IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

A dozen single 5 car units instead of 5+5 already announced for today.

Apologists for the new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) will no doubt explain that this is not the fault of the wonderful new trains, but is due to the unforeseen need to release some units for training, or some other reason.
They may well be correct, but as with other rolling stock replacements, the end result for the passenger is that new trains are shorter.

All of a sudden the reason for the "Famous Five " advertising campaign becomes clearer.

[Timmer]

All of a sudden the reason for the "Famous Five " advertising campaign becomes clearer.

Yes that awfully timed advertising campaign has reared its head again across social media. You’d think they’d just drop it until they can sort themselves out as it does is give frustrated passengers a chance to make comments about how bad the service is. Hardly effective way to promote yourself when end users tell potential users how poor the service is.

[Sixty3Closure]

The replies on Twitter gave a good indication of their customers thoughts. I have to agree though in that I wouldn't try any weekend leisure travel with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) at the moment and they are just setting themselves up for criticism.

[stuving]

A dozen single 5 car units instead of 5+5 already announced for today.

Apologists for the new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) will no doubt explain that this is not the fault of the wonderful new trains, but is due to the unforeseen need to release some units for training, or some other reason.
They may well be correct, but as with other rolling stock replacements, the end result for the passenger is that new trains are shorter.

Well, that is still better than a single longer train that's not available for some reason. But for someone who's an irremediable glass-half-empty type, you see what you see.

When I was in Reading recently, an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) came through P9 on what was obviously a training run to Cheltenham, and that was 2x5 car units. Now, it might have been doing tests or training specifically of how to operate a train that long on that route. But ...

[TaplowGreen]

A dozen single 5 car units instead of 5+5 already announced for today.

Apologists for the new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) will no doubt explain that this is not the fault of the wonderful new trains, but is due to the unforeseen need to release some units for training, or some other reason.
They may well be correct, but as with other rolling stock replacements, the end result for the passenger is that new trains are shorter.

Well, that is still better than a single longer train that's not available for some reason. But for someone who's an irremediable glass-half-empty type, you see what you see.

Nope, I think it is a fair comment which reflects the contrast between what was promised with much fanfare by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), and the reality of what is being delivered.

[grahame]

From Rail Magazine

The first nine-car ‘800/3’ has been accepted for traffic, with two more to follow.

At last  .  Will be good to start seeing trains you can walk through, "full length" trains that can all fit in at Bath Spa, and trains that don't need two train managers or equivalent.   But I do note this is two more "where to wait on the platform" possible combos, and whether the buffer trolley will be able to get all the way through enough times.

[broadgage]

It should be an improvement, but my natural cynicism leads to a suspicion that two new trains will result in the withdrawal of THREE old ones.
I cant see  the trolley making it through the whole train in a reasonable time. I think that the original plan was to provide two trolleys on full length trains, but I presume that this has now become a future aspiration rather than a promise.

[Lee]

From Rail Magazine

The first nine-car ‘800/3’ has been accepted for traffic, with two more to follow.

At last  .  Will be good to start seeing trains you can walk through, "full length" trains that can all fit in at Bath Spa, and trains that don't need two train managers or equivalent.   But I do note this is two more "where to wait on the platform" possible combos, and whether the buffer trolley will be able to get all the way through enough times.

Well, you certainly wont find me celebrating this latest milestone.

It's been over four decades since the HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s entered regular service, and many still sing their praises today. I suspect it wont take as long as that before their god-awful usurpers are seen for what they are - The most ill-conceived and biggest failure of a passenger rolling stock replacement programme in UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railway history.

[broadgage]

Well, you certainly wont find me celebrating this latest milestone.

It's been over four decades since the HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s entered regular service, and many still sing their praises today. I suspect it wont take as long as that before their god-awful usurpers are seen for what they are - The most ill-conceived and biggest failure of a passenger rolling stock replacement programme in UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railway history.

I agree.
Almost no one outside of these forums and the rail industry regards the new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) as an improvement over HSTs.
And a lot of customers don't realise that the down grade is PERMANENT  or at least for several decades.
I am aware of several people who have travelled on the downgraded units without realising that these are the future. A common view is that "a local train has been sent instead of a an intercity train"
The absence of reservations also gives the impression of a local train being used.
A lot of passengers are also expecting the buffet car to open once enough staff are available ! This being based on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) announcements "we regret that catering is not available. This is due to staff shortage" to the average customer, this implies that there IS a buffet but that staff shortage prevents it being used at present.
Voyager mark 2, but at least they don't smell as bad.

[IndustryInsider]

In anticipation of the deal with drivers to operate some IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) trains under DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) conditions going through early next month, training using 'shadow passenger trains' will begin next Monday running between Paddington and Didcot/Oxford and calling at Slough, Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading.  Not sure whether that will have a further impact on fleet availability?

The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is currently in dispute with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) over the trains being allowed to run DOO, despite having known that was GWR's intention for an awful long time, and despite the original intention of GWR to operate the trains over all routes with the driver in control of the doors changing as a result of union pressure.  Trains will only run DOO on routes where DOO is currently authorised (so, for example Paddington to Oxford/Bedwyn services) and GWR maintain more Train Managers will be needed and not less.  The RMT fears that Train Managers will, over time, then not be required on ALL trains operating on DOO routes (so for example on a Paddington-Swansea train between Paddington and Didcot), and they also fear that, over time, DOO authorised routes will expand further so threatening their membership.  We'll see how this one shapes up in the end!

[TaplowGreen]

A lot more "Famous Five" (instead of 10) today...……………..

06:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 07:44
06:48 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 09:12
07:12 Taunton to London Paddington due 10:14
07:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central due 09:20
08:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central due 10:21
09:56 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 12:00
10:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 11:43
10:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 13:43
10:56 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 13:01
12:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 14:08
12:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 14:14
13:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 16:41
14:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 17:30
14:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 17:42
15:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 16:40
17:15 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 21:20
17:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 20:32
18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:44
18:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 22:32

[broadgage]

So much for the various assurances that there would be plenty of stock, and that all rush hour services would be 5+5, or 9 car.

[TaplowGreen]

Attracting some media attention this morning......seems like a group of journalists got left behind on the platform when their short formed train rolled in packed to the gunwales & they were unable to board.

[SandTEngineer]

This was published on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum.  A snapshot of allocations today, 13 June 2018.

Snapshot of the 800 fleet today:

800001 - 800004 not in traffic, locations not given
800005 NP111
800006 NP108
800007 North Pole
800008 NP121
800009 NP122
800010 NP112
800011 North Pole
800012 NP125
800013 NP131
800014 NP105
800015 NP114
800016 NP124
800017 NP109
800018 NP117
800019 NP115
800020 NP132
800021 NP128
800022 Stoke Gifford
800023 Laira
800024 Stoke Gifford
800025 NP130
800026 NP119
800027 NP116
800028 NP199 (training run)
800029 NP126
800030 NP103
800031 NP118
800032 NP120
800033 NP104
800034 NP123
800035 NP106
800036 NP110

This suggests NP101/102/107/113/127 & 129 are all uncovered.

The NPxxx numbers are the allocated train diagrams for the day.  So, out of 36 available sets, only 26 are actually in service today.

[phile]

A lot more "Famous Five" (instead of 10) today...……………..

06:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 07:44
06:48 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 09:12
07:12 Taunton to London Paddington due 10:14
07:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central due 09:20
08:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central due 10:21
09:56 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 12:00
10:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 11:43
10:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 13:43
10:56 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 13:01
12:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 14:08
12:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 14:14
13:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 16:41
14:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 17:30
14:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 17:42
15:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 16:40
17:15 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 21:20
17:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 20:32
18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:44
18:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 22:32

I make that 5 circuits running round short formed.