Print Page - 5th RDG Rolling Stock Strategy

On 10th March the Rail Delivery Group published its now-annual update, to the 5th edition, of its "Long Term Rolling Stock Strategy for the Rail Industry" (http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/publications.html?task=file.download&id=469772150).

I've not read it (yet). I did notice in a quick look that they have reduced their assumed levels of future electrification, though not hugely (by 4% of the total network). I also looked at the table (right at the end) of rolling stock on order. That shows, for Hitachi, as vehicle totals:

the original VTEC order split between 330 class 801 and 167 class 800 bimodes
the original GWR order as changed so all 369 are class 800 bimodes
the later GWR order of 236 class 802 bimodes
the Hull Trains order of 25 class 802 bimodes
the TPE order of 95 class 803 bimodes

Note that 236 for GWR covers the 802s for the south-west and what looked like more 800s for Oxford (initially at least), both lumped together. And what's a class 803? Is there a known design change for TPE?

RDG put out a press release summarising it (http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/media-centre/press-releases/2017/469772151-2017-03-10.html) then, followed by another today (http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/media-centre/press-releases/2017/469772177-2017-20-03.html):

Quote

Britain’s rail companies have unveiled plans to run over 6,400 more passenger trains every week by 2021, running to more places more often, creating new opportunities and supporting jobs.

Nearly 1,300 more trains a day will run Monday-Friday by 2021
Builds on and accelerates the pace of investment from the additional 1,350 trains a week introduced over the last four years
Key benefit of £50bn-plus Railway Upgrade Plan to transform railway for customers

Projected timetable improvements for the next four years show that 1,283 more trains a day (6,417 a week) will run from Monday to Friday nationwide, an increase of 11 per cent, according to new analysis by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) which represents train operators and Network Rail.

Operators are already running more than 1,350 extra trains a week compared with just four years ago. Overall, the total number of trains in the timetable has increased by 29 per cent – around 3,800 extra trains every day - in the last 20 years
...

Mick Cash's response (http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-on-rail-delivery-group-claims-to-increase-train-capacity/) is a bit strong, even for him, given that the RDG numbers were based on infrastructure being built, timetables already initially planned, and committed orders for rolling stock:

Quote

"Like most people we will believe this when we see it. There simply aren't the trains and staff available to make this plan happen. Fault for that lies smack at the door of over two decades of privatisation.

"The train operators are already struggling to run current services and timetables due to a chronic lack of investment and the drive across the industry is to hack back on staff in the search for fatter ‎profits. Our guards are in the front line of that attack on jobs and safety.

"Like so much of the spin from our rip-off private train companies these big promises of additional capacity are doomed to turn to dust.

"With the British public paying the highest fares in Europe to travel on rammed-out and unreliable trains the only solution to this on-going transport crisis is public ownership."

Quote from: stuving on March 20, 2017, 16:45:56

I've not read it

Neither have I, but on a quick look through it didn't seem to be proposing details of cascades; so what is the point of it?

In particular, I was hopeing to find a strategy for ensuring there are enough diesel trains compliant with TSI-PRM regulations for the 2020 deadline. At present, I believe Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern, EMT and London Midland have between them 107 non-compliant DMUs (173 vehicles of classes 121, 142, 143, 150 and 153). Chiltern's class 121s are apparently to be retired in May, with the existing fleet stretched to cover the diagram; so the actual totals are 105 units / 171 vehicles. As far as I can make out, only 39 DMUs which are (or likely to be) compliant are due to be available by 2020 (everything else coming off-lease, except Pacers and 153s, is either electric, already due for cascade to Northern or are not fully released before 2020 (the first 185 might be released from TPE in November 2019, but the full 22 won't be available until March 2020)). Those 39 available units comprise 91 vehicles (of classes 156, 170 and 172). Obviously, the numbers don't add up, so somebody is going to have to use one or more untried solutions (class 230s, 319 Flexes or PRM-modified class 153s). Who is going to get the units and who will be left with untried solutions, and which of the untried solutions will be implemented? If a decision isn't made soon, what happens if the DfT refuse to grant a derrogation to the regulations because of indecision leading to TOCs missing the PRM deadline?

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All across the Great Western territory => Looking forward - after Coronavirus to 2045 => Topic started by: stuving on March 20, 2017, 16:45:56