TfW Class 158s to GWR

[CR165022]

Indeed - the 23rd unit I believe is to go to a third operator as yet to be confirmed.

Possibly EMR to replace 158889 which is going back to SWR?

 

[fgwrich]

Possibly EMR to replace 158889 which is going back to SWR?

It would make sense. Aside from requiring the cab modifications, a Perkins 158 wouldn’t be too far removed from the rest of the Perkins powered batch with EMR.

 

[43096]

It would make sense. Aside from requiring the cab modifications, a Perkins 158 wouldn’t be too far removed from the rest of the Perkins powered batch with EMR.

Biggest issue is the provision of the PRM toilet - think the two undamaged/less damaged cars are the ones without the PRM facilities?

 

[Snow1964]

Even that will be a major disappointment for Northern. The low availability of Classes 195 and 769 leaves short forming and cancellations as everyday events. The TfW 158s were the only hope for relieving the situation until new stock arrives by 2031 at best.

A quick look at the station usage change map by Tim Jupp shows why GWR needs them more than northern.

leaflet

The majority of the stations in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are black (highest passenger numbers in last 25-30 years), northern has a few odd lines with stations in black, but overall nowhere near the growth rates of the South West.

There is a colour key at the bottom and clicking on a station shows its growth trend (on a log scale), and many stations in South West are 5+% cumulatively (some stations are lower, others over 10% per year growth), these growth rates are such that some stations will be 50% higher within next 2-4 years than when the 175 plan was agreed, in blunt terms a 3car train needs to become a 4 or 5 car train

 

[43102EMR]

It would make sense. Aside from requiring the cab modifications, a Perkins 158 wouldn’t be too far removed from the rest of the Perkins powered batch with EMR.

Similar interior too, which will avoid the extra refurbishment work that was planned for 158889 (though ETCS removal and other mods need to be made…)

 

[CR165022]

Biggest issue is the provision of the PRM toilet - think the two undamaged/less damaged cars are the ones without the PRM facilities?

Both of the undamaged ones are the 52 cars which have the PRM toilets in, I believe

 

[rattyben]

Even that will be a major disappointment for Northern. The low availability of Classes 195 and 769 leaves short forming and cancellations as everyday events. The TfW 158s were the only hope for relieving the situation until new stock arrives by 2031 at best.

I think after the recent announcement from TPE, that 2031 date for Northern is highly unlikely.

 

[43096]

Both of the undamaged ones are the 52 cars which have the PRM toilets in, I believe

Apologies - yes you are correct.

 

[tfw756rider]

Both of the undamaged ones are the 52 cars which have the PRM toilets in, I believe

So if they're formed into a 23rd unit, it will have two accessible toilets and four wheelchair spaces, but no bicycle space? (I suppose they could redesignate one of the vehicles as a 'bicycle space' vehicle and replace its toilet with a bicycle storage area)

 

[Snow1964]

So if they're formed into a 23rd unit, it will have two accessible toilets and four wheelchair spaces, but no bicycle space? (I suppose they could redesignate one of the vehicles as a 'bicycle space' vehicle and replace its toilet with a bicycle storage area)

Although if GWR is planning to use some as middle car of 3 car units (not confirmed) then they might just use these odd cars, and a 2car unit goes elsewhere.

At the moment GWR only has one proper 3car unit (the others use disbanded 2car vehicles) where some of the space has never been converted for passenger usage and is dead space in the set. They are more like 2.9 usable car rather than 3car