VT new Pendolino carriages can't pass on adjacent tracks!

[telstarbox]

Full story in Private Eye but in summary:

Insurance for the new carriages costs much more than for the decade-old ones; and so to avoid eye-watering premiums, the new Pendolino trains can't be involved in an accident together. That means ensuring the trains never come face to face. Schedules can be organised to keep them apart, but the WCML isn't immune to disruption.

 

[First class]

Cannot it just be written into the new franchise agreement that whoever wins must pay the insurance premium?

I suspect that this won't be a permanent thing anyway.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

That makes no sense whatsoever. (the insurance thing, not the franchise thing)

 

[Old Timer]

Another D. B Ching story by chnace ?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Well, insurance reasons makes more sense than the turbulence rumours I heard last month and posted up on a 390 thread ( can't find the thread now! )

 

[NSEFAN]

Are the new carriages not identical in design to the current ones?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They are identical, which is why I was puzzled by the turbulence rumours. ( To save looking for the other thread, the rumour was the dedicated diagrams for 390 054 and 390 055 were to prevent them passing each other in Kilsby Tunnel as they generated more turbulence than the rest of the fleet:roll: ).

 

[the sniper]

They are identical, which is why I was puzzled by the turbulence rumours. ( To save looking for the other thread, the rumour was the dedicated diagrams for 390 054 and 390 055 were to prevent them passing each other in Kilsby Tunnel as they generated more turbulence than the rest of the fleet:roll: ).

This sounds like another Bombardier Class 172 'exhaust problem' situation, which seemingly ended up just being a misunderstanding in testing rather than an actual problem!

 

[Wath Yard]

I heard the insurance thing recently from someone in the rail industry, however they said the premiums were so high because they are 11-car, which they aren't (currently), so not too sure whether to believe it or not.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The rumour was the dedicated diagrams for 390 054 and 390 055 were to prevent them passing each other in Kilsby Tunnel as they generated more turbulence than the rest of the fleet:roll: ).

Would this fact not have been realised in the testing stages? Are tunnel evaluation tests carried out?

 

[AlterEgo]

Insurance for the new carriages costs much more than for the decade-old ones; and so to avoid eye-watering premiums, the new Pendolino trains can't be involved in an accident together. That means ensuring the trains never come face to face. Schedules can be organised to keep them apart, but the WCML isn't immune to disruption.

That is pretty much absolutely correct. The trains aren't insured in the unlikely event of them colliding with each other only. This situation will cease on 1 April when a new insurance contract comes into play. The sets are fully insured in all other respects.

Basically one set is being confined to Birmingham to Scotland routes, and one set to London to Manchester.

The turbulence rumour has been particularly amusing!

 

[LexyBoy]

I heard that the sets ended up magnetised as a result of a freak lighting storm during manufacture, and would become permanently stuck together if they passed.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are the new carriages not identical in design to the current ones?

Presumably it's not possible to get as good a deal on the insurance as it was a decade ago, and the fact that the new sets are new means their effective value is higher. (Then again I don't know much about insurance so I may stand corrected).

 

[jopsuk]

Another D. B Ching story by chnace ?

Indeed. I think it would help if Private Eye replaced him with someone that has an actual clue. I'd suggest "The Fact compiler" from "The Railway Eye", but Hislop probably hates him for apeing Private Eye's style, and is known to bear grudges beyond reason.

 

[flymo]

Indeed. I think it would help if Private Eye replaced him with someone that has an actual clue.

The original article was by a Dr. B Ching.......

I need a cuppa, this thread is making me laugh....

 

[western Champion]

I heard that the sets ended up magnetised as a result of a freak lighting storm during manufacture, and would become permanently stuck together if they passed.

I've heard some bo****ks in my time but this gave me a belly laugh. 054 and 055 were side by side at Oxley one morning last week.

It is as has been said already, they are on different insurance from the rest of the fleet, a situation which will be put right in April when the new insurance starts until then they are kept apart in service to prevent a scenario of them damaging each other.

 

[telstarbox]

Reminds me of the "Pacers can't go on third rail track" rumour!

 

[AlterEgo]

I've heard some bo****ks in my time but this gave me a belly laugh. 054 and 055 were side by side at Oxley one morning last week.

I don't think he was being serious...

Was he?

 

[harz99]

This situation will cease on 1 April ...........................

The mention of April 1st made me smile.........................

 

[CosherB]

Wow! Magnetised trains! Just arrange some big coils by the trackside and the trains could generate their own traction current as they whizz along!

 

[Geezertronic]

Yeah, could rename them to something like... Maglev

 

[Old Timer]

I've heard some bo****ks in my time but this gave me a belly laugh. 054 and 055 were side by side at Oxley one morning last week.

It is as has been said already, they are on different insurance from the rest of the fleet, a situation which will be put right in April when the new insurance starts until then they are kept apart in service to prevent a scenario of them damaging each other.

Clearly others doubt Network Rail's ability to run the Railway.

 

[Ivo]

Just out of curiosity, who would such insurance policies be with? Are there any specialist organisations, are they done internally, do they use brands Joe Public is familiar with?

 

[welshpax]

Just phoned Direct Line for a quote, they said they could only cover them for 3rd party, fire and theft and as long as they are parked in a garage at night :grin::grin::grin:

 

[Eagle]

Just phoned Direct Line for a quote, they said they could only cover them for 3rd party, fire and theft and as long as they are parked in a garage at night :grin::grin::grin:

Longsight is a garage of sorts...

 

[Temple Meads]

I don't think he was being serious...

Was he?

I don't think so...

 

[route:oxford]

The insurance issue doesn't sound *that* outrageous.

If you have 2 "unique" items that could theoretically come into conflict that would result in their destruction - the premiums are bound to be higher.

As further new Pendolino arrive, the premiums will drop.