GEML franchise 2016

[306024]

Based on all of the above it certainly seems the gauging engineers are going to have a lot of fun gauging a new train to the UK over so many routes. This will not be a five minute job. The power pack bit of the bi-mode trains is novel for us, but having walked through similar in Switzerland it's no big deal.

Once the dust settles it will be interesting to see who are the 'winners' and 'losers' in all this. The elimination of first class on all but the Norwich services is interesting, but not without precedent. Just how the faster Norwich trains will fit in the timetable without causing too much damage to other services is challenging though.

 

[Class 170101]

On the flipside the 1700 isn't an "additional" service, its part of a diagram that spends all day going up and down the GEML, the 1700 becomes the 1900/2130 once it gets to Norwich so it can't be just cut out.

No... Just by checking RTT 17:00 Anglian is supposed to form 5P46 to Crown Point. 16:30 is supposed to form 19:00/2130. However I expect the Anglian forming the 19:00/21:30 is not uncommon if the 16:30 from London is a pair of EMUs - waits for the 22:00 back.
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Wiring 2 roads on the Royal Dock/Low Level helped a bit.

Only suitable for a Load 9 set and not a Load 10. Also has to be last in and first out as fouls other roads.

 

[HLE]

No... Just by checking RTT 17:00 Anglian is supposed to form 5P46 to Crown Point. 16:30 is supposed to form 19:00/2130. However I expect the Anglian forming the 19:00/21:30 is not uncommon if the 16:30 from London is a pair of EMUs - waits for the 22:00 back.
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Only suitable for a Load 9 set and not a Load 10. Also has to be last in and first out as fouls other roads.

I prepare to be corrected but as far as I know, the only EMU working to Norwich is the 17:02 and 19:30 return.

Worked by a Liverpool St. crew as Norwich don't sign EMU's.

Could be complete piffle, mind.

 

[87015]

I prepare to be corrected but as far as I know, the only EMU working to Norwich is the 17:02 and 19:30 return.

Worked by a Liverpool St. crew as Norwich don't sign EMU's.

Could be complete piffle, mind.

Indeed not booked, but 1630 off Liv St is part of the regular 'vice' diagram when short. It drops back onto 2200 so as 321s they start and finish in London.

 

[Class 170101]

The amount of capacity point is a bit moot given these are not replacing high capacity trains, these are replacing 153s and 156s. They will be a big increase in capacity. What corners can you tell have been cut from a scanned line drawing?

I don't think its a big a capacity increase as you imagine.

A 3 car Flirt I think only has four more seats than a 3 car 170.

However that would definitely be a capacity increase on 153s

 

[jopsuk]

I don't think its a big a capacity increase as you imagine.

A 3 car Flirt I think only has four more seats than a 3 car 170.

However that would definitely be a capacity increase on 153s

I'd have thought that in general the 4-car units will be replacing the 3-car 170s and the 3-car units will be replacing the 2-car 170s, 156s and 153s

 

[TheEdge]

No... Just by checking RTT 17:00 Anglian is supposed to form 5P46 to Crown Point. 16:30 is supposed to form 19:00/2130. However I expect the Anglian forming the 19:00/21:30 is not uncommon if the 16:30 from London is a pair of EMUs - waits for the 22:00 back.

Hmm, I'm sure its booked, or at least seems to happen a fair while.

A few people have mentioned the 1630 being EMU'd fairly regularly are right. Its a diagram that for the majority of the day is either crewed by London or Ipswich crews so dropping a 321 onto it is no issue.

 

[306024]

Hmm, I'm sure its booked, or at least seems to happen a fair while.

A few people have mentioned the 1630 being EMU'd fairly regularly are right. Its a diagram that for the majority of the day is either crewed by London or Ipswich crews so dropping a 321 onto it is no issue.

Maybe our old friend the High Output Ballast Cleaner caused some modified diagrams, but unless there has been a recent change the 17.00 Liverpool St to Norwich has been booked to form ECS to Crown Point since the December 2010 timetable.

 

[TheEdge]

But I've fairly recently worked the 1900 in normal service at it was formed out of the 1700. I don't know what to think anymore...

 

[306024]

I prepare to be corrected but as far as I know, the only EMU working to Norwich is the 17:02 and 19:30 return.

Worked by a Liverpool St. crew as Norwich don't sign EMU's.

Two different Liverpool St drivers in fact. The 17.00 Liverpool St to Norwich driver brings the 19.30 EMU back as the last leg of a double Norwich trip, while the 17.02 driver brings the 20.30 back. Ipswich Conductor from Colchester to Norwich and back to Colchester, DOO between London and Colchester. Simples.

But I've fairly recently worked the 1900 in normal service at it was formed out of the 1700. I don't know what to think anymore...

Probably a common enough Control move depending on maintenance requirements.

 

[Rick1984]

They aren't counting the power module in the number of cars of the bi-modes?

 

[Wivenswold]

They aren't counting the power module in the number of cars of the bi-modes?

No. But they should've pretended that they were. Just for a laugh.

 

[grumblingalong]

No. But they should've pretended that they were. Just for a laugh.

But then forum members would have branded the trains cheap off the shelf nonsense, procured solely for the "whole new fleet" tag line.

Oh, wait.

 

[LAX54]

But I've fairly recently worked the 1900 in normal service at it was formed out of the 1700. I don't know what to think anymore...

Our simplifier at Colchester shows 1P46 (1700) as NC05, which then forms 5P46 ECS to the Point.

 

[Rick1984]

No. But they should've pretended that they were. Just for a laugh.

That's good to know. Thought I'd check as it's the sort of thing you expect from TOC's.

 

[All Line Rover]

Apologies if this question has already been asked, but if the Class 379s are to be replaced, where will they be going?

 

[dk1]

Apologies if this question has already been asked, but if the Class 379s are to be replaced, where will they be going?

Plenty of homes for this type of unit. EMT where mooted to be a possibility for the Corby-St.Pancras route but this appears to be dismissed by the company in MR magazine this month.

 

[Wivenswold]

Traveled on 321303 tonight. Very impressive job done, it feels less cramped inside until you sit on one of the 3 across seats with 2 other people. The seats are really hard, which is good for posture and the spine but wasn't appreciated by an older lady who happily expressed her displeasure to anyone who looked in her direction.

Hopefully she isn't fitted to all 30 of these units as it got very annoying after half an hour.

 

[All Line Rover]

Traveled on 321303 tonight. Very impressive job done, it feels less cramped inside until you sit on one of the 3 across seats with 2 other people. The seats are really hard, which is good for posture and the spine but wasn't appreciated by an older lady who happily expressed her displeasure to anyone who looked in her direction.

Hopefully she isn't fitted to all 30 of these units as it got very annoying after half an hour.

She was moaning too much, presumably?

 

[jopsuk]

Apologies if this question has already been asked, but if the Class 379s are to be replaced, where will they be going?

Nobody knows. Or if they do know nobody has said anything. No official announcements.

 

[Wivenswold]

She was moaning too much, presumably?

Definitely had a faulty self-awareness unit that one.

 

[Wivenswold]

I've had a letter from AGA HQ about the Aventra Specifications.

I'm told that the reason for the lack of information at the moment is that they are intending on doing a consultation early in 2017 on what passengers want from their new trains.

Now, a cynic could suggest that this will be cover for any decisions that will be unpopular with some customers such as the rumoured removal of first class but let's see what they come up with.

I've already made a case to them about providing quiet coaches and also said that the peak 10 cars should really be configured for longer-distance commuters with areas of 2+2 seating.

Anyway, wanted to pass that on for anyone who's baffled by the lack of info in comparison to the Stadler Flirt details already published.

 

[43074]

I've had a letter from AGA HQ about the Aventra Specifications.

I'm told that the reason for the lack of information at the moment is that they are intending on doing a consultation early in 2017 on what passengers want from their new trains.

Now, a cynic could suggest that this will be cover for any decisions that will be unpopular with some customers such as the rumoured removal of first class but let's see what they come up with.

I've already made a case to them about providing quiet coaches and also said that the peak 10 cars should really be configured for longer-distance commuters with areas of 2+2 seating.

Anyway, wanted to pass that on for anyone who's baffled by the lack of info in comparison to the Stadler Flirt details already published.

I suspect one of the reasons (at least initially) was that Siemens launched a legal challenge to the decision which they decided not to proceed with, that might have explained why there was relatively little information for a while after the announcement.

 

[LAX54]

Is the new 'depot' at Manningtree still going ahead, I had heard a rumour that it had been pulled from the plans ?

 

[dk1]

Is the new 'depot' at Manningtree still going ahead, I had heard a rumour that it had been pulled from the plans ?

Still going ahead. No room at the inn otherwise.

 

[306024]

Still going ahead. No room at the inn otherwise.

Although you do wonder who the three wise men were who put this franchise bid together :roll:

 

[dk1]

Although you do wonder who the three wise men were who put this franchise bid together :roll:

Very good

 

[LAX54]

Still going ahead. No room at the inn otherwise.

We had heard here, that the maintainance depot was now not going to be built, but maybe a few stabling few roads, bit like Gidea Park ?

 

[grumblingalong]

We had heard here, that the maintainance depot was now not going to be built, but maybe a few stabling few roads, bit like Gidea Park ?

The whole thing would go up the khyber without it, that place will handle all the major stadler servicing,

 

[Class 170101]

Apparently Chesterton has been sold for Housing. Clacton TMD doesn't look big enough to accommodate a five car Bombardier unit but may be able to fit Stadler trains.