Modern Railways 'Golden Spanner' Awards 2016

[sprinterguy]

The results of Modern Railways' annual Spanner Awards, recognising reliability of the UK's train fleets by TOC and train class, have been published in the January edition of the magazine. The headline results can be found below.

The different categories of Spanner award are granted according to the following criteria:
Gold = Most reliable train fleet based on Miles per Technical Incident (MTIN)
Silver = Greatest Improvement in Miles per Technical Incident
Bronze = Fastest incident recovery, based on Delay Minutes per Incident (DPI)

Ex-BR EMU
Gold South West Trains Class 455: 74,763 MTIN
Silver London Overground Class 317/7 & 317/8: 240.1% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Merseyrail Class 507: 4.4 DPI

Ex-BR DMU
Gold South West Trains Class 159/0: 246,099 MTIN
Silver Northern Class 155: 36.6% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Scotrail Class 156: 8.0 DPI

Inter-city
Gold Greater Anglia Class 90 + Mark 3: 48,122 MTIN
Silver DRS Class 37/4 + Mark 2: 36.79% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Great Western HST: 10.1 DPI

WILD CARD: HST Fleet Performance
Gold Virgin Trains East Coast HST: 17,459 MTIN

New Generation DMU
Gold Transpennine Express Class 185: 23,052 MTIN
Silver London Overground Class 172: 29.2% improvement in MTIN
Bronze GTR Class 171: 4.9 DPI

New Generation EMU
Gold South West Trains Class 444: 171,834 MTIN
Silver South West Trains Class 458/5: 515.1% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Scotrail Class 334: 4/8 DPI

The "Wild Card" award is different every year, and this year has looked at the various operators' HST fleets, as their withdrawal from frontline, squadron 'Inter-city' service is imminent.

In the Inter-city sector, Greater Anglia's class 90 and mark 3 fleet has shown a HUGE improvement in reliability of 98.43% to reach the top of the table at 48,122 MTIN. They were already pretty good performers in the loco-hauled sector at the time of last years' awards, and their MTIN figure for this year compares with a figure of 14,256 for VTEC's Intercity 225 sets of similar vintage.

This fleet would have been recipient of the Silver Spanner award for this sector as well, if not for the rule that the recipient of the Golden Spanner award cannot also hold the Silver Spanner award in the same year. As such, the Silver Spanner in this sector (where all the loco-hauled formations are grouped) went to DRS' class 37 and mark 2 formations in use in Cumbria and Anglia. It's worth noting, however, that a 36.79% improvement in miles per technical incident failure still leaves them languishing at the bottom of the Inter-city table, on 3,315 MTIN, below even GWR's class 180s.

South West Trains continue to do well out of these awards, with two Golden Spanners for the perpetually high-flying class 159 (Unsurprisingly, SWT's 158 and 159/1 fleets occupy 2nd and 3rd places in the Ex-BR DMU category) and class 444 fleets respectively, and also a noteworthy Silver Spanner for the recently converted class 458s, once a chronically unreliable fleet when first introduced, and subsequently when first re-introduced as five car units. Their sister Juniper units in Scotland, the class 334s, have also done well in achieveing a Bronze Spanner award.

The class 700 is currently propping up the rest of the New Generation EMU table, with the new class 387 fleet with GWR and London Overground's class 378/2s only just above. Hopefully the class 700s and 387s should be seen to rise up through the ranks as the years go by.

In other news, Crosscountry's fleet performance has slumped across the board, with an 18.5% decrease in reliability for the class 170 fleet, 7.59% for the class 220, 29.14% for the previously chart-topping class 221 and 30.38% for their HST fleet.

Pacer reliability is generally holding up, with Northern's vast class 142 fleet the most reliable with an MTIN of 7,615 this year following a 12.8% improvement. That puts them above a few Sprinter fleets. ATW's class 143s are propping up the bottom of the table following an 8.3% decrease in MTIN.

If you want any more detail than that, then buy the magazine.

 

[HLE]

Interesting read, thanks for posting.

 

[bramling]

The results of Modern Railways' annual Spanner Awards, recognising reliability of the UK's train fleets by TOC and train class, have been published in the January edition of the magazine. The headline results can be found below.

The different categories of Spanner award are granted according to the following criteria:
Gold = Most reliable train fleet based on Miles per Technical Incident (MTIN)
Silver = Greatest Improvement in Miles per Technical Incident
Bronze = Fastest incident recovery, based on Delay Minutes per Incident (DPI)

Ex-BR EMU
Gold South West Trains Class 455: 74,763 MTIN
Silver London Overground Class 317/7 & 317/8: 240.1% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Merseyrail Class 507: 4.4 DPI

Ex-BR DMU
Gold South West Trains Class 159/0: 246,099 MTIN
Silver Northern Class 155: 36.6% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Scotrail Class 156: 8.0 DPI

Inter-city
Gold Greater Anglia Class 90 + Mark 3: 48,122 MTIN
Silver DRS Class 37/4 + Mark 2: 36.79% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Great Western HST: 10.1 DPI

WILD CARD: HST Fleet Performance
Gold Virgin Trains East Coast HST: 17,459 MTIN

New Generation DMU
Gold Transpennine Express Class 185: 23,052 MTIN
Silver London Overground Class 172: 29.2% improvement in MTIN
Bronze GTR Class 171: 4.9 DPI

New Generation EMU
Gold South West Trains Class 444: 171,834 MTIN
Silver South West Trains Class 458/5: 515.1% improvement in MTIN
Bronze Scotrail Class 334: 4/8 DPI

The "Wild Card" award is different every year, and this year has looked at the various operators' HST fleets, as their withdrawal from frontline, squadron 'Inter-city' service is imminent.

In the Inter-city sector, Greater Anglia's class 90 and mark 3 fleet has shown a HUGE improvement in reliability of 98.43% to reach the top of the table at 48,122 MTIN. They were already pretty good performers in the loco-hauled sector at the time of last years' awards, and their MTIN figure for this year compares with a figure of 14,256 for VTEC's Intercity 225 sets of similar vintage.

This fleet would have been recipient of the Silver Spanner award for this sector as well, if not for the rule that the recipient of the Golden Spanner award cannot also hold the Silver Spanner award in the same year. As such, the Silver Spanner in this sector (where all the loco-hauled formations are grouped) went to DRS' class 37 and mark 2 formations in use in Cumbria and Anglia. It's worth noting, however, that a 36.79% improvement in miles per technical incident failure still leaves them languishing at the bottom of the Inter-city table, on 3,315 MTIN, below even GWR's class 180s.

South West Trains continue to do well out of these awards, with two Golden Spanners for the perpetually high-flying class 159 (Unsurprisingly, SWT's 158 and 159/1 fleets occupy 2nd and 3rd places in the Ex-BR DMU category) and class 444 fleets respectively, and also a noteworthy Silver Spanner for the recently converted class 458s, once a chronically unreliable fleet when first introduced, and subsequently when first re-introduced as five car units. Their sister Juniper units in Scotland, the class 334s, have also done well in achieveing a Bronze Spanner award.

The class 700 is currently propping up the rest of the New Generation EMU table, with the new class 387 fleet with GWR and London Overground's class 378/2s only just above. Hopefully the class 700s and 387s should be seen to rise up through the ranks as the years go by.

In other news, Crosscountry's fleet performance has slumped across the board, with an 18.5% decrease in reliability for the class 170 fleet, 7.59% for the class 220, 29.14% for the previously chart-topping class 221 and 30.38% for their HST fleet.

Pacer reliability is generally holding up, with Northern's vast class 142 fleet the most reliable with an MTIN of 7,615 this year following a 12.8% improvement. That puts them above a few Sprinter fleets. ATW's class 143s are propping up the bottom of the table following an 8.3% decrease in MTIN.

If you want any more detail than that, then buy the magazine.

A very poor start for the class 700. So much for all the testing carried out.

 

[Chrisgr31]

If the GTR class 171s have the Bronze reward it doesn't say a lot for the rest of them. Hardly a day goes past without a unit failing causing cancellations or short forms.

 

[dgl]

SWT having such high reliability of the 159's must be a godsend given the single track sections of the WoE main line. Again though a good show from SWT again, shows they really know how to look after their units.

 

[D365]

A very poor start for the class 700. So much for all the testing carried out.

Yeah? And? Only so much testing that can be done. Better that the faults and failures are ironed out now than in two years instead.

If the units had stayed in Germany for longer, Thameslink punters would be moaning about how 'their' new trains are not being bought into service immediately.

 

[superkev]

I don't think mileage based stats give a true comparison. Can't see how you can compare say a swt 159 soaking up the miles at 90mph with a northern 158 crawling on say a slow stop start Calder valley.
Should be like heavy plant where hours run is the measure.
K

 

[bramling]

Yeah? And? Only so much testing that can be done. Better that the faults and failures are ironed out now than in two years instead.

If the units had stayed in Germany for longer, Thameslink punters would be moaning about how 'their' new trains are not being bought into service immediately.

So they've had the same rough introduction as many other types of new train. So much for all the words on here about how these particular trains would somehow be wonderfully better than anything seen before.

 

[D365]

So they've had the same rough introduction as many other types of new train. So much for all the words on here about how these particular trains would somehow be wonderfully better than anything seen before.

They've been praised for their ability to soak up large crowds of people, or so I seem to remember reading.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Well done SWT. Hoping the new franchise keeps this up.

Glad to know so many of my beloved pacers are hanging in there and from a purely personal POV rather glad XC are slumping, at least where the dull 170s and disgusting vommiters are concerned.

 

[D365]

Glad to know so many of my beloved pacers are hanging in there and from a purely personal POV rather glad XC are slumping, at least where the dull 170s and disgusting vommiters are concerned.

As a frequent crosscountry traveller, I'm afraid I can't share the same sentiment!

 

[43074]

Yeah? And? Only so much testing that can be done. Better that the faults and failures are ironed out now than in two years instead.

Indeed, and with the unmitigated disaster that will be the December 2018 timetable they need all the help they can get to ensure train reliability isn't something they're worried about with the 24tph service up and running.

 

[sprinterguy]

As a frequent crosscountry traveller, I'm afraid I can't share the same sentiment!

Too right: There's only so many coupler and door failures that the fleets can bear before trains end up being formed of even fewer coaches than they're meant to.

 

[43096]

Indeed, and with the unmitigated disaster that will be the December 2018 timetable they need all the help they can get to ensure train reliability isn't something they're worried about with the 24tph service up and running.

I think people need to do some reading up on new train reliability. The 700s are doing exactly what you'd expect and I fully expect them to increase reliability as time goes by, and staff (drivers and depot) get used to them. As an example, look at the Class 458/5 improvement, it's exactly the same process.

My concern with December 2018 is the operating side, rather than train reliability. GTR are shocking currently, across the board, with little/no sign of improvement. That needs fixing now - not waiting til the new timetable starts and saying "it will be OK". If GTR can't get a grip (and there seems to be some serious incompetence at the top of the organisation) then the new timetable will be a disaster. It might even make Virgin's Operation Pumpkin look well managed!

 

[dk1]

Get in Greater Anglia

 

[jon0844]

A very poor start for the class 700. So much for all the testing carried out.

Have there been many failures or is it almost always door problems, which can be attributed to drivers and/or sign positioning?

 

[507021]

Very interesting read, I'm really pleased to see the Class 507 fleet win the Bronze Spanner award. It's a testament to how good they are, even though they're rapidly approaching 40 years old. I'm sure the Class 507 fleet won the Bronze Spanner last year as well.

 

[The Ham]

I don't think mileage based stats give a true comparison. Can't see how you can compare say a swt 159 soaking up the miles at 90mph with a northern 158 crawling on say a slow stop start Calder valley.
Should be like heavy plant where hours run is the measure.
K

True, but then the SWT fleet probably do a lot more joining splitting in service. However, there are some fairly short Gaia between stations at the western end.

 

[D365]

Very interesting read, I'm really pleased to see the Class 507 fleet win the Bronze Spanner award. It's a testament to how good they are, even though they're rapidly approaching 40 years old. I'm sure the Class 507 fleet won the Bronze Spanner last year as well.

I thought that the bronze award was for failed units that are recovered the fastest? Not a reliability reward.

 

[CyrusWuff]

I thought that the bronze award was for failed units that are recovered the fastest? Not a reliability reward.

Correct...Gold is highest MTIN (miles per technical incident number, which are generated for a delay of 3 minutes or more), Silver is most improved since the previous year (though you can't win both Gold and Silver in a given category) and Bronze is fastest average fix.

 

[507021]

I thought that the bronze award was for failed units that are recovered the fastest? Not a reliability reward.

Fair point, but at least it's something. Not bad for units of their age.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Yup I really believe the SWT depots do a great job.Much appreciated.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Yup I really believe the SWT depots do a great job.Much appreciated.

They do. As a passenger I appreciate that the trains run mostly to time and are reliable and clean. I am not in the least surprised to see them topping the awards.

 

[43096]

They do. As a passenger I appreciate that the trains run mostly to time and are reliable and clean. I am not in the least surprised to see them topping the awards.

Fully agree.

SWT's engineering - and in fairness the same applies to Siemens for the Desiros - has long been very good. Just compare with similar fleets at other operators!

 

[superkev]

Northerns 333's are maintained by Siemens.
Non of Northern s fleet is too high in the lists perhaps due to there generally older depots.
K

 

[samuelmorris]

I have to say I find it a little ridiculous that SWT 159s can achieve almost 250,000 MTIN yet the best any modern-generation DMU can achieve in the entire country is not even 25,000. Sure, modern units may have more equipment to go wrong but that level of difference between old best and new best is quite embarrassing.
Good show from Wimbledon as always - I think the figures for the 455s rather put paid to the argument that SWT's units only outscore their counterparts from other TOCs due to the load pattern.

 

[MCR247]

Are there any DMU fleets that have as much time for maintenance in between peaks as SWT 159s?

 

[The Ham]

Are there any DMU fleets that have as much time for maintenance in between peaks as SWT 159s?

Given that even between the peaks you are still looking at 6 coach trains rather than 9 or 10, it wouldn't necessarily enable all that many units to under go maintenance (especially as it's away from their depot in the mooring and towards it in the evening, meaning you either need empty stock movements or artificially long diagrams to move units around).

However SWT's need to have a very reliable fleet as they can't afford for a unit to fail on the approach to Waterloo (even if that was as far out as Working!) During the morning peak (the evening peak would not be much better and even off peak would be fairly bad).

 

[rf_ioliver]

Yeah? And? Only so much testing that can be done. Better that the faults and failures are ironed out now than in two years instead.

If the units had stayed in Germany for longer, Thameslink punters would be moaning about how 'their' new trains are not being bought into service immediately.

Testing only gets you so far - basically that everything works - however in actual continued usage over a longer period of time you start seeing al the "little things"...

t.

Ian

 

[XDM]

I have often thought that faults per mile also depend considerably on the driver. If they are tolerant balanced Wiltshire men they will not fail a unit in service for a petty fault which they allowed to exercise judgement over. If they are a disgruntled Southern or Piccadilly line driver the odd,difficult to manage,bod may go out of her or his way to find faults that delay or put the unit out of service.