GWR Class 800

[47802]

I`m not talking about the slower sections of route where the trains were not designed to run at 125mph. I`m talking about the whole fiasco around the electrification issue. No difficult concept there. Yes things will pick up eventually once electrification (whenever that will be) is complete.

But the electrification fiasco has little to do with the train, other than the fact the 800 has enough flexibility to get Network Rail and Dft out of the S***, as for things picking up once electrification is complete, I would imagine that now being able to work to Didcot on Electric will be a significant benefit.

 

[D1009]

Up Red Dragon was on diesel only and late and loosing time. I was on 800023, the other was 21

I guess there was some sort of issue preventing electric mode operation of 800s on the up road yesterday, I travelled on two trains which were on diesel from Didcot. Down trains were unaffected.

 

[Mugby]

Are they being used on Cheltenham/Gloucester services? If so, how are they performing on Sapperton Bank?

 

[jimm]

No. First services on that route are not planned until June

See https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...p-initial-diagrams-allocations.153431/page-21

 

[Railperf]

I guess there was some sort of issue preventing electric mode operation of 800s on the up road yesterday, I travelled on two trains which were on diesel from Didcot. Down trains were unaffected.

I also understand that just under a handful of Class 800 units are currently not allowed to raise pantographs due to power changeover issues. Not sure of the unit numbers though or how soon those issues can be fixed.

 

[TractiveEffort]

Back to running on OHL today, except for when the Drivers are only passed out on diesel.

 

[nuneatonmark]

They'd better find the leak soon, can't have drivers passing out on Diesel!

 

[59CosG95]

800302 ran to North Pole today, running as 5X80 from Donny Carr to North Pole. On diesel all the way, over an hour late from start to finish. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97221/2018/01/12/advanced

 

[Domh245]

800302 was delivered to North Pole today, running as 5X80 from Donny Carr to North Pole. On diesel all the way, over an hour late from start to finish. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97221/2018/01/12/advanced

Delivered to or Ran to? It's been to North Pole a few times before now, but are you suggesting that it is now commissioned and ready for service?

 

[59CosG95]

Delivered to or Ran to? It's been to North Pole a few times before now, but are you suggesting that it is now commissioned and ready for service?

You've got me there, I've not the foggiest as to whether it was a test run or a delivery run! I assumed it was a delivery, given that more diagrams are turning over to 800 operation in the next few weeks, so it may still be testing, but on the GW rather than the EC.

 

[Domh245]

You've got me there, I've not the foggiest as to whether it was a test run or a delivery run! I assumed it was a delivery, given that more diagrams are turning over to 800 operation in the next few weeks, so it may still be testing, but on the GW rather than the EC.

I had a look through the contract from 2014 [pg307], so buckets of salt are required as a result of the changes to all bi-modes, programme delays, etc, but the delivery schedule was for all of the bi-modal vehicles (ie the 5 cars) to be delivered and available for service by 8/2/2018, with the first electric set (ie the 9 cars) being delivered for service the week afterwards (15/2/2018)

Based on that, we should see 800302 (or at least an 9 car) come into service either in mid February (best case), or once the final 5 car has been delivered (more likely)

 

[Dai Corner]

I was on an IET for the first time today; 1L71, the 1429 Swansea to Paddington between Bridgend and Cardiff Central and noticed that the two units were coupled with the First Class back to back in the middle. Is this normal practice now? Perhaps it always has been and I was wrong in thinking First Class was usually at the London end of each unit.

Anyway it caused a little delay as passengers obviously used to boarding the middle coaches of HSTs made their way to Standard.

I'd make similar comments to others regarding the hardness and 'uprightness' of the seats and good legroom. I did notice a certain amount of sound (I wouldn't call it noise) and vibration when the engines were working hard.

 

[ainsworth74]

Based on that, we should see 800302 (or at least an 9 car) come into service either in mid February (best case), or once the final 5 car has been delivered (more likely)

I believe some has reported June as being the expected in service date for the 9-car units.

 

[TwistedMentat]

I was on an IET for the first time today; 1L71, the 1429 Swansea to Paddington between Bridgend and Cardiff Central and noticed that the two units were coupled with the First Class back to back in the middle. Is this normal practice now? Perhaps it always has been and I was wrong in thinking First Class was usually at the London end of each unit.

Anyway it caused a little delay as passengers obviously used to boarding the middle coaches of HSTs made their way to Standard.

I'd make similar comments to others regarding the hardness and 'uprightness' of the seats and good legroom. I did notice a certain amount of sound (I wouldn't call it noise) and vibration when the engines were working hard.

Yup. I believe this is how the 5 car sets will be coupled. Just a change that people will get used to.

As for the 9 car set I imagine they'll follow the HST pattern of first towards London. No proof of that but a reasonable guess I think.

 

[Domh245]

I believe some has reported June as being the expected in service date for the 9-car units.

That'd tally with the second scenario. The first 5 car train was about 4 and a half months behind the schedule in the linked document, and June would be about 4 and a half months behind the schedule for the 9 cars

 

[bastien]

Yup. I believe this is how the 5 car sets will be coupled. Just a change that people will get used to.

As for the 9 car set I imagine they'll follow the HST pattern of first towards London. No proof of that but a reasonable guess I think.

Presumably it'll be pot luck where first class is once units start splitting and joining en-route? Or will they all be running with first at the London end by that stage?

 

[Domh245]

Presumably it'll be pot luck where first class is once units start splitting and joining en-route? Or will they all be running with first at the London end by that stage?

Shouldn't do, unless there is some opportunity for the sets to get routinely turned in service, First class should always be at the London End of each unit, (and so at one end and in the middle of the train). Obviously units may get turned if they've been sent on some sort of diversion, but that shouldn't be the norm

 

[IanXC]

Shouldn't do, unless there is some opportunity for the sets to get routinely turned in service, First class should always be at the London End of each unit, (and so at one end and in the middle of the train). Obviously units may get turned if they've been sent on some sort of diversion, but that shouldn't be the norm

That post was referring to someones observation that the first class sections were coupled back to back, ie, first class towards the coupled ends of both sets.

Now unless units which split to serve their destinations will always be diagrammed such as they are at the western end of a coupled working then I don't see how pot luck can be avoided.

 

[rftorf]

That post was referring to someones observation that the first class sections were coupled back to back, ie, first class towards the coupled ends of both sets.

Now unless units which split to serve their destinations will always be diagrammed such as they are at the western end of a coupled working then I don't see how pot luck can be avoided.

I think it's hit and miss in terms of the position of first class. On the two occasions I've travelled on then it was in the front and middle on the first occasion and both in the middle on the second. The position is announced before the train arrives. In terms of booking tickets, which end is A-D & E-I or do you get two A - D?

 

[Dai Corner]

I think it's hit and miss in terms of the position of first class. On the two occasions I've travelled on then it was in the front and middle on the first occasion and both in the middle on the second. The position is announced before the train arrives. In terms of booking tickets, which end is A-D & E-I or do you get two A - D?

I was in coach J in the rear unit. There was an automated announcement that no reservations were available.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

800302 ran to North Pole today, running as 5X80 from Donny Carr to North Pole.

I passed Doncaster at around 11am this morning and observed 800303 parked-up, in GWR green but with no branding.

 

[Pete_uk]

Maybe a silly question, but if I have a first class reservation, how would I know which unit to my seat was in?

 

[Oxfordblues]

They'd better find the leak soon, can't have drivers passing out on Diesel!

I met a man in a pub once who claimed he'd taken part in all the big tests of beer-drinking ability - and passed-out on every one....

 

[Master29]

Maybe a silly question, but if I have a first class reservation, how would I know which unit to my seat was in?

It will tell you on the ticket. one unit lettered ABCD and E and 2nd unit GHJKL. Usually D or E on one and K and L on t`other.

 

[Envoy]

Are they still giving reserved pre-booked passengers the seats with no window?

 

[rftorf]

It will tell you on the ticket. one unit lettered ABCD and E and 2nd unit GHJKL. Usually D or E on one and K and L on t`other.

I guess the issue is which unit will be ABCDE and which GHJK. Is A usually at the London end, or E if 1st class is facing London etc? I can just imagine someone with a 1st class seat reservation in E standing on one end of the platform only to find their seat is 10 coaches away if 1st class is at the front and rear.

 

[jimm]

At Didcot, the screens on the platforms certainly show the train formation - others may know if this facility is available at other locations.

 

[Dave1987]

Well it does appear that the laws of physics are well the laws of physics. RF in his latest column lays to bed the whole myth that distributed traction solves everything. Everyone already knows that the 800's cannot keep up with HST timings without full grunt and the DFT are seemingly very reluctant to allow full grunt. And reading his column it appears the drag of the equipment on top and the pocket doors mean they are going to struggle to get to 125mph on the Scottish routes when they go up the East Coast.

 

[jimm]

The Scottish routes? There's some 125mph track on the ECML east of Edinburgh, but nothing above 100mph further north.

So long as the ECML overhead power supply is boosted, an issue which I seem to recall was also mentioned in Roger Ford's article, I can't think of any reason why 800s, 801s and TPE's 802s will not be able to run at 125mph where it is allowed in Scotland.

Or do the laws of physics differ north of the border? GWR's 800s seem to manage 125mph on electric power without much fuss, despite having equipment on top and pocket doors.

 

[D365]

I seem to recall a certain fleet of Hitachi MUs running at speeds in excess of 125mph on a daily basis...