Eastern Rail Services Mk2 Stock - what do people think

[Peter749]

I visited the Severn Valley Railway for the GBRf Diesel Gala on Saturday 6th Sept.

The Air Braked stock used arrived on the Friday on a BLS Railtour and it was a bit grotty.

There only seemed to be 3 maybe 4 toilets working on a 7 coach rake. The roof tank was leaking in one of those toilets.
There were Cobwebs around some of the doors like it had not been used, or fully cleaned, in quite a few months.

At Highley when I went on the Footbridge to get a shot of the 57 I noticed the roofs of the stock had not been painted/sealed in a long time with rust showing thru where the ribs were.

What did the people who travelled on the stock think of it?

Peter Heppenstall

Sorry if this post is in the wrong place.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Nobody matches the quality of LSL stock. Do any of the other stock providers invest to that standard? Will they? Can they afford to?

Some of the WCR stock is looking shabby, inside and out. I noticed similar rusty rooves to those above, the other day.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I travelled on one of the BLS Greatest Gathering Shuttles which utilised an Eastern Rail Services MK2 E/F Aircon rake, your description sounds like it could have been the same set, I think there were only 3 toilets available on my trip with all others locked out of use. I would have to agree that it was a tad grotty internally.

 

[Iskra]

Nobody matches the quality of LSL stock. Do any of the other stock providers invest to that standard? Will they? Can they afford to?

Some of the WCR stock is looking shabby, inside and out. I noticed similar rusty rooves to those above, the other day.

The Vintage Trains stock isn’t too bad, and their Mk1 brake compartment does match LSL standards, it’s immaculately restored:



The 125 group Mk3’s were in decent condition when I last travelled on them too.

West Coast stock can be a bit shabby but their Met Cam Pullman’s were also in very good condition when I last rode them.

 

[co-tr-paul]

I have never had a clean vestibule end on WCR on the past 2 years since I restarted doing tours. Both PF and RTC.
Run your finger along any flat edge of any of their current rakes....then there are the coffee spill stains.
If it was our company's trains , they would be failed.
And the tour promoters pay good money for this.... and we pay good money to them...

 

[Masbroughlad]

Maybe the promoters should feed this back to the rolling stock owners? Or do they and it makes no difference?

Are WCRC cash rich? I just wondered if they would inject cash into totally refurbishing the stock? Would it have enough life in it to return on investment?

I know LSL have, but they have a multimillionaire owner! How are WCRC owned and funded?

 

[43096]

Maybe the promoters should feed this back to the rolling stock owners? Or do they and it makes no difference?

Are WCRC cash rich? I just wondered if they would inject cash into totally refurbishing the stock? Would it have enough life in it to return on investment?

Yes, there is cash in the business: nearly £8m of it on the Balance Sheet in the 2024 accounts published at Companies House.

Given that they haven't invested in CDL fitment (instead pursuing a lengthy legal challenge against the ORR), what chance of investment elsewhere in the fleet?

How are WCRC owned and funded?

Owned by a Yorkshire farmer! You get the picture...