Airdrie-Bathgate service

[MidnightFlyer]

Going back on topic, I shall miss the 334 s on the Hamilton Circle, but longer trains will be much welcomed, albeit 318s.

Are the 334s leaving the Hamilton Loop?

 

[Bittern]

Are the 334s leaving the Hamilton Loop?

All 334s are leaving the Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Cathcart and Argyle Lines.

 

[MadCommuter]

Are the 334s leaving the Hamilton Loop?

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/train-cascade-plan-announced.html

 

[me123]

Aye, you aren't going to see them any more (although you probably will from time to time, in the same way that 318s sometimes find themselves at Airdrie). It's the 320s I'd really be worrying about on the Argyle Line though! (However, the upcoming refurbishment should help matters).

This all said, the longer trains really are needed on the Argyle Line. I've seen some frankly overcrowded services booked to leave Central Low Level at 5pm with only three carriages! It's an extremely busy line, and the extra seats are to be welcomed, regardless of what trains they're in.

 

[route101]

Going back on topic, I shall miss the 334 s on the Hamilton Circle, but longer trains will be much welcomed, albeit 318s.

Id be surprised if you dont see a 334 on the Hamilton Loop. Does that Freight siding north of Hamilton West Stn Get used still?

 

[Bittern]

Id be surprised if you dont see a 334 on the Hamilton Loop. Does that Freight siding north of Hamilton West Stn Get used still?

Seems to have had a revival of sorts lately. Wagons seem to end up there on a seemingly random basis quite often these days. Also, it was Hamilton Shed/TMD, not a freight siding, and it's now well, the part that isn't housing) a wagon repair depot.

I wish I got to witness the old depot. Back in the days of steam it handled the likes of Black 5's and then 1st Gen DMUs and the like.

 

[fgwrich]

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/train-cascade-plan-announced.html

Quick Question here - what will be happening to the 314s?

The other point ill make while im on the subject - Why does Scotrail have to be saying goodbye to the 322s from next march, when they are largely indentical to the 320s bar the extra coach - why not keep them and tranfser the four of them to work in the Strathclyde area - especially with the planned electrification of the Queen Street Low Level - Cumbernauld services in the next decade...Say use them on the slower services between Gourock & Glasgow Central...

Just seems in my opinion an odd idea to be saying goodbye again - ok so there is only 4 of them, but a train is still a train and that could still provide 16 extra coaches...

 

[MadCommuter]

Seems to have had a revival of sorts lately. Wagons seem to end up there on a seemingly random basis quite often these days. Also, it was Hamilton Shed/TMD, not a freight siding, and it's now well, the part that isn't housing) a wagon repair depot.

I wish I got to witness the old depot. Back in the days of steam it handled the likes of Black 5's and then 1st Gen DMUs and the like.

I have twice seen a 66 in there shunting wagons about, but no locos lately. Its clearly used as the rails randomly go from rust to shiny.

Thats interesting about its former use. Any pics knocking about?

 

[jopsuk]

the 322s are geared faster than 320s, amongest other differences. They're better off roaming amongest 321s (hell, they might as well be re-classified as such)- I guess they'll be back to East Anglia? Scotrail is not really short of stock (once the 380s all arrive)- better to rid them of a micro-fleet

 

[Bittern]

I have twice seen a 66 in there shunting wagons about, but no locos lately. Its clearly used as the rails randomly go from rust to shiny.

Thats interesting about its former use. Any pics knocking about?

Pics with a WCRC 37 with wagons going for repairs.

http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/5485/
http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/5481/

For the shed, pictures are extremely rare, but I do have these.

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/7590/hamiltonshed1.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2001/hamiltonshed2.jpg

And found this one on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/3295013640/

Quick Question here - what will be happening to the 314s?

Nothing. The 314s won't be going anywhere.

 

[Nightrider]

Intersting to see how the politicos and the trade view the A2B line.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/airdrieBathgateRB/reports/abr06-01-Vol1-01.htm

 

[rail-britain]

Intersting to see how the politicos and the trade view the A2B line

There is a projected figure of up to 50 passengers per train in the peak hours travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh (such passengers are likely to be meeting or travelling with others en-route, or in error)
Just under 4,000 passengers are expected per day on the route (ie between Airdrie and Bathgate)
The total number of daily passengers is expected to be about 15,000 (including between Bathgate and Edinburgh, Airdrie and Glasgow) [Loadings have been revised since the document below]

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/b...mEvid/abrl-LetterFromMinisterForTransport.pdf

 

[MadCommuter]

Pics with a WCRC 37 with wagons going for repairs.

For the shed, pictures are extremely rare, but I do have these.

And found this one on flickr.

Many thanks. These are superb. Incidentally, when was the pic of the 37 taken. Looks recent?

 

[Bittern]

I have no idea. None of them were taken by me.

 

[ianthescot]

the 322s are geared faster than 320s, amongest other differences. They're better off roaming amongest 321s (hell, they might as well be re-classified as such)- I guess they'll be back to East Anglia? Scotrail is not really short of stock (once the 380s all arrive)- better to rid them of a micro-fleet

And the 322s run with a conductor whilst all Argyle line services are DOO. I may need corrected here but I also believe the leases may be up on the 322 units.

Regarding the 334s I think they may still run some on the Argyle services to allow drivers to keep up their traction knowledge. After all, the SIM that drivers use for their rules are 334s.

 

[rail-britain]

And the 322s run with a conductor whilst all Argyle line services are DOO. I may need corrected here but I also believe the leases may be up on the 322 units.

Regarding the 334s I think they may still run some on the Argyle services to allow drivers to keep up their traction knowledge. After all, the SIM that drivers use for their rules are 334s.

Yes, the once the Class 380s are established in December the Class 322 units will be released just before their lease expires

From December, there will be no Class 334 on the Argyle Line, they will be used exclusively on North Clyde (via Glasgow QS Low Level)

 

[me123]

Am I the only one who thinks that it's all going to be a bit tight? With the 380s having pretty horrific problems (which currently means that they're not even doing any test runs!) and the opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line looking set to happen on time, are there going to be enough 380s in service to allow a full service to operate on the new route? Given that most of the 334s are going to be needed for the new line, and IIRC there needs to be 22 380s in service in the next two months!

 

[MadCommuter]

Agreed. It does all seem quite tight. Down to single unit peak time services I guess if all else fails?

 

[rail-britain]

Am I the only one who thinks that it's all going to be a bit tight?

There are no issues, at the moment
A contigency is in place if NO Class 380 units are available from 12 December
This still sees the Class 334 units transfer

There is also a contigency so that two Class 334s can commence driver training from 18 October

 

[Mex]

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...tage-fears-as-200m-fleet-is-refused-1.1060457

Appears that the 380s are gubbed.

 

[rail-britain]

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...tage-fears-as-200m-fleet-is-refused-1.1060457
Appears that the 380s are gubbed

The Class 380 units have nothing to do with the A2B route

Read between the lines and I really doubt that source (as the media contacts at both ScotRail and Siemens are both women)
I am due a further update from Transport Scotland on Monday, and this will be the final one on what exactly the plan is for November into December

I managed to squeeze out some more relevant information, and it looks like the Edinburgh - Bathgate service will retain the five Class 158s, working alongside the 22 Class 334s from December
Ironically, this will mean "spotrail" livery working along the route!

 

[MadCommuter]

There was a pair of 380s in Central yesterday evening on test. They don't look as bad as the mock up that was displayed a while ago.

 

[Bittern]

Misunderstood. Please ignore.

 

[rail-britain]

I hope you burn.

What is that supposed to mean or refer to?

The article in the Herald refers to the spokesman, yet the spokesperson for FSR is a woman

 

[68000]

The Class 380 units have nothing to do with the A2B route

They allow the cascade unless you are saying ScotRail had always intended to steal 3 car sets from current 6 car formations. Won't be pretty in the rush hour on the existing 334 services then!

 

[Bittern]

Sorry railbritain. Completely misunderstood.

 

[rail-britain]

They allow the cascade unless you are saying ScotRail had always intended to steal 3 car sets from current 6 car formations

They are now separate projects
The intention was A2B to have "new trains"
With all the other projects this changed, giving A2B "newer trains"

FSR are hardly stealing 3 car sets from current 6 car formations
The total number of seats between Airdrie and Glasgow increases by no less than 8%
The total number of seats between Bathgate and Edinburgh increases by no less than 300%
It is not possible to compare between Airdrie and Bathgate

 

[68000]

They are now separate projects
The intention was A2B to have "new trains"
With all the other projects this changed, giving A2B "newer trains"

FSR are hardly stealing 3 car sets from current 6 car formations
The total number of seats between Airdrie and Glasgow increases by no less than 8%
The total number of seats between Bathgate and Edinburgh increases by no less than 300%
It is not possible to compare between Airdrie and Bathgate

They are separate projects but that does not mean one has nothing to do with the other. The A2B project is quite clearly relying on the 380 project delivering to allow the 334 cascade. If it doesn't, it means somebody else will be impacted. If they just provide some 334 units, it means some 6 car diagrams on the current service will be 3 car diagrams as ScotRail use all their non-maintenance units for the peak.

 

[The_Stig]

This winter shall be interesting if it is as cold as last years. The 334 fleet did not cover themselves with glory last year and the 380 fleet is untested.

With units being sent away for upgrades/refreshes as well as the planned maintenance it shall be a headache for control.

 

[iansergeant]

Having travelled regularly from Musselburgh to Edinburgh Park and back, I think it's sad that no through trains from North Berwick are planned to western Edinburgh and beyond avoiding the need to walk across Waverley. Shortage of paths through Waverley can't be an excuse as several trains from North Berwick run as far as the end of the wires at Haymarket.