ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

[jamieintercity]

Another pair of PCs are currently heading south to loughborough today for mods/repaint

 

[InvHst]

1255 inv to Edinburgh cancelled due to a train fault anyone know what the issue was

 

[Highlandspring]

1255 inv to Edinburgh cancelled due to a train fault anyone know what the issue was

43032 loss of air.

 

[59CosG95]

43032 loss of air.

If the Haymarket fitters don't start referring to the air system within the powercars as "pipe bags" they'll be missing a trick.

 

[_toommm_]

I'm in carriage 41146 (First Class GWR livery and interior) and it smells awfully of damp - either that, or the smell is coming from powercar 43125 as there is no end carriage door from the carriage into the powercar like on other HSTs

 

[Highlandspring]

I'm in carriage 41146 (First Class GWR livery and interior) and it smells awfully of damp - either that, or the smell is coming from powercar 43125 as there is no end carriage door from the carriage into the powercar like on other HSTs

Are you saying there is direct access from the coach vestibule into the powercar van area without a locked door in between?

 

[chuff chuff]

Are you saying there is direct access from the coach vestibule into the powercar van area without a locked door in between?

There will still be the secure door on the end of the power car,so secure we usually can't get them open even with the key.

 

[Highlandspring]

There will still be the secure door on the end of the power car,so secure we usually can't get them open even with the key.

His post though suggests that the door is either open or absent altogether, in which case the set is a failure and shouldn’t be in traffic.

 

[chuff chuff]

Don't know how other companies do it but there appears no end doors used on scotrail sets as there's the secure door on the end of the power car.You can look through the glass of the door into the 'luggage' compartment of the power car.

 

[Highlandspring]

First Great Western removed the coach gangway doors on some of their sets before (correctly) deciding it was a bad idea, which is why some are missing on the ScotRail sets. Most TOCs that operate HSTs leave the gangway doors open on the coaches at each end of the set and rely on the secure powercar door to prevent access to the van space. The way I read the post was that the gangway between the vestibule and the van was completely open but it’s unclear whether that’s what was meant. That coach needs to be locked out of use if possible or, if not, the set taken out of service entirely if the public have direct access to the powercar.

 

[_toommm_]

First Great Western removed the coach gangway doors on some of their sets before (correctly) deciding it was a bad idea, which is why some are missing on the ScotRail sets. Most TOCs that operate HSTs leave the gangway doors open on the coaches at each end of the set and rely on the secure powercar door to prevent access to the van space. The way I read the post was that the gangway between the vestibule and the van was completely open but it’s unclear whether that’s what was meant. That coach needs to be locked out of use if possible or, if not, the set taken out of service entirely if the public have direct access to the powercar.

My apologies my post wasn't clear. The coach gangway door is gone, but there is still the locked door into the powercar.



I'm used to LNER or XC sets where there's a locked door at the end of the coach, rendering you unable to see into the powercar.

 

[Highlandspring]

That clears it up then, thanks.

 

[applepie2100]

I managed to get a run on the 1600 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh yesterday (although started from Dundee due to staffing issues) which was a refurb set and noticed that it had two or three sets of doors locked out of use. Was that just bad luck or are the new doors already struggling?

 

[alexf380]

I managed to get a run on the 1600 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh yesterday (although started from Dundee due to staffing issues) which was a refurb set and noticed that it had two or three sets of doors locked out of use. Was that just bad luck or are the new doors already struggling?

Was on that train too! Thought it was odd that some of the doors were showing as out of use.
Also surprised the catering was from a trolley and not the new food bar. Maybe a staff thing as well?

 

[Highlandspring]

From what I have heard they’ve more or less given up on the buffets already...

 

[marks87]

My apologies my post wasn't clear. The coach gangway door is gone, but there is still the locked door into the powercar.

View attachment 62862

I'm used to LNER or XC sets where there's a locked door at the end of the coach, rendering you unable to see into the powercar.

I’m pretty sure this is a normal view from first class on HSTs, albeit with a vestibule door in between. Any time I’ve been in the end first class coach I’ve been able to see the rear of the power car.

Are you used to being in standard, where the guard’s compartment is between the passengers and the power car?

 

[applepie2100]

From what I have heard they’ve more or less given up on the buffets already...

If that is indeed the case then I wish I could say that I'm surprised. Some of the thing I'd noticed on the refurb had a whiff of the "It'll do" mentality that seems to run through all the work done. A couple of the doors looked like they had paint overspray onto the window seals and first class seat frames still the bumps/scratches/scuffs from their FGW/GWR days. We also had the "pleasure" of the godawful TrainFX PIS although fortunately it was powered off for the journey. Staff wise we had two conductors, what I'm sure was two drivers and a steward. One of the conductors was only doing tickets as he wasn't passed out on the set and other was only doing safety criticals. FC complementaries were tea or coffee and hee haw else and I don't think that the "buffet" ever opened.

Maybe I'm looking for too much but for a project taking so long I don't think it's too much to be asking for close to perfection.

 

[chuff chuff]

I doubt the longevity of the buffet on the refurb sets but one of the problems regarding catering at the moment is..............shortage of staff.

 

[hexagon789]

From what I have heard they’ve more or less given up on the buffets already...

That's a shame; and you have to ask what was the point then?

 

[_toommm_]

I’m pretty sure this is a normal view from first class on HSTs, albeit with a vestibule door in between. Any time I’ve been in the end first class coach I’ve been able to see the rear of the power car.

Are you used to being in standard, where the guard’s compartment is between the passengers and the power car?

That's probably it, although like you said I was expecting an intermediary door between the end of the coach and the powercar.

Although it did sound nice hearing the engine ramping up

 

[mcmad]

I doubt the longevity of the buffet on the refurb sets but one of the problems regarding catering at the moment is..............shortage of staff.

I suppose it doesn't make much sense from a logistic or financial point to run the buffet rather than a trolley until there is a good number of the refurb sets in service. The waste likely from trying to stock a single (?) in service buffet daily makes it uneconomical to do.

 

[haggishunter]

3 ScotRail HSTs lined up beside each other in Inverness station around 6pm, one of them set to depart to Elgin.

 

[Northhighland]

I doubt the longevity of the buffet on the refurb sets but one of the problems regarding catering at the moment is..............shortage of staff.

Staff shortage excuses really wearing thin now. This has to be the longest training programme in history and not having catering staff is ridiculous can’t need much training to do that job.

Surely stable operation of the service must be close?

 

[GusB]

Was on that train too! Thought it was odd that some of the doors were showing as out of use.
Also surprised the catering was from a trolley and not the new food bar. Maybe a staff thing as well?

Staff shortage excuses really wearing thin now. This has to be the longest training programme in history and not having catering staff is ridiculous can’t need much training to do that job.

Surely stable operation of the service must be close?

Lack of catering staff wasn't the issue as it was said that catering was from a trolley. Presumably the catering staff will also need to familiarise themselves with the equipment on the refurbed sets, and if they haven't had the relevant training they won't be able to use the new buffets. It's probably not that hard to do, but you wouldn't want staff attempting to use equipment that could potentially cause harm without being taught some basics, would you?

 

[chuff chuff]

Lack of catering staff wasn't the issue as it was said that catering was from a trolley. Presumably the catering staff will also need to familiarise themselves with the equipment on the refurbed sets, and if they haven't had the relevant training they won't be able to use the new buffets. It's probably not that hard to do, but you wouldn't want staff attempting to use equipment that could potentially cause harm without being taught some basics, would you?

The refurb is meant to have two catering staff,one on the trolley and one in the buffet/first class.

 

[hexagon789]

The refurb is meant to have two catering staff,one on the trolley and one in the buffet/first class.

Presumably then if only one staff member is available, the trolley gets priority.

 

[BRX]

Does anyone know if the 0944 from inverness this morning is an hst?

 

[Highlandspring]

Does anyone know if the 0944 from inverness this morning is an hst?

Yes it is.

 

[BRX]

Yes it is.

Great, I'll hopefully get it on its return journey from edinburgh. Cheers.

 

[InvHst]

Anybody know what diagrams are going be in play from may timetable change yet?