VTEC short formed/mis formed sets

[D6975]

On thursday 2/7/15 VTEC seemed to be in a right pickle.
I've not seen a short formed 91 set in ages.
On thursday I saw 3.
91126 was missing an FO
91128 likewise missing an FO
91130 missing a TSO
not only that but, one HST set had an EMT power car on one end (43043)
whilst another set had just one VTEC vehicle, 43251, the rest of the set was all XC.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

EC regularly make use of an XC set with an EC 1st class and a buffet car inserted, usually in connection with EC HST servicing requirements. It may have been in connection with the unavailability of the EMT set thats usually hired in as EC are a set (hst or mk4) down for VT branding/deep cleanse
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also with mk4 set short forms, again it happens on a regular basis. Its far better to put a short formed set out than cancel a service. The service is scheduled very tight and there are no "spare" mk4 sets available so if knocking a single carriage keeps the set in service then wherever possible they will limit it where possible to quiter diagrams newark/Leeds/york shuttles as opposed to anglo/scot limites stop services where the loss of capacity wont be an issue

 

[Aictos]

Last week wasn't helped by the fact that VTEC only had 22 Class 91s to cover 26 Class 91 diagrams (Note this was word for word what VTEC control had advised) this was due to 2 Class 91s being at Doncaster Works, 2 Class 91s at Bounds Green Depot and 5 Class 91s with various cab air con faults oh and a Class 91 which couldn't be used with a another Mk4 set as it was involved in a incident recently.

That's why on Thursday for example, VTEC Control had advised that the 12:30 and 14:30 departures from London would be Class 67 dragged however much to my disappointment they managed to find a Class 91 for the 14:30.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Suprised they didnt utilise any class 90's in that case, but that will depend on availability and driver traction knowledge

 

[ainsworth74]

Suprised they didnt utilise any class 90's in that case, but that will depend on availability and driver traction knowledge

Are there any VTEC drivers that still sign 90s? They've not been seen on a ICEC service for a very long time now!

 

[Mag_seven]

Are there any VTEC drivers that still sign 90s? They've not been seen on a ICEC service for a very long time now!

Having VTEC drivers that still sign 90s sounds too much like common sense.

 

[me123]

On thursday 2/7/15 VTEC seemed to be in a right pickle...
not only that but, one HST set had an EMT power car on one end (43043)
whilst another set had just one VTEC vehicle, 43251, the rest of the set was all XC.

Saw a few of these trains on Friday. 43043 was leading 1E15 from Aberdeen (the 09:52 departure) FWIW.

Certainly looked very odd, but I certainly don't have any problem with things like this happening - good to see that the service is being maintained by working with other TOCs. (I'm sure the money that is inevitably changing hands helps in no small part, too!). However, I do hope it's not a sign of any long term rolling stock issues?

 

[dk1]

Having VTEC drivers that still sign 90s sounds too much like common sense.

If you're not using them why would you keep paying drivers to refresh them? As stated its been a long time now. Sounds too expensive to me.

 

[theblackwatch]

If you're not using them why would you keep paying drivers to refresh them? As stated its been a long time now. Sounds too expensive to me.

Perhaps they could send them on a refresher. Of course, they'd have to cancel a few trains to release a few drivers to send them on one though...

 

[yorksrob]

Are there any spare Mk 4 carriages around which could be available for substitution?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are there any VTEC drivers that still sign 90s? They've not been seen on a ICEC service for a very long time now!

Surely they could use a DBS driver with a VTEC driver as pilotman?

 

[dk1]

Surely they could use a DBS driver with a VTEC driver as pilotman?

Better still use an AGA loco & me Just put me up at the Queens Hotel like GNER did when borrowing us & 170s after Hatfield.

 

[sprinterguy]

Are there any spare Mk 4 carriages around which could be available for substitution?

There's just one spare TSO end vehicle (and one DVT).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Also with mk4 set short forms, again it happens on a regular basis.

It didn't used to, from what I can recall purely as an observer. I must have seen hundreds of mark 4 formations, particularly over a ten year period between 1998 and 2008 but also up to the present, and have great difficulty thinking of any instances of short formations - Less so with the HSTs, however.

Quite astonishing to read that nearly a third of the class 91 fleet has been unavailable for service on a recent date - although cab air-con faults are understandable in the current weather!