ScotRail Class 90s

[Northern Pacer]

ScotRail class 90s are still out and about in fully FirstGroup branded livery. Does anyone know who/where to they're going?

 

[Domh245]

I believe they are part of the common DBS class 90 pool, the livery merely being a leftover from the days when the caledonian sleeper was more prominently branded as part of the scotrail franchise

 

[driver9000]

They are DBS locomotives and were liveried for the sleeper contact. Now GBRf provides the locomotives the 90s will appear on whatever work DBS put them on.

 

[rick pike]

Anybody Remember 90024 in its unbranded GNER blue? It was "supposed" to be the dedicated hire in while the 91s were been overhauled at Wabtech Doncaster but seemed to spend more time on the WCML working for Virgin West Coast and hauling mail trains.
So as DRIVER9000 and Domh245 says they were/are in a common user pool and turn up pretty much anywhere

 

[fgwrich]

Anybody Remember 90024 in its unbranded GNER blue? It was "supposed" to be the dedicated hire in while the 91s were been overhauled at Wabtech Doncaster but seemed to spend more time on the WCML working for Virgin West Coast and hauling mail trains.
So as DRIVER9000 and Domh245 says they were/are in a common user pool and turn up pretty much anywhere

And indeed do! I've had at least 2 of them on the GEML to Norwich before (and that was while First were running ScotRail) and the ex DRS Blue one has also been pictured on hire to Greater Anglia as well. That is one of the main reasons as why Virgin didn't want to have DBS repaint one of their 90s into the Silver Pretendolino scheme, as they knew it being DB, would end up spending half its time working on someone else's trains - which of course rather breaks the "Exclusivity" Virgin wants with its Brand.

 

[sprinterguy]

Anybody Remember 90024 in its unbranded GNER blue? It was "supposed" to be the dedicated hire in while the 91s were been overhauled at Wabtech Doncaster but seemed to spend more time on the WCML working for Virgin West Coast and hauling mail trains.

Yes indeed, it was foremost in my mind when reading this thread.

 

[Jamesb1974]

Deleted

 

[PHILIPE]

They should still be on the sleepers considering the performance of the 92s but Serco knew better

 

[Observer]

I wonder why First hasn't told DBS to remove the names when the contract came up.

The 92s are what GBRf only had, just like why they're going to be putting on the 73/9s on the unelectrified parts whenever they are done. However if they cannot fix the reliability issues then perhaps Serco needs to look at things. They say that if electrical mods were carried out it would sort the problem, but the issue GBRf brought up was that it would prevent those 92s from working the Channel Tunnel and seeing how GBRf are owned by Europorte, that doesn't seem pleasing to them but are looking at it.

It has been brought up enough times that the 92s will be required for the CAF stock due to the high ETH usage. At this point I'd just consider an order for a good number of locomotives to work the sleeper service, funded entirely by the government and attached to the contract so that they remain with the sleeper stock.

Still, I wouldn't give contracts to a company who have had to hire in a good chunk of locomotives just to operate the services. DBS should have remained as they already had what was working. No other company had the resources unless it meant hiring in.

 

[najaB]

I wonder why First hasn't told DBS to remove the names when the contract came up.

First were losing the Scotrail franchise anyway so it effectively they are getting free advertising!

 

[59CosG95]

I'd suspect that they'll probably get a repaint when their next exams are due. Not holding my breath on this.

 

[GM228]

First were losing the Scotrail franchise anyway so it effectively they are getting free advertising!

They removed the DRS branding from their 90 fairly quickly, but then again DRS are the competition unlike Scotrail!

 

[route:oxford]

I wonder why First hasn't told DBS to remove the names when the contract came up.

Did they provide funding for removal and repaint at the end of contract?

If not, it stays. Bit like the embarrassing Phones4U Arena in Manchester - that lasted a considerable time after the collapse of Phones4U...

 

[SC318250]

would think quite a few of the 90s will becoming due for arepaint soon, especially 90019/021/024

Mind you 035/039 need a repaint now

 

[ainsworth74]

They should still be on the sleepers considering the performance of the 92s but Serco knew better

90s won't be able to meet the ETS requirements of the new stock once it arrives so they'd always have to transition to 92s at some point and iron out the problems that brings at some point.

 

[RAPC]

Did they provide funding for removal and repaint at the end of contract?

If not, it stays. Bit like the embarrassing Phones4U Arena in Manchester - that lasted a considerable time after the collapse of Phones4U...

Nothing embarrassing about that at all. The sponsorship had been paid for in full, so although P4U were no longer, there was no need to change this until a new commercial partner was found.