Chiltern Overcrowding

[ainsworth74]

Yes it is.

I could be wrong but my recollection is that the DfT were not best pleased at that outcome (the TPE 170s to Chiltern) and have since set out to ensure that their finger is on the scales when it comes to things like that.

The DfT like to talk about a "free market" for rolling stock and how it's up to the TOCs and ROSCOs to sort things out amongst themselves. Right up until they do something that the DfT doesn't like...

 

[3141]

That's my recollection too. The lease of the 170s to TPE was due to end when the TPE franchise was due to end. Chiltern wanted additional trains for their Oxford service. The DfT decided to extend the TPE franchise for a year. The ROSCO wasn't keen to leave the 170s with TPE for just one year, with no certainty about what could be done with them afterwards, when they had the opportunity to lease them to Chiltern to 2021.

 

[BucksBones]

And no wonder they are treading water with just two years left of the franchise

Chiltern are in the twilight of their franchise

The fact that's its considered acceptable* for a TOC to lose its mojo 2 years before the end of the franchise is heartily depressing and encapsulates what's wrong with the franchising system. I know Chiltern have been there forever but for a more conventional franchise 2 years would be a large percentage.

Anyway they've been poor longer than that. I moved nearer the WCML (oh the irony...) to avoid the Aylesbury line some years ago because I was so tired of being a sardine at off-peak times.


*I realise BTW that neither of you said that you find it acceptable, just a reality which of course I agree that it is.

 

[Master29]

I could be wrong but my recollection is that the DfT were not best pleased at that outcome (the TPE 170s to Chiltern) and have since set out to ensure that their finger is on the scales when it comes to things like that.

The DfT like to talk about a "free market" for rolling stock and how it's up to the TOCs and ROSCOs to sort things out amongst themselves. Right up until they do something that the DfT doesn't like...

GWR`s 800's spring to mind here.

 

[fgwrich]

I hate to say it for Chiltern, but I do agree with what has been said here. I came back from Birmingham on a busy Saturday night recently and my choices were a 2 Car 168 from Moor Street, or a 2 Car 168 from Moor Street (Ex Stourbridge). Fortunately I managed to grab a seat in the ex FC Compartment but there was certainly a fair bit of standing going on until Leamington.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

Chiltern have had bad luck recently to be fair; had one 168 out for collision repairs until November, then proceed to have another one recently involved in a cow strike of course the unit involved in the depot derailment....plus having had to sub a 168 on MK3 diagrams due to the ongoing PRM mods rotating the sets through those works.

165s are ageing and had electrical issues with them and in the next franchise will need replacing. Certainly need some additional Turbostars or DMUs of some variety. Only place 170s may appear from now is perhaps Southern if they end up getting rid of all the 171s (believe some are not being taken by East Mids?). 185s would be a good fit albeit there is no Siemens depot ideally placed to maintain them so would have to be inhouse. Ultimately nothing will be properly resolved until 2021....

The LNWR and WMR strikes have meant Saturday services are way busier than normal, but really there are already a couple of services I can think of on a weekday into and out of Birmingham that need strengthening.

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder that any suggestions belong in the Speculative Ideas section please.

If anyone wishes to speculate on potential solutions for Chiltern's stock shortage, please feel free to use this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/possible-solutions-for-chilterns-stock-shortages.196026/ thanks

 

[brad465]

The other week I travelled from Marylebone to Moor Street on the 16:15 train, where it was normally a 68 set but as the train guard said they had to apologise for it being 2 x 2-car 168s due to ongoing refurbishment, so the train was rather crowded most of the way.

 

[jimm]

The fact that's its considered acceptable* for a TOC to lose its mojo 2 years before the end of the franchise is heartily depressing and encapsulates what's wrong with the franchising system. I know Chiltern have been there forever but for a more conventional franchise 2 years would be a large percentage.

Anyway they've been poor longer than that. I moved nearer the WCML (oh the irony...) to avoid the Aylesbury line some years ago because I was so tired of being a sardine at off-peak times.


*I realise BTW that neither of you said that you find it acceptable, just a reality which of course I agree that it is.

Shorter franchises do not work in the way you seem to think they do.

In many cases, the last year in particular is a case of scrimp on any and every kind of spending possible, to try to extract as much money as possible before the franchisee has to hand back the keys. Thames Trains in 2003-4 springs to mind as a classic example.

 

[Sprinter107]

The internal condition of those Thames Turbos was an absolute disgrace, before they were taken over.