Great Western Coffee Shop

Alterations to services between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway

Following a fire next to the track between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway all lines have now reopened.

Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 07:45 14/09.

A train has caught fire in Exeter, closing the line this morning.

Network rail said there would be significant disruption while the fire is tackled and the train removed from the tracks.

Safety checks will also have to be carried out before the line can be reopened.

It is not known how the fire started, and there are no reported injuries at this stage.

It was a fire in a power car of the HST which sits overnight in New Yard to form the 05:46 to Paddington.

Fire is now out.

05:46 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington due 08:38
05:46 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington due 08:38 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Another power car down at the moment! Not going to be easy.

Another power car down at the moment! Not going to be easy.

Fire control received a call from a member of british rail...

 

GWR certainly going through the wars rolling stock wise at the moment.

No need, it's all over the press there, particularly as it comes on the day Scotrail were announcing the arrival of the first set. It appears they have been quite tetchy over the subject.  Some media have erroneously reported that the train was on its way north at the time. Well I guess it makes a much better story, never mind the accuracy of it.

Oh I bet it is. 40+ year old sets replacing much younger rolling stock makes for good headlines especially when they catch fire. They will be glad when they get them, much nicer than a turbostar!

They'll be lovely trains for use north of the lowlands in Scotland - very sensible re-use for them once it was decided to electrify substantial sections out of London of the GW lines and something electric or bimode was needed.   

ScotRail said the trains will provide one third more seats on the routes, more luggage space, power sockets and better catering.

Mr Hynes said: “The arrival of the first high-speed train in Aberdeen is an exciting milestone in our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.

"Our refurbished high-speed trains will connect Scotland’s seven cities, offering better connections for commuters, business travellers and an opportunity for tourists to get out and about across this great country.

“The investment we are making in high-speed trains is a clear sign of the ScotRail Alliance’s commitment to building a world class railway for the whole of Scotland.”

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: “It is great to see this train arrive in Scotland for driver training, an important step towards delivery.

"Next year sees the start of a transformed inter-city service.

“When the 26 fully-upgraded trains roll out across the country, I know they will be popular with passengers."

Malcolm Brown, chief executive of Angel Trains, which will lease the fleet to ScotRail, said the trains would undergo "interior and technical improvements prior to entering into passenger service to ensure that it can meet the requirements of modern intercity travellers."

Nigel Harris, managing editor of RAIL magazine, said: "Don't be fooled by all this 'old train' nonsense.

"The HSTs are great trains as they stand right now.

"Once they have been refurbished, they will be 'as new' and offer some of the best quality long-distance travel in the UK.

"They will play a key role in giving Scotland not only the railway it deserves but the best railway it's ever had.

"If passengers don't love them I'll eat my hat."

Pantographs on HSTs???

I've read some fanciful suggestions about life extending HSTs and Mk3s. This one though is off the scale on the wibble-ometer!!!  :P ;) ;D

Although, if you like, I'll pop over the road to Brecknell Willis tomorrow and ask if it can be done!

I just did a very quick Wikipedia search and class 43's are within 3ft of the overall length of a class 90 electric with same wheel arrangement. Logic would suggest that the class 43 bodyshell would have sufficient interior space that they could be recycled to accommodate AC electric control equipment and a transformer. Class 93 anyone?!

Not quite the bi-mode that I think Graham was hinting at, but nevertheless I think conversion to full AC electric could be done relatively easily if the will or necessary budget existed (which I'm sure doesn't!).

The irony indeed is that customers have very little concern indeed for the age of the trains.  They loved the old loco hauled coaches between Cardiff and Taunton - even if they were older that the other trains on the route. And I'll bet passengers LOVE the pocket rockets in preference to the younger 15x they'll be working with on the Cornish main line.

They'll be lovely trains for use north of the lowlands in Scotland - very sensible re-use for them once it was decided to electrify substantial sections out of London of the GW lines and something electric or bimode was needed.   Mind you- do the HSTs use electric transmission, and if to, could pantographs be fitted?

One more "than usual" needing repairs?