Empty trains running as Class 3's.

[83G/84D]

Why are there quite a number of ECS (Empty coaching stock) trains now running as class 3's rather than the traditional class 5. When I started my railway career in the 1980's all ECS trains were class 5's so what's behind the change?

I should point out I am on the Western Region and it might be different on other areas.

 

[pdeaves]

A 3 is higher priority than a 5 (it's more critical it gets to where it's going on time for its next working).

 

[83G/84D]

A 3 is higher priority than a 5 (it's more critical it gets to where it's going on time for its next working).

So presumably then it is more of a benefit to panel boxes and ROC's with ARS etc. Where I work the class 3's generally have around an hour layover before the next working. In any case there is little in the way of options to regulate trains to give a class 3 priority so if they are late behind a class 1 or 2 train the class 3 stays late with no option to make up time anywhere.

 

[Magdalia]

All ECS moves were class 3 until 1969.

ECS trains on the GN have been running with class 3 headcodes since at least 2010. These started with contra peak ECS moves that enabled trains to work more than one service in a peak period, and was later extended to most time critical ECS moves where the next working was class 1 or class 2.