Rail franchise declared not fit for purpose

[kevin37]

I suspect this may be in relation to the potential London workings and therefore not part of a wider refurbishment programme?

Its nothing to do with the london workings. They are fitting new desternation blinds refurbing the fabric inside and a repainting the outside all being done at doncaster

 

[merlodlliw]

in response to Sheffield The bi hourly are 175s to Cardiff.(unless out of stock)


Now,Now civilisation? that will get the Nth West gogs alarmed

As for the filthy 158s, the grime on the outside is not sand,but caked on
mud & filth, some of it days old, how often are they cleaned inside?, I boarded
a 158 this week at Wrexham for Shrewsbury, among the debris inside were
copies of the Birmingham area metro, so this set had not been cleaned inside Brum/HHD/ then HHD/Wrexham/Brum, a disgrace.

]


kevin, as for London workings, any idea where this 158 stock is kept? is it under wraps or just a figment of my imagination, as you seem to be in
the know.[/QUOTE]

 

[kevin37]

]


kevin, as for London workings, any idea where this 158 stock is kept? is it under wraps or just a figment of my imagination, as you seem to be in
the know.

[/QUOTE]

some or most158s are kept cleaned and have minor maintence at machynlleth depot on the cambrain coast as for the rest cardiff canton

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Regarding the one I mentioned previously that broke down, the problem was that the brake was jammed on. How hard to fix is that? Yet that simple problem resulted in my arriving at Swansea 82 minutes late.

Are you a fitter? I'm guessing the answer is no, it could well be quite a difficult fix, for all you know the brakes could be faulty - would you go and drive a car with faulty brakes?? The 175 fleet does seem to suffer brakes sticking on alot, but can you seriously blame ATW for that - that's surely down to alstom to find a cure - the coradia fleets have been plagued with problems since day 1, and tbh ATW have done quite well to bring their reliability up in recent months.
I've seen FGW cancel a service for less... and being in the position I am, not just because I have the pleasure of working for ATW, I'd say FGW suffer more delays along the portsmouth line than ATW does on the marches for example, but seeing as you are the "anti-arriva" I guess you'd conveniently fail to notice this.

ATW are only so high up because of the relative ease of their Valley Line operations. The majority of ATW services are on the Valley Lines; just think about the Bay Bubble! Four minutes for a whole journey, ten times an hour (five each way), for something like 17 hours a day. Well over 1,000 journeys per week. A statistic like this will throw the result in the twerps' favour.

That's all well and good saying that, but internally at ATW PPM figures are published separately for valleys/mainline, and those figures don't agree.

Also, I find it interesting that those who use the Valley Lines regularly are the only ones who seem to be supporting ATW in this thread... I refer back to my "ease of operation" argument.

Wrong again :P I hardly ever use the valley lines, in fact i'd say from experience the valleys suffer a great deal more problems than the mainline side.

I'm not pro arriva because they pay my wages before you mention it, I actually travel more often by FGW.

 

[kevin37]

I like hst fan.lol i work as a fitter for ATW in canton 175s are a pain in the back side ther brakes stick as said in the above post they over heat and catch fire and they have a silly computer are nice to ride on how ever. but if you look at their maintence books first north western had the same problems and it falls to alstom to fix it in chester. i much prefer the 1588xx 1502xx and 1533xx

 

[merlodlliw]

some or most158s are kept cleaned and have minor maintence at machynlleth depot on the cambrain coast as for the rest cardiff canton[/QUOTE]

Thanks for responding Kevin, but I did ask about the two 158s units
supposed to be for the London run,does anyone know where they are
or even if they exist?

 

[kevin37]

They aint yet got any contracts or paths to run to london. ATW whant to run the mid and north wales service which terminate at Brimingham new street or Iternational and run them to london m bone. WSM are dreading it because they will lose pax and revenue and they are strugiling as it is cuting service for example.

 

[Drsatan]

Thanks for responding Kevin, but I did ask about the two 158s units
supposed to be for the London run,does anyone know where they are
or even if they exist?

They'll probably be taken out of ATW's existing fleet of 158s. However, I'm not sure where they will be stabled when in the London area - they might be stabled at Wembley or even Aylesbury.

 

[The Planner]

They aint yet got any contracts or paths to run to london. ATW whant to run the mid and north wales service which terminate at Brimingham new street or Iternational and run them to london m bone. WSM are dreading it because they will lose pax and revenue and they are strugiling as it is cuting service for example.

WSMR will cope just fine. The ORR hasnt said yes yet, though an announcement is fairly imminent apparently. As for the paths, there is room for them.

 

[krus_aragon]

175s are a pain in the back side ... they have a silly computer are nice to ride on how ever.

Hear hear! Who on earth thought that a 100mph DMU would be best running Windows 2000 (embedded)? I currently have the pleasure of riding a northbound 175 with the automatic announcements turned off, with a real human speaking. Much better than a robot mistaking Conwy for Llandudno Junction, or even Cardiff for Port Talbot!

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I like hst fan

nice to know I have a fan wish I was down canton tbh! beats dealing with the arsey public *runs because this isn't railchat* lol

 

[merlodlliw]

They'll probably be taken out of ATW's existing fleet of 158s. However, I'm not sure where they will be stabled when in the London area - they might be stabled at Wembley or even Aylesbury.

having seen atws blurb about the service last year,the leaflets superimposed
photos show total refurbs, I am not aware of these trains being avail to run,
yet atw wanted to start up last dec, if they are to use existing fleet,which
services will loose them as atw have no spares.unless hidden


They would not be stabled in london, as both services start and finish in aber,
that was in the leaflet.

as for kevins outburst that w/s is terrified,one asks of what,as it will be a real
train as opposed to a 6 hour run on a dmu.also atw do not want to run to london from the north,only from aber.

the orr will give a decision soon, having rebuffed atws own in house consultation, we shall see, my bet is no atw london service until 2011/12,by then w/s will have the taken the market.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

gerald mk2 would free up a 175 at a guess? really not sure what plans they have with regards to stock in all honesty, it's gone really quiet!

 

[kevin37]

atw wales are due to start taken 175s out of service 1 by one to sort out the the electrics on the units to stop them from catching fire 175103 has been done after its spell in chester after catching fire. They will start doing this when they find temp replacments

 

[merlodlliw]

gerald mk2 would free up a 175 at a guess? really not sure what plans they have with regards to stock in all honesty, it's gone really quiet!

no chance of a 57, unless wag pays,atw wont.

 

[kevin37]

yea but at moment pax that whant get to london from to aber or aber to london have to change at shrewsbury and if arriva run service through to london they will not have to change which is preferd pax these are not intrested in what ther train is drag by as long as they can sit down and it gets them from A to B with out any problems. So this will be a loss of revenue for WSMR. and im not havin outburst im just ansewring the question.

 

[LMS6202]

He is weak; all he can do is negociate changes and ammendments to the franchise contract, and Arriva can chose to agree or disagree to his proposals. Come 2015-17, when the new franchise is put to tender, then there'll be the opportunity for the Minister to lay down the law.

Lay down the law? That'll be the day you can fly mate. I often wonder but without accusing if those in Parliament with an axe to grind for any given lobby, get backhanders from that lobby? I would not be surprised given the expenses scandal. There are some major issues that the public want implemented and addressed but which NO party will tackle because it would "upset" the guilty party. Such as bank and corporate bonus's etc.

 

[merlodlliw]

yea but at moment pax that whant get to london from to aber or aber to london have to change at shrewsbury and if arriva run service through to london they will not have to change which is preferd pax these are not intrested in what ther train is drag by as long as they can sit down and it gets them from A to B with out any problems. So this will be a loss of revenue for WSMR. and im not havin outburst im just ansewring the question.

OK kevin you have your opinion, which I respect, but as Shrewsbury/Wrexham/ passengers are now used to travel in comfort on W/S, I fail to see ATW with DMUs matching this service, buffet/restaurant v the trolley.

I do appreciate there will be some who travel infrequent, not knowing the difference between comfort or a DMU, but they are learning fast, W/S
88% growth on year in the ressession is a benchmark.

Anyhow, no one as come back to inform where the ATW London stock is
if it exists or where it will be borrowed from.

Kevin get your name down as a travelling fitter, as the ATW bid
states it will have a fitter on board all London trains in case of problems.

Strangely you seem a little like ATW senior Management, whose real
purpose is to take revenue away from W/S and damage it, remember The Minister only asked ATW
to run an hourly service Aber to Shrewsbury, thats all, nothing more,and WAG does not support
the London Bid.

my opinion

 

[kevin37]

Ther is a way ATW can get two units well 3. London midland are due to have ther 172s units this year or next and when they get these units the 150s will be transfered to the FGW. FGW can then give the 3 150s they have of ATW back to them which they can put them on the chelthams spa service freeing up 3 158s for the londons but thats just what i think could happen. I hope im not geting on your nerves just answring the questions

 

[merlodlliw]

I hope im not geting on your nerves just answring the questions[/QUOTE]

No not at all.


m

 

[thefab444]

Bob, FYI, you need to put [ QUOTE ] tags at the start of the quote (without the spaces).

 

[tsubaki]

They aint yet got any contracts or paths to run to london. ATW whant to run the mid and north wales service which terminate at Brimingham new street or Iternational and run them to london m bone. WSM are dreading it because they will lose pax and revenue and they are strugiling as it is cuting service for example.

I would be amazed if anyone would swap cheap tickets, on very comfortable trains, with (usually) helpful staff for a slower (and probably more expensive) trip, on a 158, with Arriva.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I would be amazed if anyone would swap cheap tickets, on very comfortable trains, with (usually) helpful staff for a slower (and probably more expensive) trip, on a 158, with Arriva.

I'm in favour I can get to london for free then (if a little bit of a long winded route)

 

[robert2000]

passengers are opting for other toc's, i.e chester birmingham via virgin and london midland.
and wrexham to birmingham via wsmr and london midland.

 

[tbtc]

W/S 88% growth on year in the ressession is a benchmark

88% growth sounds good, until you consider what the "base" was

 

[merlodlliw]

88% growth sounds good, until you consider what the "base" was

So tell us what the base was, now you mention it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

passengers are opting for other toc's, i.e chester birmingham via virgin and london midland.
and wrexham to birmingham via wsmr and london midland.

do you mean with LM change at Crewe & Salop


M

 

[Pumbaa]

88% growth sounds good, until you consider what the "base" was

Precisely. And there's no way even 50% growth would be able to be maintained in my opinion.

The base market was tiny; many people are now travelling through to London etc because the service didn't exist, and there's only a finite number of passengers that WSMR can poach from other operators on interchangeable routes!

 

[robert2000]

no, i mean chester to crewe via virgin, crewe to bhm via penkridge london midland

 

[tbtc]

So tell us what the base was, now you mention it

There was a very low base to start with, so claiming an 88% increase in a tiny market isn't as significant in an 88% increase in Manchester to London tickets (a mature market)

I'm sure the Airdrie - Bathgate extension in Scotland will mean a massive increase in passengers travelling by train between Airdrie and Bathgate

Being able to maintain and grow a mature market is where things are a lot harder