GWR Intercity Express Train (IEP) initial diagrams & allocations

[ainsworth74]

I don't think that placing the quiet coach in the unpowered vehicle is intentional - its simply the first standard class coach (coach A) which just happens to be unpowered, i.e. by accident rather than design.

Yes almost certainly but we can pretend that it's been that well thought out can't we

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It appears the 19:00 Bristol service calls at Didcot Parkway 5 minutes before the 17:29 Swansea - Paddington. Quite tight but I might give that a try doing Reading - Didcot - Reading on the Monday, to give a taster of the new machines.

What about doing 11.45 from Paddington to Reading to intercept the 10.55 Cardiff - Paddington...? That's a +25 connection so should be safe enough to attempt?

 

[Kite159]

What about doing 11.45 from Paddington to Reading to intercept the 10.55 Cardiff - Paddington...? That's a +25 connection so should be safe enough to attempt?

Sadly I've got work in the daytime and need to save my remaining holiday days up for Christmas closedown (pesky army folk wanting Christmas leave )

I was thinking of that move as it is doable for me after work (6pm train from my local station, changing at Basingstoke for a Reading service gets me to Reading with plenty of time before that Bristol one.

 

[AlterEgo]

Booked on the 0600 BRI-PAD, Monday 16th...Coach D. I'll be filming the experience.

 

[BestWestern]

Booked on the 0600 BRI-PAD, Monday 16th...Coach D. I'll be filming the experience.

From a MK3 droplight window....

Just kidding!

 

[AlterEgo]

From a MK3 droplight window....

Just kidding!

I’m on an Anytime...I have no faith!!

 

[D1009]

Which is logical as that's an unopowered vehicle as well.

From what I've seen of what little noise the engines make, I doubt it will make much difference whether or not the coach is diesel powered. They must be the quietest diesel units ever introduced in the UK.

 

[All Line Rover]

Is the kitchen in the first class end carriage smaller than the massive one depicted in the DfT draft layouts? If the seating area is a similar size to the standard class end carriage, one can understand there being only two first class carriages - the number of first class seats would be similar to a 9-car Pendolino, which in practice have two first class carriages (the tiny seating area in Coach K being "reserved" for staff).

 

[spark001uk]

Here's some timings I've extracted (from RTT) for trips between RDG and PAD for the initial diagrams, for those who fancy hitting them on a TBDR (Thames Branches Day Ranger), or just a return trip perhaps. Seven trips in total can be had, thus:

(BRI-PAD 1A11)
RDG 1048 (10)
PAD 1114 (4)

(PAD-SWA 1B28)
PAD 1145 (4)
RDG 1210 (9)

(CDF-PAD 1L51)
RDG 1234 (10)
PAD 1259 (10)

(PAD-SWA 1B40)
PAD 1345 (10)
RDG 1410 (8)

(SWA-PAD 1L76)
RDG 1803 (11)
PAD 1831 (2)

(PAD-BRI 1C27)
PAD 1900 (2)
RDG 1925 (8)

(SWA-PAD 1L90)
RDG 2008 (10)
PAD 2036 (9)

There's a bit of a gap from 1259-1345, and a much bigger one from 1410 to 1803, but if on a rover it's easy to fill in.

(Service and headcode, and booked platforms are in brackets)

 

[jimm]

Is the kitchen in the first class end carriage smaller than the massive one depicted in the DfT draft layouts? If the seating area is a similar size to the standard class end carriage, one can understand there being only two first class carriages - the number of first class seats would be similar to a 9-car Pendolino, which in practice have two first class carriages (the tiny seating area in Coach K being "reserved" for staff).

All Class 800, 801 and 802 have the same size of kitchen - as per DfT requirements - there will be just under 40 first class seats in the five-car sets and about 70 in the nine-car sets. Numbers are roughly in line with GWR's Class 180s and HSTs in current formations with 1.5 first class coaches.

 

[D1009]

Do we know whether the trains will use electric mode on the Tilehurst - Didcot stretch?

 

[Filton Bank]

Do we know whether the trains will use electric mode on the Tilehurst - Didcot stretch?

There has been some driver training and testing on AC there, but it'll be AC between Paddington and Taplow/Maidenhead only at start of public service.

 

[jimm]

Do we know whether the trains will use electric mode on the Tilehurst - Didcot stretch?

No electric running in passenger service west of Maidenhead until January.

 

[D1009]

There has been some driver training and testing on AC there, but it'll be AC between Paddington and Taplow/Maidenhead only at start of public service.

No electric running in passenger service west of Maidenhead until January.

Thanks for that, someone posted on the GW livery thread observing one of the GW liveried units passing Didcot with pan raised, and this is what prompted my question.

Presumably by January the Maidenhead to Tilehurst section will be available for use, so we will not have a situation where pans need to be raised or lowered more than once in passenger service.

 

[jon0844]

So.... a dog travelling by hot air balloon, motorcycle and sidecar and motor cruiser boat can beat one of the new trains?

Can't believe Top Gear didn't think of this first..

 

[ValleyLines142]

Are there any unreserved coaches on the new sets?

 

[cactustwirly]

Are there any unreserved coaches on the new sets?

I don't know for sure, but it's likely to be the rear set on a 2x5 train.

 

[FQ]

Hi all,

Does anyone have access to the Saturday diagrams as of yet (particularly concerning October 21st but also after that)?

Many thanks,

FQ.

 

[jimm]

Hi all,

Does anyone have access to the Saturday diagrams as of yet (particularly concerning October 21st but also after that)?

Many thanks,

FQ.

On the 21st the only working at Stoke Gifford depot all day currently showing in realtimetrains is a conditional path to Didcot at 14.51, for what looks like a driving train trip, and nothing at all at North Pole. And no moves at either location on Sunday the 22nd.

There are ecs paths showing at both depots on the 28th and 29th, but there are also a lot of electrification-related engineering alterations to GWR services that weekend - someone else may know what the odds are of them running.

 

[Class 33]

I too eagerly await the weekend diagrams. As getting journeys on the weekday services is not really practical for me at the moment, unless I've got any time off work. Got a few days off in December, but may be going away then. I want to book a Bristol-London return journey on a Saturday or Sunday, to get a reasonably long journey on them, rather than just a short Bristol-Bath or Swindon journey.

 

[FQ]

On the 21st the only working at Stoke Gifford depot all day currently showing in realtimetrains is a conditional path to Didcot at 14.51, for what looks like a driving train trip, and nothing at all at North Pole. And no moves at either location on Sunday the 22nd.

There are ecs paths showing at both depots on the 28th and 29th, but there are also a lot of electrification-related engineering alterations to GWR services that weekend - someone else may know what the odds are of them running.

Many thanks - I take it that it'll be a while after weekdays before they start entering service on weekends then?

 

[FGW_DID]

IET Saturday only LTP diagrams start 28th October 2017 to 9th Dec 2017. There will eventually be 8 diagrams (4x 10 car) during this period.

Edit: 28th October only 4 diagrams commence, 18th November a further 4 diagrams commence

 

[FQ]

IET Saturday only LTP diagrams start 28th October 2017 to 9th Dec 2017. There are 8 diagrams (4x 10 car).

Thanks for this. Do you have which diagrams these will be available?

 

[FGW_DID]

Fishquinn:

1) 10 car. (As from 28th October)
0730 Bristol TM - Paddington
1000 Paddington - Bristol TM
1230 Bristol TM - Paddington
1445 Paddington - Swansea
1829 Swansea - Paddington.

2) 10 car (As from 28th October)
0830 Paddington - Bristol TM
1100 Bristol TM - Paddington
1300 Paddington - Bristol TM
1530 Bristol TM - Paddington
1800 Paddington - Bristol TM

3) 10 car (As from 18th November)
0645 Bristol TM - Swansea
0929 Swansea - Paddington
1330 Paddington - Bristol TM
1600 Bristol TM - Paddington
1933 Paddington - Bristol TM

4) 10 car* (As from 18th November)
0800 Paddington - Bristol TM
1000 Bristol TM - Paddington
1230 Paddington - Bristol TM
1500 Bristol TM - Paddington
1730 Paddington - Bristol TM
1920 Bristol TM - Weston-super-Mare (*5 car - other set stables at BTM)
2010 Weston SM - Bristol TM (5 car)

Realtime Trains has some of the early Bristol departures showing as starting at Parkway.
usual disclaimer if some of these turn out to be an HST!

 

[FQ]

That's super - thanks very much!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I too eagerly await the weekend diagrams. As getting journeys on the weekday services is not really practical for me at the moment, unless I've got any time off work. Got a few days off in December, but may be going away then. I want to book a Bristol-London return journey on a Saturday or Sunday, to get a reasonably long journey on them, rather than just a short Bristol-Bath or Swindon journey.

Ha, Bristol-Swindon short? You’re lucky you’re not doing what I’m doing on them - Reading to Didcot Parkway!

 

[superalbs]

I am planning Bristol Parkway to Cardiff and Cardiff to Swindon. But I won't be if they're no good on the first run lol!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Oh dear, I forgot to say amen after mentioning Reading station. (amen)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I am planning Bristol Parkway to Cardiff and Cardiff to Swindon. But I won't be if they're no good on the first run lol!

In my opinion there will be no doubt about it: they will be good. Because I wouldn't be depressed at enjoying an HST ride on those routes if an 800 didn't show up. Providing it was first class of course though, can't stand GWR Standard. Apart from on the 180s.

 

[superalbs]

In my opinion there will be no doubt about it: they will be good. Because I wouldn't be depressed at enjoying an HST ride on those routes if an 800 didn't show up. Providing it was first class of course though, can't stand GWR Standard. Apart from on the 180s.

Seats by Fainsa so you can't get your hopes up too high. I know mine aren't after seeing the interior on 800013, grim.