The reality with the 57/3s is that this is the first ever intense diagram that they have worked and judging by FGWs actions they are not up to the task. I always found them suspect machines as much I love bashing them.
It was hard to measure reliability in the past because most of them spent their days doing nothing at stations on the WCML on thunderbird duties only. Reliability figures weren't great at times of diversions, though this wasn't necessarilly down to loco failure, just problems connecting to the 390.
The old Virgin Crewe-Holyhead diagrams involved two out and back workings, and generally the diagram meant that the loco was changed over every day, so a loco might work to Holyhead one day of the week then spend the next couple of days doing nothing, so hardly too taxing.
Reliability of the Holyhead-Cardiff service has been very patchy and indeed failed on Friday.
The Saturday Crewe-Holyhead diagram has also had issues with 57303 and 57307 having problems a while back.
Look at 67016 & 67017 on the Paignton diagrams, which have been consistant reliable performers since December. With the 57s we've already had 57303, 57309, 57315, 57316 and at least two of those (303 & 316) have failed.
so the 15th is the last day to get 57s on Cardiff-Taunton?
