FGW West timetable changes from 18th May.

[WelshBluebird]

Shame we can't send a Pacer instead!

At one point in time a few years ago it was a pacer!
But FGW did offer some amazing advance fares for the whole journey, so I could just about stomach the trip from Cardiff to Exeter on one! Also meant I didn't have to drag a suitcase between services at Bristol.

 

[Rapidash]

I finally saw the semi-mythical 6 car Metro service yesterday whilst waiting at St Thomas. Talk about bloomin' overkill! No wonder services headed down are so limited at that time of day now! The shuttle that follows it as well... I just don't think thats been well planned. Hopefully when the sprogs bugger off for the summer some sanity will return for those us heading home.

 

[TEW]

There hasn't been any reduction in service to run the 6-car school train. And believe me, if you caught it at Torre you wouldn't say it was an overkill. The unit used to strengthen it to 6 carriages is a unit which would otherwise be spare before working the 1745 Exeter Central-Paignton.

 

[Rapidash]

There hasn't been any reduction in service to run the 6-car school train. And believe me, if you caught it at Torre you wouldn't say it was an overkill. The unit used to strengthen it to 6 carriages is a unit which would otherwise be spare before working the 1745 Exeter Central-Paignton.

The 1722 out of Central used to be 4 car, I'm sure. Its not been too crowded the last few days, but I suspect it's going to be back to normal soon enough.

Where are the Torre kids going to anyway? Newton or Paignton? Can't imagine they go much further than that, surely?

 

[TEW]

Towards Exeter. They get off at a variety of places along the way. If the service is not formed of 5 or 6 carriages a bus has to be sent, the number of passengers can't physically get on a 4-car set.

 

[Rich McLean]

Towards Exeter. They get off at a variety of places along the way. If the service is not formed of 5 or 6 carriages a bus has to be sent, the number of passengers can't physically get on a 4-car set.

I have witness this before, with kids left behind on the platform, when it was only a 4 car

 

[PHILIPE]

Re the anticipated shortage of units by stretching the fleet as discussed earlier, FGWs Journey Check's standard reason in the event of any shortage always seems to be:- "Due to an earlier train fault".

 

[Parallel]

Re the anticipated shortage of units by stretching the fleet as discussed earlier, FGWs Journey Check's standard reason in the event of any shortage always seems to be:- "Due to an earlier train fault".

Indeed, I've noticed this too - with these stock shortages, it leads to some interesting formations for the more "local" services.

The 17:49 BRI-WEY is usually two sprinters coupled together. On Monday it was only one sprinter (2 coaches) and it looked as if they couldn't have squeezed any more people on it, when I went past. Yesterday it was formed of 5 coaches with one sprinter and a 158. 5 cars can fit on some of the medium stations (Bradford On Avon, Trowbridge) at an absolute squeeze.

 

[Rapidash]

I've been noticing a few PGN -EXD services being cancelled in the mornings. 153's playing silly buggers again....?

 

[PHILIPE]

I've been noticing a few PGN -EXD services being cancelled in the mornings. 153's playing silly buggers again....?

More like 143s rather than 153s. There have been ongoing problems with keeping 143s in service recently.

 

[TEW]

I predicted way back on the first page of this thread that diagramming 7 out of 8 143s would probably just lead to short formations.

 

[Xavi]

The relatively empty 6-car unit on the a Devon Metro witnessed at Exeter St Thomas (rammed at Torre) could be compared to my regular experience of having an entire 4-car unit (back of 12-car formation) to myself from St Pancras to St Albans at 0930.

Capacity issues will continue to increase on Devon Metro with this year's opening of Newcourt with Marsh Barton to follow later.

Solution: new larger fleet for Thameslink and stretch a fleet of Pacers in Devon. Perhaps we could at least have some firm details of how many 20-year old Turbos will come west and the services they will cover (Network Rail clearance work is not necessarily confirmation!)?

 

[455driver]

A 150 failed today at Bristol with a DSD fault on 2C75 1200 Cardiff to Taunton, I see it was delayed and left off platform 8 so a stock change probably took place as it arrived on platform 10.
the West fleet is certainly being worked hard.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Perhaps we could at least have some firm details of how many 20-year old Turbos will come west and the services they will cover (Network Rail clearance work is not necessarily confirmation!)?

this weeks rumour is that the 165/166s will go to Bristol and their 150/158s will go to Exeter. The longer distance trains will use the 166s with the Bristol locals in the hands of the 165s and the West locals being the 150s. I cant work out where the 158s fit into the plan. The 143s and 153s dont feature in the plan although sticking a 153 in the middle of a 150 (to give a 3 coach unit would be one idea.

 

[TEW]

158s would possibly be for Plymouth-Penzance services. That's certainly one possibility that's been talked about. But as you say, you hear a different version of the plan every week.

 

[Parallel]

Which stock I think is ideal for routes:

- Keep the 158s on Cardiff - Portsmouth. The 158s do a decent job on this line but often seem to pick up delays from overcrowding - perhaps the 158s could be reformed into two coach units and then be coupled together to make four car sets, they are suitable for quite a self contained route. I believe they have enough for 10 4 car units and 1 three car unit.

- I'd always recommend that the 143s operate near a depot in case of breakdowns whether that's Exeter or Bristol. They might be quite good for around Bristol again, say Severn Beach or Weston Super Mare - Bristol Parkway as these are relatively short routes with a lot of stops. If the 143s are being kept then they probably need some serious work doing to them to stop the leaks and train faults, though FGW's look a lot healthier than Arriva's, inside.

- 166s would be good for longer services, say Great Malvern - Weymouth/Brighton, as well as longer services through Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and stand in if any 158s are unavailable on the Portsmouth route and any left over can run to Weymouth.

- 165s would be okay for Cardiff - Taunton, Gloucester/Bristol - Weymouth, Great Malvern - Westbury and more local services. I would also welcome them if FGW decide to introduce a Reading - Westbury stopping service, extra Weymouth services or if there are ever any plans of a service via. the Yeovils.

- 150s do an okay job on the Devon metro and branch lines, also Cheltenham - Swindon and some of the Bristol and Westbury locals.

- 153s work fine on Swindon - Westbury and some of the branch lines in Devon and Cornwall, as well as strengthening other services. Some of them could be reformed into 155s and could have one toilet moved, and the other toilet made suitable for DDA.

What I think will happen:

- 166s Cardiff - Portsmouth, 158s/150s on locals, 158s and 165s on regional services, 143s around Exeter, 153s on the branch lines.

 

[Rapidash]

Are people forgetting that Devon is the third largest county on this island? There aren't any 'short' routes for the 143's Pack 'em off to Bristol and its midget branches!

The two principle Metro routes are PGN/BNP to Exmouth, both of which take over 1.5hrs on a good day of the week, and lets not talk about the bad. Anything that reduces that needs to be done. Only thing that can't be sorted is the dwell times waiting for the Mainline services to escape Cornwall or London.

I shall be 'enjoying' the oh so wondrous PGN - EXM slog today. Only do it once a month these days, but I always remember to take a book! *crosses fingers and hopes for a sprinter*

 

[PHILIPE]

I predicted way back on the first page of this thread that diagramming 7 out of 8 143s would probably just lead to short formations.

It would appear that FGW stretched their fleet which is rather a gamble needing so many units in service at one time. I think they did it with fingers crossed and hoped for the best that everything could be covered. At least, diagrams are in place even if sufficient units are not.

 

[Parallel]

I shall be 'enjoying' the oh so wondrous PGN - EXM slog today. Only do it once a month these days, but I always remember to take a book! *crosses fingers and hopes for a sprinter*

I travelled on the Devon metro last month, from St David's to Exmouth I had a 143, from Exmouth to Paignton I had a 150/2 (journey felt much longer as we pulled over to let numerous mainline services pass at Dawlish Warren) and I had a 150/1 from Paignton to Newton Abbot (where I saw the 6 car Pacer) and then took a HST back to Exeter because it was quicker and I couldn't do the journey again.

 

[Rich McLean]

The main Reason why Class 165/166 will replace 158s on the Pompey - Cardiff is that there is more capacity due to the seating configeration, and with 2 car 165, they can be made 5 or 6 car in the peaks as required with minimal fuss.

158's will go west to work Penzance - Plymouth/Exeter (and beyond) diagrams, as they can inter-work and couple up with other sprinters in the far west on the branches, which reduces the need to run 150s etc on long runs, as 165/166s will not (currently) be made compatible with 14x/15x. It makes ECS moves simpler.

 

[Rapidash]

One of the drivers was muttering about how short they are with the 143's today when changing over at St David's. Getting crowded on the single 143's again as the holidays start - bit of an unsafe number of wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes today, with some tempers flaring.

 

[CC 72100]

One of the drivers was muttering about how short they are with the 143's today when changing over at St David's. Getting crowded on the single 143's again as the holidays start - bit of an unsafe number of wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes today, with some tempers flaring.

I wonder how many of the pushchairs had been properly folded for getting onto the train as they're meant to though?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The main Reason why Class 165/166 will replace 158s on the Pompey - Cardiff is that there is more capacity due to the seating configeration, and with 2 car 165, they can be made 5 or 6 car in the peaks as required with minimal fuss.

158's will go west to work Penzance - Plymouth/Exeter (and beyond) diagrams, as they can inter-work and couple up with other sprinters in the far west on the branches, which reduces the need to run 150s etc on long runs, as 165/166s will not (currently) be made compatible with 14x/15x. It makes ECS moves simpler.

I take it the 165/6s would be getting a refurbishment before taking over the Portsmouth - Cardiff route - the 158s have a nicer long distance interior so I could understand it if their replacement was seen as a step backwards from a passenger comfort point of view.

158s on Penzance - Plymouth makes sense, getting of the London HST for a 150/1 with 3+2 seating for the journey through Cornwall must not be fun, and I've been on a few rammed ones. Doubled-up 158s anyone?

As for the 158s on the branches... which ones? They're not exactly that suitable for lots of stopping work, in fact the only branch where I could sort of see them would be Newquay. All the other ones are too short, or too complex (Devon Metro) for them to be of any use.

In terms of 150s on the branches - how about slapping a 153 in the middle of a 150/1, to make a 3 car train? Means you get more than one coach whilst maintaining the ability to walk through the whole train, easier for customer service and revenue duties that way. 150/2s could either work in multiple or on their own off-peak.

 

[Rich McLean]

I wonder how many of the pushchairs had been properly folded for getting onto the train as they're meant to though?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I take it the 165/6s would be getting a refurbishment before taking over the Portsmouth - Cardiff route - the 158s have a nicer long distance interior so I could understand it if their replacement was seen as a step backwards from a passenger comfort point of view.

158s on Penzance - Plymouth makes sense, getting of the London HST for a 150/1 with 3+2 seating for the journey through Cornwall must not be fun, and I've been on a few rammed ones. Doubled-up 158s anyone?

As for the 158s on the branches... which ones? They're not exactly that suitable for lots of stopping work, in fact the only branch where I could sort of see them would be Newquay. All the other ones are too short, or too complex (Devon Metro) for them to be of any use.

In terms of 150s on the branches - how about slapping a 153 in the middle of a 150/1, to make a 3 car train? Means you get more than one coach whilst maintaining the ability to walk through the whole train, easier for customer service and revenue duties that way. 150/2s could either work in multiple or on their own off-peak.

158s wouldn't work on the branches, but would enable 150s etc that are on the branches to couple up to 158s to enable them to get to the depot for fuel/exam etc

 

[CC 72100]

158s wouldn't work on the branches, but would enable 150s etc that are on the branches to couple up to 158s to enable them to get to the depot for fuel/exam etc

I did then read your post again and guessed that - cheers for confirming!

 

[Xavi]

If class 165/6 units are only going as far west as Bristol then there will be a lot of welcome extra capacity around the UK's second economic city (GDP per head) especially considering there's likely to be a class 319 operated Swansea - Bristol stopping service.

 

[Parallel]

If class 165/6 units are only going as far west as Bristol then there will be a lot of welcome extra capacity around the UK's second economic city (GDP per head) especially considering there's likely to be a class 319 operated Swansea - Bristol stopping service.

I wonder which TOC would serve a Swansea - Bristol stopping service. I'm not too sure we really need a stopping service from stations like Llansamlet or Baglan to Bristol Temple Meads, as most travel to the bigger towns nearby (Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Bridgend). That said, an extra service between Bristol and Cardiff (and Cardiff and Swansea) would be most welcome. There's rumours that Arriva will no longer serve Cheltenham Spa - Cardiff Central but that would mean that Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot and Chepstow would be the only stations in Wales that Arriva wouldn't serve. It will be interesting to see what electrification brings.

 

[Rapidash]

If the 16x's are only going to bloomin' Bristol, what's that leaving us down here with? Pacers which are rapidly expiring and overworked 150's? Cheers for that!

With all the new stations getting the go ahead, the need for something with better acceleration is more than overdue.

 

[RPI]

If class 165/6 units are only going as far west as Bristol then there will be a lot of welcome extra capacity around the UK's second economic city (GDP per head) especially considering there's likely to be a class 319 operated Swansea - Bristol stopping service.

There has not yet been any cascade confirmed nor even proposed as yet, all speculation.

 

[455driver]

If the 16x's are only going to bloomin' Bristol, what's that leaving us down here with? Pacers which are rapidly expiring and overworked 150's? Cheers for that!

The 150s displaced from Bristol.

With all the new stations getting the go ahead, the need for something with better acceleration is more than overdue.

165/166s dont accelerate any faster than a 150 so I dont get what you mean!
They do have more horsepower but they are geared for 90 instead of 75.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Rumours going around that 180s may take over Cardiff-Portsmouth runs after IEP introduction..
Wessex used to do runs to Swansea with Gloucester depot covering this work so you never know.. I don't think we will know until this new 5 year FGW extension gets agreed

 

[PHILIPE]

Rumours going around that 180s may take over Cardiff-Portsmouth runs after IEP introduction..
Wessex used to do runs to Swansea with Gloucester depot covering this work so you never know.. I don't think we will know until this new 5 year FGW extension gets agreed

Not in Wessex days. Was in the time of Wales and West before the formation of Wessex.