Go-Op Cooperative - proposals for additional rail services (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Or even from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead !

May I suggest a really novel idea - have a Bishops Lydeard base in the MIDDLE of the route and run a public train service from Taunton to Minehead. Once successful (and the operator has good experience of running that public service), extend it.  Options there would include Taunton - Frome - Trowbridge - Swindon - Oxford - Milton Keynes to fill in gaps linking county towns across Central Southern England, and Bridgwater - Burnham - fast to Bristol suburban stations to supplement their slow and less-than-walkup frequency at present.

An example of a bay platform where a service from Minehead could terminate:

[Rhydgaled]

News from a Taunton councillor at the Railfuture meeting today at Yatton is that Go-op plan to start the Bishops Lydeard to Swindon service in May or December 2022, using class 150 trains retired by Transport for Wales as their new class 19x come into service.

The availability of a reasonable number of relatively cheap-to-run PRM^▸ (Persons with Reduced Mobility) modified diesel trains in the form of the ex-TfW class 150s could be quite an opportunity for new services, whether run by Go-op or otherwise. I'm not sure how to react to the details though - my understanding was that the 150s were to be replaced by 231s and 756s (not by 197s) and not before 2023. The class 197s were originally planned to replace 158s and 175s in 2022 but that is an awful idea since the 158s and 175s are far superior trains to class 197s and the diesel-only 197s would derail any hope of electrification. If the plan has now changed to see 150s replaced by 197s in 2022 instead of 158s and 175s then that's great in some respects but not others.

[Celestial]

News from a Taunton councillor at the Railfuture meeting today at Yatton is that Go-op plan to start the Bishops Lydeard to Swindon service in May or December 2022, using class 150 trains retired by Transport for Wales as their new class 19x come into service.

The availability of a reasonable number of relatively cheap-to-run PRM^▸ (Persons with Reduced Mobility) modified diesel trains in the form of the ex-TfW class 150s could be quite an opportunity for new services, whether run by Go-op or otherwise. I'm not sure how to react to the details though - my understanding was that the 150s were to be replaced by 231s and 756s (not by 197s) and not before 2023. The class 197s were originally planned to replace 158s and 175s in 2022 but that is an awful idea since the 158s and 175s are far superior trains to class 197s and the diesel-only 197s would derail any hope of electrification. If the plan has now changed to see 150s replaced by 197s in 2022 instead of 158s and 175s then that's great in some respects but not others.

Discussion of the merits (or otherwise) of the new fleet for TfW is a rather rapid diversion that is completely off-topic.

[Lee]

News from a Taunton councillor at the Railfuture meeting today at Yatton is that Go-op plan to start the Bishops Lydeard to Swindon service in May or December 2022, using class 150 trains retired by Transport for Wales as their new class 19x come into service.

The availability of a reasonable number of relatively cheap-to-run PRM^▸ (Persons with Reduced Mobility) modified diesel trains in the form of the ex-TfW class 150s could be quite an opportunity for new services, whether run by Go-op or otherwise. I'm not sure how to react to the details though - my understanding was that the 150s were to be replaced by 231s and 756s (not by 197s) and not before 2023. The class 197s were originally planned to replace 158s and 175s in 2022 but that is an awful idea since the 158s and 175s are far superior trains to class 197s and the diesel-only 197s would derail any hope of electrification. If the plan has now changed to see 150s replaced by 197s in 2022 instead of 158s and 175s then that's great in some respects but not others.

Discussion of the merits (or otherwise) of the new fleet for TfW is a rather rapid diversion that is completely off-topic.

If but that were the only problem with Go-op's proposals...

[Rhydgaled]

News from a Taunton councillor at the Railfuture meeting today at Yatton is that Go-op plan to start the Bishops Lydeard to Swindon service in May or December 2022, using class 150 trains retired by Transport for Wales as their new class 19x come into service.

The availability of a reasonable number of relatively cheap-to-run PRM^▸ (Persons with Reduced Mobility) modified diesel trains in the form of the ex-TfW class 150s could be quite an opportunity for new services, whether run by Go-op or otherwise. I'm not sure how to react to the details though - my understanding was that the 150s were to be replaced by 231s and 756s (not by 197s) and not before 2023. The class 197s were originally planned to replace 158s and 175s in 2022 but that is an awful idea since the 158s and 175s are far superior trains to class 197s and the diesel-only 197s would derail any hope of electrification. If the plan has now changed to see 150s replaced by 197s in 2022 instead of 158s and 175s then that's great in some respects but not others.

Discussion of the merits (or otherwise) of the new fleet for TfW is a rather rapid diversion that is completely off-topic.

Not completely off-topic; it's relevant because if TfW aren't releasing 150s in 2022 then obviously the Taunton councillor's news is incorrect. Or, alternatively, if the Taunton councillor is correct then TfW are releasing 150s earlier than originally expected...

[grahame]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mineheadraillinkgroup/posts/1579613502384694/

This post is just for those interested in how the GO-OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) project is developing.  Here is a 2022 update as promised last year.

a) The very difficult challenge of acquiring suitable rolling stock has now been resolved.  Over the last 6 months a series of meetings with a major ROSCO^» (Rolling Stock Owning Company - about) and Network Rail has resulted in confirmed availability of repurposed Class 153 units.  The configuration below - courtesy of Scotrail - is similar to what we anticipate we will launch with.

b) Over the last 3 months, our reworked business plan - now based around the 153 units - has been circulated amongst all relevant stakeholders, with constructive and robust feedback for GO-OP to act on.  Meetings over the next 2 months will now determine just how this project will advance.

c) The long search for premises may now be over.  A large site near Chippenham has been inspected and the GO-OP board will be making a decision about this later this week.

So, will GO-OP commence operations this year as planned?  That is still the intention, but everything hangs on a successful track access application.  I will update this group when more news is available.

[IndustryInsider]

I’m already looking forward to the 2023 update.

[Timmer]

So they've moved on from using Pacers to Dogboxes. Progress I guess.

[eightonedee]

Just checked their website - this says-

Rollingstock

A key part of GO-OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter)’s mission is to reduce environmental impacts travel and adopt sustainable modes of transport. A big leap forward for GO-OP in this area is the recent completion of an innovate UK^▸ (United Kingdom) funded feasibility study proving that a nine-tonne battery can be added to readily available 319 train sets to operate efficiently on non-electrified mainline routes – a solution known as a 769 IPEMU^▸ (Independely Powered Electic Multiple Unit (train running on batteries)). GO-OP hopes to pave the way for the electrification of routes where overhead line power delivery is either incomplete or absent and impractical to install. It requires not only advanced battery technology on the train itself, but also lineside batteries to support rapid recharging. Further work is now underway to begin preparing units. This electrification of stations may also allow for an expansion of electric car club services, and interchange on to electric buses, in the future.

This is an ambitious project in itself, and will take at least the rest of 2021 to deliver. Therefore, in the first instance GO-OP plan to use Class 156s', diesel multiple-units, for a transitional service.

Have they abandoned the class 769 pipedream?

[Rhydgaled]

Just checked their website - this says-

Rollingstock

A key part of GO-OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter)’s mission is to reduce environmental impacts travel and adopt sustainable modes of transport. A big leap forward for GO-OP in this area is the recent completion of an innovate UK^▸ (United Kingdom) funded feasibility study proving that a nine-tonne battery can be added to readily available 319 train sets to operate efficiently on non-electrified mainline routes – a solution known as a 769 IPEMU^▸ (Independely Powered Electic Multiple Unit (train running on batteries)). GO-OP hopes to pave the way for the electrification of routes where overhead line power delivery is either incomplete or absent and impractical to install. It requires not only advanced battery technology on the train itself, but also lineside batteries to support rapid recharging. Further work is now underway to begin preparing units. This electrification of stations may also allow for an expansion of electric car club services, and interchange on to electric buses, in the future.

This is an ambitious project in itself, and will take at least the rest of 2021 to deliver. Therefore, in the first instance GO-OP plan to use Class 156s', diesel multiple-units, for a transitional service.

Note the bold I have added to the quote above and then see...

repurposed Class 153 units.  The configuration below - courtesy of Scotrail - is similar to what we anticipate we will launch with.

Has somebody looked at the ScotRail photograph and confused 153s with 156s? The configuration of the ScotRail class 153s has a large part of the vehicle dedicated to bicycle storage (so very few seats are provided) and, if I understand correctly, toilets which are not wheelchair-friendly. A fleet made up entirely of ScotRail-specification class 153s would therefore be unworkable for passenger services - you would probably have insufficient seating capacity and you would not meet PRM^▸ (Persons with Reduced Mobility) regulations unless you locked the toilets out of use and provided a toilet-less service.

(PRM = Persons of Reduced Mobility)

[paul7575]

“…everything hangs on a successful track access application.”

With a bit of luck ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) will turn down the whole idea of Go-Op. How long ago was the first announcement, and just how many random route options have been discussed ever since?

[paul7575]

Anyone care to take a bet with me that this service probably won't ever be up and running in any meaningful manner and certainly won't be operating before the next Olympics?!

I guess you really meant here, back in 2012, the next Olympics to be held in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)?

Paul

[grahame]

From Facebook (And I have managed to loose the link in posting!) - web site at https://go-op.coop

Here's possibly the most important update so far. Following a mandatory industry-wide consultation, GO-OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) is currently in the process of formally applying to the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) for a track access contract. The consultation was largely positive, with all of the established rail operators affected objecting to the GO-OP business plan. But here's the thing, and this was something of a very nice surprise, the Department for Transport supported the GO-OP plan.

So what does this mean? Well, after taking advice from our consultants, it was decided to go ahead with the application. We will know in 2 months time if we have been successful, but fully expect that to be the outcome. The minute that happens, we're hiring!

Other news? It's the GO-OP AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) on Sept 7th. A letter should now be with all GO-OP members containing much more detail which I will post here once they have had a chance to read it

[IndustryInsider]

Where are they planning on operating from and to this month?

Still no chance of it happening as far as I’m concerned!

[RichardB]

Where are they planning on operating from and to this month?

Still no chance of it happening as far as I’m concerned!

Here you go.   I can't see it happening either.

https://go-op.coop/our-planned-services/