Power Cars & coaches together do look 'the business'. Even this video shows the seating layout in standard class to be noticeably 'lower density' than the ex GWR classic stock.

I do say to any of my colleagues who moan about the state of the HSTs - judge them once the refurbished fleet is in service! Some of the classics do look distinctly tatty (especially the toilets, as others have said.

 

[jingsmonty]

Incidentally, the Scotrail team at Wabtec posted photos of sets 4 & 5 side by side, along with some interior shots. Still fitting out, but hopefully not that far away from release.

 

[nat67]

Incidentally, the Scotrail team at Wabtec posted photos of sets 4 & 5 side by side, along with some interior shots. Still fitting out, but hopefully not that far away from release.

And by the looks of things in the back ground of that video there is an XC sliding door coach so the next set for XC shouldn't be far off.

 

[jingsmonty]

And by the looks of things in the back ground of that video there is an XC sliding door coach so the next set for XC shouldn't be far off.

We can only hope the pace of work is picking up...

 

[nat67]

We can only hope the pace of work is picking up...

Fingers crossed. Are driving a 'Tram' today?

 

[Alfie1014]

08:51 Aberdeen - Queen St is an
un-refurbed set with 43130 trailing and 09:07 Aberdeen - Edinburgh is a refurbed set with 43176 leading today 22/03/19.

 

[Altnabreac]

I had a trip up from Glasgow to Dundee this week and had a 170 on the way there and a classic HST on the way back.

The HST even in Classic mode certainly felt like a better and more comfortable journey and it seemed to cope with a busy evening service pretty well without getting overly crowded.

The toilet on mine was fairly old but clean and functional.

It generally makes me think if Scotrail can get achieve three things they can make a success of this project yet:

• Get a mix of refurbished and Classics into service such that there aren't any more cancellations / 158s etc
• Get staff trained properly so everyone can drive / guard both the classic and refurb set
• Get a temporary dispensation to use the classics past the deadline

I think if this is achieved then passengers will cope pretty well with the classic HSTs beyond December 2019 so long as there is clear progress happening on continued delivery of the refurbished ones. RMT may not be so happy but there we are.

 

[jingsmonty]

I had a trip up from Glasgow to Dundee this week and had a 170 on the way there and a classic HST on the way back.

The HST even in Classic mode certainly felt like a better and more comfortable journey and it seemed to cope with a busy evening service pretty well without getting overly crowded.

The toilet on mine was fairly old but clean and functional.

It generally makes me think if Scotrail can get achieve three things they can make a success of this project yet:

• Get a mix of refurbished and Classics into service such that there aren't any more cancellations / 158s etc
• Get staff trained properly so everyone can drive / guard both the classic and refurb set
• Get a temporary dispensation to use the classics past the deadline

I think if this is achieved then passengers will cope pretty well with the classic HSTs beyond December 2019 so long as there is clear progress happening on continued delivery of the refurbished ones. RMT may not be so happy but there we are.

A pretty much spot on summarisation of what will, hopefully happen. Set 3 was spotted heading through Perth about 1hr ago - getting all the Inverness traincrew/maintenance staff trained on this will be a big part of this jigsaw

 

[nat67]

Does anyone know which refurb sets are which, coach number and set number?

Thanks,
Nat

 

[Northhighland]

A pretty much spot on summarisation of what will, hopefully happen. Set 3 was spotted heading through Perth about 1hr ago - getting all the Inverness traincrew/maintenance staff trained on this will be a big part of this jigsaw

As an educated gues how long will the remaining training take?

 

[nat67]

As an educated gues how long will the remaining training take?

2 Months?

 

[Northhighland]

2 Months?

So after that all services will be HST in and out of INVERNESS?

 

[nat67]

So after that all services will be HST in and out of INVERNESS?

I would imagine so yes.

 

[SC43090]

Scotrail will be introducing 3 additional classic HST set to help with fleet reliability to provide extra resilience & support training

SC 43090

 

[jingsmonty]

Scotrail will be introducing 3 additional classic HST set to help with fleet reliability to provide extra resilience & support training

SC 43090

I just read that email too! I wonder if this will mean an additional 6 Power Cars on a short term hire from GWR (or the ROSCO they will probably have returned them to), or will they be able to make another 3 sets out of the power car allocations (unrefurbished) we have now? Plenty of spare trailers kicking about, I'm sure.

 

[nat67]

I just read that email too! I wonder if this will mean an additional 6 Power Cars on a short term hire from GWR (or the ROSCO they will probably have returned them to), or will they be able to make another 3 sets out of the power car allocations (unrefurbished) we have now? Plenty of spare trailers kicking about, I'm sure.

I would imagine it will be angel stuff from Ely rather than Long (Rotten) Marston.

 

[Northhighland]

So after that all services will be HST in and out of INVERNESS?

Thanks for that update. Will make a big difference for the summer months. Last summer overcrowding was not good. HST will help massively. Some light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[jingsmonty]

2 Months?

So after that all services will be HST in and out of INVERNESS?

At a guess..,. remember, we'll all have to be signed off on both Classic & refurbished sets. As for all services in/out of Inverness being HST, I think this would mean, in practise, all services supposed to be worked by HSTs will be HST...plenty of South trains booked for 170s & Aberdeens booked for 158s..I can't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[jingsmonty]

Thanks for that update. Will make a big difference for the summer months. Last summer overcrowding was not good. HST will help massively. Some light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, totally agree - I remember how overcrowded some 170s could be on the HML when I was a Conductor..even the bike storage was insufficient! The additional dwell times for Classic HSTs won't be such an issue on these busy trains - although it will still be an issue, unless the timetable alters to make allowances for it.

 

[Steven_G]

3 new classic HST as part of improvements for training.

I am assuming this is temporary.

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/delivering-improvements-customers

 

[najaB]

Set 3 was spotted heading through Perth about 1hr ago

Interesting that they went Doncaster-Dundee/Dundee-Inverness. If they were going up the HML it would've made more sense to overnight at Perth, I would have thought (unless there wasn't a driver available who signs Ladybank-Perth?)

 

[chuff chuff]

Interesting that they went Doncaster-Dundee/Dundee-Inverness. If they were going up the HML it would've made more sense to overnight at Perth, I would have thought (unless there wasn't a driver available who signs Ladybank-Perth?)

More room in Dundee overnight.

 

[jingsmonty]

Interesting that they went Doncaster-Dundee/Dundee-Inverness. If they were going up the HML it would've made more sense to overnight at Perth, I would have thought (unless there wasn't a driver available who signs Ladybank-Perth?)

Perth has very limited space for stabling trains, especially an HST, I think

 

[Altnabreac]

Reading through the improvement plan some other stock news - Fife loco hauled services to continue post May 2019 until more HSTs available.

The contract is now until May 2020 and there is an extension option to December 2020.

 

[najaB]

More room in Dundee overnight.

Perth has very limited space for stabling trains, especially an HST, I think

Makes sense, thanks.

 

[Wst71Pa2]

2 Months?

Dream on! No seriously!