Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => Cross Country services => Topic started by: grahame on July 05, 2022, 17:08:43



Title: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: grahame on July 05, 2022, 17:08:43
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/07/photos-crosscountry-high-speed-train-powercar-unveiled-in-new-livery-at-exeter-st-davids.html

Proud new future, or ready for swansong runs?


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: johnneyw on July 05, 2022, 21:18:13
Is it just me or does the livery give the impression of a variation on the current GWR colour scheme?
I think that it looks quite good though....triumph of restraint over flashiness.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: alexross42 on August 03, 2023, 08:39:00
Three power cars have now been re-liveried into retro variations as a celebration of their contribution to the XC fleet (and their overall long-term contribution to rail services since the mid 70's I guess!):

(apologies, the original image link is HUGE). Edit - Alex - I have added an attribute to have this show somewhat smaller - grahame

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2YAi1aWQAApbUs?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

Original XC tweet:

https://twitter.com/CrossCountryUK/status/1686035858816700416?t=_eREOhP9blMGOp1goI_yjg&s=19 (https://twitter.com/CrossCountryUK/status/1686035858816700416?t=_eREOhP9blMGOp1goI_yjg&s=19)

Apparently due to start in regular/normal service from today (3rd)........


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: Bmblbzzz on August 03, 2023, 16:03:39
To me they look much more BR than GWR, and not at all XC.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: Fourbee on August 04, 2023, 12:40:26
I've attached a picture that is representative of a 'OO' HST "set" that I have somewhere. It seems to be a mixture of the top 2 liveries in the original post. I can't find any real examples of this, was it just artistic licence by Hornby?


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: Electric train on August 04, 2023, 12:53:23
To me they look much more BR than GWR, and not at all XC.

Can not be BR style .................... no oil stain down the side from the leaking oil seals on the turbo charger  ;D ;D and they have the roof mounted exhaust deflectors which BR had to install to keep all of the oil and soot from the Paxmans off of the windscreen when the power car was travelling in the reverse direction ....................

Nostalgia ;D ;D ;D ;D 


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: broadgage on August 09, 2023, 09:49:45
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/07/photos-crosscountry-high-speed-train-powercar-unveiled-in-new-livery-at-exeter-st-davids.html

Proud new future, or ready for swansong runs?

The latter, I fear. HSTs are too good for today's railway, the future is shorter units, with no buffet, uncomfortable seats, limited luggage space.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: PhilWakely on August 16, 2023, 20:50:07
I notice that 43007 (original BR blue/grey/yellow livery) has been let out today on 1E63 (1527 Plymouth to Leeds) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G59002/2023-08-16/detailed) paired with InterCity Executive liveried 43184.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: Mark A on September 18, 2023, 19:11:36
Does the retirement from service of the HSTs imply that the (capacity constrained) Crosscountry have fewer trains at their disposal now?

Mark


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: grahame on September 19, 2023, 07:29:29
Does the retirement from service of the HSTs imply that the (capacity constrained) Crosscountry have fewer trains at their disposal now?

Mark

Yes and no - as I understand it, Avanti West Coast have some IETs coming Ito service (class 805) which will allow class 221 to be cascaded - but not sure if the class 221 have been released yet.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: stuving on September 19, 2023, 16:34:47
Does the retirement from service of the HSTs imply that the (capacity constrained) Crosscountry have fewer trains at their disposal now?

Mark

Yes and no - as I understand it, Avanti West Coast have some IETs coming Ito service (class 805) which will allow class 221 to be cascaded - but not sure if the class 221 have been released yet.

Today's announcement  (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/west-coast-partnership-and-cross-country-rail-operator-direct-awards)of a renewed contract for Cross Country (mainly covering Avanti's too) doesn't mention new trains:
Quote
In October 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the department entered into a unique Operating Cost Franchise Agreement with Arriva UK Trains Ltd to operate passenger rail services on Cross Country. The core term of this contract ends on 15 October 2023

Today we have awarded a National Rail Contract to Arriva UK Trains Ltd to continue operating the Cross Country rail services. This contract, starting on 15 October 2023, will have a core term of 4 years and a maximum possible term of 8 years. After 4 years, the contract can be terminated at any point with 3 months’ notice at my discretion.

Most of the words are about Avanti, justifying the award on the grounds of their improved performance. There's a .gov news story (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avanti-west-coast-awarded-long-term-contract-after-significant-improvements-for-passengers) about the announcement that also is mostly about the Avanti contract, and that does - if only briefly - mention new trains:
Quote
Meanwhile, the department has also today awarded Cross Country a new National Rail Contract, with a core term of 4 years and a maximum possible term of 8 years.

The contract will also begin on 15 October and includes additions to help improve services, such as the replacement of the now-retired High Speed Trains with more modern equivalents, refurbishment of existing Cross Country train fleets, and the introduction of direct daily services between Cardiff and Yorkshire, the North East and Edinburgh from December 2024.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: ChrisB on September 19, 2023, 17:09:35
More from Richard Gibson, Stakeholder Manager West & Wales

Quote
This agreement will enable us to introduce a range of customer improvements including:

     · a full fleet refurbishment of both the Voyager and Turbostar fleet – the first major refurbishment in 20 years. This will include fitting CCTV, Automatic Passenger Counting equipment on board, new carpets and LED lighting, all designed to tackle long-standing pain points for our customers.

     · further enhancements to the timetable, building on our May 2023 changes. This includes a new daily direct service between Cardiff and Edinburgh, strengthening connections across Great Britain. We are also exploring the reintroduction of services between Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

This is really positive news and demonstrates the government’s confidence in our ability to deliver for our customers. As a long-distance operator of choice spanning the length and breadth of Great Britain, we have a vital role to play in strengthening connections between our cities and towns.

Over the coming months, we will share how the benefits in this agreement will support customers’ confidence in travelling by train. This remains our chief priority. I remain committed to working alongside you to further a build a railway that is both sustainable and relevant to people’s lives.

We have achieved a great deal since the start of our services in 2007. Our trains have been brought up to modern standards, with better onboard environments, at seat catering and free Wi-Fi for everyone. We’ve worked with Network Rail to deliver more and faster journeys to many parts of our network, and with communities and volunteers to bring the railway and the places it serves closer together.

We are proud of our business and that it is a company on which our customers can rely.  I look forward to working with you over the coming years to deliver more benefits for our customers.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: stuving on September 19, 2023, 17:35:36
Looking more closely at that DfT news item, it doesn't actually say these new trains are new. The wording is "the replacement of the now-retired High Speed Trains with more modern equivalents" - "more modern" is easy, anything would be, and whether 221s are "equivalent" to HSTs is a matter of opinion.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: IndustryInsider on September 19, 2023, 18:35:10
The Avanti 221s (or 222s from EMR) are the obvious choice.  Just a matter of how long it takes XC to get their hands on them, and the pain passengers have to endure in the meantime!


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: Mark A on September 19, 2023, 19:57:48
From a Twitter source, 7 x 5 car Voyagers from Avanti (in due course...)

https://twitter.com/Tall_Controller/status/1704091045426770113

Now, with forthcoming Cardiff to Edinburgh diagrams to cover, will those run via Chepstow or via the Severn Tunnel and perhaps Bristol Temple Meads.

Mark


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: IndustryInsider on September 19, 2023, 20:02:00
Chepstow hopefully, or there’s little point in them from a Cardiff perspective.


Title: Re: XC HST power car in new livery
Post by: ChrisB on September 19, 2023, 20:21:44
Now, with forthcoming Cardiff to Edinburgh diagrams to cover, will those run via Chepstow or via the Severn Tunnel and perhaps Bristol Temple Meads.

You mean diagram? Once a day, I understand. Each way.

Via Chepstow following the Nottingham, hopefully, but possibly via BPW. I very much doubt that it'll be reversing at BRI.



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