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5176
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: 200 new coaches to be brought forward
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on: December 03, 2008, 10:36:45
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Personally I have a few concerns about losing the 158's and being replaced with a super 150. 1/3 2/3 openings on a planned 'intercity' service would be a retrograde step, why would SWT▸ etc be trying to get hold of any spare 158 going.
Are there any new builds with end doors?
I don't believe SWT had any real issues with the 170's layout or door location, after all they have plenty of 450s on long runs with 1/3 2/3 doors. The primary reason was that they wanted a common fleet type with better casualty figures. A fleet with gangways for revenue protection, ease of passenger movement for SDO▸ , and catering trolley access were additional benefits. The above was mentioned by SWT management when the first overhauled 159/1 was introduced to the press at Salisbury. What wasn't publicly mentioned was the possibility that leasing costs were better for an older fleet owned by one Rosco, if you recall they also released two 158s from whatever the otrher Rosco was... |
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5177
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Journey by Journey / London to the West / Re: First Great Western - West Of England to Axminster
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on: November 30, 2008, 14:11:58
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I think SWT▸ 's advance fare map and price list is one of the most easily understood around, especially since they changed to 'Advance' being singles only. Prior to May they were still offering Super Apexs▸ and such like, possibly being one of the last TOCs▸ to do so: (Network Rail - home page)/rdonlyres/342EF0FA-3CD8-43B1-B11A-E3417A8AAADD/0/SWTAdvancefaresmap2.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/342EF0FA-3CD8-43B1-B11A-E3417A8AAADD/0/SWTAdvancefaresmap2.pdf It's fair to say they don't offer Advance fares within 'commuter land' though... Paul |
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5179
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Journey by Journey / Portsmouth to Cardiff / Salisbury Station
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on: November 28, 2008, 11:10:20
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On my way through Salisbury yesterday, I noticed a nearly complete short extension to the Exeter end of platform 2/3, to allow 10 car trains to Waterloo, although it seems they are starting with only one up train in the morning peak from Dec 15th...
Paul
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5180
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: 200 new coaches to be brought forward
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on: November 28, 2008, 10:53:39
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I'm beginning to think, in the absence of any confirmation from DfT» or FGW▸ , it's just a misinterpretation of previous announcements. In other words it is still the figure for Bristol and L&TV combined, even if it does turn out to be new units rather than cascaded 150s.
If the newspaper story had any legs, isn't it the sort of thing FGW and DfT would be shouting from the rooftops, to take the heat off the problem for the time being?
Paul
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5181
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Ticket barriers under fire
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on: November 28, 2008, 10:46:43
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A lot of people in West Yorkshire have WY Metro tickets which aren't rail tickets and are valid on both train and bus services. WY Metro pointed this out to Northern when they first planned to install automated ticket gates, to replace the manual ones that were already there. Northern obviously ignored it.
I've noticed at Liverpool James Street and Liverpool Central stations, which have automated ticket barriers, plus one or two people manually checking tickets, that most people opt to go to the human checking tickets, even if they have to wait longer.
Is this really all down to Northern - it may be a DfT» requirement in the franchise, like most other recent ticket gate installations? And of course Leeds is a Network Rail managed station, so NR» will have been heavily involved in the design of the actual layout. It strikes me that 'Metro' are no longer the controlling authority here, so need to adapt their ticket type to solve the problem - it seems highly unlikely that they've been unaware of the requirement. Maybe DfT are pushing them to introduce a smartcard - they are certainly in use already somewhere in that area, according to Modern Rail this month. Going for the 'human checkers' soon loses its usefulness once they send anyone with a 'credit card' ticket that ought to work back round to the gates (unless they have luggage or pram etc), which I've seen at Milton Keynes recently, and at Southampton in the past, and on the London Underground for years... Paul |
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5182
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: 200 new coaches to be brought forward
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on: November 26, 2008, 23:22:00
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A deal somewhere to lose 158's from the West with a dedicated 'New fleet' for Portsmouth/Cardiff with the remainder being 150's?
It's a moot point, as we know 158s are not optimal stock for closely spaced commuter services, due their end doors, this is apparent on SWT▸ locals at Southampton as well, the 170s with 1/3 2/3 doors were much better for that. Numbers wise could 158s specialise in longer routes with 150s retained for more local services? Paul |
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5183
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: 200 new coaches to be brought forward
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on: November 26, 2008, 22:50:30
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Yeah, in the DFT▸ article shown above, it doesn't seem to mention any new stock for FGW▸ , just cascaded, earlier than anticipated as the newer bulds will be ready sooner.
Though how about North of England.... what ws this ever planned to get?
I've checked all the DfT» references, and they consistently say ""The delivery of 200 new carriages earlier than originally expected for rail passengers in the Thames Valley, around Bristol and on longer distance inter-urban services in Northern England". I.e. FGW and TPEx, and no mention of a cascade at all? Northern were down to get the LM▸ 150s, ie 26 or 27, [less the 6 units Modern Rail consistently refer to that were to go to FGW], so say 20, and an undecided number of new DMUs▸ bringing them up to 158 DMU carrriages. Not sure where the LO 150s end up though, they're also in the mix somewhere. Paul |
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5184
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: 200 new coaches to be brought forward
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on: November 26, 2008, 20:22:32
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FGW▸ DO consider a 'Bristol area' service after all)...
They do which is a little insulting to the other major towns and cities served by the Cardiff-Portsmouth line. Call me old fashioned but I liked it when it was referred to as the Severn Solent line. Great Great news about new rolling stock for the line though. OK - 'Timmer, you are old-fashioned'  One of the comments on the news site reckons it is units for Cardiff - Portsmouth - I wonder if he has insider info... Paul |
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5187
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Similar website to this one for East Midlands Trains passengers
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on: November 25, 2008, 21:49:47
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Their explanation of why EMT» are short of carriages on the Norwich Liverpool route drifts off into the realms of fantasy though. Firstly it implies Central kept back some carriages (presumably meaning the 158 centre cars that DfT» allocated to Northern). Then they suggest EMT could have ordered more carriages if only the ROSCOs» weren't subject to a competition enquiry.
The only bit that sounds correct is that the passenger data provided by Central Trains was out of date.
I can't imagine EMT have ever attempted to order more new trains for this route, the DfT wouldn't allow it. That must sound familiar to Portsmouth - Cardiff route users...
Paul
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5188
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: 200 new coaches to be brought forward
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on: November 25, 2008, 13:23:02
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I think the best suggestion for which carriages should be brought forward is the London Midland, Chiltern, and LO 172s. I can't recall exactly how many, but the aim is to allow all the older LM▸ & LO DMUs▸ to be cascaded eleswhere, eg to FGW▸ and Northern. They seem the key to a lot of plans, but seem to be behind the 378s in the build queue. There was a bit about Derby works in one of the mags a few months back, suggested they have space to increase the number of assembly lines if orders increase, bearing in mind their biggest current order is the LU sub surface stock. EDIT: the DfT» 's own news release now includes... "The delivery of 200 new carriages earlier than originally expected for rail passengers in the Thames Valley, around Bristol and on longer distance inter-urban services in Northern England" http://nds.coi.gov.uk:80/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=385408&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=FalseWhich sounds like it includes TPEx after all... Paul |
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5189
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Where are these ...
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on: November 23, 2008, 18:24:26
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Yes, Mottisfont and Dunbridge, and Dean, are the only two stations that I'm aware of that are looked after by a train operating company that doesn't provide a service to them. But the arrangement seems to work well, doesn't it  I have wondered for a while why these stations didn't get handed straight to SWT▸ with the service. It seems quite inconsistent, apparently the Tonbridge to Redhill route is passing from SE to SN in December, and 5 or 6 stations are transferring at the same time, re-signing into SN's colours has already started. There are a few Midlands routes where TOCs▸ look after stations with none of their own services, EMT» retained a few stations where only XC▸ call, with the Stansted service. As XC had no existing stations of their own on the long distance XC network, the same setup was decided on for 'newXC', so as Central's successor, EMT won the stations. I believe LM▸ look after Coleshill Parkway for the same reason, and have no calls. Paul |
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