This is something I can never understand when people cry about getting rid of "old trains" before there are suitable replacements available. And the worst part about it now is that we have seen it in other areas of the country with other TOCs having done it (namely XC and GWR) and yet people still want it happening with TfW and SWR
Plus the lease extension - lots of giveaways
Nope, most of the 455s are planned to be replaced by the end of the year. The lease is simply for contingency. All major issues with the 701/0s have been sorted, from technical problems to driver training.lus the lease extension - lots of giveaways
Indeed, quite right, based on the 701 introduction so far, I wouldn’t say anything with certainty.
I've seen enough new trains arrive to know that it nearly always happens more slowly than planned. Connex famously trotted out two more 375s per week statement multiple times. Didn't make it true though.
OK, let's assume only 20 diagrams by the end of the year then.
Indeed, it’s quite amazing! You really do get pushed back in your seat when you’re riding one.
Its often used to stable trains, mainly 455s have been seen in there.
It has run just once in passenger service since rebranding. After its well-publicised run from Waterloo to Shepperton, it ran ECS to Wimbledon, leaving anyone who had arrived on it to wait 45 minutes for a 2x455 to turn up at 0820 to run the next train out of Shepperton. That's probably why Geoff Marshall noticed so few people stuck with it all the way to Shepperton - most would have bailed before Twickenham, to get an earlier train back.
If that's the case, RTT hasn't caught up as it shows 017 on the service train and 046 on the ECS
If there are more, you will be pleasantly surprised.
GTR managed to add an extra 2x Cl.700 diagrams every fornight for several months at time during the Cl.700 roll out before needing a bit of breather for 2months (usually due to running of accepted fault free units) and then resuming.
May be a bit early to conclude anything yet. If there are no further 701 diagrams in the next couple weeks then I think we can surmise that things perhaps aren't going smoothly.
5Q76 is 69008 plus 701020 today
they’re quite frequent hauling the units out of Bicester recently
...Just in time for it to get stuck at Windsor because Datchet crossing has packed up!
Been long trialed for passenger service alongside its 25 counterpart which is still ongoing. Indeed Dachet level crossing is having issues. Unit 31 has been put out today due to the incident at White Hart Lane involving it.
I'd like to hope it is, otherwise we're going to be looking at a single service every two weeks....
just did a check of other depots diagrams and it is indeed the whole of this one :
Good to hear. 1 diagram every two weeks isn't too bad, although two would have been preferable. Better than none at all..
The current carriage working notices, which reflect all 14 diagrams being introduced, are effective until 18 July. So with 8 diagrams from next week that leaves another 6 to be introduced by then.
