HST reliability

[Fyldeboy]

Having read that the Inter7city sets have not been a great success for ScotRail, and having travelled today on a GW Castle set, stopping every 10 minutes (not what they were designed for), I wonder if there is a notable difference in reliability between these two sibling (ex GWML?) fleets? I'm excluding XC because a) they have to pull more weight and b) they had a different pre-2018 maintainence regime to the GWML sets.

 

[cj_1985]

From what I've read elsewhere some years back, it was suggested that one of the problems with the ScotRail HSTs is that the power cars were all ex GW examples and as they were ATP fitted, meant there were issues. IIRC they (BRUSH/Wabtec/ScotRail have had to 'trick' the power cars into thinking the ATO is functioning despite it not being used elsewhere than the GWML.

In an ideal world the powercars would have had a full rewire, but cost dictated that wasn't viable


All other powercars that have remained in service... have mostly/exclusively been ECML or MML examples

 

[Towers]

If rumours around the DfT's feelings towards the remaining HSTs are true, I can't see any of them becoming any more reliable.

 

[quantinghome]

HSTs are now between 40 and 46 years old. They and the few remaining Class 91s/Mk4s are the only 125mph capable trains on the network which do not comply with the 1994 crashworthiness standard. Given this recommendation in the RAIB Carmont fatal accident report I wouldn't be surprised to see an acceleration in their withdrawal from service:

Assessment of the additional risk to vehicle occupants associated with the lack of certain modern crashworthiness features on HSTs, and the development of industry guidance for assessing and mitigating the risk associated with the continued operation of HSTs and other types of main line passenger rolling stock designed before the introduction of modern crashworthiness standards in 1994

https://assets.publishing.service.g...e/1059410/R022022_220310_Carmont_Synopsis.pdf

 

[Fyldeboy]

Well, there figures come from Modern Railways a year ago, no idea of the current figures, but they seem to show that Scotrail HSTs fail twice as often as GW ones. Any suggestions why?

Scotrail Class 43 MTIN 3148
GWR Class 43 MTIN 8002

 

[47827]

Well, there figures come from Modern Railways a year ago, no idea of the current figures, but they seem to show that Scotrail HSTs fail twice as often as GW ones. Any suggestions why?

Scotrail Class 43 MTIN 3148
GWR Class 43 MTIN 8002

I'm sure a degree of that will be down the sheer generational experience passed on between the maintenance people and crews working on them who actually either like or accept them in the main as they've been a part of the railway scene down there for over 45 years.

 

[MattRat]

Well, there figures come from Modern Railways a year ago, no idea of the current figures, but they seem to show that Scotrail HSTs fail twice as often as GW ones. Any suggestions why?

Scotrail Class 43 MTIN 3148
GWR Class 43 MTIN 8002

I'm sure a degree of that will be down the sheer generational experience passed on between the maintenance people and crews working on them who actually either like or accept them in the main as they've been a part of the railway scene down there for over 45 years.

This ^^

But also ScotRail may also see them as more a stop gap, and less care is given because they'll be gone 'soon' anyway.

They are probably also temporary on the GWR, but they probably didn't fall for the same trap (maybe out of respect for what they've done for their network).

 

[fgwrich]

I'm sure a degree of that will be down the sheer generational experience passed on between the maintenance people and crews working on them who actually either like or accept them in the main as they've been a part of the railway scene down there for over 45 years.

Indeed. I do often wonder how much better they would have been if Craigentinny had been taken over by ScotRail and Hitachi had chosen to build a new depot (instead of stabling sidings) at Millerhill. Though Haymarket has had previous experience with Mk3s, it is less likely that many if at all any, of the same staff are still there.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If rumours around the DfT's feelings towards the remaining HSTs are true, I can't see any of them becoming any more reliable.

And ASLEF !