FGW 180s whats their future?

[VTDan]

I thought at least some of the 180s were going to be with TPE for Dec 9th when Virgin stop their MAN to Scotland services..and TPE take it over..? Thats what we've heard at work.

 

[Donny Dave]

AFAIK, the 180s are staying with FGW until December 2008 now.

 

[VTDan]

Oh right well, looks like the 185s will be screaming up the WCML then

 

[73109]

Shame SWT dont try to get them those 450s are terrible

 

[devon_metro]

And run them over 3rd rail lines?

 

[Techniquest]

In the infamous words of the weekend down here:

185? SWT? EH?!

 

[support-uk-rail]

Your plans are good but a few problems there though!

1. Warminster can be scrubbed strght off the 180 scene, as it only has a 4 car platform southbound & just about 5 northbound. Trowbridge going southbound would be fine, but northbound would again, be 1 hell of a squeze!

2. Portsmouth - Cardiff idea I do quite like, except a 153 would slow the service down 1 hell of a lot, as I belive that parts of:
Salisbury - Soton are 85
Bath - Bristol are 90
Bristol - Cardiff are 90;
So it would loose a lot of time compared to current.

BTW, the (X) by STJ & Keynsham, are you suggesting these should be request stops:?

You think Warminster can be cut off from the Adelantes? My dad lives in Dilton Marsh and even with the 150's that run there are only accesable by the very front door. If this service was added, they'd have to miss Dilton completely, and I beleive they'd probably miss Warminster and maybe Severn Tunnel.

 

[First ScotRail]

Andy Mellors (FGW, engineering director) is wanting rid of the 180's from fgw this december but he says some will be kept as a back up.

 

[support-uk-rail]

I think Andy Mellors ideas are great.

They should be rid, but a couple should be kept for backups.

It's a shame, such new stock, FGW must have lost millions.

At one point, three or four months ago, I read Virgin were bidding for them from FGW, but then disclosed the order.

They could never have replaced the HST's.

They have a couple of problems all too familiar with Virgin's Voyagers and Pendolinos, including the stench of sewege from toilets throughout the train.

However, because they are DMU's, engines are underneath each carraige, and they were unreliable, and unlike hauled or push-pull stock, this stopped a trains operation all together.

Apparently, eight years ago, the first ideas for the Class 180 were made by a French railway company wanting the next TGV that was more convienient and economical. The Vallantián (as the name was proposed) was supposed to have 12 carraiges (including the driving units) and reach an average top crusing speed of 180mph. Then in 2001, as plans were being made for the prototype, the company abandon the idea and passed it onto the Spanish. The new TOC which was not yet operating in Europe proposed it was electric and only reached 150 with just 8 carraiges. In late 2002, the Spanish also abandon the idea, so Alstom, distributors of the Adelante throughout the UK began producing a diesel 4-6 six car equivilent reaching the generally considered fast 120mph.
First Great Western, who made a large order proposed the train be 130mph capable, making it the overall fastest train in the UK, but the DfT refused permission to be granted.

That was sourced from a Spanish rail forum that my cousin reads Spanish.

 

[rail-britain]

Transport Scotland have just released some details of their "route review" for 2008 to 2015
This follows on from the dumping of the Edinburgh Airport rail line and upgrading of Glasgow - Edinburgh services
Reading between the lines are details of new EMUs "of similar design to the Class 170"
There is also a brief mention of 125mph capable DMUs for use between Glasgow and Edinburgh only, and that these units would not operate on any other routes in Scotland
These, however, would be new units and a decision on ordering will be made later in 2008
There are also details for Glasgow / Edinburgh - Manchester services, and these will be operated by 100mph DMUs until at least 2010

 

[Respite]

According to what I heard last week the 180's will be sat around doing nothing for a while. Apparently they are wanting stupid amounts of money for leasing them out. ATW has indeed looked at them but is waiting to see what happens should they not be leased out. As in if they will ask a sensible figure to lease them as they would be sat around idle.

So please can you do us all a favour & hire one out each so I dont have to sign & drive the horrible things.

 

[andylloyd]

what is the likelihood that FCC would obtain some of these?

Cheers

Andy