Class 172 Production Progress

[OMGitsDAVE]

I would hope that the next holders go straight to tendering/bidding, as at least then we have something to look forward to (and not pacers all the time)!

 

[tbtc]

I would hope that the next holders go straight to tendering/bidding, as at least then we have something to look forward to (and not pacers all the time)!

Agreed, but I'm not sure whether *any* company has started tendering for new trains *before* it took over.

We don't have time to waste though, and I hope the new company "hits the ground running" and sorts out some stock quickly.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

I did, and being pedantic the relevant part of the post is this:

"can any of you out there provide progress info on the Class 172 build situation?"

The first part of your post is just setting the scene...

Now you have gone off topic, having a bad day mate?

 

[anthony263]

In the latest issue of the Railway herald magazine it reports that at least 2 chiltern railways class 172's have been completed and are undergoing testing

 

[swt_passenger]

Agreed, but I'm not sure whether *any* company has started tendering for new trains *before* it took over.

They can do, assuming OJEU tender notifications are the first stage.

Stagecoach had contract notifications out for new trains shortly after the Anglia and Thameside renewal processes started, eg: http://www.publictenders.net/tender/55993

The franchise bidding procedure was then cancelled after the change of government, so presumably all their rolling stock and finance OJEU notice lapsed.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

In the latest issue of the Railway herald magazine it reports that at least 2 chiltern railways class 172's have been completed and are undergoing testing

Good to see things are moving on now, lets hope all us dmu users get some benefit soon!!

 

[Pumbaa]

First 172 for LM being delivered on Thursday.

 

[TurboStar_2533]

Three Chiltern units are complete with the fourth in traction stage. I also believe the 1st one is due for delivery week commencing Monday 14th Feb.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

First 172 for LM being delivered on Thursday.

Crew training, mtce training, milage accumilation to follow one supects

 

[anthony263]

Three Chiltern units are complete with the fourth in traction stage. I also believe the 1st one is due for delivery week commencing Monday 14th Feb.

Any photos or videos of these on test?

 

[tbtc]

They can do, assuming OJEU tender notifications are the first stage.

Stagecoach had contract notifications out for new trains shortly after the Anglia and Thameside renewal processes started, eg: http://www.publictenders.net/tender/55993

The franchise bidding procedure was then cancelled after the change of government, so presumably all their rolling stock and finance OJEU notice lapsed.

That's really interesting, cheers.

Credit to Stagecoach for not wasting time

 

[Old Hill Bank]

First 172 for LM being delivered on Thursday.

Did it actually get there?

 

[trains2064]

No!

Should be mid feb for first 2 then 1 a week from early march. 15 3 car sets first the the 12 2 car sets.

None will enter service till may timetable change. Mileage work ie 1000 fault free miles will be done on the line from tyseley to stratford upon avon as well as at least 1 trip per day to leamington for 100mph running.

 

[The Planner]

Take they will get HST status along with 170/171s ?? Rule book hasnt been updated yet.

 

[Voyager 2093]

Is there any more updates on the Chiltern 172s?

 

[MCR247]

Being built?

 

[Voyager 2093]

The delivery of the first unit for Chiltern. If I'm correct the first unit is to be delivered next week....

I find it strange there are no pictures....

 

[fgwrich]

The delivery of the first unit for Chiltern. If I'm correct the first unit is to be delivered next week....

I find it strange there are no pictures....

Perhaps because it's a 172?

Another product of Bombarby & only Bombarby

Rather doubtfull that the next 172 delivery will be next week - so far, nearly Everything Bombardier has produced has been tested on the Old Dalby test track - so wouldnt it make more sense for Bombardier to keep testing the 172s out on Old Dalby before making the first of Chiltern deliverys?

 

[MCR247]

Will they test every single train there?

 

[jon0844]

Why do they need to test every train when they have such a good record of making well put together trains that should have near 100% reliability?

Oh.

 

[jopsuk]

Bombardier really need a factory site like Siemens, with a big test loop- though even that's not infallible, as the 280s have been showing.

 

[Pumbaa]

They do have a test track at Litchurch Lane.

Only the pioneer subclass members are sent to Old Dalby, the Chiltern ones won't be going at all as they're an LO version effectively. All units spewed out will be thrown round Litchurch track a few times, before being delivered. The reasoning being that debugging one member of the class at Old Dalby before the rest are finished will *solve/prevent* all reliability problems.

Hmm...

 

[jon0844]

Do these have toilets? I hope they can get these right, as a FCC 377/5 in public service had a door that was unable to open properly, and then sticking in a half open position, after it was little over a week old!

God knows what any of these trains will look like after they've been in operation for just a couple of years.

Out of interest, what sort of warranty/maintenance agreement do these trains have? If doors and interior trim start to break and fall off within a matter of weeks/months, I presume Bombardier and the like are liable to make good? I hope the TOC isn't required to waste time and money fixing them, or the cost gets lumped on to higher leasing charges? If it did, I hope that's considered when the train makers bid for contracts.

 

[jopsuk]

They do have a test track at Litchurch Lane.

True, but it's a bit weedy compared to Wildenrath- there's a brochure with what they can do here (PDF)

 

[Old Hill Bank]

They do have a test track at Litchurch Lane.

Only the pioneer subclass members are sent to Old Dalby, the Chiltern ones won't be going at all as they're an LO version effectively. All units spewed out will be thrown round Litchurch track a few times, before being delivered. The reasoning being that debugging one member of the class at Old Dalby before the rest are finished will *solve/prevent* all reliability problems.

Hmm...

LOL the Hmm, let's see what happens in the next week or two!!!

Then there is still the fate of 26 class 150 cattle trucks to be decided!!

Hmm again

 

[Kris]

Another thought i've had regarding my earlier point about the length of time power is applied to get to, and maintain speed, is that on a Sprinter with hydraulic transmission, you generally always have to keep some power on to maintain speed, even when going downhill. I believe this may be due to the transmission itself having a "braking" or "lagging" effect (Someone with the relevant technological nous feel free to correct me!) Whereas on an HST for example, with electric transmission, you can coast with the power off for considerable distances without any significant reduction in speed.

Hi! Newbie here (Oldie on the railway). When we leave Honiton in the 'Up' direction most drivers get up to 55mph and shut off at the summit - just inside honiton tunnel. The line speed is 85mph from there and it soon picks up speed. At Snobs corner there is a short '80' for which we need to add a bit of step one on the brake.

We don't need to touch the throttle all the way to Axminster. The speed drops off a bit through seaton Junction but picks up again to about 80 before Axminster.

Nowhere (on a SWT 159 anyway) do we have to apply power downhill. There is a strange quirk though which somebody may be able to explain? When I accelerate up to 15mph or any low speed and shut off (the throttle) - the speedo climbs to 16mph. It's as if something is eased inside the transmission.

I know what you mean by a braking/lagging effect though - the drag of the hydraulic transmission means they don't freewheel like an electric - they'll bugger off quickly down the merest incline as that Pig did at Bomo depot years ago, escaping on to a road
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think it looks surprisingly 159 like. Is this the future? Our engines will not be Euro5 2012 compliant so I don't know what is going to happen. I don't like the idea of not being able to look out of the side though like the Disastros.

 

[ainsworth74]

Our engines will not be Euro5 2012 compliant so I don't know what is going to happen.

I would expect that grandfather rights will apply so even though current engines don't meet the emissions standards it doesn't matter because they met the standards of the day when they were built.

 

[MCR247]

Euro emmisions standards are for engines being built, not older engines, although I suspect there was/will be big ones where a certain standard must be met by all engines. (Similar to that like DDA 2020)

 

[Voyager 2093]

On the topic of Chiltern Railways can anyone explain the below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hstconnor/5417365272/sizes/z/in/photostream/

 

[ChrisCooper]

As yet the only place where emissions standards are applied universally, not just for new build, is for Diesel powered road vehicles in the London Low Emission Zone, currently at Euro 3 and moving to Euro 4 from January 2012. None road engines are exempt though.