ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

[InvHst]

Oh that's disappointing, thanks for letting me know. I guess it will be a free for all on seats then as I do have a reservation but I understand these are invalid when a 170 is used in place of a HST. Luckily I am travelling through the week as I imagine this could be a nightmare during the weekend.

Only chance you have is if they cancel the 1714 from Inverness to Inverurie so the unit spare can do the run down to Edinburgh and then back up to Inverness and be their like the Inverurie one would be if it ran

 

[BRX]

Oh that's disappointing, thanks for letting me know. I guess it will be a free for all on seats then as I do have a reservation but I understand these are invalid when a 170 is used in place of a HST. Luckily I am travelling through the week as I imagine this could be a nightmare during the weekend.

Remember that if you have a reservation but end up having to stand, you're entitled to compensation.

 

[snookertam]

I couldn't possibly comment....Us staff who work the trains themselves certainly know the difference!

Sorry just to clarify - that was strictly aimed at control staff and certainly wasn't intended as an attack on them. Their opportunities to get out of the office have been known to be limited over the years.

 

[hexagon789]

Are all the delivered refurb sets with 4 carriages or are there any with 5 ?

All 2+4 at present.

 

[hexagon789]

Looks like 3 refurbs were out today?

 

[7522]

Remember that if you have a reservation but end up having to stand, you're entitled to compensation.

Thanks, I will certainly remember that. Hopefully will be ok with my journey being mid week. I will also ensure I arrive early to increase chances of a good seat.

 

[kidman123]

Was talking to a ScotRail in train host today and she was saying that ScotRail /hst are not on the edi to Inverness route refurb or classic and it's going to be 170 for forseable untill training and refurb are done they seem to be prioritising HST classic on Edinburgh Aberdeen services.

 

[InvHst]

Was talking to a ScotRail in train host today and she was saying that ScotRail /hst are not on the edi to Inverness route refurb or classic and it's going to be 170 for forseable untill training and refurb are done they seem to be prioritising HST classic on Edinburgh Aberdeen services.

Very strange move considering how many drivers and guards would be classic HST trained I'm sure inverness depot was actually the first and only depot who had the required number of drivers trained in time for the last timetable........... Pretty ****e excuse covering over that they don't have enough units available

 

[Northhighland]

Very strange move considering how many drivers and guards would be classic HST trained I'm sure inverness depot was actually the first and only depot who had the required number of drivers trained in time for the last timetable........... Pretty ****e excuse covering over that they don't have enough units available

If the staff are there and trained this is a disgrace. Capacity over the summer is desperately needed on the HML. Scotrail will take some negative PR over this for sure. Standing to Perth and beyond is simply unacceptable. Shame because the HST has the ability to attract more travellers back to rail, off the A9.

 

[hooky3]

If the staff are there and trained this is a disgrace. Capacity over the summer is desperately needed on the HML. Scotrail will take some negative PR over this for sure. Standing to Perth and beyond is simply unacceptable. Shame because the HST has the ability to attract more travellers back to rail, off the A9.

Makes it even worse the fact Scotrail took guards and drivers off of services on other routes leading to cancellations in the last few months.

If they are really keen not to have many HSTs on the HML for the foreseeable future then perhaps doubling up 170’s/158’s freed from electrification would address capacity issues?

 

[Carntyne]

There are HSTs running on the HML as we speak.

 

[hexagon789]

Today's refurbished HST workings:

Aberdeen-Edinburgh: 0549, 1312, 2010
Edinburgh-Aberdeen: 0928, 1628
Aberdeen-Glasgow QS: 0735, 1348, 1943
Glasgow QS-Aberdeen: 1040, 1642

 

[John Bishop]

There are HSTs running on the HML as we speak.

I think the point being made, is that there will only be a handful of HSTs on the HML, barely scratching the surface of the services operated daily on the HML.

If the issue is lack of sets, seems crazy, given the number of ‘off lease’ sets sitting idle down in Ely.

 

[Highlandspring]

ScotRail currently have 20 HST sets. As I write this 11 are out on the network and the remaining 9 are out of service on maintenance or training. Of the 11 two sets are on diagrams which incorporate the Highland Main Line, these being HA01 on diagram HA953 (working 1H05 0707 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness) and HA05 on diagram HA944 (working 1T98 0845 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street, then 1H15 1508 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness and 1B44 1842 Inverness- Edinburgh Waverley).

 

[InvHst]

ScotRail currently have 20 HST sets. As I write this 11 are out on the network and the remaining 9 are out of service on maintenance or training. Of the 11 two sets are on diagrams which incorporate the Highland Main Line, these being HA01 on diagram HA953 (working 1H05 0707 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness) and HA05 on diagram HA944 (working 1T98 0845 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street, then 1H15 1508 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness and 1B44 1842 Inverness- Edinburgh Waverley).

9 in for maintenance is pretty awful considering everything and considering the training programme isn't happening at the moment as it was shelved to focus on the new timetable. Or maybe they are focusing on getting the majority of those out of service in a fixable way to then re introduce the diagrams that were lost in this change before summer kicks in fully?

 

[hexagon789]

ScotRail currently have 20 HST sets. As I write this 11 are out on the network and the remaining 9 are out of service on maintenance or training. Of the 11 two sets are on diagrams which incorporate the Highland Main Line, these being HA01 on diagram HA953 (working 1H05 0707 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness) and HA05 on diagram HA944 (working 1T98 0845 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street, then 1H15 1508 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness and 1B44 1842 Inverness- Edinburgh Waverley).

20 sets! That's a good bit more than I thought.

5 Refurbs and 15 Classics?

 

[Northhighland]

9 in for maintenance is pretty awful considering everything and considering the training programme isn't happening at the moment as it was shelved to focus on the new timetable. Or maybe they are focusing on getting the majority of those out of service in a fixable way to then re introduce the diagrams that were lost in this change before summer kicks in fully?

9 does seem a very high percentage. Surely that must be due to training? Having half the fleet out of action seems
to be far too high.

It reeks of a very loosely managed project.

 

[pt_mad]

ScotRail currently have 20 HST sets. As I write this 11 are out on the network and the remaining 9 are out of service on maintenance or training. Of the 11 two sets are on diagrams which incorporate the Highland Main Line, these being HA01 on diagram HA953 (working 1H05 0707 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness) and HA05 on diagram HA944 (working 1T98 0845 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street, then 1H15 1508 Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness and 1B44 1842 Inverness- Edinburgh Waverley).

Of the 11 how many are Inter7city sets? Do they typically just work Aberdeen? What do the remaining classic sets typically work during the week.

If a post could be provided which summarises what most of the active sets work on a typical weekday it may be very useful for a great number of readers?

 

[InvHst]

Of the 11 how many are Inter7city sets? Do they typically just work Aberdeen? What do the remaining classic sets typically work during the week.

If a post could be provided which summarises what most of the active sets work on a typical weekday it may be very useful for a great number of readers?

Varies 2/3 refurbs in service and 8/9 classics but the diagrams are completely impossible as they change daily now the only ones I could guarantee a HST on are the
0707 Glasgow to inverness
1102 Inverness to Inverurie
1714 Inverness to Inverurie
0845 Inverness to Glasgow
1508 Glasgow to inverness
1842 Inverness to Edinburgh

Everything else is very hard to predict

 

[jingsmonty]

Varies 2/3 refurbs in service and 8/9 classics but the diagrams are completely impossible as they change daily now the only ones I could guarantee a HST on are the
0707 Glasgow to inverness
1102 Inverness to Inverurie
1714 Inverness to Inverurie
0845 Inverness to Glasgow
1508 Glasgow to inverness
1842 Inverness to Edinburgh

Everything else is very hard to predict

There are currently 4 Inter7City sets (with a 5th due shortly). As for how many are in service at any one time, I'm honestly not sure.

Hopefully once we get some more Refurbs, they'll start to replace Classic sets

 

[jingsmonty]

Varies 2/3 refurbs in service and 8/9 classics but the diagrams are completely impossible as they change daily now the only ones I could guarantee a HST on are the
0707 Glasgow to inverness
1102 Inverness to Inverurie
1714 Inverness to Inverurie
0845 Inverness to Glasgow
1508 Glasgow to inverness
1842 Inverness to Edinburgh

Everything else is very hard to predict

2035 Inverurie to Inverness as well (return working of the 1714 ex Inverness). I'd think the 1359 Inverurie to Inverness would be as well? Return working of the 1102 & same HST that makes the 1714 out of Inverness?

 

[InOban]

The fifth set was delivered on Monday. Check the posts that day!

 

[jingsmonty]

9 does seem a very high percentage. Surely that must be due to training? Having half the fleet out of action seems
to be far too high.

It reeks of a very loosely managed project.

There's a programme of modifications, to address the main issues that have cropped up (such as the speedos) in service, I wonder if this is partly why?

 

[jingsmonty]

The fifth set was delivered on Monday. Check the posts that day!

Where to? Last I heard was that it's supposed to be in Inverness & I haven't seen it!

 

[jingsmonty]

I think the point being made, is that there will only be a handful of HSTs on the HML, barely scratching the surface of the services operated daily on the HML.

If the issue is lack of sets, seems crazy, given the number of ‘off lease’ sets sitting idle down in Ely.

Yes, I'd agree. But the issue is that these sets are not part of the leasing agreement for Scotrail & there'd be additional costs with adding more sets. Also a lack of stabling points too.

It's a good idea though & well worth thinking about

 

[47271]

I agree that it's frustrating that Scotrail seems to be more interested in using HSTs on little used Inverurie shuttles rather than on packed Highland Main Line services. No doubt they have their reasons.

Sadly there's nothing new about packed 158s and 170s on the HML in the summer months. What is new with the lottery that is HST deployment is the total negligence around seat reservations as they move stock around to meet operational requirements and, I'm afraid, the fact that most conductors have given up explaining what's going on to baffled occasional users forced to stand or break up their family group.

Scotrail really needs to be getting more of a public kicking for this, they don't seem to be doing anything to mitigate the problem and it presents a terrible image of Scotland to foreign tourists.

 

[InvHst]

2035 Inverurie to Inverness as well (return working of the 1714 ex Inverness). I'd think the 1359 Inverurie to Inverness would be as well? Return working of the 1102 & same HST that makes the 1714 out of Inverness?

Yep them as well forgot what time they were out of Inverurie

 

[InvHst]

I agree that it's frustrating that Scotrail seems to be more interested in using HSTs on little used Inverurie shuttles rather than on packed Highland Main Line services. No doubt they have their reasons.

Sadly there's nothing new about packed 158s and 170s on the HML in the summer months. What is new with the lottery that is HST deployment is the total negligence around seat reservations as they move stock around to meet operational requirements and, I'm afraid, the fact that most conductors have given up explaining what's going on to baffled occasional users forced to stand or break up their family group.

Scotrail really needs to be getting more of a public kicking for this, they don't seem to be doing anything to mitigate the problem and it presents a terrible image of Scotland to foreign tourists.

No seat reservations will exist on every Inverness service that was a HST and isn't anymore as the system still believes it should be one and it's not shocking lack of clarity from scotrail and frankly a slap in the face to all hml users

 

[John Bishop]

There’s been no seat reservations out of Inverness for weeks now on all services as the printer is broken!

May be fixed this week, but been out of action for the last several weeks. Not great really.

 

[47271]

There’s been no seat reservations out of Inverness for weeks now on all services as the printer is broken!

May be fixed this week, but been out of action for the last several weeks. Not great really.

That happened a couple of years ago and wasn't sorted for ages then either. They really don't care about reservations do they, it's indicative of their attitude overall to their customers and staff.

A broken printer hadn't occurred to me because every southbound service I've got on in the past two weeks has been running with the wrong train type!