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FGW DMU fleet

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CP165

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Greetings,
I have a couple of questions/issues regarding some of First Great Western's DMU fleet, I apologize if these have already come up in previous threads.



1) I know that FGW are planning on refurbishing 6 Adelante sets and reintroducing them on the Cotswolds
services (I think). Is there any progress being made? If so are there any pics yet?

2) Regarding the Class 166s, have the refurbished sets had new air conditioning fitted? If so, why don't
they have the emergency opening hoppers locked shut to reduce the risk of a/c malfunction?

3) Are the Class 165s going to have a/c fitted? I ask this because in a farely recent issue of Rail magazine FGW's
Mark Hopwood is quoted saying there are plans to do so.
(Sorry there isn't an actual quote, I cannot find that particular issue)

If there are, will the opening hoppers be replaced
by non-opening windows?



Thanks for your time
 
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No 165s to receive air con. A magazine error.180s will look like hull trains perhaps hull trains will dispense with theirs
 
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swt_passenger

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Kingfisher200262 said:
Are you sure it's six?

GC has five, and FHT has four. This only leaves five.
Click to expand...

FGW's ITT for the work was for 'up to 6' units.

Not too unusual for ITTs to be for apparently random numbers - you often see stuff like '100 - 180 carriages' when they might want 140...
 
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swt_passenger

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Kingfisher200262 said:
Thanks, hadn't seen that.
Click to expand...

Here it is:

http://www.publictenders.net/tender/100424

Includes various coach refurb and conversion work, generally assumed to be intended to bring all the HSTs back up to 2+8 length:

a. class 180 high speed rolling stock refresh and exterior paint - up to 6 units (30 vehicles),

b. HST Mk3 TRFB conversion to HST TSHD vehicle refresh - up to 17 vehicles,

c. TSO loco hauled Mk3 Conversion to HST TSHD vehicle refresh,

d. HST TGS Mk3 conversion to HST TSHD vehicle refresh - up to 3 vehicles.
 
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JEPB

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The 180's for FGW are more than a rumour, they have confirmed that they intend to apply to DfT for 5 units, maybe 6, but as you say only 5 currently look available. The idea is to use them on the North Cotswolds off-peak services, which would release 4-5 trains, mostly turbos, for use on the Thames Valley. The problem with current arrangements are that the HST's are way too slow (the main issue being delays caused by doors being left open at unstaffed stations and relatively slow acceleration). The 165/6's get overcrowded and are not really giving passengers what they deserve on a 2-3hr journey. When we last had the 180's they could operate a tighter schedule and were well liked by passengers (when they ran!!).

166's are supposed to have had new aircon fitted, I have seen a comment by FGW saying that new alternators have been fitted to provide the extra power required by the new a/c system. The 166's can have plastic seals fitted to the window hoppers to discourage them being opened when the a/c is working. Hence I have not actually seen one with these yet... I expect they will try to concentrate the 166's on London-Oxford fast services and Gatwick Airport to Reading. At least, that would be logical!
 
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CP165

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Yes using the 180s seems very logical, but what I have never understood about them is the fact that first class is in the second/second to last coach rather than the front/rear norm.

I haven't seen plastic seals either, hopefully they'll eventually be fitted. As for trying concentrating 166s on London-Oxford fast services and Gatwick services, i'm not sure FGW try to do that. There have been many, many occasions when i've been on a 166 on a local Oxford/Reading - Paddington stopper (my local route) and a 165 has flown past on the fast lines. I can't help but think it should be the other way round!
 
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TEW

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First Class is in the middle coach of a 180 because if it was in the end coach it would not provide enough capacity.

165s and 166s are diagrammed separately, but Oxford fast service and Oxford slow services interwork so 166s do end up on all sorts of services. If 180s turn up, releasing 166s it will allow some more 166s to be concentrated on the Gatwick route where the extra luggage space is needed.
 
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northwichcat

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TEW said:
First Class is in the middle coach of a 180 because if it was in the end coach it would not provide enough capacity.
Click to expand...

For a London service I agree. However, if they were transferred to TPE, ATW or Scotrail they could be refurbished for a driving car to be FC and the other four to be standard.

The 350s also have FC in the middle.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
swt_passenger said:
a. class 180 high speed rolling stock refresh and exterior paint - up to 6 units (30 vehicles),
Click to expand...

Where were they intending in getting number 6 from?

As HT have refurbished there all I can think of is swapping a HST with a GC 180.
 
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JEPB

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jcollins said:
For a London service I agree. However, if they were transferred to TPE, ATW or Scotrail they could be refurbished for a driving car to be FC and the other four to be standard.

The 350s also have FC in the middle.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Where were they intending in getting number 6 from?

As HT have refurbished there all I can think of is swapping a HST with a GC 180.
Click to expand...

That's a thought, FGW could free up at least one HST diagram if they get some 180's back. Some of the North Cotswolds off peak services are still HST operated. Unlikely as it seems I suppose FGW could offer a swap. I expect GC would be happy to oblige!
 
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CP165

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Seems like a good idea, but I would imagine that sorting it out could be quite time consuming. Also, if GC gained an HST set from FGW, it would be non-standard due to the lack of buffers on the front of power cars. This might bother GC because of maintainence and shunting operations.
 
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TEW

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JEPB said:
That's a thought, FGW could free up at least one HST diagram if they get some 180's back. Some of the North Cotswolds off peak services are still HST operated. Unlikely as it seems I suppose FGW could offer a swap. I expect GC would be happy to oblige!
Click to expand...

FGW don't want to free up HST's though. They are OK for the current off peak services on the Cotswold Line, they just run Hereford services off peak. It's the Turbos that need replacing on the Cotswold Line, and the 180s are the perfect train to replace them.
 
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