XC 125's

[Mugby]

Thanks for all the responses, the reason I asked the question originally was because I travelled on the 1028 Derby to Newton Abbot on Sat 11th May and on the following day I returned on the first through service following engineering work which was the 1303 from Newton Abbot.

Going down wasn't too bad, a five car Voyager, I got a decent seat which I kept all the way (plenty of unclaimed reservations, I noticed)
On the return, it was two Voyagers and the rear one was lightly loaded. It filled up somewhat at Bristol and then got really busy at BHM. So all in all it was quite a decent trip.

 

[455driver]

So as Adam was saying, it should be end of June till September there should be 4 HSTs a day

Middle/end of July, or do you get more time off than then rest of us used to?

 

[brompton rail]

Middle/end of July, or do you get more time off than then rest of us used to?

Scottish schools have holidays in July to mid August ish, whilst many English Schools are mid July to end August.

The trick is to go to a Scottish School until July and then transfer to an English one to maximise holidays. Mind you, over the year XC's HSTs will still have longer holidays than any school!

 

[455driver]

The trick is to go to a Scottish School until July and then transfer to an English one to maximise holidays

that made I laff!

 

[louis97]

If it's anything like last year, they'll be a 6 week period in which there are 4 diagrams everyday..... but on the other hand, that could have just been down to the Olympics. I think it was July & August when it was 4 a day.

Not sure whether they are doing that this year, had a look on there booking engine on the select a seat system and it still showed voyagers in July and August. Bet it was something to do with the Olympics, especially with the need for extra voyagers for the Weymouth services.

 

[hooky3]

Middle/end of July, or do you get more time off than then rest of us used to?

I go to high school in Scotland and finish up for summer at the end of June, thus meaning that end of June till September is time when summer holidays are taking place, will be good though to see 4 HSTs working everyday

 

[CC 72100]

Not sure whether they are doing that this year, had a look on there booking engine on the select a seat system and it still showed voyagers in July and August. Bet it was something to do with the Olympics, especially with the need for extra voyagers for the Weymouth services.

Ah ok. I did try that the other day, but couldn't get on the seat selector. I'd done it before, but just got the normal 'state your preference' option. Would be a shame if they didn't do that - the 06:32 from York is ideal when doing a Freedom of Severn & Solent as can do it from Cheltenham at 10 to 10.

 

[IntercityHST]

So from now on every Saturday there should be 4 sets out? Planning on getting the 11:44 from Bristol which is the Penzance one this Saturday!

 

[CC 72100]

So from now on every Saturday there should be 4 sets out? Planning on getting the 11:44 from Bristol which is the Penzance one this Saturday!

Yes should be. I'm also hoping to be on that train from Plymouth, so that'll be two of us disappointed if it isn't!

 

[IntercityHST]

Yes should be. I'm also hoping to be on that train from Plymouth, so that'll be two of us disappointed if it isn't!

Well fingers crossed lol! Planning on getting it too Liskeard so hopefully

 

[455driver]

So from now on every Saturday there should be 4 sets out? Planning on getting the 11:44 from Bristol which is the Penzance one this Saturday!

Probably not, there are normally 4 sets out over the (English) summer holidays other than that it is just the 2 sets out.

You never know though.

 

[TEW]

They use 4 sets on Saturdays from May through to September, but still only 2 sets on weekdays.

 

[hooky3]

don't see how they can have enough voyagers to cover the fact that only 2 HSTs are in service weekdays

 

[TEW]

They cut down on most double voyager services, using single voyagers instead.

 

[Eagle]

They cut down on most double voyager services, using single voyagers instead.

Or, to put it in a glass-half-full way, when they go from two to four HSTs it frees up a couple of Voyagers to strengthen other services.

 

[TheBigD]

Last Saturday (25th) there were only 3 sets in use...

0600 LDS-PGN and 1235 return
0700 EDB-PGN and 1635 return
0800 EDB-NQY

The 0740 YRK-PNZ and 1625 return was a 221...

 

[CC 72100]

Last Saturday (25th) there were only 3 sets in use...

0600 LDS-PGN and 1235 return
0700 EDB-PGN and 1635 return
0800 EDB-NQY

The 0740 YRK-PNZ and 1625 return was a 221...

The Facebook gen page says it was a HST (357/301)

 

[TheBigD]

Was shown on TRUST on the morning in question as a voyager but TRUST has been wrong before...

 

[CC 72100]

Was shown on TRUST on the morning in question as a voyager but TRUST has been wrong before...

Hmmm, interesting. The gen page has been bang on in the past.... well, I'm on this working tomorrow, that way I can get 1st hand knowledge

 

[TEW]

Should be an HST, the ECS move is to/from Neville Hill, and only HSTs are stabled there.

 

[louis97]

The 0740 YRK-PNZ and 1625 return was a 221...

Saw this train at New Street and can confirm it was an HST. Sure you definitely looked at 0740, as there is another train that starts at York thats booked a 221. Would not put it past Trust being wrong mind!

 

[IntercityHST]

From Facebook gen page, looks like 1v48 is a tram

43207 + 43378 (XC04)
5V44 - Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D (05:30) to LDS (05:41)
1V44 - LDS (06:00) to PGN (11:33)
5S51 - PGN (11:46) to PGN (12:29)
1S51 - PGN (12:34) to EDB (21:08)
5S51- EDB (21:28) to Craigentinny T&R.S.M.D (21:35)

43384 + 43285 (XC03)
5V48 - Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D (05:43) to YRK (06:44)
1V48 - YRK (07:45) to PNZ (15:48)
1E75 - PNZ (16:25) to LDS (23:50)
5E75 - LDS (00:03) to Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D (00:13)

43304 + 43321 (XC01)
5V54 - Craigentinny T&R.S.M.D (04:41) to DEE (06:18)
1V54 - DEE (06:32) to NQY (18:38)
2P86 - NQY (20:00) to PLY (21:48)
5P86 - PLY (21:58) to Laira T&R.S.M.D (23:06)

43357 + 43366 (XC02)
5V52 - Craigentinny T&R.S.M.D (04:34) to GLC (05:37)
1V52 - GLC (06:01) to PGN (15:39)
5E67 - PGN (15:47) to PGN (16:30)
1E67 - PGN (16:36) to LDS (22:01)
5E67 - LDS (22:15) to Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D (22:25)

I don't claim or own this gen!

 

[Class172]

Could anyone possibly confirm whether any of the 1000 or the 1202 departures southbound from Cheltenham are run by an HST?

 

[louis97]

Could anyone possibly confirm whether any of the 1000 or the 1202 departures southbound from Cheltenham are run by an HST?

On what days? Today there isn't any 1000 or 1202 XC departures from Cheltenham, do you mean a weekday? 1000 is a HST on a Monday only, 1202 is a HST Mon-Fri.

 

[Class172]

Yes, sorry I meant Friday - I thought today was a Friday!

 

[hooky3]

what services are currently operated by double sets these days anyway?

 

[ValleyLines142]

what services are currently operated by double sets these days anyway?

1S33 0703 Birmingham to Edinburgh (2x220)
1V64 1306 Edinburgh to Plymouth (as far as Bristol only, with the front set only continuing to Plymouth) (2x220)
1S49 1125 Plymouth to Dundee (between Bristol and Newcastle only) (2x220)
1M76 1935 Newcastle to Birmingham (2x220)
1M77 2000 Bristol to Birmingham (2x220 - one of the sets being the unit left at Bristol off 1V64)
1G91 2127 Manchester to Birmingham (2x221)
Sometimes 1V52 0600 Glasgow to Plymouth, sometimes 1M58 1445 Bournemouth to Manchester (2x220)

 

[hooky3]

1S33 0703 Birmingham to Edinburgh (2x220)
1V64 1306 Edinburgh to Plymouth (as far as Bristol only, with the front set only continuing to Plymouth) (2x220)
1S49 1125 Plymouth to Dundee (between Bristol and Newcastle only) (2x220)
1M76 1935 Newcastle to Birmingham (2x220)
1M77 2000 Bristol to Birmingham (2x220 - one of the sets being the unit left at Bristol off 1V64)
1G91 2127 Manchester to Birmingham (2x221)
Sometimes 1V52 0600 Glasgow to Plymouth, sometimes 1M58 1445 Bournemouth to Manchester (2x220)

aw I see, didnt realise that there were that many, is there really a need to have 2 221's on 1G91?

 

[Eagle]

Yes, because they need to get back to Central Rivers depot, and this way you don't need two drivers.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Yes, because they need to get back to Central Rivers depot, and this way you don't need two drivers.

That is probably the reason why, although I'd have thought they'd have been kept at Longsight for the early morning services out of Piccadilly.

Does anyone know if 1G91 has the rear unit locked?? I imagine it does at that time of night.