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

[whole diary]

[1st fan]

Oops

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/intercity-express-train-break-down-first-service-bristol-london-paddington-transport-secretary-rush-a8002471.html

My train into Paddington was over 30 mins late after being moved to the relief line to make way for VIPs......

As I mentioned earlier I was on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)  service that was switched to relief line after leaving Reading and then switched back prior to Slough. I was surprised how fast we were travelling on the relief line. I know it's slightly off topic but what is the maximum speed allowed on that section of relief track?

From memory it's 90mph for the relief lines but don't quote me on that as I may well be wrong.

[chrisr_75]

A somewhat less positive view from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-41633356

I won't quote in full as there's a lot of Twitter screenshots and the like

Broken air conditioning and a 41-minute delay have overshadowed the launch of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s new fleet of high-speed trains.
The Hitachi 800 engine will be faster and carry more passengers and will run on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for the next 27 years.
But passengers on the first Bristol to London service arrived late and some had to dodge drips as water leaked from an air conditioning unit.
Hitachi said the delay was due to a "minor technical issue".
The fleet of intercity trains was designed to be electric, but due to delays in electrification of the line, engines will also be fitted with diesel power.

[bobm]

Oops

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/intercity-express-train-break-down-first-service-bristol-london-paddington-transport-secretary-rush-a8002471.html

My train into Paddington was over 30 mins late after being moved to the relief line to make way for VIPs......

As I mentioned earlier I was on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)  service that was switched to relief line after leaving Reading and then switched back prior to Slough. I was surprised how fast we were travelling on the relief line. I know it's slightly off topic but what is the maximum speed allowed on that section of relief track?

From memory it's 90mph for the relief lines but don't quote me on that as I may well be wrong.

If I am reading the sectional appendix correctly it *is* 90mph on the Up Relief from Reading to Southall except though Maidenhead and Slough stations where it is 75mph.

[1st fan]

Oops

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/intercity-express-train-break-down-first-service-bristol-london-paddington-transport-secretary-rush-a8002471.html

My train into Paddington was over 30 mins late after being moved to the relief line to make way for VIPs......

As I mentioned earlier I was on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)  service that was switched to relief line after leaving Reading and then switched back prior to Slough. I was surprised how fast we were travelling on the relief line. I know it's slightly off topic but what is the maximum speed allowed on that section of relief track?

From memory it's 90mph for the relief lines but don't quote me on that as I may well be wrong.

If I am reading the sectional appendix correctly it *is* 90mph on the Up Relief from Reading to Southall except though Maidenhead and Slough stations where it is 75mph.

Thanks my memory clearly not as bad as I feared.

[1st fan]

Eeeeekkk! BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West Tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/bbcpointswest/status/919822837136936961

Excellent! Ideal for dealing with smelly trainspotters 

Do you have to pay extra to use the onboard showers? 

[Timmer]

Do you have to pay extra to use the onboard showers? 

More than just a few drips wasn't it. I know it's very warm and muggy with air being drawn up from the South, but that is one very enthusiastic air con unit.

[1st fan]

Do you have to pay extra to use the onboard showers? 

More than just a few drips wasn't it. I know it's very warm and muggy with air being drawn up from the South, but that is one very enthusiastic air con unit.

I suspect it was left on overnight and the condensation wasn't being cleared. Then when the train was moved the condensation did too. According to someone on twitter a fair few people and one laptop were hit. The press and media are unsurprisingly having a field day over this. There are numerous requests on twitter from various media outlets to use the pictures posted on twitter of people standing/water dripping.

[bobm]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West showed the laptop on its side being dried out.

Looks like the BBC crew got out at Reading as they had no footage regarding the reported problems switching from diesel to electric in the Maidenhead area.

[didcotdean]

The classic reason is a blockage in the condensation line but there can be other causes.

Happened to me in a plane years ago on descent. Fortunately it wasn't quite as bad and could be mopped up by a pile of blankets.

[BBM]

Photo I took at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) around 1130 this morning (with Geoff Marshall of 'All The Stations' fame in the shot on the left!)

[Jason]

As I mentioned earlier I was on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)  service that was switched to relief line after leaving Reading and then switched back prior to Slough.

I was directly behind it on an already badly delayed HST, too close to be switched over. It came in an hour late in the end. Not impressed.

[1st fan]

The classic reason is a blockage in the condensation line but there can be other causes.

Happened to me in a plane years ago on descent. Fortunately it wasn't quite as bad and could be mopped up by a pile of blankets.

Happened to me where I used to work and water would pour out of the air-con unit if not emptied regularly. Could get easily 2.5 - 3 litres in 8hrs.

[stuving]

The classic reason is a blockage in the condensation line but there can be other causes.

Happened to me in a plane years ago on descent. Fortunately it wasn't quite as bad and could be mopped up by a pile of blankets.

Happened to me where I used to work and water would pour out of the air-con unit if not emptied regularly. Could get easily 2.5 - 3 litres in 8hrs.

It's obviously pretty common - my desk at work was twice doused by a chiller in the roof, though not while I was there. Wrote off two monitors; the old CRT^‡(resolve) ones were so not showerproof.

[didcotdean]

MD of Hitachi Rail Karen Boswell has issued an apology for the issues of the first train this morning

https://twitter.com/HitachiRailEU/status/919930521345544197

Now where is the one from Mark Hopwood ...

[Timmer]

MD of Hitachi Rail Karen Boswell has issued an apology for the issues of the first train this morning

https://twitter.com/HitachiRailEU/status/919930521345544197

Now where is the one from Mark Hopwood ...

Saw it on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s Twitter feed just now. Good of Hitachi to fess up but that would be the Japenese way. They would have been most embarrassed by what had happened this morning.

Was just about to ask, was Mr Hopwood around for the launch? Have yet to see any pics of him?