SWT 158 at Gloucester

[island]

I have twice recently seen SWT class 158s running at Gloucester, on services between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon (or further afield). Yesterday it was 158881 on 2G87 (1538 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa) and last week (can't remember which day) it was 2O00 (1739 Cheltenham Spa to Southampton Central).

Any idea why FGW is using SWT-liveried Sprinters?

 

[bnm]

FGW have many DMUs in for, or due, heavy maintenance and refurbishment over the coming months and years. That's why they've started hiring a SWT Class 158 again.

This is also why FGW have issued a tender for 2 trains each with a capacity of 275 Standard Class seats. With no spare off lease DMUs available, this tender is effectively for 2 loco hauled sets. The tender is for 31 months from December 9th 2013 to July 31st 2016.

Of course it might not be FGW operating the loco-hauled sets. Still no announcement on the management contract that starts in October....

 

[TheWalrus]

I had it last week on Gloucester-Swindon took advantage of declassified first class!

 

[PHILIPE]

I have twice recently seen SWT class 158s running at Gloucester, on services between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon (or further afield). Yesterday it was 158881 on 2G87 (1538 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa) and last week (can't remember which day) it was 2O00 (1739 Cheltenham Spa to Southampton Central).

Any idea why FGW is using SWT-liveried Sprinters?

This is not new. For a possibly 2 year period until Autumn last year and restarted again June this year.
It is not just a SWT liveried unit, but a SWT Unot on lease.

 

[CC 72100]

I had it last week on Gloucester-Swindon took advantage of declassified first class!

It seems to stay on the Golden Valley shuttles doesn't it? In which case I also wouldn't mind taking advantage of it

 

[swt_passenger]

It seems to stay on the Golden Valley shuttles doesn't it? In which case I also wouldn't mind taking advantage of it

Apparently it is the best diagram for FGW to use it on because the timings work well for it to start at Salisbury. Unusually for a 'sublease' although FGW operate it, they return it to SWT for normal TLC every night...

 

[CC 72100]

Apparently it is the best diagram for FGW to use it on because the timings work well for it to start at Salisbury. Unusually for a 'sublease' although FGW operate it, they return it to SWT for normal TLC every night...

ah... in that case it may not be working my train, as I'll be on the 09:19 Cheltenham - Swindon. Not sure whether it would have came up from Salisbury by then.

I do think it clearly shows with SWT in how their diesel fleet go to their home depot every night when it comes to train presentation and reliability, so can't say I don't blame them in wanting it back every night.

 

[swt_passenger]

It used to operate this set of diagrams:

2E16 06.04 Salisbury - Westbury
2M10 07.02 Westbury - Cheltenham
2B90 09.39 Cheltenham - Swindon
2G83 11.54 Swindon - Cheltenham
2B94 13.40 Cheltenham - Swindon
2G87 15.54 Swindon - Cheltenham
2C24 17.30 Cheltenham - Westbury
2C92 20.38 Westbury - Bristol TM
1O86 22.25 Bristol TM - Salisbury (FP with Class 159 attached)

Not sure if it still does that at all, but its correct timings ought to be traceable using 'realtimetrains' or similar...

 

[CC 72100]

the 09:39 from Cheltenham has now been replaced by the 09:19, and the return seems to leave 20ish minutes earlier too in the current timetable, but other than that post 1 suggests that it works the equivalent of the above diagrams. Would 1st automatically be declassified, or should I wait until I hear the official line on it before using it?

 

[PHILIPE]

It used to operate this set of diagrams:



Not sure if it still does that at all, but its correct timings ought to be traceable using 'realtimetrains' or similar...

Now 17 30 Cheltenham to Southampton and 21 20 Southampton to Westbury thence attach home. The rest is correct so should get on 09 19 ex Cheltenham.

 

[thelongestroad]

the 09:39 from Cheltenham has now been replaced by the 09:19, and the return seems to leave 20ish minutes earlier too in the current timetable, but other than that post 1 suggests that it works the equivalent of the above diagrams. Would 1st automatically be declassified, or should I wait until I hear the official line on it before using it?

It would be declassified.

 

[TEW]

There's also a Saturday diagram on the Golden Valley and a Sunday diagram which reaches Weymouth.