GwR HSTs to be stood down

[150249]

I could of sworn 154 and 155 where two with a long term future, but perhaps not. 122 hasn't done much for past few weeks, seems inactive at Laira so I'd say that looks a good bet to go. Time will tell I suppose.

I thought that too. I was told that 188 had very little time left but that could've been wrong.

 

[ST156]

Following the reduction in the number of diagrams since the December timetable change, can anyone confirm which Power Cars / Sets remain part of the operational fleet?

Over the last month 11 power cars and 4 sets have been used for service, listed below.

Can anyone confirm the full list, including those stopped for overhaul / maintenance?

Power Cars: 43004, 042, 092, 093, 097, 098, 156, 186, 187, 188, 198

(Are 43153 & 43189 still in use?)

Sets:
GW06/07/08/09

 

[ClnRe]

Railways Illustrated has reported that the GWR HST fleet is now reduced to 12 operational Class 43s, with 43004/042/092/093/097/098 and 43156/186-189/198 remaining in service with the operator. 43027/029/094 and 43122/153-155/162/194 were removed from traffic by GWR in November and December.

At the time of writing (the article), all of the power cars recently taken out of service remain at Laira depot. In addition to the power car fleet reduction, the coaching stock sets GW02 and GW03 have also been taken out of service in recent weeks.

Link to the article:

Hst power car news - 30 Jan 2024 - Railways Illustrated Magazine - Readly

The expected cull of great western railway castle class high speed train power cars took place following the december 2023 timetable change, the fleet n...

gb.readly.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2024 ==

Of the HSTs withdrawn by GWR at the end of last year 43027 and 43029 are owned by Angel trains, the remainder are owned by GWR or First Group.
43027 was reported as being transported on a low loader on the M5 near Exeter travelling north on Saturday 10th Feb.

 

[The_Train]

Are we currently (subject to usual caveats) expecting the current level of Castle diagrams to remain for the remainder of this year?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Are we currently (subject to usual caveats) expecting the current level of Castle diagrams to remain for the remainder of this year?

The content of the diagrams is changing but remains as the limit of 3 diagrams Monday to Saturday.

 

[co-tr-paul]

They have already been posted on 1 Facebook group but I can't find them currently ! Still the 3 operated with a fleet of 6 sets, no changes to fleet as yet.

 

[The_Train]

The content of the diagrams is changing but remains as the limit of 3 diagrams Monday to Saturday.

They have already been posted on 1 Facebook group but I can't find them currently ! Still the 3 operated with a fleet of 6 sets, no changes to fleet as yet.

Thanks both - just planning my block holidays at work and just wanted to make sure I (as things stand now) have the remainder of the year to get down there a couple of times at least

 

[XCTurbostar]

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood advised BBC Radio Devon today that GWR 'Castle' HSTs are to be withdrawn by the second week in December 2025.

 

[Snow1964]

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood advised BBC Radio Devon today that GWR 'Castle' HSTs are to be withdrawn by the second week in December 2025.

He has apparently said in another interview that the ship passage to Mexico is already planned, so their use will not extend into new timetable

 

[WesternLancer]

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood advised BBC Radio Devon today that GWR 'Castle' HSTs are to be withdrawn by the second week in December 2025.

Thanks for this update - that's a shame to hear, speaking as an HST fan.

 

[Snow1964]

Although current timetable ends Saturday 13th December, I think there is an engineering works closure

Penzance - Truro Mon 1 Dec - Friday 5 Dec
Castle Cary - Taunton Mon 8 Dec - Sunday 14 Dec

Currently Cardiff-Exeter section is no longer worked by the Castle HSTs, but if the above closures cause the split point to be moved during works to avoid multiple changes of train, then maybe getting HST might be harder in December, but details of stock allocated during the closures has not yet publicly announced. But anyone hoping to catch one in December should be aware.

For info, because of the Crewkerne problems, the closure Taunton-Exeter Tue 4 Nov to Thur 6 Nov has been postponed (new date not yet announced)

 

[grecian ern]

When the December tlmetable starts it could be there are enough 175 units, drivers, guards, etc ready to take over the HST duties.

 

[John R]

When the December tlmetable starts it could be there are enough 175 units, drivers, guards, etc ready to take over the HST duties.

Well that is clearly the plan. And apparently Hopwood said in the interview that the ships are booked to take the trains to Mexico, so they will be withdrawn come what may.

 

[REVUpminster]

The training 175s have been running between Newton Abbot and Penzance in 5 and 2 car formations.

One refurbished 175 has come down to Laira from Wolverton under it's own power. There's another six or seven up there.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

The training 175s have been running between Newton Abbot and Penzance in 5 and 2 car formations.

One refurbished 175 has come down to Laira from Wolverton under it's own power. There's another six or seven up there.

Have they been refurbished inside? I know they will go green at some point .

 

[The exile]

Have they been refurbished inside? I know they will go green at some point .

Leave them in a siding at Laira long enough and they’ll do that on their own!

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Well that is clearly the plan. And apparently Hopwood said in the interview that the ships are booked to take the trains to Mexico, so they will be withdrawn come what may.

Are all of the remaining vehicles going straight for export?

 

[Bringback309s]

Looking like 2P30 Penzance to Plymouth departing 17.15 on the 13th December is the last HST in Cornwall

 

[-Colly405-]

Looking like 2P30 Penzance to Plymouth departing 17.15 on the 13th December is the last HST in Cornwall

This all feels very ironic.

Having spent much of the late 80's/early 90's vowing "never to get a tram in Cornwall" we are now counting down to "never being able to get a tram in Cornwall"

 

[The exile]

This all feels very ironic.

Having spent much of the late 80's/early 90's vowing "never to get a tram in Cornwall" we are now counting down to "never being able to get a tram in Cornwall"

Time to found the IET preservation society….!

 

[-Colly405-]

Time to found the IET preservation society….!

Give it a few years...

 

[Phil Scott]

I wonder if GWR will do some sort of farewell tour for the HSTs?

 

[Cach17]

I wonder if GWR will do some sort of farewell tour for the HSTs?

They already did one shortly after they were withdrawn from Paddington services in 2019, so I'd say it's unlikely.

 

[43096]

I wonder if GWR will do some sort of farewell tour for the HSTs?

They probably will, but I hope they don't. The GWR sets are frankly a pale shadow of what the HST was.

 

[ainsworth74]

They probably will, but I hope they don't. The GWR sets are frankly a pale shadow of what the HST was.

Maybe they should borrow the 125 Groups coaches for the occasion?

 

[JKF]

Wonder where they will ship them out to Mexico from? Would seem daft sending them all the way to Yarmouth to then sail back past Cornwall. Anywhere local capable of exporting them? Portbury perhaps?

 

[43096]

Wonder where they will ship them out to Mexico from? Would seem daft sending them all the way to Yarmouth to then sail back past Cornwall. Anywhere local capable of exporting them? Portbury perhaps?

Why would they do anything different. It's not GWR exporting them, it's Romic, and their staging post is the Mid-Norfolk.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Wonder where they will ship them out to Mexico from? Would seem daft sending them all the way to Yarmouth to then sail back past Cornwall. Anywhere local capable of exporting them? Portbury perhaps?

Falmouth Docks ..... ! Then they can do a railtour for each set from Truro .

 

[150249]

Does anyone know if any more power cars have been stood down? I haven't seen 43004 out for a good while now.

 

[irish_rail]

Does anyone know if any more power cars have been stood down? I haven't seen 43004 out for a good while now.

004 was being worked on at Laira last week. Unsure if it's with a view to returning to traffic or a view to hardback.