Grand Central 180s reliability.

[harz99]

Hardly a day passes without one or more delays, failures or cancellations affecting GCs 180 fleet, just how do they expect to keep operating until their new stock is operational?

Take 180101 as an example, yesterday I travelled on it working the 1427 Kings Cross to Sunderland service. The unit had arrived on its inbound working 16' late, the crews managed to get the service away on time but it became obvious the unit wasn't running at normal line speed, so 6' late passing Peterborough and 11' late passing Grantham, around 15' late at Doncaster then the set seemed to find a bit more power and arrived at York 15' late on platform 5 where it suffered an unexpected heavy brake application in the final few metres. Fortunately the crew managed to sort out that issue which only added a further 10 minutes to the lateness, and I alighted at Hartlepool around 26' late.

Today 180101 was back in service working the 0853 Sunderland to Kings Cross service, arriving a mere 10' late which may simply have been congestion south of Hitchin, after a visit to Bounds Green it returned to Kings Cross to work the 1627 Kings Cross to Bradford Interchange, leaving on time but losing time all the way, and at last glance on Real Time Trains it had just passed Retford at 1852, some 67' late. Will it make Bradford?

 

[cambsy]

I seem to remember the 180’s being un reliable from their GWR days, up to present day. they have had a bad reliability reputation throughout their history, though fortunately I can’t remember any bad delays or breakdowns when on them. I think if they are not being looked after and worked hard, as they come to end of running with Grand Central, then their reliability will suffer.

 

[Tracked]

At least it's not caught fire, which seems to be their usual issue, especially in this weather

 

[harz99]

At least it's not caught fire, which seems to be their usual issue, especially in this weather

Afaik there hasn't been an actual fire for a long long time, so no that's not their usual issue...

 

[Tetchytyke]

The 175s and 180s have always been unreliable, it is why they were available for Grand Central in the first place.

The warm weather won’t be helping.

 

[357]

after a visit to Bounds Green it returned to Kings Cross to work the 1627 Kings Cross to Bradford Interchange

106 formed 1D81, not 101.
Ignore that, I'm looking at the wrong day!

 

[liamf656]

A stab in the dark could be engine issues. If one is isolated or not giving enough power then itll be difficult to keep to the path

Ultimately I'm not too surprised. With EMR's 180s it were a toss up as to whether they'd all last a full day, especially in the early days

 

[harz99]

And again, 180101 working the 0646 Sunderland to Kings Cross this morning incurred a 16 minute delay platformed at York, followed by terminating short at Doncaster, then an hour or so later ECS to Crofton Depot...

 

[harz99]

So 180107 has just been terminated and hour or so late at Yarm heading for Sunderland, with brake issues. That'll cause a few headaches if it can't be moved!

Edit: the train crew seem to have rectified the issue and are en route to Sunderland around 73 late, I wonder if GC will risk sending it south on it's next working or swap with the next service which is now quite close behind...

 

[47434]

A stab in the dark could be engine issues. If one is isolated or not giving enough power then itll be difficult to keep to the path

Ultimately I'm not too surprised. With EMR's 180s it were a toss up as to whether they'd all last a full day, especially in the early days

Did the ex-EMR 180's move to GC. I once had the displeasure of one all stations Pancras to Nottingham with no air-con

 

[liamf656]

Did the ex-EMR 180's move to GC. I once had the displeasure of one all stations Pancras to Nottingham with no air-con

One or two did spend some time there but they weren't there for long. Someone else will be able to confirm which units and exactly how long for

 

[357]

Did the ex-EMR 180's move to GC. I once had the displeasure of one all stations Pancras to Nottingham with no air-con

110 did briefly a couple of years ago but went back after a few months

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jul 2025 ==

One or two did spend some time there but they weren't there for long. Someone else will be able to confirm which units and exactly how long for

110 did. One other, I believe 111 was supposed to come but never did.

 

[liamf656]

110 did. One other, I believe 111 was supposed to come but never did.

Beat me to it!

 

[harz99]

180107 appears to have disgraced itself again today 14/11 on 1A61 0853 Sunderland to Kings Cross, eventually being cancelled at Peterborough some 55 minutes late in platform 5, which will probably mean a late afternoon cancellation returning from Kings Cross.