AGA out of DMUs?

[eastdyke]

I know that AGA run the rural network with very little (or no) DMU availability margin but:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx#

Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time, buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Felixstowe.

Buses will call at all stations on route with the exception of Westerfield. Westerfield passengers are advised to use the help point to arrange alternative road transport.

Passengers may also use First Suffolk local bus services throughout the day.

This is expected to continue until the end of service on Thursday 12 November.

There is a second entry, similar but for Marks Tey - Sudbury.

I was in Ipswich on Monday and noted a 156 on the Felixstowe service (normally a 153)

Seems to be a bad run of luck to be 2 services down. Will it really be solved for Friday?
I need to use the Felixstowe service from Westerfield on Monday

 

[Dave1987]

There are barely enough DMU's to run the full service when they are all in a serviceable condition let alone when you've got a load out with wheel flats.

 

[colchesterken]

Vivarail to the rescue Marks Tey and Felix seem ideal locations for the ex LT stock
Also the locals around Norwich are flat and not too fast, not much main line running

Any news on the test stats yet lots of talk on the other thread no performance data ( that I have seen )

 

[170399]

I live on the Norwich-Cambridge line and for the last couple of weeks we have had 2 services running the line rather than the usual 3.

On a weekday the 05:33 Norwich-Cambridge and the 06:05 Cambridge-Norwich run but lately the 06:33 Norwich-Cambridge doesn't run and the corresponding diagrams after that don't run either.

 

[Bungle965]

I saw that a few days ago the Great Yarmouth services were suffering allot also.
Sam

 

[DasLunatic]

I saw that a few days ago the Great Yarmouth services were suffering allot also.
Sam

Isn't that run with the Class 37 set?

 

[TheEdge]

Isn't that run with the Class 37 set?

Not all services, most are normal DMUs

 

[Bungle965]

Isn't that run with the Class 37 set?

2J67 LWT 0747 - NRW 0831
2P13 GYM 0917 - NRW 0952
2P17 GYM 1117 - NRW 1152
2P21 GYM 1317 - NRW 1352
2J83 LWT 1548 - NRW 1639
2P33 GYM 1817 - NRW 1852
2J91 LWT 1955 - NRW 2045

2P12 NRW 0836 - GYM 0912
2P18 NRW 1036 - GYM 1112
2P20 NRW 1236 - GYM 1312
2J80 NRW 1455 - LWT 1539
2P32 NRW 1736 - GYM 1812
2J88 NRW 1900 - LWT 1950
These are the ones that the 37s run. (Taken from the frequently requested diagrams page)
Sam

 

[Class 170101]

Its square wheel season.

As for Westerfield its been served by the Ipswich to Lowestoft trains making an additional stop there.

 

[eastdyke]

Its square wheel season.

As for Westerfield its been served by the Ipswich to Lowestoft trains making an additional stop there.

Yes indeed. I did my Westerfileld-Ipswich journey yesterday on a service from Lowestoft, albeit late into Ipswich behind a 'slow running freight train'.

Back to Norwich on a late running service from LST ('delayed by animals on the line') and then delayed further at Diss due to the preceeding service having failed and transferring all PAX to the late running service.

PAX to Sheringham then bussed as train not held at Norwich (I understand why).

All in all rather a palaver.

Back to the purpose of the thread - square wheel season for rural AGA has been shocking. Bonus points must be given to any bid for the new EA franchise that comes up with a more cunning plan.

 

[The Ham]

Yes indeed. I did my Westerfileld-Ipswich journey yesterday on a service from Lowestoft, albeit late into Ipswich behind a 'slow running freight train'.

Back to Norwich on a late running service from LST ('delayed by animals on the line') and then delayed further at Diss due to the preceeding service having failed and transferring all PAX to the late running service.

PAX to Sheringham then bussed as train not held at Norwich (I understand why).

All in all rather a palaver.

Back to the purpose of the thread - square wheel season for rural AGA has been shocking. Bonus points must be given to any bid for the new EA franchise that comes up with a more cunning plan.

Maybe they just need to talk to:

British cycle supremo Dave Brailsford who told a French newspaper that GB had “specially round wheels”

Story

If they can do it for cycles then they could do it for trains!

 

[CockneySparrow]

Its square wheel season.

As for Westerfield its been served by the Ipswich to Lowestoft trains making an additional stop there.

Do they not stop there anyway

 

[colchesterken]

I think the regulator should force AGA to run trains, I do not travel on Marks Tey-Sudbury but local radio said it takes extra 40 mins by bus.and it been a week now
There must be charter stock they could hire, is the spare 37 set at Norwich running full time
It seems to me they have taken the easy way out hire a bus, cheaper than getting some stock from somewhere

 

[TheEdge]

Do they not stop there anyway

No. Since the East Suffolk Line went to an hourly service Westerfield was taken out of most services.

 

[DasLunatic]

(This is probably going to sound really daft... but I don't care)
The EARM has a Class 306 EMU on display. Could a loco (or locos) be attached to it so some service can be restored to it?

 

[yorksrob]

I think the regulator should force AGA to run trains, I do not travel on Marks Tey-Sudbury but local radio said it takes extra 40 mins by bus.and it been a week now
There must be charter stock they could hire, is the spare 37 set at Norwich running full time
It seems to me they have taken the easy way out hire a bus, cheaper than getting some stock from somewhere

Given that the line's self contained, it's a pity they can't hire in a preserved DMU. There are enough preserved railways around East Anglia.

 

[DasLunatic]

Given that the line's self contained, it's a pity they can't hire in a preserved DMU. There are enough preserved railways around East Anglia.

Shh... you'd unleash the railfans

 

[Whistler40145]

It's a pity AGA can't hire in the Hastings Unit or have another loco hauled set.

 

[yorksrob]

Shh... you'd unleash the railfans

Bit of extra revenue perhaps

 

[theblackwatch]

There are six units currently out of traffic.

 

[chubs]

Are we expecting a small DMU order in the next franchise? They've had to make do with not enough units for too long now, and although the enthusiasts would love it to be the hauled set isn't a long term solution really.

 

[DasLunatic]

How about this to sort things out?

Felixstowe-IPS
Stock - 3x spare MkIII 2nd class coaches
T and T'd by Hunslet steam loco and Class 31 (both from the Colne Valley Rly)

Gainsborough Line
Stock - Class 306 EMU (dead in tow) (EARM)
Hauled by 25057 (North Norfolk Railway) and D5631 (NNR)
Only one required if a driving position on the 306 works

or

Class 141 DMU (CVR)

Other services

Class 121 DMU (CVR)
2x Class 101 DMUs (NNR)

4CIG + loco (EOR)

Anything else usable on the mainline?

 

[Whistler40145]

Don't forget, some of your locos/DMUs would require certifying to mainline standards, would this be financially viable?

 

[Dave1987]

I think the regulator should force AGA to run trains, I do not travel on Marks Tey-Sudbury but local radio said it takes extra 40 mins by bus.and it been a week now
There must be charter stock they could hire, is the spare 37 set at Norwich running full time
It seems to me they have taken the easy way out hire a bus, cheaper than getting some stock from somewhere

Two points, drivers + guards don't sign that stock and they are only 2 car platforms that couldn't fit anymore than 156/153 in them.

 

[colchesterken]

If you did that all the railfans would mean they could not cope with the traffic
I like the idea of my favourite cl 306 loco hauled how about the saddle tank from the EARM.. they could get a one engine in steam derogation
I just think AGA are cutting corners look at the way they sent back the 317 s when they took over from NXEA
As other people have said there is main line certified stock eg charter coaches and cl 47s
if there was a problem with the route the regular drivers could act as pilots
would cost a bit more but that should be what running a service is all about
What would happen in Holland would they get away with it there

 

[Whistler40145]

I'm going to be rather sarcastic now, you could have our wonderful Pacers from the Northwest, get them passed, only two car sets!

 

[306024]

I think we have entered fantasy land even quicker than expected.

Last time a 121 worked on the branch it took weeks of safety certification and crew training. And when it did run it was about as reliable as the current DMU fleet.

Just hope a unit is available in time for Chappel Beer Festival. (It is next September :roll: )

 

[yorksrob]

Last time a 121 worked on the branch it took weeks of safety certification and crew training. And when it did run it was about as reliable as the current DMU fleet.

Oh, so it's safety certified and there are staff trained on it then

 

[Alfie1014]

Except that's not the Regulators role, the remit of the ORR is economic, competition and safety matters. It has no contractural relationship with operators, that resides with the DfT who require the delivery of train services through the Franchise Agreement. I can't believe that DfT haven't been involved and given reluctant consent to AGAs actions, what other options are there? They could as a last resort terminate the franchise based update n the high level of cancellations but with it being renewed in 11 months what would that achieve? That said none of this can be helping AGAs or Abellio's reputation which is unlikely to enhance its standing in respect of re-bidding.

All operators of DMUs have their own issues with keeping their trains in service at the moment and as for the suggestion that additional loco hauled sets can be rustled up at short notice, well where are these mythical trains? Yes there are some coaches around the network that are in very poor condition, which would almost certainly require an overhaul as a minimum to be made fit for service. Which would take weeks if not months, then there are the appropriate locos to be found and crews trained, timetables to be rewritten and by the time you done that leaf fall season will be over.

What is more important is why exactly this year has been so bad and how bidders for the new franchise would manage things going forward. Though none of that helps passengers severely disadvantaged in the short term, that said I wouldn't be surprised if some sort one off passenger compensation for those affected isn't decided on.

 

[306024]

Oh, so it's safety certified and there are staff trained on it then

That was about 15 years ago, when Anglia Railways terminated the hire contract and First Great Eastern had to scramble around for something.