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

[whole diary]

[1st fan]

Putting both bits of first in the middle would have the merit that any unplanned or unexpected reversals would still leave first class at the middle.
If first class was at the London end of each unit, then any diversion that required reversing would result in it being at the country end.

The same argument would of course apply to putting first class at the outer ends, either policy would in my view be acceptable provided that it was applied consistently.

Would also have the advantage that the 1st carriages would be more likely to be on the platform when stopping at short platformed stations.

[broadgage]

Weymouth Graham? Do you know something we don’t?

No, just being slightly naughty in my ask - HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) have ended up at some pretty unexpected places (Exmouth and Falmouth come to mind) and perhaps 80x could at some time. 

One made it almost to Minehead when they wanted to do an evacuation test many years ago.

An HST has made it all the way to Minehead, some years ago an HST was used in passenger service on the WSR, during the diesel gala. I was on it !
AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) HSTs are now out of gauge on the WSR but this was not the case a few years ago.
I rather doubt that we will see a 80x at Minehead in the foreseeable future since I suspect that they are badly out of gauge and that a great deal of work would be needed.

[Rob on the hill]

The last HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to Minehead was on 23rd Sept 2017 - the Cotswold Line Promotion Group's Cotswold Quantock Explorer.

Edit: I should just add that the special train was operated by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) who had kindly replaced a standard class coach with an additional 1st class coach at CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about)'s request.
Previous gauging issues on the WSR preventing a HST reaching Minehead in May had been resolved to enable the visit of Flying Scotsman in the summer.
Will we see another in-service HST at Minehead?

[old original]

One assumes that this formation is what's in the contract with Hitachi? So would need GWRs^▸ (Great Western Railway) agreement to turn them out otherwise

I’ve definitely seen one with a 1st both in the middle configuration in passenger service.  As long as that is only going to happen on very rare occasions then that’s ok.

ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) style.... if I remember...

[JayMac]

One assumes that this formation is what's in the contract with Hitachi? So would need GWRs^▸ (Great Western Railway) agreement to turn them out otherwise

I’ve definitely seen one with a 1st both in the middle configuration in passenger service.  As long as that is only going to happen on very rare occasions then that’s ok.

ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) style.... if I remember...

Did you mean APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train) - Advanced Passenger Train?

[IndustryInsider]

Units 800010, 11, 12 and 13 have seen some passenger carrying action on the two additional diagrams that operate from today.

800005 appears to be running on its own as a 5-car though as 800006 has no allocations, the 19:00 to Bristol will be cosy if that's the case.  I saw 800008 and 800009 marshalled in a formation where 1st Class was at the very front and very rear.  That would be the best option in my opinion, although I can see why they've gone for the planned formation they have - getting two units the opposite way round regularly would be a recipe for disaster.  Let's hope they can manage to form them correctly at least 95% of the time otherwise producing posters will be a waste of time and punters won't know where they stand (literally!).  I would expect things to settle down when more units are in operation.

[TonyK]

Did you mean APT^▸ (Advanced Passenger Train) - Advanced Passenger Train?

No, ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) - Anus Transit Pectusculum (Latin: roughly translates to arse over tit).

[laird]

In good news the Customer Information System seems to have had an update such that it reports the position of First Class in both 5 car sets (Front and Middle or Front and Rear were in use today). The posters could therefore be retired although more specific details about position where Front, Middle and Rear on platforms along the route might still be beneficial.
Also is something not working with the cariage side displays, I've noticed a few which appear blank in service ... perhaps they only activate at low or zero speed?

[IndustryInsider]

800005 appears to be running on its own as a 5-car though as 800006 has no allocations, the 19:00 to Bristol will be cosy if that's the case.

006 was sent from the depot to attach to 005 for the 19:00 to Bristol, so a 10-car as booked.  Left 6 minutes late though.

[PhilWakely]

I take it that Grahame was out last evening (and maybe also this) to witness the first IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) in passenger service to grace the line through Melksham as the 1A37 (2127 Taunton to London Paddington) is currently reversing at Chippenham and then heading down to the Berks and Hants for its onwards journey to Paddington.

[grahame]

I take it that Grahame was out last evening (and maybe also this) to witness the first IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) in passenger service to grace the line through Melksham as the 1A37 (2127 Taunton to London Paddington) is currently reversing at Chippenham and then heading down to the Berks and Hants for its onwards journey to Paddington.

Nope, he wasn't / isn't but thanks for the note. Catching the 06:38 again in the morning so need my beauty sleep; rail meeting season is in full swing.

[grahame]

I take it that Grahame was out last evening (and maybe also this) to witness the first IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) in passenger service to grace the line through Melksham as the 1A37 (2127 Taunton to London Paddington) is currently reversing at Chippenham and then heading down to the Berks and Hants for its onwards journey to Paddington.

21:27 Taunton to London Paddington due 01:12 has been delayed at Chippenham and is now 17 minutes late.
This is due to a problem currently under investigation.

Oops

[SandTEngineer]

I was out train spotting earlier today........


Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

[grahame]

I was out train spotting earlier today........

802101?

From Devon Live

Pictured on the sea wall at Dawlish ...

Railway expert Thomas Mills captured it as it travelled along the Dawlish seawall approaching Kennaway Tunnel.

He said that Wednesday is the first time that the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) class engine has visited Cornwall.

The class 802s are electric and diesel-electric hybrids which run on electric power between London and Bristol and then switches to diesel power when moving into Devon and Cornwall.

I'm not sure that (m)any will be routed via Bristol?

[Adelante_CCT]

Errrrr, isn't 802101 a 9 car? The one that has been outside North Pole recently