Return of the Pig?

[Hentis]

The sound of Mk 3 coaches and EE traction motors just a few weeks away now.

The 442 returns to Weymouth diagrams. Due to Desiro shortages and the collapse of Hunslet Barclay (where the desiros are being reapired. - Apparently!!!

Hentis

 

[Julian G]

The sound of Mk 3 coaches and EE traction motors just a few weeks away now.

The 442 returns to Weymouth diagrams. Due to Desiro shortages and the collapse of Hunslet Barclay (where the desiros are being reapired. - Apparently!!!

Hentis

Source?
I'll believe it when i see it

 

[paul1609]

Ive heard that they wont be going as far as Weymouth and its only 2 diagrams a day until April when they will go to Southern. Also will be working in 10 car units.

 

[CraigS]

Source?
I'll believe it when i see it

Theres an article on Railway Centre that I caught eye of the other day about Hunslet & Barcley going into Administration, doesn't say anything about the 442's though with SWT to Weymouth or anywhere else.

 

[thefab444]

As Julian said, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[73109]

Strange you should say this though because, a bomo driver who is teaching others the route via fareham told me SWT are after 6 to help with 2 trains to weymouth from december, who knows best thing is wait and see what happens

 

[5872]

Strange you should say this though because, a bomo driver who is teaching others the route via fareham told me SWT are after 6 to help with 2 trains to weymouth from december, who knows best thing is wait and see what happens

What is it ? Waterloo - Weymouth? Or Bourenmouth - Weymouth?.

 

[paul1609]

No going to Weymouth at all I think you'll find.

 

[Hentis]

Source?
I'll believe it when i see it

Yeah Pass the Ketchup please :-P

Seriously Read the article from the Kilmarnock Standard for info about Hunslet Barclay. My source about the 442's several SWT Guards and Drivers who I know have emailed me seperately and a contact I have with GB Railfreight!! I wont be putting names on here for obvious reasons, But 6 is the figure that I was told at the beginning of the week due tot he fact that SWT will be running 42 trains to Weymouth in a 24 hour period (and they only have 45 Class 444's and not enough 450's to cover for the 4 or 5 that are currently out of action and will be until this insolvency issue with Hunslet Barclay gets sorted.

As to what diagrams.... hmmm hold on lets get my chrystal balls.... hold on a mo.... right I would surpass 10 car services on the Waterloo - Poole most defo not Weymouth although it could happen but dont hold your breath. This as the title of the post says is mainly speculation, whether you beleive it or not I could'nt really care.

Hentis

encl: - Press article

Kilmarnock Standard
Jobs axed as firm goes off the rails

Nov 1 2007

By Ian Russell
ONE of Kilmarnock’s best-known companies, Hunslet-Barclay, has gone into administration.
Sixteen people have been paid off, and with contract problems and poor production at the West Langlands Street plant, it means there are now also fears for the remaining 122 employees.
But Blair Nimmo of KPMG, one of the joint administrators appointed on Friday, is remaining optimistic about the future of the long-established business.

And he confirmed that yesterday, Wednesday, was the deadline for interested parties to get in touch, appearing upbeat about the possiblity of a quick sale.

It’s understood at least two possible serious buyers made approaches earlier this week.
Hunslet-Barclay is a railway engineering business which specialises in the refurbishment and repair of rail vehicles and related components. It has carried out work for First Scotrail and Glasgow Underground.

But production inefficiencies and difficulties on certain refurbishment contracts has led to significant trading losses. And in spite of management changes and the instigation of a restructuring programme, serious cash flow difficulties ultimately forced the directors to appoint administrators.

Hunslet Barclay is Austrian owned and is part of the Waagner Biro group. It had a turnover of £9m for the year to December 31, 2006. Turnover for the year to December 31, 2007 was on target to exceed £10m.

Said Blair Nimmo this week: “The business has endured a tough time over the last couple of years as the company focussed on quality, possibly at the expense of efficiency.

“The level of losses sustained ultimately left the directors with no choice but to appoint administrators. Whilst it is regrettable, the current financial situation means that the administrators had no option but to make 16 redundancies with immediate effect."

He said those laid off came from various departments.

“Sadly the redundancies were in positions that are surplus to requirements in the context of the current workload,” said Mr Nimmo.

“But Hunslet Barclay with its highly skilled and experienced workforce has a fantastic reputation in the marketplace and we have already received interest from a number of parties. As a result, we are confident that we can continue to trade the business with a view to securing a quick sale.”

 

[thefab444]

Putting 442s on the new Waterloo - Poole services would be a bit stupid as don't these stop everywhere?

JS

 

[73109]

Yeah Pass the Ketchup please :-P

Seriously Read the article from the Kilmarnock Standard for info about Hunslet Barclay. My source about the 442's several SWT Guards and Drivers who I know have emailed me seperately and a contact I have with GB Railfreight!! I wont be putting names on here for obvious reasons, But 6 is the figure that I was told at the beginning of the week due tot he fact that SWT will be running 42 trains to Weymouth in a 24 hour period (and they only have 45 Class 444's and not enough 450's to cover for the 4 or 5 that are currently out of action and will be until this insolvency issue with Hunslet Barclay gets sorted.

As to what diagrams.... hmmm hold on lets get my chrystal balls.... hold on a mo.... right I would surpass 10 car services on the Waterloo - Poole most defo not Weymouth although it could happen but dont hold your breath. This as the title of the post says is mainly speculation, whether you beleive it or not I could'nt really care.

Hentis

encl: - Press article

Got a Feeling you could be Right Hentis, one of My GBRf contacts i have just asked said this may be happening, shame they dont return all 24 though

 

[thefab444]

If this does happen, SWT could use it to their advantage. By reintroducing 442s onto the fast Weymouth services*, they could cascade a few 444s to the Portsmouth line, and say they "listened to customer feedback and have decided..." etc.

JS

*Which by all rights should be Weymouth - Dorchester South - Wareham - Hamworthy - Poole - Bournemouth - Brockenhurst - Southampton Central - Southampton Airport Parkway - Winchester - London Waterloo, but no doubt they'll chuck a few extra stops in.

 

[djw1981]

Hunslett Barclay is I think still functioning normally - the receiver wants to sell it as a going concern, and so the remaining staff will be working as normal. Only if SWT/ROSCO want to change the repair yard, would it move anywhere else.

 

[Turbostar]

How can Hunslet-Barclay run normally, it's gone into administration! Read the above posts.

Mart

 

[djw1981]

How can Hunslet-Barclay run normally, it's gone into administration! Read the above posts.

Mart

Because the administrators continue with the business in an attempt to sell it as a going concern. As long as funding for the current work is assured (i.e. underwritten by a ROSCO) then work can continue if the administrator allows it.

 

[Bonemaster]

An administrator will make a decision over the future of a company, as in this case it is that the business is sound as a going concern and that value would be lost through stopping work, as such any company in administration can run normally as long as suppliers are still willing to supply

 

[Hentis]

Putting 442s on the new Waterloo - Poole services would be a bit stupid as don't these stop everywhere?

JS

Possibly but so was Southwest trains original idea to get rid of them and cascade the 450s over to Portsmouth and the 444's over here to us!!!

If this does happen, SWT could use it to their advantage. By reintroducing 442s onto the fast Weymouth services*, they could cascade a few 444s to the Portsmouth line, and say they "listened to customer feedback and have decided..." etc.

JS

*Which by all rights should be Weymouth - Dorchester South - Wareham - Hamworthy - Poole - Bournemouth - Brockenhurst - Southampton Central - Southampton Airport Parkway - Winchester - London Waterloo, but no doubt they'll chuck a few extra stops in.

Doubt that very much, it will possibly be only six to bolster what remaining desiros they have left in service. Dont forget although it only looks as though there are a total of 5 "accident" damaged 444's / 450's there will always be at least 2 or 3 undergoing Heavy maintenance.

As to the insolvency issue, yeas its being sold as a going concern with at least 2 other companies intrested in it but that can go tits up and we already know that 042 was due to be back with us by October / November this year and that might not make it. Still I suppose we will just have to wait and see.

Hentis


Hentis

 

[Tom]

Some people obviously failed to realise the importance of why quite a few SWT drivers still have 442s on their licence then....

Should have expired by now....

 

[Hentis]

Some people obviously failed to realise the importance of why quite a few SWT drivers still have 442s on their licence then....

Should have expired by now....

I beleive most of them would have expired by next year shouldnt they, February I was told. But seeing as there are so many drivers (and guards) trained to use the 442's its only been a few months ( ok nine) then it should be pretty easy to pick up where they left off.....kind of.

Also would be intresting when they eventually do the Soton Tunnel, and if the plan is to close the tunnel completely what other form of traction will there be in the form of traction? Possibly a few 33/1s Hired in 170's / 158's working between Soton / Chandlers Ford & Eastleigh? Pigs + 66/73/47/67 could well be the order of the day just to do the Southampton to Easleigh via Chandlers Ford where as the Desiros will Run Weymouth - Soton and then Soton Airport - Wateerloo. Also what will happen when a 444 / 450 needs major attention and Bomo cannot do it ( if its stuck between Soton and Weymouth?

Anyhow thats another post!!

Hentis

 

[Tom]

Yes - they expire after 12 months HOWEVER a lot of train companies tell drivers or guards to strike units off their licences. Note the significance of the fact that SWT *didn't*. - I've been told that SWT have with the 170s. Point made.

Re: Southampton Tunnel

I've looked into it and if all current diagrams are used then if 4 158s are reshuffled onto 2 159 diagrams it should be sorted to allow 8 159s to be used on diversions (London - Southampton via Laverstock running in the xx35 path calling at Woking, Basingstoke and Southampton Central, EMU onwards) - the time difference between buses is only about 10 minutes....

 

[Max]

Why would TOCs ask drivers to strike off units? Surely this prevents any flexibility in terms of unforseen unit hire-ins etc.

 

[Tom]

I direct you to Virgin West Coast with the 87s...

 

[Hentis]

Apparently the plan is to have 4 pigs run shuttles between Bournemouth and Weymouth. Thats what I have been told...please dont shoot the meesenger!!

Hentis

 

[TheSlash]

At this point, TheSlash would like to gentley remind members of the adminstration and others as to where they heard the news first, indeed days after "Bumper cars at Northam"

 

[960012]

Apparently the plan is to have 4 pigs run shuttles between Bournemouth and Weymouth. Thats what I have been told...please dont shoot the meesenger!!

Hentis

Weel i have heard that Angel trains arent allowing them south of bournemouth!

 

[Tom]

I think that the 444s could cope, no need. Doreen will probably break halfway!

[I support Nathan, 444s are hellfire!]

 

[5872]

Apparently the plan is to have 4 pigs run shuttles between Bournemouth and Weymouth. Thats what I have been told...please dont shoot the meesenger!!

Hentis

Intresting. I'll make sure I can bash a few from Bournemouth and Weymouth!. Make sure its 2412 the best 442 out the lot ......

 

[Tom]

2412 is hardly the best screamer.... in fact it was pretty quiet on the last day, IIRC 2408 was a lot louder!

 

[5872]

2412 is hardly the best screamer.... in fact it was pretty quiet on the last day, IIRC 2408 was a lot louder!

2412 is the best hands down.

 

[960012]

2412 is the best hands down.

nah 2412 is a pile of ****e!

2412 is hardly the best screamer.... in fact it was pretty quiet on the last day, IIRC 2408 was a lot louder!

Nah mate was 2407, paired with 2417 taht was the loudest combination ever!!!!