Cumbrian Coast Loco Hauled Stock

[GW43125]

You may be confusing yourself with the Anglian loco hauled? I'm sure Norwich - Yarmouth is a Mon-Fri dealio?

Yarmouth is Monday-Friday but Summer Saturdays too

 

[CosherB]

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/MP-demands-better-rolling-stock-for-Furness-line-in-wake-of-high-delays-and-cancellations-figures-4eccecbc-e516-41ea-ae05-f2f4d3a1aff8-ds

The Barrow and Furness MP is demanding new rolling stock for the Furness line after data showed more than a quarter of journeys are delayed or cancelled at Barrow station.

Data released by Network Rail and analysed by the Sunday Times showed railway stations in Cumbria to be among the worst in the country for delays and cancellations, with those for Barrow station standing at 27.46 per cent.

John Woodcock MP said: “These figures reveal a shockingly bad service and they illustrate what passengers have been having to endure".

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere already ....

The Cumbrian Coast is becoming a bit of a political 'hot potato' (as if it wasn't already). I'd be delighted if something could be 'conjured-up' between DRS and Northern to help out the dire LHCS situation, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[a_c_skinner]

I am still having trouble about why Class 769s on the Airport/Preston or Lancaster to Barrow trains are not in the mix from next year. I am of course (leans forward, takes thermos and ABC from duffle bag, adjusts parka) a mere enthusiast but Barrow, Windermere and Leeds via Skipton would seem to be very suitable routes to free up units for elsewhere, like the coast.

I've enjoyed the 37s pottering around locally but I'm afraid they've not lived up to expectations (he said getting back on topic...)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, the line is perfect for 769s. 4x20m will probably be about right capacity wise on most trains, and the combination of fast running under the wires to Lancaster then slower running on diesel thereafter is exactly what these things will be suited to.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear like there can be air conditioning for the 769s, so they won't meet the connect standard.

 

[Blindtraveler]

*wibble Alert* MK3s that TPX arnt going to use along with DRS owned DVT's and a 68?
Cumbrian coast equals sorted.

 

[CosherB]

*wibble Alert* MK3s that TPX arnt going to use along with DRS owned DVT's and a 68?
Cumbrian coast equals sorted.

I've heard that that stock is off to East Anglia!!!!

 

[Blindtraveler]

From where it came lol.

 

[BMIFlyer]

37402 has failed yet again, near Bootle.

 

[yorksrob]

There are a couple of modernish looking locos on the Yarmouth turns. What are the chances of these being transferred up to Cumbria at the end of the holiday season ?

 

[IanXC]

There are a couple of modernish looking locos on the Yarmouth turns. What are the chances of these being transferred up to Cumbria at the end of the holiday season ?

68s are not cleared for the Cumbrian Coast.

 

[BMIFlyer]

68s are not cleared for the Cumbrian Coast.

I beg to differ, as they have been up and down the coast route from Carnforth to Sellafield on the flask trains on many occasions!

 

[Whistler40145]

Is it that 68s aren't cleared from Sellafield to Carlisle, especially on the sections where the clearance is very tight.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Is it that 68s aren't cleared from Sellafield to Carlisle, especially on the sections where the clearance is very tight.

That sounds correct!

 

[yorksrob]

Has anyone ever tried taking one round that section with a ruler to check ?

If not, it might be timely.

 

[Whistler40145]

I've absolutely no idea

 

[47802]

Off course the 68's wont work with the dbso's so it would have to be a TNT job which I don't see happening

I notice the coaching stock doesn't have any northern logo's on now or operated by Northern stickers in the windows, presumably these were removed because they were the old logo, but there doesn't seem to be a rush for a replacement logo is that because Northern are ashamed of the reliability of these trains?

 

[Darandio]

I notice the coaching stock doesn't have any northern logo's on now or operated by Northern stickers in the windows, presumably these were removed because they were the old logo, but there doesn't seem to be a rush for a replacement logo is that because Northern are ashamed of the reliability of these trains?

Presumably they are ashamed of everything given there are 4.2 million* white stickers still present all over their network?

*Citation needed

 

[Freightmaster]

Is it that 68s aren't cleared from Sellafield to Carlisle, especially on the sections where the clearance is very tight?

Class 68s operate flask trains (to and from Seaton, Torness and Hunterston)
on that section several times a week.

MARK

 

[IanXC]

I beg to differ, as they have been up and down the coast route from Carnforth to Sellafield on the flask trains on many occasions!

Well in the context of the locohauled service, they are to all intents and purposes not cleared, as they could not operate the service as it stands!

 

[47802]

Maybe DRS should try HST GTI's using GC HST's or are MK3's not allowed down the coast

 

[a_c_skinner]

IIRC not only is it not cleared for Mk3 but they simply won't fit through the tunnels at the northern end and I imagine this means Flex won't fit either. What is needed is a cascade of units on the basis of new stock and it will have to be Sprinters, though IIRC not all Sprinters will fit either. To what extent this is "simply won't fit", "would be OK with modest work" or "not been cleared but would fit" I don't know. Judging by the correspondence on the Oxted tunnel I suspect it is often the case that no one knows without a lot of investigation. I think it is to do with vehicle length so I'm not sure what the future is for this route as we seem to be building all longer vehicles.

AS

 

[70014IronDuke]

First trains of the day both running late again today - 30-35' down. It looks as though it may not be traction or rolling stock faults, however - unless things have been fixed.

But the late-running northbound will have knock-on effects on the timetable for much of the day, I suspect.

 

[Bletchleyite]

IIRC not only is it not cleared for Mk3 but they simply won't fit through the tunnels at the northern end and I imagine this means Flex won't fit either.

Er, why? A 319 Flex is basically a Class 150 - same bodyshell - those fit, don't they? Or is it just 20m LHCS, Pacer, 153 or 156, nothing else allowed?

 

[a_c_skinner]

Er, why? A 319 Flex is basically a Class 150 - same bodyshell - those fit, don't they? Or is it just 20m LHCS, Pacer, 153 or 156, nothing else allowed?

Er why? Er Sorry, my fault, apologies , I've just looked it up, yes 319 are actually shorter than Mk3, 153 and 156. There are also a bit less tall than 150s too. I think and marginally wider (0.1 inch on Wiki). It still leaves the question hanging in the air of long term replacement of stock on this line if the trend is to longer vehicles. Back on topic I imagine the attraction of the Mk2s and 37s was that they were cleared for the line but must be getting towards their sell by date.

BTW what was the final answer for 68s north of Sellafield?

Andrew

 

[sprinterguy]

IIRC not only is it not cleared for Mk3 but they simply won't fit through the tunnels at the northern end and I imagine this means Flex won't fit either.

Mark 3s are cleared along the length of the Cumbrian Coast, subject to the same restrictions as mark 1 and 2 stock between Maryport and Carlisle (ECS only due to restricted clearances, unless window bars are fitted or a steward is present at each door). This is stated in the sectional appendix and DRS have operated mark 3 stock over the route as part of the Workington North shuttles as far as Maryport, operating ECS north of there to Carlisle as required.

 

[sprinterguy]

Er, why? A 319 Flex is basically a Class 150 - same bodyshell - those fit, don't they? Or is it just 20m LHCS, Pacer, 153 or 156, nothing else allowed?

Class 150s are, in fact, prohibited from operating between Maryport and Carlisle. Class 158s meanwhile are prohibited between Barrow and Whitehaven.

Class 175s and 185s are currently cleared between Barrow and Millom, but other than that, it is essentially only Pacers, 153s, 155s, 156s and LHCS of Mark 1, 2 & 3 adhering to restrictions that are cleared for the full route.

 

[Bertie the bus]

BTW what was the final answer for 68s north of Sellafield?

The final answer is as posted above by Freightmaster. They work between Sellafield and Carlisle all the time and have done for 2 years. They were banned in one direction, northbound I think, at one time but that was 2 years ago.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Class 150s are, in fact, prohibited from operating between Maryport and Carlisle. Class 158s meanwhile are prohibited between Barrow and Whitehaven.

Ah, OK, cheers.

Probably the easiest way to improve the overall service (at the cost of a change for some passengers), then, would be to run 319 Flex in a "perfect clockface" hourly service from (Manchester-)Lancaster-Barrow, and have a few dedicated Class 156s based at Barrow to run the Coast as a separate service.

 

[yorksrob]

Off course the 68's wont work with the dbso's so it would have to be a TNT job which I don't see happening

This may be a silly question, but why don't the loco's just run round ?

The places these trains terminate are Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle, all of which have plenty of through loops, and Barrow, which has three through platforms which surely aren't going to all be occupied at the same time.