Intercity Express Programme (IEP) - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

There are remours circulating that there are traction interference problems that need to be resolved between Hitachi and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and that as a conseqence passenger running might not start until November....

Perhaps ET has heard something?

[Electric train]

There are remours circulating that there are traction interference problems that need to be resolved between Hitachi and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and that as a conseqence passenger running might not start until November....

Perhaps ET has heard something?

I know when they test ran the Hitachi units between Didcot and Reading there were interference issues; the usual infrastructure operator and train manufacture saying it was each other ................... roll out a 387 or 3 on a test run .................. errrrr not interference problems 

There was talk a while back of "dampers" being the answer (dampers are basically harmonic filters / power factor correction) like Railtrack were forced to fit on the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) back in the 2000's to solve problems caused by Pendolino's because the nature of the power supply was not made clear.  This time apparently NR have said the nature of the power supply etc was made known at the spec stage.

Not sure what the current status is, I suspect the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) will be launched on the due date but diesel only

[TonyK]

Realtime trains has a very interesting diagram - is this IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) testing?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97137/2017/08/31/advanced

[IndustryInsider]

I suspect so.  Lots of tests and measurements needed for all of the potential station stops and other areas of concern.

[grahame]

I suspect so.  Lots of tests and measurements needed for all of the potential station stops and other areas of concern.

One of the areas of concern might be real time tracking ... it would appear that the service left Stoke Gifford on time and varied between 200 minutes late and 177 minutes early between leaving there on time at 20:44, and getting back about 4 hours later!

[DidcotPunter]

Reported elsewhere that they were testing coupling and uncoupling IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) units in the curved platforms at Temple Meads last night, which might account for the rather odd movements on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website). Apparently successful!

[DaveHarries]

Denotes has a VAR schedule starting 16th Oct, whilst this doesn't mean they will be a class 800, I would suggest it is a possibility. (Some other services are currently also down as VAR from 16th)

Anything marked VAR normally means a VARiation in route, timings or platform arrangements for the train in question, rather than a change in traction.

Dave

[Adelante_CCT]

As stated previously, my earlier post from 26th August didn't even make sense to myself (though it seemed to at the time) therefore have altered it. 

[ChrisB]

Rail magazine reports that driver & staff training ahas commened

Driver training is under way for Great Western Railway drivers and staff, ahead of the introduction of Intercity Express Programme Class 800/0s from October.

A GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) spokesman told RAIL that officially the plan was to launch the trains in the ‘autumn’. It is understood, but not confirmed, that the first train to use an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) will be the 0600 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington, with the train leaving Stoke Gifford depot at 0445.

It’s planned that at least one five-car set will be used, after which more will enter traffic each week until all 36 five-car sets are in use. They will release High Speed Trains that will be sent to ScotRail, as well as for storage.

Yet again, superb journalism....the 0600 BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) on which date? Richard Clinnick - do you ever re-read what you write?

[patch38]

16 October. Which means I may well be on it as that's my reasonably-regular 06:41 from SWI^» (Swindon - next trains).

[Timmer]

5 carriage train replacing an 8 carriage HST^▸ (High Speed Train)?

Yes I know the 800s carriages are longer and have more capacity but not as much as an 8 carriage HST; especially in First Class.

[IndustryInsider]

The first regular driver (i.e. not a Driver Manager) passed out on them last week I believe.

[PhilWakely]

The first regular driver (i.e. not a Driver Manager) passed out on them last week I believe.

A recognised, but very unfortunate turn of phrase. I hope appropriate first aid was administered and other staff not put at risk.

[patch38]

5 carriage train replacing an 8 carriage HST^▸ (High Speed Train)?

Yes I know the 800s carriages are longer and have more capacity but not as much as an 8 carriage HST; especially in First Class.

The 0600 BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) HST is often full by Reading (especially on a Monday) with pax standing to PAD...

[IndustryInsider]

I'd be very surprised if a 10-car formation isn't used.  It's always been a 10-car when I've heard talk about the first diagrammed public service before, and I wouldn't think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and Hitachi would want to risk headlines of overcrowded new trains.