Website says 2025 during the currency of the December 2024 timetable, so could be two years yet.
http://www.granduniontrains.co.uk/
Carmarthen is now showing as Dec 27 in documents I have seen.
Depends if Grand Union has issued a new track access request, I believe at least one has been declined over lack of WCML South paths?
if WCML south is full for now in theory could they replace Milton keynes with bedford and go via MML?
They could delay it until HS2 is running (Yes I know, Boo!!) if they need paths
I’ve heard they’re looking into HSTs (likely the CrossCountry sets)
Would it make sense to let them languish in storage for nearly 4 years though if the only service they have approval for so far has been delayed to 2027? That's where this whole interim stock idea confuses me.
There's only so long you can keep things in the set-up stage as there's still bills to pay. Also if stock is an issue then certain fleets may only have specific windows in which to acquire them as off-lease stock is not helpful to the ROSCO.
20 not 22 - also not guaranteed GC are taking on the additional 8, let alone keeping the 2 they already have (though with the 180 reliability they’d be stupid not to…)
No. The MML is also full. Moreover, the journey times would be terrible.
Supposedly Angel Trains have found a new lessor, but as for who that is I’m not sure…There's quite a few 175's that appear to be having trouble finding new homes
It may have been on this thread, but I read somewhere GWR's increase in Carmarthen services may have been linked to the GU proposals. TFW's service in West Wales is somewhat consistently unreliable, again making Walesonline articles, with many, many negative comments. GU may be a breath of fresh air with what they intend to offer, along with competition for GWR and to some degree TFW.
The main market I’d say would be Swansea/Cardiff to Paddington, which is in severe lack of competition with GWR being the sole route operator.
Avantis 221s also been suggested as potential stock for grand union to use
There is more chance of that, especially as Carmarthen is 4 years away.
Would be a reasonable bet I reckon, especially for the WCML.
Paths are still there I believe.
Grand union were looking for the same stock for both routes so potentially could imagine 221s for both lines
Would undoubtedly not work with the many 125mph 80x paths it’d have to mingle with.There's quite a few 175's that appear to be having trouble finding new homes
5 and 6 car formations would be a good starting point.
For 175/0 only was the word on the vine.
Or simply for GWR to offer lower prices? I doubt anyone really cares about revenue extraction being the way to do it.
In my mind, they are certainly just trying to get a piece of the London to Cardiff corridor - however, if they reduce prices on this route, I am not going to complain
Open access operators generally run a very profitable corridor (e.g London to York or Doncaster) with a bit added on the end to a place which isn't well served to London and could probably do with a better service.
