Regarding FGWs 150/153/158 fleet cleaning? Is there any cleaning going on anywhere at the moment? Most units are in a diabolical condition externally.
I seem to remember that we were promised that all units would be cleaned every time they went on depot, certainly at Bristol but either that facility is not yet available or FGW are economising on water use. What about cleaning at Plymouth and Exeter?
Plymouth Laira is used on a regular basis. Not sure during the day, but I know during the evenings. When I'm on lates (10/11-8pm), 9 times out of 10 there's usually a HST or a Voyager in the cleaning sidings past Laira depot - it's also used for access to Friary for scrap metal traffic btw - so I know it's being used. Not sure about DMU's as I havn't seen any going thru as yet. The usual process is go past the washing machine on the avoiding line next to it to go into the cleaning sidings. Here, as far as I know, HST's just run round, Voyagers have their retention toilets emptied here, but anyone do correct me if I'm wrong. Once finished in the sidings, the train, be it HST or Voyager, heads to the washing machine - a new one was installed at Laira last year - first machine coats the train in cleaning solution of some sort, then next machine brushes it & rinses it, before heading to the reception sidings next to the depot. That's basically it really.
Mart
