FGW Franchise

[Clarence Yard]

I think the logic is the 166 units will be on these workings pretty much full time but the 2 cars will cycle with other diagrams that require the 3+2 seating capacity.

I was told that all the 3+2 seats will go in the 166 fleet, save those over the header tanks, which will have to remain.

 

[SprinterMan]

I think the logic is the 166 units will be on these workings pretty much full time but the 2 cars will cycle with other diagrams that require the 3+2 seating capacity.

I was told that all the 3+2 seats will go in the 166 fleet, save those over the header tanks, which will have to remain.

It is a shame they can't/won't put in a "bar area" around the header tanks like Connex did with the 319/2s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britis...:British_Rail_Class_319-2_-_breakfast_bar.jpg

Either that or paint a lovely picture of a cat on it to amuse commuters..

Adam

 

[jeromeroberts]

Just a quick question as the dual voltage 387 units have been confirmed to be cascaded to first great western would there be any possibilities of direct services between Paddington and Southampton Central and Bournemouth Via Reading with a change from ac to dc taking place at Basingstoke once the electrification has been completed ??

 

[jimm]

Just a quick question as the dual voltage 387 units have been confirmed to be cascaded to first great western would there be any possibilities of direct services between Paddington and Southampton Central and Bournemouth Via Reading with a change from ac to dc taking place at Basingstoke once the electrification has been completed ??

Doubt it, as there's no obvious need for such a service, with lots of other trains already covering the route one way and another. Unlikely to generate much by way of new revenue either, so DfT just won't want to know.

Plus there is no guarantee the 387s will retain their third-rail shoes anyway once transferred to GW use if there is no obvious reason to retain them.

 

[WelshBluebird]

One thing that has just popped into my head (thanks to the IEP thread), what will happen to the catering trolley on some of the 158 routes? The 165s and 166s lack gangway doors, and if one of those is going to have 3x2 seating, will the trolley even fit through there?

 

[Bishopstone]

One thing that has just popped into my head (thanks to the IEP thread), what will happen to the catering trolley on some of the 158 routes? The 165s and 166s lack gangway doors, and if one of those is going to have 3x2 seating, will the trolley even fit through there?

I'm not sure about the relative size of the aisles, but trolleys pass through 3+2 seated 377s, and also I believe 450s on the Portsmouth run?

 

[Rich McLean]

One thing that has just popped into my head (thanks to the IEP thread), what will happen to the catering trolley on some of the 158 routes? The 165s and 166s lack gangway doors, and if one of those is going to have 3x2 seating, will the trolley even fit through there?

The trolleys do fit through 165/166 o current layouts when on Cotswolds services

 

[northwichcat]

Someone's posted on wnxx that FGW will no longer being releasing any 153s but will still release the 150/1s and 143s.

 

[Clarence Yard]

I don't think so. They have agreed with the DfT and signed up leases to send them back in 2017.

 

[HowardGWR]

Doubt it, as there's no obvious need for such a service, with lots of other trains already covering the route one way and another. Unlikely to generate much by way of new revenue either, so DfT just won't want to know.

Plus there is no guarantee the 387s will retain their third-rail shoes anyway once transferred to GW use if there is no obvious reason to retain them.

A bit more in the future but - direct services to Heathrow T5 from the South Coast?

 

[455driver]

What about the ramp up into the passenger saloon on the bimode trains?

 

[D1009]

What about the ramp up into the passenger saloon on the bimode trains?

Have you seen one? Is it steep then?

 

[swt_passenger]

What about the ramp up into the passenger saloon on the bimode trains?

Perhaps each trolley will have a small diesel engine underneath, or possibly a big battery...

 

[fgwrich]

Perhaps each trolley will have a small diesel engine underneath, or possibly a big battery...

Don't tempt them! I'm sure some civil servant with half a brain will be happy to cost and waist several hundreds of thousands of pounds just putting Japanse Hitachi Motors in them... Unless of course, Hitachi are expecting us to convert to Japanese ways and just eat Sushi?

Have you seen one? Is it steep then?

Said to be the just a little bit above the rise as that of a Desiro cab ramp - which lets face it, might not sound steep to us, but if your attempting to wheel a fully loaded trolley through 5/10 cars and return, isn't going to be a fun or easy task... Especially if the 5 car is full with luggage in the way!*

*(Which I have my severe suspicions that due to the **** poor inadequate provisions will be blocking the way through!)

 

[fairysdad]

Perhaps each trolley will have a small diesel engine underneath, or possibly a big battery...

Of course, with the upgrade to OHLE in x number of years

 

[jw]

The Franchise Agreement has now been published on the DfT website.

Some interesting snippets:

Rolling stock project feasibility studies
The Franchisee shall carry out and present to the Secretary of State by 31 December 2015 initial feasibility studies in respect of each of the following potential projects, with any further implementation of the Projects being subject to a Variation:

(a) proposals for the trial and, if successful, implementation of Independently Powered EMUs ("IPEMUs") on the route between Newbury and Bedwyn (including an assessment of the feasibility of through operation from London Paddington);

(b) proposals for the trial and, if successful, implementation of IPEMUs on the route between Reading, Redhill and Gatwick Airport;

(c) subject to initial examination confirming likely viability, proposals for the trial deployment and, if successful, implementation of converted former London Underground D78 rolling stock on one or more selected branch lines within the Franchise; and

(d) proposals for an alternative rolling stock solution for services operating between Portsmouth and Cardiff.

It would make sense to replace the North Downs diesel service if possible, but I can't imagine D78 units being welcomed onto any branch lines, especially as cascades mean that there should be sufficient Class 150 units.

 

[Class 170101]

(b) proposals for the trial and, if successful, implementation of IPEMUs on the route between Reading, Redhill and Gatwick Airport;

Sorry but IPEMUs are not the answer to electrifying Reading to Gatwick services. The answer clearly should be infilling gaps with 3rd Rail.:-x

 

[Stompehh]

The Franchise Agreement has now been published on the DfT website.

Class 166 to be re-seated (presumably as 2+2?)

At seat power to be fitted to all 15x and 16x (may be USB ports only)

WiFi to entire fleet

 

[47802]

Interesting I know there has already being mention of some Battery 387's, I wonder what the alternative Rolling Stock solution is for Portsmouth - Cardiff is, HST's perhaps? and is the motivation behind this to free up some 16x for TPX?

An actual potential use for the Vivarail units is interesting, and FGW do have a number of branches which are relatively short and fairly low speed and the 150/153's etc. could be used elsewhere.

10 387's to leave Thameslink March/April 2016, the 8 new ones delivered start of 2017, IEP to have more standard and less 1st than the draft layouts perhaps not entirely surprising given the recent 1st class reduction.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Franchise Agreement has now been published on the DfT website.
Some interesting snippets:

That's what happens when your electrification programme goes late and over budget.

 

[Aictos]

Sadly I can't read that file as it keeps crashing my iPad, can someone just copy and paste the main points here please?

 

[bnm]

Sadly I can't read that file as it keeps crashing my iPad, can someone just copy and paste the main points here please?

The main points??? It's a 550+ page document!

 

[33Hz]

(b) proposals for the trial and, if successful, implementation of IPEMUs on the route between Reading, Redhill and Gatwick Airport;

Called this one up thread two months ago

 

[hwl]

Called this one up thread two months ago

Do you reckon some of the last batch of 387s will come with batteries similar to 379013 then for a more extensive trial?

 

[33Hz]

Do you reckon some of the last batch of 387s will come with batteries similar to 379013 then for a more extensive trial?

That seems to be the implication, but in the franchise agreement it says they will put forward proposals for the trial by December this year.

 

[swt_passenger]

That's what happens when your electrification programme goes late and over budget.

It was never intended to wire Newbury to Bedwyn OR the North Downs, which are the two trial routes mentioned.

 

[fgwrich]

The Franchise Agreement has now been published on the DfT website.

Some interesting snippets:



It would make sense to replace the North Downs diesel service if possible, but I can't imagine D78 units being welcomed onto any branch lines, especially as cascades mean that there should be sufficient Class 150 units.

I rather doubt that there would be many branch lines for the D78s to run on anyway, almost all of the TV branches are to be electrified and most of them will have platform extensions or modifications where necessary carried out to allow 4 or 8 365s. The only branches in LTV that would be likely candidates for the D Train would be the Marlow - Maidenhead and if little interest is shown by TfL/Chiltern, West Ealing to Greenford. Class 165s will be covering the Metro West area while Class 150s will be covering the branches in the West of England.

Do you reckon some of the last batch of 387s will come with batteries similar to 379013 then for a more extensive trial?

That is the plan, the maths have been done and the GWML can support an extra 5 or so tonnes of Electrostar + batteries to run between Newbury and Bedwyn. The ex Thameslink ones will be done later when they are 'GWR' branded. Mods will also be done at a later date to the ex TSGN 365s.

It was never intended to wire Newbury to Bedwyn OR the North Downs, which are the two trial routes mentioned.

Indeed, one of the limiting factors is the bridge just west of Newbury station. It was looked into but with the rest of the GWML Electrification costs coming to what they are, then it's a job for the future. Newbury only just made it into the project as is.

 

[hwl]

That is the plan, the maths have been done and the GWML can support an extra 5 or so tonnes of Electrostar + batteries to run between Newbury and Bedwyn. The ex Thameslink ones will be done later when they are 'GWR' branded. Mods will also be done at a later date to the ex TSGN 365s.

Battery 365s as well???

 

[Class377/5]

Battery 365s as well???

The GWR 365 are getting air cooling and Driver Controlled Operation (DCO) equipment.

Ironically the 365s are the second ex GTR fleet getting converted from DOO.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It was never intended to wire Newbury to Bedwyn OR the North Downs, which are the two trial routes mentioned.

No, but it wipes out the possibility of incremental extensions based on beating the target.
The DfT definitely wanted to go further (with the same money, of course).