Haulage announcement from GB Railfreight re sleeper.

[theageofthetra]

92's on Lowland part & 47's on Highland part until Oct when the 'Super 73's' take over.

http://www.gbrailfreight.com/media-centre/news-releases/

"NEWS RELEASES
17th February 2015
GB Railfreight boosts rail services business with Serco Caledonian Sleeper contract
GB Railfreight (Eurotunnel Group) today announced that it has signed a 15-year contract with Serco to provide train drivers and traction for its Caledonian Sleeper franchise. This contract will provide GBRf around £100 million in revenues over 15 years.

Due to commence on the 1st April 2015, GBRf will be providing train drivers and traction for six night services southbound and six night haulage services northbound per week, from Sunday to Friday. These services will be operating on both the Lowland Sleeper route, between Euston and Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the Highland Sleeper route between Euston and Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness.

From the beginning of the contract, four refurbed class 92s purchased thanks to Groupe Eurotunnel will be used on the electrified routes south of Edinburgh and Glasgow. North of Edinburgh, the company is planning to utilise six class 73/9s from October 2015, which are currently undergoing work at Wabtec’s facility in Loughborough. In the meantime, it will be operating class 47s, on hire from Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC).

This contract is a significant development for GBRf, highlighting its intentions for growth in the rail services market. With heavy investments in both traction and driver training, it’s another example of the freight operator’s approach to offering bespoke services that target the specific customer’s needs.

John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight, said: “GB Railfreight are delighted to announce that we will be supporting Serco with train drivers and traction on their Caledonian Sleeper franchise. We’ve been working closely with the company in putting together a strategy that would work best for them on these given routes, and have invested in the appropriate rolling stock and training to make this strategy effective. We hope to build on this relationship over the next 15 years and ensure that passengers receive the optimum service.”

Serco’s Managing Director for the Caledonian Sleeper, Peter Strachan said, “GBRf are one of our key partners on the Caledonian Sleeper franchise. Together, we have worked closely to develop a traction strategy for the lifetime of the franchise which takes the service from the 1st April through to the introduction of the new trains in 2018 and beyond. GBRf have extensive experience in the rail services market and we looking forward to working together.”

 

[gazthomas]

Is "refurbed" a word? Also, could have explained the 2 services per night per direction, Satruday night excepted of course

 

[47802]

Are they adding an extra couple of hours to the schedule to allow for DFT (Duff Failure Time)

 

[Tommy1581]

Is "refurbed" a word? Also, could have explained the 2 services per night per direction, Satruday night excepted of course

Refurbed A word commonly used by bus enthusiasts and employees to describe a refurbished vehicle. Also can be used for describing GBRf Class 92s.

 

[gazthomas]

Refurbed A word commonly used by bus enthusiasts and employees to describe a refurbished vehicle. Also can be used for describing GBRf Class 92s.

That means it's in the dictionary then
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Are they adding an extra couple of hours to the schedule to allow for DFT (Duff Failure Time)

At least they're not putting 50's on it!

 

[Bodiddly]

That means it's in the dictionary then
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At least they're not putting 50's on it!

They might as well put 50's on it, they will be as reliable!

 

[sprinterguy]

They might as well put 50's on it, they will be as reliable!

Have the HNRC class 47s that GBRf have been using proved unreliable so far? I hadn't heard of any major failures on the likes of the sand train they are working.

They can't be doing that badly if GBRf are still using them over a year on.

 

[Bodiddly]

Have the HNRC class 47s that GBRf have been using proved unreliable so far? I hadn't heard of any major failures on the likes of the sand train they are working.

They can't be doing that badly if GBRf are still using them over a year on.

Can you enlighten me with the diagrams they are on just now? do the current trips require them to be running 6 days a week from early morning to late night with some of the most challenging gradients on the British Network whilst pulling a train loaded with ETH? In my humble opinion, I think they will struggle with the workload.

 

[Darandio]

Can you enlighten me with the diagrams they are on just now? do the current trips require them to be running 6 days a week from early morning to late night with some of the most challenging gradients on the British Network whilst pulling a train loaded with ETH? In my humble opinion, I think they will struggle with the workload.

A workload that many other less powerful locomotives have coped with absolutely fine over the years?

Another '47Phobic'?

 

[Kettledrum]

A workload that many other less powerful locomotives have coped with absolutely fine over the years?

Another '47Phobic'?

The 47s were great in their day - the 1970s and 1980s, but with the best will in the world, they are now showing their age, and this is a very big ask.

 

[scotraildriver]

Scotrail have just passed out 2 drivers on the 67's with only 6 weeks to go. Given the costs involved I suspect a contingency................

 

[Beatbox00]

55022 aka 55003 standby ????

 

[kermit]

Can it really be the case that in 2015, it is impossible to source diesel locomotives with enough power to heat and light a train, while hauling it over some Scottish hills?
Even a good diesel car in 1965 - say a Mercedes - would be unrecognisable in terms of power, engineering tolerances, and reliability, next to a 2015 model. How on earth is this a problem??

 

[doningtonphil]

The class 47s are currently being modified with 'new' brake valves to help them avoid using too many brake blocks up running down the hill to Inverness

 

[SC318250]

Says 4 Class 92 which is 2 in each direction, and 6 Class 73. So I take it that it is confirmed
Pairs of 73s? for north of Glasgow and Edinburgh

 

[alexl92]

The January issue of Railways Illustrated's Gossip Column (which comes with a disclaimer) suggested that a Deltic on a sleeper in place of a 47 wasn't an impossibility...

 

[deltic08]

A workload that many other less powerful locomotives have coped with absolutely fine over the years?

Another '47Phobic'?

A maximum of 8 coaches to Inverness and 5 to Fort William is nothing for a class 47 even to-day. I have been on the Clansman from Inverness with 14 Mark 2s on and the Royal Highlander with 16 Mark 1s both Class 47 hauled. A bit of a struggle from a standing start as far as Culloden but fine for the rest of the journey to the electric change over point.

 

[Flying Snail]

Says 4 Class 92 which is 2 in each direction, and 6 Class 73. So I take it that it is confirmed
Pairs of 73s? for north of Glasgow and Edinburgh

It is pairs for Inverness and singles for Aberdeen and Fort Bill AFAIR.

4 92s? So are they expecting 100% availability then? I hope their contract with ACLG extends to emergency cover for the service when one of the 92s is unavailable.

Presumably the fifth 73 will be required for the Edinburgh - Carstairs - Edinburgh portion so only one of those spare.

It all sounds very tight, unless they all turn out to be exceptionally reliable is it going to end up like the Night Riviera with regular delays and cancellations due to loco problems?

The 73s are a complete unknown, they may well turn out to be excellent right from the start or they may be disasters.

 

[DarloRich]

A maximum of 8 coaches to Inverness and 5 to Fort William is nothing for a class 47 even to-day. I have been on the Clansman from Inverness with 14 Mark 2s on and the Royal Highlander with 16 Mark 1s both Class 47 hauled. A bit of a struggle from a standing start as far as Culloden but fine for the rest of the journey to the electric change over point.

I think the point being made by other posters is that a 6 day a week service over some arduous gradients might place increased stress on aged machinery.

Comparisons with a one off special hauled by, perhaps, the pick of the WCRC fleet aren’t really valid. Although the 47's on hire to GBRF around Doncaster seem pretty reliable. That doesn’t mean I don’t want a trip up there though!

The 73s are a complete unknown, they may well turn out to be excellent right from the start or they may be disasters.

I assume the 47's will be on stand by as a back up for a while after the 73's start

The January issue of Railways Illustrated's Gossip Column (which comes with a disclaimer) suggested that a Deltic on a sleeper in place of a 47 wasn't an impossibility...

Yes please!

 

[The Snap]

Given the dedicated contact that has been awarded, can we expect to see the coaching stock and locos in matching liveries for once on the Sleeper?

 

[oldman]

That means it's in the dictionary then

Yes it is.

 

[sprinterguy]

Given the dedicated contact that has been awarded, can we expect to see the coaching stock and locos in matching liveries for once on the Sleeper?

After a while, yes. While the 92s will receive Caledonian Sleeper livery (not sure about the 73s?), it surely won’t be a quick job to repaint the carriage stock, if, indeed, Serco choose to do so for the sake of three years worth of operation with the existing mark 2s/3s.

It’s worth noting that DB Schenker already have three class 90s that carry First Scotrail livery for the purpose of working the electrified legs of the Caledonian Sleeper.

 

[DarloRich]

It’s worth noting that DB Schenker already have three class 90s that carry First Scotrail livery for the purpose of working the electrified legs of the Caledonian Sleeper.

Not dedicated though.

Seeing one of the sleepers almost every morning pass Bletchley/MK the Scot Rail liveried ones aren’t that common. Most often a DBS red or faded EWS loco is tied on

 

[sprinterguy]

Can it really be the case that in 2015, it is impossible to source diesel locomotives with enough power to heat and light a train, while hauling it over some Scottish hills?
Even a good diesel car in 1965 - say a Mercedes - would be unrecognisable in terms of power, engineering tolerances, and reliability, next to a 2015 model. How on earth is this a problem??

Presumably because you can’t just stroll down to a dealership and pick up a new diesel locomotive today. Plus if you sign a contract for motive power with a particular company then you are kind of getting a “package deal” with whatever they happen to be able to provide.

I don’t know whether DRS were ever in the running to provide traction for the Caledonian Sleeper, but in time they would have been able to provide brand new locomotives to work the sleeper throughout, in the form of the 68s and not-yet-delivered 88s.

 

[gazthomas]

Yes it is.

Refurb is refurbed isn't!

 

[JonathanH]

Does the use of slower 92s mean an end to the possibility of the lowland sleeper arriving anything up to 50 minutes early at Euston? The advertised time is 0707 but it appears to typically arrive around 0630. Indeed, when I caught it last week, it arrived at Euston at 0610.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G97236/2015/02/10/advanced

 

[sprinterguy]

Not dedicated though.

Seeing one of the sleepers almost every morning pass Bletchley/MK the Scot Rail liveried ones aren’t that common. Most often a DBS red or faded EWS loco is tied on

True enough, and with five class 90s employed each night on sleeper duties (plus one for Wembley shunts) there's always going to be a range of liveries: But then again I wonder what the chances are of GBRf providing a 92 from their general freight pool to work the sleeper at some point?
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Comparisons with a one off special hauled by, perhaps, the pick of the WCRC fleet aren’t really valid.

I haven't seen anyone mention railtours?
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Can you enlighten me with the diagrams they are on just now?

I’m not sure. I know the sand trains are regular and aren’t a lightweight working – the additional demands of providing train supply did occur to me, however. As you have answered my question with another question, though, I presume that you have no examples of these locos failing in service during their time working for GBRf?

 

[DarloRich]

I haven't seen anyone mention railtours?

Deltic08 did in his post which i quoted. I was simply saying that everyday use may place more stress on the equipment

 

[sprinterguy]

Deltic08 did in his post which i quoted. I was simply saying that everyday use may place more stress on the equipment

Both of those were daily timetabled services. The "Clansman" being the daytime London to Inverness train via the West Coast, and the "Royal Highlander" the Inverness sleeper.

That’s going back a way, though, and I don’t think that it’s the horsepower available that is in contestation here. I’ll keep quiet about how unreliable Inverness’ small fleet of high ETS class 47/6s seemed to be in the early nineties, to put the shoe on the other foot.

 

[DarloRich]

Both of those were daily timetabled services. The "Clansman" being the daytime London to Inverness train via the West Coast, and the "Royal Highlander" the Inverness sleeper.

of course - how embarrassing! I thought those were the vastly expensive Belmond trains

Still – that was some time ago