FGW losing a 180?

[asylumxl]

While I know VTEC is Virgin Trains East Coast, all I can think about is why Honda is refreshing MK4 carriages.

 

[richw]

While I know VTEC is Virgin Trains East Coast, all I can think about is why Honda is refreshing MK4 carriages.

When the acronym was first used I kept thinking of Hondas took a while to cotton on to what it meant!

 

[SprinterMan]

As it stands, on a normal week for XC, the following are spare

Mondays - 1 on maintenance at EC
Tuedays, Wednesdays & Thursdays - as above, as well as a spare set at EC
Fridays - 1 on maintenance at EC
Saturdays - as Friday, plus a spare at NL, and another spare at LA
Sundays - 1 on maintenance at EC

In the Summer, Saturday see's 4 sets out with the 5th unavailable for use

There is not a spare set on a Monday to Friday basis. Only 4 out of 5 sets are available for use on any given day

I didn't mean that :P XC HSTs are normally 2+7, yes? Wikipedia says they have 40 Mark 3s, so they have 5 spare. These were the ones I was referring to :P

Adam :

 

[Rich McLean]

I didn't mean that :P XC HSTs are normally 2+7, yes? Wikipedia says they have 40 Mark 3s, so they have 5 spare. These were the ones I was referring to :P

Adam :

Ahh, now I get you.

Not as simple as that, it would be up to the ROSCO if they could be converted and made into a 5 car set. You would still have to find two power cars

 

[SprinterMan]

Ahh, now I get you.

Not as simple as that, it would be up to the ROSCO if they could be converted and made into a 5 car set. You would still have to find two power cars

I am working on the proviso they are getting a GC set :P Jam a couple of spare XC HST Mark 3 trailers in there and voila, 2+9 set :P As we know, EC HSTs are 2+9 sets and GC HSTs are 2+6 sets

Adam

 

[Wolfie]

While I know VTEC is Virgin Trains East Coast, all I can think about is why Honda is refreshing MK4 carriages.

The products of such refurbishment being dubbed Mk 4x4s surely...

 

[CC 72100]

I didn't mean that :P XC HSTs are normally 2+7, yes? Wikipedia says they have 40 Mark 3s, so they have 5 spare. These were the ones I was referring to :P

Adam :

I understand that they were originally refurbished and entered service as 2+8 sets (and indeed some of the older photos taken when they were newly released into service show them as such), but it was too damaging for performance and so they were shortened to 2+7.

I may get shot down for this, but I think they're fine at 2+7 and don't actually need the extra coach.

*Runs and hides*

 

[RobShipway]

I understand that they were originally refurbished and entered service as 2+8 sets (and indeed some of the older photos taken when they were newly released into service show them as such), but it was too damaging for performance and so they were shortened to 2+7.

I may get shot down for this, but I think they're fine at 2+7 and don't actually need the extra coach.

*Runs and hides*

When the HSTs where first introduced I believe that they had 3 First class carriages, which later got reduced to 2 to be 2+7.

Some of those first class carriages have now been converted in to standard class coaches so, this has provided more coaches to be available.

However, I think that the HSTs would be better as being either 2+5 or 2+6 and would operate better in this format.

 

[jimm]

When the HSTs where first introduced I believe that they had 3 First class carriages, which later got reduced to 2 to be 2+7.

Some of those first class carriages have now been converted in to standard class coaches so, this has provided more coaches to be available.

However, I think that the HSTs would be better as being either 2+5 or 2+6 and would operate better in this format.

I can't imagine anyone who uses the XC HST services thinks shortening the sets would be 'better', given that the precise reason they operate is to provide maximum seating capacity on busy sections of the route at busy times of the day.

 

[CC 72100]

I can't imagine anyone who uses the XC HST services thinks shortening the sets would be 'better', given that the precise reason they operate is to provide maximum seating capacity on busy sections of the route at busy times of the day.

I agree - 2+7 is about right considering the loadings. 2+6 would be too short.

 

[D6975]

I may get shot down for this, but I think they're fine at 2+7 and don't actually need the extra coach.

*Runs and hides*

You've obviously never travelled on 1V52 or 1S51 in/out of Paignton on a Summer saturday.

 

[CC 72100]

You've obviously never travelled on 1V52 or 1S51 in/out of Paignton on a Summer saturday.

Most certainly have on 1S51 - most seats taken, but not full and standing. Also found that most of the passengers changed over at Exeter.

Have also travelled down before on the 06:00 Leeds - Paignton - relatively busy once again, but no standees, and this train has a lot of 'local' traffic.

 

[D6975]

You've been lucky then, when I've travelled on them they have not only been full and standing, but pretty much fully reserved too. (Bristol-Paignton leg) I had to kick someone out of our seats last time we went down to Paignton.

 

[louis97]

Have also travelled down before on the 06:00 Leeds - Paignton - relatively busy once again, but no standees, and this train has a lot of 'local' traffic.

That's nothing like 1V52 though, luggage everywhere - it could certainly do with an extra carriage in the high summer! Chaos at the Dawlish Warren stop with everyone having to move down the train with their luggage to the doors that are released.

 

[CC 72100]

That's nothing like 1V52 though, luggage everywhere - it could certainly do with an extra carriage in the high summer! Chaos at the Dawlish Warren stop with everyone having to move down the train with their luggage to the doors that are released.

Must admit, I didn't know that XC stopped at Dawlish Warren! Thought they only did Dawlish and Teignmouth.

I'll take your words for it then - I suppose the Leeds - Paignton being an earlier train gets mainly daily trippers, compared to the holiday makers on the Glasgow - Paignton. I'll also make a note to avoid it in the future

 

[Class 170101]

I think they have an derogation at the moment to allow operation at 2+7 but they should be running 2+8,

 

[Rich McLean]

Most of the time they don't need it.

Only time the HST'S are F & S is on Sundays through the core and 1V44 and 1V46 in the AM rush and 1S51, 1S53 in the PM rush.

Summer Saturdays is an exception to that rule, also Easter etc

 

[leedstraindude]

The XC HSTs as reintroduced by this TOC have always only had two first class coaches.
The removed coaches are all standard class coaches. The coach lettering was changed from A-H to A-G when this was done with the standard wheelchair space coach and tgs/quiet coach being relabelled accordingly.