ANOTHER 175 Fire at Wilmslow? (01-03-2023)

[twpsaesneg]

Avanti trains being sent via Styal due to a "Fire on a train at Wilmslow", the 0650 TfW Crewe-Manchester 1W10 showing in P3 Wilmslow as I write this at 0810 and 4Q01 held on the approach since 0700.

Has another one self-immolated?

 

[Watershed]

They're certainly going out with a bang, and not a whimper!

 

[Zontar]

Some serious questions to be asked. This is the third fire in the last month. Two of which have been in the same location within the last week.

 

[PF19]

Not sure how serious, last I've seen was "Reports of smoke" ... Which could be anything really?
Not good though, I'll be avoiding the 175s for a while

 

[pokemonsuper9]

https://twitter.com/CDMAnthony/status/1630829857880907777

A 175 gone up in smoke at Wilmslow and a 323 gone pop at Ashburys to kick off our day in Manchester...

Another 175?

175007

According to them it's 175007

 

[Falcon1200]

0650 TfW Crewe-Manchester 1W10 showing in P3 Wilmslow

1W10 is indeed a 175, 007. Not good.

 

[185143]

Definitely 175007, I've just passed it.

Was slightly amusing having a burnt hippo to the left, then shortly after departing having another one to the right!

Don't think it's as bad as the last two, there was no visible smoke damage from the Avanti train I'm on-and it was a full Block to Electric Traction last week.

 

[Purple Train]

Are there any Class 175s still extant that have never caught fire? I'm rapidly losing count.

 

[185]

Running out of places to leave them at Wilmslow, what with the other bakery item still parked in the down siding.

One point to note, I think the only place on the whole TfW route that trains will probably touch 100mph for a sustained time is Sandbach to Wilmslow, it is there the engine could be said to get the hottest. Alstom need to be cleaning the leaves, debris et al out of that cage underneath or this will keep happening.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

I wonder at what point they have to admit defeat with trying to run the full service and just run Crewe - Cardiff / West Wales in order to try to preserve diagrams? And possibly even run an emergency timetable in other places to free stuff up?

 

[SouthEastBuses]

I wonder at what point they have to admit defeat with trying to run the full service and just run Crewe - Cardiff / West Wales in order to try to preserve diagrams? And possibly even run an emergency timetable in other places to free stuff up?

Whilst I can understand what you're saying, the only problem I can see with this is what would happen to the current cheap LNWR/WMR/TfW only tickets from London to Manchester? Would they be forced to pay more in order to be able to get Avanti or Northern?

 

[Topological]

Please do not give them ideas...

In a joined up world GWR could extend the Cardiff terminators to Swansea using some of their spare 80x and then use a 15 minute turn around at Swansea instead of the 1 an hour which does come to Swansea sitting in the platform almost 50 minutes.

Just to have ticket acceptance in place would be nice if trains are going to be put onto reduced routes like Cardiff to Crewe (and of course to still sell the advances which would be available in normal times)

The Marches is definitely going to get worse before it gets better isn't it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2023 ==

Whilst I can understand what you're saying, the only problem I can see with this is what would happen to the current cheap LNWR/WMR/TfW only tickets from London to Manchester? Would they be forced to pay more in order to be able to get Avanti or Northern?

No offence to such tickets, but they flood the TFW between Manchester and Crewe which does not have enough space most of the time. The last two 175s to be on fire have been the /1s as well.

 

[Liam L]

https://twitter.com/nb_Snowgoose/status/1630895208966619136?t=uCZkzbNqH_QRxB_ODSg73Q&s=19

175007 seen on the move after this morning incident

 

[SouthEastBuses]

No offence to such tickets, but they flood the TFW between Manchester and Crewe which does not have enough space most of the time. The last two 175s to be on fire have been the /1s as well.

Are /1 the 3 carriage versions, right?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Are /1 the 3 carriage versions, right?

Yep.

 

[D6130]

The last two 175s to be on fire have been the /1s as well.

Two of the three most recent fires have been on two car units (175/0). Only the first Wilmslow fire was on a three car (175/1) unit.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Yep.

Cool, and I'm assuming the 2 carriage versions would be the /0 ones

 

[Snow1964]

Are the fires all in same part of the train, if so, and they are happening on faster sections, could it be something stupid like unremoved dry leaves or poorly placed winter cooling vent covers that are causing excess heat and fires.

In some ways sounds wrong to ask above, because almost feels if it is asking if shoddy maintenance is the cause.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Cool, and I'm assuming the 2 carriage versions would be the /0 ones

Yes, that’s right.

 

[62484GlenLyon]

How long before the ORR get seriously involved? Also, how long before the unions refuse to crew them?

 

[TomG]

How long before the ORR get seriously involved? Also, how long before the unions refuse to crew them?

I imagine the ORR/RAIB is looking into it. Thing is we don't have the answer to the question 'Why did the units catch fire?'

 

[SuperLuke2334]

I imagine the ORR/RAIB is looking into it. Thing is we don't have the answer to the question 'Why did the units catch fire?'

First one was a hydraulic leak. Other two I don't know.

 

[185143]

First one was a hydraulic leak. Other two I don't know.

The fact that the second two have happened in the same location, in the same direction rings alarm bells for me given as @185 alluded to, the units have spent a relatively long time running at higher than average speeds.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

The fact that the second two have happened in the same location, in the same direction rings alarm bells for me given as @185 alluded to, the units have spent a relatively long time running at higher than average speeds.

How long have 175s been running along that route though making that trip with fault free running? Two incidents at the same location may well be completely unconnected.

 

[185143]

How long have 175s been running along that route though making that trip with fault free running? Two incidents at the same location may well be completely unconnected.

True. And I do suspect it is a genuine coincidence.

But as others have said, they've relatively recently stopped being maintained at Chester who would have had vast experience with the units. It'd be far from the first time units have been transferred elsewhere and reliability has plummeted.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Some of the fires in the class's early days were attributed to poor maintenance of the hydrodynamic braking system with the clearing of accumulated debris being a factor. Their sister 180s were even worse. In fact I believe the concerns about the risks involved is why they were soon removed from their regular workings over the South Devon banks and through the Severn Tunnel. It may well have also been why Northern didn't use them on Huddersfield-Man Vic stoppers where their SDO would have been very useful but Standedge Tunnel was a red flag. In the event of course the hydrodynamic brake was isolated leading to brake shoes having to be replaced every 2-3 days. Either way the Coradia types have been problematic throughout their careers and I suspect TfW's will not find further use after replacement despite having such decent interiors.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

True. And I do suspect it is a genuine coincidence.

But as others have said, they've relatively recently stopped being maintained at Chester who would have had vast experience with the units. It'd be far from the first time units have been transferred elsewhere and reliability has plummeted.

That's not strictly correct, maintenance has just reduced more as an increase in 197s are out in traffic / testing. I think it was said only 1 road is used for 175s now.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

All 175s going out of service tonight for full checks. Could be a couple of weeks before everything is finished.

So, emergency timetable, desperate use of 150s / 153s, whatever can be achieved really.

 

[Deepgreen]

Cool, and I'm assuming the 2 carriage versions would be the /0 ones

Not very.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2023 ==

Please do not give them ideas...

In a joined up world GWR could extend the Cardiff terminators to Swansea using some of their spare 80x and then use a 15 minute turn around at Swansea instead of the 1 an hour which does come to Swansea sitting in the platform almost 50 minutes.

Just to have ticket acceptance in place would be nice if trains are going to be put onto reduced routes like Cardiff to Crewe (and of course to still sell the advances which would be available in normal times)

The Marches is definitely going to get worse before it gets better isn't it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2023 ==


No offence to such tickets, but they flood the TFW between Manchester and Crewe which does not have enough space most of the time. The last two 175s to be on fire have been the /1s as well.

Judging by my visit to Ludlow recently, with 67s failing and now 175s, it is dire. Would not pre-delivery testing include sustained full speed running?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2023 ==

All 175s going out of service tonight for full checks. Could be a couple of weeks before everything is finished.

So, emergency timetable, desperate use of 150s / 153s, whatever can be achieved really.

That's already the case! Better get those GWR 769s over there asap! Is there ANY rolling stock on today's railway that can be relied upon??

 

[43055]

All 175s going out of service tonight for full checks. Could be a couple of weeks before everything is finished.

So, emergency timetable, desperate use of 150s / 153s, whatever can be achieved really.

About 40 Cancelations and 40 Part Cancellations showing on TfW journey check for tomorrow.
From what I can make out:
Treherbert - Cardiff reduced to hourly
Fishguard and Milford Haven to Carmarthen cancelled
Shrewsbury - Birmingham will start/finish Wolverhampton
Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth some services cancelled