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Small correction, GWR drivers drive Voyagers ON Laira depot, but we are not allowed to drive them off the depot into the station. Something to do with insurance apparently. If GBR is going to bring in efficiencies, this would be a good start.
A lot of foibles get 'ironed out' by simply knowing "if x happens, do y" (or "to prevent x happening, do z"), whether that's resetting a breaker, checking a particular sensor or kicking the stuck mechanism in exactly the right place...
All of that knowledge is in people's heads, and very few staff have transferred from TfW with the units.
Even if more than a fraction of it was documented (which organizations are very bad at doing for informally-gathered information), and that documentation is available to GWR rather than being buried in some TfW/CAF system at Chester, people don't instantly memorize the entire manual.
You go from a 1-minute "I'll just sort that" to a 10-minute "let me look that up in the book", some trial-and-error or a long wait for a fitter.
How much 175 information is still retained on TfW/CAF systems this far past withdrawal, I suspect, is minimal if any at all.
It`s all the information on Alstom`s systems that was accrued over the years regarding 175s that`s the important stuff along with the practical knowledge and expertise the maintenance teams possessed.
How much of the plethora of Alstom documents, procedures, software/diagnostic equipment from day 1 of the 175s at Chester has been passed over to or even been made available to GWR, I don`t know, but without these it will be very difficult to maintain the units reliably as the GWR staff don`t have the 175 knowledge base just at the moment.
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The units were the most reliable in the fleet until CAF took over the maintenance when the 197 transition began. The unit reliability fell off a cliff after that.
I have to disagree slightly that reliability fell off the cliff but I will concede that it did slip as the transition progressed and not being helped by the friction between the two companies as June 22 got nearer and nearer.
I wouldn`t know and you have to remember that Alstom was the maintenance provider not TfW and TfW only had very limited access to 175 information as I recall but it did include access to the VMI, Traintracer which was the remote data downloading programme, and I think that they had some partial access to SAP which was the system that all maintenance activities were recorded and planned.. TfW had there own system where their entire fleet maintenance activities were recorded, including 175s, but for the life of me I can`t` remember what that system is called at the moment.
This site has links with the train database and it is usually edited quite quickly, but 175004s move to Exeter hasn't been. The site says you can edit it but doesn't work for me.
This site has links with the train database and it is usually edited quite quickly, but 175004s move to Exeter hasn't been. The site says you can edit it but doesn't work for me.
Have made the changes
Not entirely sure why you can't edit, as it's a public spreadsheet, however there are two different links, one to edit and one to just view.
Have made the changes
Not entirely sure why you can't edit, as it's a public spreadsheet, however there are two different links, one to edit and one to just view.
007 was the first 175 into Paignton Mon and Tues 16/17 June, but with no problems (passengers).
I have become disillusioned with this train as GWR have 16 and only one extra train has been provided (Newquay). No improvements of services. anywhere else. Yesterday other trains were cancelled, short formed (Barnstaple leaving a two hour gaps during the day. Paignton a cancellation and a short form.
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009 had some sort of issue today.
I do find it kind of sad to see the units in this state considering how well they used to work in Wales only a few years ago.
They ran a reduced service today as many units are at Laira for work. Such a shame, really.
However you look at it, its now over 22 months since 175 lease to GWR was announcedas a Voluntary Transparency Notice (VTN)
This VTN sets out First Greater Western Limited's ("GWR") intention to award a contract to Angel Trains Limited for the leasing of 70 x Class 175 Diesel Multiple Unit vehicles.
The contract will have provisions to potentially run until 2032.
This VTN sets out GWR's intention to award a contract to Angel Trains Limited for the leasing of 70 x Class 175 Diesel Multiple Unit vehicles, to be in service from May 2025 on Devon and Cornwall routes.
If it has, this suggests the unit has bogie or some other issues that prevents a rail drag, so could be in Wolverton for longer than other units so far.
When all the 175s are ready and in service again, is there a chance they'll finally be put back into their original formations? Or is there just too many mis-matched carriages for it to be viable?
When all the 175s are ready and in service again, is there a chance they'll finally be put back into their original formations? Or is there just too many mis-matched carriages for it to be viable?
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