Problems with the Night Riviera sleeper - December 2014 onwards

[whole diary]

[Super Guard]

It's suprising how many enfusiests travel on the sleeper think there would be uproar from them if fgw pulled the plug I met a guy once who travelled down from Scotland just to travel up to pad on the sleeper!

I suspect that would be the main source of any uproar that ensues, other than token protests from local politicians - however I think Chris B has hit the nail on the head with his last post.

Nonsense.  I've met plenty of politicians on-board the sleeper from the SW who regularly use and value the service.  Remember when the service was under threat a few years back - many people complaining and campaigning - it wasn't a few spotters crying with their notepads out.

Just because the timings don't work with your life does not mean they do not work for others.

I'm sure the current situation of multiple 57s, HST^▸ (High Speed Train) double PC's and random 57s turning up from other companies will naturally bring out more spotters than usual.

[TaplowGreen]

57312 is on a rugby special tonight. Let's hope it performs better for the rugby.

.....let's hope it performed better than Wales! 

[Rhydgaled]

Virgin Trains no longer make routine use of Class 57/3 'Thunderbirds'. All have been de-named and re-liveried. All 16 have found other homes. 12 are with Direct Rail Services in their 'Compass' liveries (with a couple in Riviera Trains' 'Northern Belle' livery and one in Network Rail yellow). The other 4 are with West Coast Railways, 3 in WCRC Maroon and one in plain blue.

I am aware that the 'Thunderbirds' have been re-liveried and that all but one have lost their International Rescue nameplates. However, I believe VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchises) contracted DRS^▸ (Direct Rail Services Ltd) to continue providing the Thunderbird service and indeed, according to this issue of the north Wales rail weekly online newsletter (nwnews), "DRS continue to provide a 'Thunderbird' loco at Polmadie, Crewe, Stafford, Preston and Euston ready for use in any rescue missions".

EDIT: Added link to relevant issue of North Wales newsletter, now that the 'nwnwews' link points to a newer issue.

[Chris from Nailsea]

(The link to nwnews points at the current issue, and will no longer point at the same page once the next issue comes out).

No problem, Rhydgaled: their website allows access to archive issues as well. See the edition dated 2 February 2015. 

[JayMac]

Virgin Trains no longer make routine use of Class 57/3 'Thunderbirds'. All have been de-named and re-liveried. All 16 have found other homes. 12 are with Direct Rail Services in their 'Compass' liveries (with a couple in Riviera Trains' 'Northern Belle' livery and one in Network Rail yellow). The other 4 are with West Coast Railways, 3 in WCRC Maroon and one in plain blue.

I am aware that the 'Thunderbirds' have been re-liveried and that all but one have lost their International Rescue nameplates. However, I believe VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchises) contracted DRS^▸ (Direct Rail Services Ltd) to continue providing the Thunderbird service and indeed, according to the lastest issue of the north Wales rail weekly online newsletter (nwnews), "DRS continue to provide a 'Thunderbird' loco at Polmadie, Crewe, Stafford, Preston and Euston ready for use in any rescue missions". (The link to nwnews points at the current issue, and will no longer point at the same page once the next issue comes out).

You are correct. I should have been clearer that Virgin no longer use all 16 'Thunderbirds' and it is no longer they that lease them directly. The lessee of the remaining Class 57/3s used for occasional 'Thunderbird' duties is DRS. And yes, 57307 retains her 'Lady Penelope' nameplate alongside a unique DRS 'Compass' livery with a very visible warning:

(Unsure of the copyright here, so only a link to the image) http://www.nwrail.org.uk/mr-57307-Crewe--Feb9-compos.jpg

DRS information on the 'Thunderbirds': http://www.directrailservices.com/virgin-thunderbirds.html

[a-driver]

Up Sleeper this morning failed in the Thatcham area with a hot axle box on 57306.  Train limped to Reading at 10mph where it terminated. 
Would imagine the stock will be stuck in a platform at Reading for a while.

[lbraine]

Confirmed - spotted at 7:45am in Platform 6 - presumably moved there to minimise main line disruption during the rush hour

[Oxonhutch]

Do you mean Platform 6? (An SE platform).  Saw it in 8 this morning 0645 with a loco on the country end.  Train looked dead and emptied.

[lbraine]

I did a double take - as I first thought it was 8 - but then noticed it was behind the shortened end of P7. So that's 6 ?

But I was on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) moving through RDG^‡(resolve) at good speed - so it was brief. Maybe my aging brain and failing eyes were not fully functional (it is pre-coffee)

[lbraine]

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) would suggest my coffee denied body is in the wrong. Nothing moving through P8 this AM at RDG^‡(resolve) that I can see.

[LiskeardRich]

Making it as far as reading sounds an improvement on recent times! 

[Jason]

It was stuck on P8 this morning @ 07:30 with no power car on the country end. There was a non-HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power car (sorry I'm not a rail expert) on the London end and a few people in high vis gear standing around the door.

[The Tall Controller]

Stock has now been moved out to the east of Reading. Another Sunday night service disrupted again. 

[Adelante_CCT]

This was finally rescued around 12:30, by an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 57 from what I've been told.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O72328/2015/02/09/advanced

[The Tall Controller]

Not quite. The failed 57 is still residing outside Reading as of 1530. All coaches have gone though.