East-West Rail (EWR) countdown to entry into service

[12LDA28C]

Given that no 196s have moved yet, and 165s are doing the current test runs, is it safe to say that the WTT test paths that start in a few weeks will be run by 165s as well for the time being?

The paths start in a few weeks but that doesn’t mean all or even any of them will be used initially. No Chiltern staff have been trained on 196s yet.

 

[zwk500]

The paths start in a few weeks but that doesn’t mean all or even any of them will be used initially. No Chiltern staff have been trained on 196s yet.

Do you know what stage the testing/training is currently in? Trains are running over the Bicester-Bletchley section today. e.g: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S89273/2024-12-05/detailed

 

[12LDA28C]

Do you know what stage the testing/training is currently in? Trains are running over the Bicester-Bletchley section today. e.g: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S89273/2024-12-05/detailed

I don’t believe any more testing is needed so assume this is driver training. I shall find out more next week.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I don’t believe any more testing is needed so assume this is driver training. I shall find out more next week.

I'm of the same view, I've edited post #148 accordingly.

 

[FlyingPotato]

East west rail posted a sped up video cab view video of a test train on EWR. I haven't seen it on other threads so will be posting here.
This is also my first time sharing a link to a video so if there is anything else I need to add for accessibility let me know

Video is East West Rail - Oxford to Milton Keynes in 1 minute

 

[swt_passenger]

East west rail posted a sped up video cab view video of a test train on EWR. I haven't seen it on other threads so will be posting here.
This is also my first time sharing a link to a video so if there is anything else I need to add for accessibility let me know

That will be fine, I’m sure. I’ve posted quite a few links to videos found on YouTube, and as long as you write a sentence or two explaining that it’s a video about ‘whatever subject’, (noting that your broad subject area is usually already covered by the thread you’re in), and possibly adding a name or organisation who made or uploaded it, you‘ll be ok.

 

[duffield]

East west rail posted a sped up video cab view video of a test train on EWR. I haven't seen it on other threads so will be posting here.
This is also my first time sharing a link to a video so if there is anything else I need to add for accessibility let me know

Video is East West Rail - Oxford to Milton Keynes in 1 minute

Thanks for that.

Just for the benefit of anyone who is not familiar with the facility and want to watch at a more leisurely pace (so you can actually observe some details), the gear icon allows you select different video speeds (e.g. I watched at 0.25 speed to make it a 4 minute journey).

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

East west rail posted a sped up video cab view video of a test train on EWR. I haven't seen it on other threads so will be posting here.
This is also my first time sharing a link to a video so if there is anything else I need to add for accessibility let me know

Video is East West Rail - Oxford to Milton Keynes in 1 minute

Nice to a railway where teh vegetation is well clear of the infrastructure

 

[12LDA28C]

Nice to a railway where teh vegetation is well clear of the infrastructure

You’d hope so as it’s effectively a brand new railway. Rather different to a decade ago when not only was the vegetation encroaching from both sides but trees were actually growing in the four foot.

 

[Sun Chariot]

This week's paths: today's were cancelled due to "a signalling problem with the ETCS/ERTMS equipment (TS)" according to data fed to RTT.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A question to the wise: the "5Fxx" EWR driver training turns, which have been running these past few weeks. I know the paths appear in future weeks' data - e.g. as on RTT - but do you know which future weeks the driving training runs are actually  scheduled?

Context:
I did "good son" bi-annual trip, to my elderly parents who live near the route. I took the opportunity to photograph one of the driver training turns, passing the "wide" alignment under the bridge at Whaddon.
Today's weather deteriorated rapidly, so my shots of 165012 are dull and lacking depth of field. I'll try again in early 2025.

 

[DavidGrain]

A question to the wise: the "5Fxx" EWR driver training turns, which have been running these past few weeks. I know the paths appear in future weeks' data - e.g. as on RTT - but do you know which future weeks the driving training runs are actually  scheduled?

Context:
I did "good son" bi-annual trip, to my elderly parents who live near the route. I took the opportunity to photograph one of the driver training turns, passing the "wide" alignment under the bridge at Whaddon.
Today's weather deteriorated rapidly, so my shots of 165012 are dull and lacking depth of field. I'll try again in early 2025.

My guess, and I have been criticised on here before for making assumptions, is that these runs are either the driver trainers doing their own route learning or they are existing Chiltern Drivers who will either transfer to this route or be reserve drivers who can come over to fill in. My reason for saying this is that the newly recruited drivers will have needed to do traction learning on the class 165 when, as we are aware, they will actually be driving class 196 trains so will have to retrain.

 

[12LDA28C]

A question to the wise: the "5Fxx" EWR driver training turns, which have been running these past few weeks. I know the paths appear in future weeks' data - e.g. as on RTT - but do you know which future weeks the driving training runs are actually  scheduled?

Context:
I did "good son" bi-annual trip, to my elderly parents who live near the route. I took the opportunity to photograph one of the driver training turns, passing the "wide" alignment under the bridge at Whaddon.
Today's weather deteriorated rapidly, so my shots of 165012 are dull and lacking depth of field. I'll try again in early 2025.

It will depend entirely on availability of drivers and instructors. If one or the other are not available, the trains won’t run.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Dec 2024 ==

My guess, and I have been criticised on here before for making assumptions, is that these runs are either the driver trainers doing their own route learning or they are existing Chiltern Drivers who will either transfer to this route or be reserve drivers who can come over to fill in. My reason for saying this is that the newly recruited drivers will have needed to do traction learning on the class 165 when, as we are aware, they will actually be driving class 196 trains so will have to retrain.

There won’t be any ‘reserve drivers’ coming over to fill in. Only Bletchley drivers will sign EWR and that currently includes a few drivers from other depots who are transferring to Bletchley in the near future.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Many thanks @12LDA28C and @DavidGrain - so, in reality, we won't know which of the booked paths will actually get used, until the beginning of each week.
That's a shame, as it's a 6 hours round trip for me. I'll keep an eye on things during Feb and March, so I can fathom a viable date to return there.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

On the train from Oxford to Bicester Village yesterday, I noticed a DMU of some sort sitting in the (westmost) entrance to Bicester MOD - is this a Chiltern unit on EWR test runs?

 

[fishwomp]

On the train from Oxford to Bicester Village yesterday, I noticed a DMU of some sort sitting in the (westmost) entrance to Bicester MOD - is this a Chiltern unit on EWR test runs?

There were 3 diagrams of EWR runs yesterday ( https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se.../0000-2359?stp=S&show=non-passenger&order=wtt )

None hung around long enough to have been the one you saw, I think

Bicester COD is where a ton of SWR EMUs are stored awaiting entry to service. Dark blue livery. Is it possible one has been dragged to the entrance to get picked up, now they are entering service?

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Bicester COD is where a ton of SWR EMUs are stored awaiting entry to service. Dark blue livery. Is it possible one has been dragged to the entrance to get picked up, now they are entering service?

That’s very possible. I didn’t get a proper look at it but SWR livery seems plausible. Thank you.

 

[12LDA28C]

On the train from Oxford to Bicester Village yesterday, I noticed a DMU of some sort sitting in the (westmost) entrance to Bicester MOD - is this a Chiltern unit on EWR test runs?

Bear in mind that none of these trains are 'test runs' any more - the route is complete and open for traffic. The Chiltern ECS moves over EWR are now for the purposes of driver training / route learning.

 

[RailWonderer]

I passed another 165 (5F92) yesterday. Are there no 196s available to train on?

 

[vuzzeho]

I passed another 165 (5F92) yesterday. Are there no 196s available to train on?

Does Chiltern have them yet? I thought Chiltern was still waiting on them from WMT. I haven't seen any at Bletchley, which is where I thought they were to be maintained.

 

[CR165022]

Does Chiltern have them yet? I thought Chiltern was still waiting on them from WMT. I haven't seen any at Bletchley, which is where I thought they were to be maintained.

There are a few at Long Marston, waiting to be transferred, the others are still with WMT iirc.

 

[12LDA28C]

I passed another 165 (5F92) yesterday. Are there no 196s available to train on?

Nobody at Chiltern signs 196s yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2025 ==

Does Chiltern have them yet? I thought Chiltern was still waiting on them from WMT. I haven't seen any at Bletchley, which is where I thought they were to be maintained.

The 6 units are now on sub-lease to Chiltern, but have not moved south yet.

 

[DarloRich]

Does Chiltern have them yet? I thought Chiltern was still waiting on them from WMT. I haven't seen any at Bletchley,

depot alteration/construction work is still on going at Bletchley

 

[RGM654]

Not sure whether I should be asking on this thread but I haven't found a better one: is there a date for passenger services starting?

 

[The Planner]

Not sure whether I should be asking on this thread but I haven't found a better one: is there a date for passenger services starting?

"Summer"

 

[Nicholas43]

"Summer"

Er, any idea which year?

 

[The Planner]

Er, any idea which year?

This year. Why wouldn't it be?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Test runs. Are the 196/0s being used yet for test runs or perhaps even got as far as for driver training ?.

 

[12LDA28C]

Test runs. Are the 196/0s being used yet for test runs or perhaps even got as far as for driver training ?.

No, and as stated upthread they are not 'test runs', they are driver route learning trains. Driver training on 196s commenced last week at Tyseley but it will be several weeks before 196s are used for driver training on EWR.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2025 ==

Er, any idea which year?

Rather depends on when (if) the contract gets signed I imagine.

 

[Peter Sarf]

No, and as stated upthread they are not 'test runs', they are driver route learning trains. Driver training on 196s commenced last week at Tyseley but it will be several weeks before 196s are used for driver training on EWR.

...........................................

As I thought. Testing of the route is over and done with.

Is it worth changing the thread title to reflect imminent (fingers crossed) driver training ?.