FGW 5 year direct award

[455driver]

Would a 3-car Networker Turbo be big enough to handle it?

Probably handle the passenger numbers, but would make a mess of the side of the train and the platform edges though!

 

[ainsworth74]

I thought it was just the step boards that were an issue with the Turbos? Couple of burly blokes with a screwdriver or two and possibly a hammer to remove them and everything's fine and dandy (apart from the big jump to the platform but it'll do the passengers good to have a fright, good for the circulation and all that)?

 

[Rhydgaled]

Probably handle the passenger numbers, but would make a mess of the side of the train and the platform edges though!

Maybe it would today, but maybe not in the future:

From the Netwrok Rail CP5 enhancements plan:

To provide infrastructure capability enhancements to enable operation of cascaded DMUs
from the Thames Valley to the West Country.
Scope of works
The constituent parts of the infrastructure capability works are as follows:
 gauge clearance for the cascaded Class 165 and 166 DMU fleet; and
 a review of station operations at all stations where cascaded DMU trains are due to stop;
this may result in platform extensions; selective door opening; revisions to permissive
working for attaching; detaching; platform sharing arrangements and alterations to signal
controls and signal locations to deal with changes to train operations.
The project is in the early stage of scoping and DfT, Network Rail and FGW have
determined that the phased cascade of Class 165 and 166 units will operate over the
following routes:
Group 1 – Core routes (clearance required by December 2016)
 Bristol Temple Meads (BTM) to Cardiff Central.
 Avonmouth to Bristol Parkway plus the Filton chords.
 BTM to Portsmouth.
 BTM to Worcester (including Gloucester).
 Bristol TM to Weymouth.
 BTM to Severn Beach.
 BTM to Portishead (*noting MetroWest Phase 1 proposals).
 BTM to Exeter St Davids (including Weston–super-Mare).
 Routes to and from Bristol St Phillips Marsh depot.
 Swindon to Standish junction.
 Swindon to Salisbury.
 Brighton to Portsmouth.
 Southampton to Poole.
Group 2 – additional routes to Exeter (clearance required by mid-2017)
 Exeter St Davids to Plymouth.
 Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple.
 Exeter St Davids to Axminster.
 Newton Abbot to Paignton.
 Castle Cary to Cogload Junction.
 Frome Loop and Hawkeridge Curve – Westbury.
 Routes to and from Laira depot.
Group 3 – Plymouth to Penzance (clearance requirement to be determined)
 Main line routes only.
 Gunnislake branch.
 St Ives branch.