The 125s & Future Usage (Fantasy)

[125Forever]

Not to be taken seriously.

With the 125s shortly to be removed from most front-ranking Intercity duties (although some will be transferred to Scotland for 'semi-retirement'), which routes would you like to see the 125s transferred to (even if it means displacing stock already used on these routes).

One route I would definitely put a 125 service on (had I the power) is Cardiff to Portsmouth. Along with Liverpool to Norwich (which could also go to the 125s) it is one of the longest provincial routes and even when the service is five coaches (early mornings with a 150 two car unit +158 three car unit) it can get overcrowded even before the train reaches the Severn Tunnel.

Which routes would you like to see 125s on?

 

[Harbornite]

Aberdeen to Penzance, Euston to Holyhead/Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and Manchester to Bournemouth.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

TransPennine services of course - I might even get a seat on occasion, unlikely currently on 185s (see the multitude of threads on the subject!). Actually how about the Penistone line? Ignoring the fact that platform lengths would mean only one or two trailers (which at least would give some "Hornby" reminiscence!), it'd be amusing to see one crawl over Paddock viaduct at the restricted speed of 5mph!

 

[Antman]

Ashford to Brighton?

 

[The Ham]

Reading - Gatwick, although ideally as part of a Liverpool - Brighton service (you did say it was fantasy right?).

 

[rf_ioliver]

HOWL, or maybe (as there are enough HSTs) reducing them all to two coaches and replacing the Valley Lines stock...actually you'd have enough left over to form PowerCar+Coach+PowerCard for HOWL...


But actually, Cardiff-Portsmouth isn't such a bad idea - with a bit a re-gearing as 100mph trains they'd be pretty good.


OR, you could just keep all the power cars and sandwich 442 them ...

Mods: Isn't it compulsory to mention 442s in any thread (fantasty or not?)



t.

Ian

 

[Antman]

Reading - Gatwick, although ideally as part of a Liverpool - Brighton service (you did say it was fantasy right?).

Liverpool to New Brighton might be more feasible?

 

[D365]

Firstly, we've already had a recent thread on "Future Fantasy Useage" for the HSTs.

Secondly, this isn't the sub-forum where it should belong.

 

[A0]

Surely reformed into two car units for the following lines:

Bedford - Bletchley.
Ipswich - Felixstowe.
Marks Tey - Sudbury.

And as 4 car units for:

Uckfield
North Downs
Greenford

 

[47802]

Well perhaps on a less fantasy note from what is usually fairly reliable source on WNXX has said a deal has been reached with the Dft for 11 x 4 car sets with effectively a 12th set as a spare which will be fully PRM compliant and will work Cardiff -Taunton and Exeter - Penzance.

So that significantly reduces the number that will be going spare, also seems to be increasing speculation that the MML electrification may be paused again indefinitely this time due to Network Rails money situation which could have consequences regarding MML HST's and any replacement.

 

[sprinterguy]

At the time that the Settle & Carlisle line was under threat, I recall that there was an alternate proposal put forward to harness the joint benefits of HSTs, displaced by ECML electrification, running in 1+4 formations, RETB and line singling using the optimal alignment and continuous welded rail for high speed running to reduce the operating costs of the route.

Cardiff - Portsmouth/Weymouth using shortened HST formations doesn't actually seem like too wild of an idea: Maybe not even shortened that much to cater for the summer traffic if it was possible to lengthen the sets periodically, which is really into the realms of fantasy on the modern, efficiency-led railway; I'm thinking minimum four, maximum six carriage formations. As it looks likely that FGW will be operating shortened 2+4 sets on Cardiff - Taunton and Exeter - Penzance, it's not beyond the realms of possibility to envisage the use some of the remaining spare sets to extend the concept to Cardiff - Portsmouth.

As this is pure fantasy, perhaps the next Wales & Borders franchise could "do a Scotrail" and take on 2+5 or 2+6 sets fitted with power doors, galley catering and retention toilets for use on their regional Manchester - North Wales/Cardiff and Cardiff - Holyhead services: Between the redundant East Coast fleet and the remaining Great Western spare sets, assuming that GWR keep twelve, there's basically exactly the right number of trains to replace the 175 fleet. Alternatively, and moving both off topic and further into fantasy, based on the timescales for the next Wales & Borders franchise they could make use of the redundant mark 4 sets post-2020 paired up with class 68 locos to achieve the same outcome, and take the 'Gerald' format to the next level.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So that significantly reduces the number that will be going spare, also seems to be increasing speculation that the MML electrification may be paused again indefinitely this time due to Network Rails money situation which could have consequences regarding MML HST's and any replacement.

I wouldn't be surprised. Historically you only get one London-focused main line and a couple of suburban schemes wired up per generation while the Government are predisposed towards electrification, before the financial well and political goodwill dry up.

 

[rebmcr]

This is a fantasy thread, the suggestions above are too realistic.

District line semi-fasts.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

How about Cardiff Bay? With enough trailers, it wouldn't even need to move!

 

[pdeaves]

Hs2

 

[sprinterguy]

This is a fantasy thread, the suggestions above are too realistic.

District line semi-fasts.

They'd be preceded by a heck of a draught as they powered through the central section tunnels at 125. I don't think there's room enough on the platforms at peak time for passengers to stand well back!

 

[colchesterken]

Slightly serious here- Norwich to Cambridge and Ipswich to Peterborough

 

[47802]

I don't really do fantasy, how about as class 37 replacements on the Cumbrian coast, oh hang on that might be too realistic.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Slightly serious here- Norwich to Cambridge and Ipswich to Peterborough

Oh no you've got your super wizzo swiss bi-modes for that.

 

[racklam]

If they could run services on the Hounslow and Teddington loop lines that'd be lovely

 

[sprinterguy]

TransPennine services of course - I might even get a seat on occasion, unlikely currently on 185s (see the multitude of threads on the subject!).

Something else that I recall is that BR initially wanted to order a batch of HSTs for regional routes such as North Transpennine and Edinburgh - Glasgow, but the Government had no interest in financing so many sets and as such the order was restricted to the major Intercity routes (with the MML only receiving HSTs belatedly, as a result of squeezing the ECML, XC and Great Western fleet allocations). As such, the regional routes had to wait until the late eighties and Sprinterisation for new stock to appear, and the rest is history.

 

[Tetchytyke]

They'd be preceded by a heck of a draught as they powered through the central section tunnels at 125. I don't think there's room enough on the platforms at peak time for passengers to stand well back!

I've driven a HST through the Northern Line on BVE, I think we need to try harder.

I actually vote for HSTs on the Tyne and Wear Metro. But only if they put the Valentas back in. Woof.

 

[topydre]

Aberdeen to Penzance, Euston to Holyhead/Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and Manchester to Bournemouth.

Yes

http://www.125group.org.uk/photo-galleries/hsts-here-there-any-everywhere/ (top right)

 

[sprinterguy]

I actually vote for HSTs on the Tyne and Wear Metro. But only if they put the Valentas back in. Woof.

Great idea, should get a decent scream out of them pulling out of Pelaw up the incline towards the flyover.

 

[alexl92]

Leeds - Harrogate - York, surely that's obvious?!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Hull - Liverpool

Leeds - Carlisle

London - Newhaven Marine

 

[J-2739]

The bin.

 

[swt_passenger]

Cardiff - Portsmouth cannot use HSTs, (unless diverted via Eastleigh), they are not route cleared for the Netley line and the problem is allegedly the Hamble river bridge.

I do try to mention this every time it is suggested...,

 

[janahan]

HOWL, or maybe (as there are enough HSTs) reducing them all to two coaches and replacing the Valley Lines stock...actually you'd have enough left over to form PowerCar+Coach+PowerCard for HOWL...

Considering the topic of conversation, when you said HOWL service I though you were talking about a special short Valenta powered service!!

That would certainly HOWL and scream!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

HOWL, or maybe (as there are enough HSTs) reducing them all to two coaches and replacing the Valley Lines stock...actually you'd have enough left over to form PowerCar+Coach+PowerCard for HOWL...

A PC=coach=Coach=PC formation did operate for a week and a half to substitute for a failed 158 in Great Western days

 

[grumblingalong]

High speed freight services, with doors and runners to handle airline style containers. Bring back the parcels service, bet you it would make more money now with online shopping than back when it was scrapped.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

As this is a fantasy thread, and anything is permitted...

Pyongyang - Seoul