Changes which may occur when GWR 'Castle' HSTs are withdrawn

[YorkshireBear]

If this is the case, then you could make an argument it is sensible. They will be missed by many on here yes but this could be a good use of resources and the HSTs were not exactly in it for the long haul were they.

I imagine the challenge will be getting the avaliability out of the 80Xs as I'm not sure they've ever quite achieved what they were contractually obliged to, especially after the cracks were found.

Lots of rich Londoners have second homes in Cornwall so I don't imagine it's top of the list for rail cuts.

 

[317 forever]

There will be the TFW class 158s becoming available in the next year or so. I'm aware that the official line is that they are not going to GWR. But they are homeless, and having them either sat in storage or sent to scrap won't be a good look politically if Cornwall is struggling. Last time this happened photos of those 158s stored at Eastleigh make it in to the mainstream press and soon enough they were back in service.

There would also be 175s from TfW before long. Admittedly 158s would be more sensible in that GWR already have a sizeable batch. It just means that if 158s rather than 175s are sent there, it would mean more trains needing replacement in the next 5-10 years.

 

[RPI]

A subtle way to help short term would be to reform some 150's into three cars, it would be better overall to have a higher chance of 3 car 150's/166 on the Devon metro, than the inevitable daily short forming of 2 v 4, usually due to a turbo failing.

There are trains that would be rammed with a 3 car 150 but overall it would probably be better than what we currently have.

I did hear that the IET'S on the Cardiff-Penzance diagrams would have catering, I'm not sure how much truth is in this, but that would be a huge improvement as there are a significant amount of long distance travellers on these services, often changing at Newport for destinations in the North West, mainly due to much cheaper fares available via Hereford.

 

[MattRat]

Call me crazy, but whatever replaces the Castle sets, the Castle sets themselves shouldn't be scrapped. They should be sent to Scotland as spares donors/to have more backups. That should both help improve availability and providing enough contingency so that HSTs always run of Inter7city services.

Obviously the best solution is to replace the HSTs in Scotland with something else, but I don't see that happening any time soon due to 'budget constraints'.

 

[irish_rail]

A subtle way to help short term would be to reform some 150's into three cars, it would be better overall to have a higher chance of 3 car 150's/166 on the Devon metro, than the inevitable daily short forming of 2 v 4, usually due to a turbo failing.

There are trains that would be rammed with a 3 car 150 but overall it would probably be better than what we currently have.

I did hear that the IET'S on the Cardiff-Penzance diagrams would have catering, I'm not sure how much truth is in this, but that would be a huge improvement as there are a significant amount of long distance travellers on these services, often changing at Newport for destinations in the North West, mainly due to much cheaper fares available via Hereford.

I cant recall seeing a single single 150 on Devon metro in past month (anecdotally apeaking). 3 car sets would lessen the pool of 2 car sets which would risk cancellation on Cornish branch trains, plus 3 coaches is less than 4, so all in all I don't think we should give the "department" ideas.

 

[RPI]

I cant recall seeing a single single 150 on Devon metro in past month (anecdotally apeaking). 3 car sets would lessen the pool of 2 car sets which would risk cancellation on Cornish branch trains, plus 3 coaches is less than 4, so all in all I don't think we should give the "department" ideas.

You can't have been on the Devon Metro much then! I literally work the Metro every working day, there was one day last week where everything was correctly formed (though a 3 car 158 vice 166) and by the evening peak there were 2 2 car 150's out, one of which ended up of the 17:16 Exeter- Exmouth, there is hardly a day goes by when there isn't at least one 2 car 150 out.

Going back through last weeks allocations, it was only Thursday where there actually wasn't any 2 cars about, all other days there were at least two 2 car sets out. There was also a 2 car 158 on one of the Barnstaple turns on more than one day too.

 

[Chester1]

Reported from reputable sources elsewhere that there will be no cuts to current Devon / Cornwall timetable. IET 5-car diagrams reduced by 9 over 2019 plans (6 Bristol fasts and 3 Bedwyn) will all go to Cardiff - Taunton - Penzance.

I am looking forward to suggestions for future use of the castle sets.... Personally I think tin cans or razor blades....

 

[irish_rail]

You can't have been on the Devon Metro much then! I literally work the Metro every working day, there was one day last week where everything was correctly formed (though a 3 car 158 vice 166) and by the evening peak there were 2 2 car 150's out, one of which ended up of the 17:16 Exeter- Exmouth, there is hardly a day goes by when there isn't at least one 2 car 150 out.

Going back through last weeks allocations, it was only Thursday where there actually wasn't any 2 cars about, all other days there were at least two 2 car sets out. There was also a 2 car 158 on one of the Barnstaple turns on more than one day too.

I'm guessing this is leaf fall related then (perhaps the square wheels are catching up with the units now). Should ease in a week or two .

 

[Annetts key]

Not sure which is the best topic for this, here or over at GwR HSTs to be stood down

Are any more 165/166 Turbos going to become available to replace some of the paths currently operated by the Castle class 2+4 HST sets?

If yes, do we have any ideas on which services will be 5 car 80X and which will be Turbos?

 

[JonathanH]

Are any more 165/166 Turbos going to become available to replace some of the paths currently operated by the Castle class 2+4 HST sets?

Turbos can't go west of Plymouth.

I'm sure the other threads have indicated that basically all Castle set replacement is by 80x units, with the number increasing as staff training is completed. See below.

Yes there are enough 80x spare, these have been released from the withdrawal of Bedwyn services (3 sets), Bristol super-fast services (7 sets) and South Wales peak super fasts (2 sets) which frees up the 12 x 5car 80x needed to replace the Castle HSTs.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

If yes, do we have any ideas on which services will be 5 car 80X and which will be Turbos?

All will be replaced by 80x

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2022 ==

I'm sure the other threads have indicated that basically all Castle set replacement is by 80x units, with the number increasing as staff training is completed. See below.

Spot on!