FGW Improvements - the plot thickens

[PhilipW]

For all readers of 'Modern Railways' I refer you to the article on Page 72 of the March edition headed ' First Great Western DMU News'.

This states that FGW are to receive extra Class 150s from ATW which will enable FGW to increase the lengths of their Class 158 from 2 to 3 carriages where appropriate. There is no specific mention though of the Portsmouth-Cardiff route.

This article is directly in line with the DfT enforcement notice this week. There is no mention of that enforcement in the article smply because the article was written and printed before the DfT acted.

So this is all very strange. Are we having the wool pulled over ours eyes this week, as it would appear that FGW were already planning action ?

 

[Turbostar]

Hey, my thoughts exactly as well lol. I read the article, & this mag came out week, 2weeks ago? Can't remember exactly, but I get the impression something is being covered up here, & things are not exactly as they seem.

 

[devon_metro]

I first found out about the plan for this on the 8th February, ages before the DfT "stepped in"

Its basically the press tripping up again.

 

[PhilipW]

Liam, I don't think that you can blame the press for this one. The first the public knew about it was when the DfT issued this News Release on Tuesday.


http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=355303&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

The press stories originated from this release.

If these "improvements" has been agreed by the DfT and FGW some weeks before, it is one or both of these that are to blame. What is unclear is whether these changes were forced on FGW or whether FGW volunteered to do them first. What the article in 'Modern Railways' it would appear that FGW was planning them anyway but then had to pretend for political reasons that the DfT forced them on it.

 

[djw1981]

The current RAIL editorial makes interesting reading, as does their news article about this situation.

 

[LucaZone]

http://www.landor.co.uk/transit/331/new1.shtml

 

[HSTfan!!!]

they have been running 3 car 158's on the pompey line that I've noticed for the busier services. the 150's were going to be used to back up the valleys however for some unknown reason they ended up with FGW lol

 

[P156KWJ]

maybe FGW could consider connecting some 142s to 158s during peak (and for those who are critics I know you can perform such coupling operations!

 

[Mojo]

A large number of FGW services currently run with different (or similar) types of units attached. 142s or 143s however could not work Portsmouth to Cardiff as Pacers are banned from the 3rd rail network.

 

[P156KWJ]

A large number of FGW services currently run with different (or similar) types of units attached. 142s or 143s however could not work Portsmouth to Cardiff as Pacers are banned from the 3rd rail network.

yeah, cos knowing how old they are, when they split down the middle all the passengers would get electrocutes as they fell out the bottom (having said that, I do love pacers :???

 

[will1337]

Travelling on a 142/143 between Portsmouth and Cardiff surely amounts to some form of torture?

 

[djw1981]

No worse than Leeds-Carlisle or Middlesborough - Carlisle (via Newcastle)

 

[paul1609]

No worse than Leeds-Carlisle or Middlesborough - Carlisle (via Newcastle)

On those routes you probably wouldnt be electrocuted when the Pacer contacted the third rail though!

 

[P156KWJ]

Travelling on a 142/143 between Portsmouth and Cardiff surely amounts to some form of torture?

better than nothing... (or a voyager )

 

[37412]

maybe FGW could consider connecting some 142s to 158s during peak (and for those who are critics I know you can perform such coupling operations!

But that would mean having to train all the depots up on 142's who sign 158's, something they may not want to do.

Travelling on a 142/143 between Portsmouth and Cardiff surely amounts to some form of torture?

Would have thought that would be quiet hellfire actually 8) Cardiff - Weymouth or Brighton would be quite good aswell!

 

[will1337]

I'd take the Voyager
No Pendos please!

 

[Mojo]

There were 2x150/2s in Arriva livery in the centre road at Temple Meads this afternoon, with Central Trains "See It, Stop It, Report It" (or whatever it says) stickers in the windows. Are these units destined for FGW, or just passing?

 

[devon_metro]

Yes, they are for FGW I believe.

 

[Mojo]

Seen a number services on FGW now operating units which look as if they have fresh Arriva TW livery! Wonder how annoyed they are?

 

[Mintona]

There are only 2...you've just seen them lots of times

 

[Respite]

Give us back our 150's you flippin first group muppets.......About that cross I reckon. Personally I think they should be forced to have all our 153's & we will take their 158's in exchange. Well FGW seem to like cramming the punters in, even on HST's.

 

[Mojo]

Well I have only seen them on two different services, plus the time one unit was the standby and another time when both were together.

I agree with GhostCav, really we should have London Midland's & Northern's trains

 

[AlexS]

You already have our ex Silverlink 150s and the ex Anglia ex Central ex Wales 150/2s

We'll be keeping our 170s!

 

[37402]

These units heading to FGW have only been subleased from Arriva Wales and the contract states they can be 'called back' with just three months notice...

 

[heart-of-wessex]

yeah 150229 and 231 are down here. Didnt last long with Arriva then!

 

[Mojo]

Travelled on 150 231 and 213 [sic] as a 4 car set yesterday. Still had Centro routemaps, Central Trains window stickers but with fresh Arriva safety posters and debranded Arriva livery. The rear unit was still in branded Arriva colours. The front train looks like it has only recently been reliveried.

 

[175001]

Have the seating on them been arranged to Arriva's 2x2 standard setting, or have they stuck with the 3x2 seating?

 

[Mojo]

I am pretty sure the seats were on 3+2 as inherited from Anglia/'one' which were sent to CT in exchange for 156s.

 

[Simon_G]

I had an Arriva-liveried 150/2 from Swindon to Cheltenham on March 20th and it certainly had 3+2 for midgetsTM seating. Nowhere near as nice as the Wessex refurbished 150/2s that used to run this service before FGW (though better than the recent Pacers) and in a fairly filthy state. Ran well enough though.

 

[Mojo]

The refurbished FGW 150s are nice though, much brighter than the Wessex refurbs