Well would you believe it??

[whole diary]

[vacman]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

[Conner]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

ITS A MIRACLE. ALL BOW DOWN TO SIR ANDREW HAINES!
Do you know how many 158's? And are they going to be hybrids like Wessex or purpose built 3-car? Or are they going to be split from some of are other 158's?

[vacman]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

ITS A MIRACLE. ALL BOW DOWN TO SIR ANDREW HAINES!
Do you know how many 158's? And are they going to be hybrids like Wessex or purpose built 3-car? Or are they going to be split from some of are other 158's?

We're not gaining any 158's, they will be hybrids from the ones we got, so we will actually have LESS 158 units, the 5 150's will cover some of their work I presume, and we probably won't see a 158 in Cornwall again, but I think it's the Cardiff Pompeys that need the extr capacity more than Cornwall!

[Conner]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

ITS A MIRACLE. ALL BOW DOWN TO SIR ANDREW HAINES!
Do you know how many 158's? And are they going to be hybrids like Wessex or purpose built 3-car? Or are they going to be split from some of are other 158's?

We're not gaining any 158's, they will be hybrids from the ones we got, so we will actually have LESS 158 units, the 5 150's will cover some of their work I presume, and we probably won't see a 158 in Cornwall again, but I think it's the Cardiff Pompeys that need the extr capacity more than Cornwall!

I'll have to make the most of the last ones then, atleast I managed to get a refurbished one, a lucky stumble on 158762.
Definatly Pompey-Cardiff needs extra capacity, I wouldn't mind a different 150 anyway. Are they likely to be the Ex-Central units?

[vacman]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

ITS A MIRACLE. ALL BOW DOWN TO SIR ANDREW HAINES!
Do you know how many 158's? And are they going to be hybrids like Wessex or purpose built 3-car? Or are they going to be split from some of are other 158's?

We're not gaining any 158's, they will be hybrids from the ones we got, so we will actually have LESS 158 units, the 5 150's will cover some of their work I presume, and we probably won't see a 158 in Cornwall again, but I think it's the Cardiff Pompeys that need the extr capacity more than Cornwall!

Definatly, I wouldn't mind a different 150 anyway. Are they likely to be the Ex-Central units?

Don't know i'm afraid, but they're 150/2's.

[Conner]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

ITS A MIRACLE. ALL BOW DOWN TO SIR ANDREW HAINES!
Do you know how many 158's? And are they going to be hybrids like Wessex or purpose built 3-car? Or are they going to be split from some of are other 158's?

We're not gaining any 158's, they will be hybrids from the ones we got, so we will actually have LESS 158 units, the 5 150's will cover some of their work I presume, and we probably won't see a 158 in Cornwall again, but I think it's the Cardiff Pompeys that need the extr capacity more than Cornwall!

Definatly, I wouldn't mind a different 150 anyway. Are they likely to be the Ex-Central units?

Don't know i'm afraid, but they're 150/2's.

We could end up with our ones back again, that would be weird.

[Shazz]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

When i hear it from someone else/ a press release i'll believe you.

it still doesnt make any business sence to take on 10 150's and get rid of 5 when you need 8 to cover the extra services

[vacman]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

When i hear it from someone else/ a press release i'll believe you.

it still doesnt make any business sence to take on 10 150's and get rid of 5 when you need 8 to cover the extra services

It didn't make business sense for FGW to reduce the three car 158's to two cars but they still did it! We'll se who's right in May when 5 Arriva liverd 150's turn up at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)).

[Timmer]

Well Vacman, I'll give two and a half cheers as I don't believe that you would post this without being pretty sure of the news you have received. I base this on your previous posts to this forum which are pretty good. I'll give you the final half cheer when I see the return of three car 158s on the Cardiff-Pompey route go past my office window in May undoing the vandalism done by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) to this line back in December 06 for which Beeching would have been proud.

Remember what AG said the other week fellow coffee shop posters...It will be better by the Spring! Perhaps this time he could be right. 

Oh and before anyone sends the 142s back up north, remember that one unit would be more than welcome on the Transwilts line!

[Jim]

Well Vacman, I'll give two and a half cheers as I don't believe that you would post this without being pretty sure of the news you have received. I base this on your previous posts to this forum which are pretty good. I'll give you the final half cheer when I see the return of three car 158s on the Cardiff-Pompey route go past my office window in May undoing the vandalism done by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) to this line back in December 06 for which Beeching would have been proud.

Remember what AG said the other week fellow coffee shop posters...It will be better by the Spring! Perhaps this time he could be right. 

I might have to change the quote in my sig soon!

[BandHcommuter]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

When i hear it from someone else/ a press release i'll believe you.

I have also heard this recently (the bit about 3 car 158s and subleased 150s) from someone who would know.

[mada]

Well, from May FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are keeping three 180's, gaining 5 150's from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (told you so shazz!) and some 158's are to be made up into 3 car sets! only taken two years but it seems as though Mr Haines is the best thing since sliced bread for FGW! The three 180's are for two Cotswold diagrams, whether they are going into store until May I don't know, obviously the (much needed) 3 car 158's will go onto Cardiff Pompey services and the 5 150's will replace some 2 car 158 diagrams probably on Cardiff-Taunton and Weymouth services.
Came from a good source of info, a reliable one.

When i hear it from someone else/ a press release i'll believe you.

I have also heard this recently (the bit about 3 car 158s and subleased 150s) from someone who would know.

Where do TOC's find the 158 centre carriages without cabs anyway?

[Jim]

One point worth thinking about though, is the 16.30 CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-PMH, 16.22 PMH-CDF and 06.00 PMH-CDF, which are ALL booked 4 car - what will happen to them??

[mada]

One point worth thinking about though, is the 16.30 CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-PMH, 16.22 PMH-CDF and 06.00 PMH-CDF, which are ALL booked 4 car - what will happen to them??

3 Car 158 vice 153 or 5 car 158?

[tramway]

[quote Where do TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s find the 158 centre carriages without cabs anyway? [/quote]

You don't need to if they do what Wessex did. Split a 2 car and just attach them to other units. The additional cab end becomes redundant in the middle of the unit. As said earlier it will reduce the overall number of 158 untis which presumably the 150's will cover for.