If they are so popular makes you wonder why FGW▸ got rid of them.
They are popular because they are available to be used by other operators and are 125mph-capable, which is an essential requirement for operating on the East Coast Main Line, where First Hull Trains,
NXEC▸ and Grand Central's owners all want to run new services.
Once the
ORR» has pronounced on who can run what extra services later in the year, it's fair to assume that the future of the 180s will be sorted out sharpish and the leasing company may then begin a remedial programme to deal with the design issues that are responsible for many of the reliability problems that led to FGW wanting rid of them.
Even with swapping around of the sets that are being used at the moment - 180104 and 105 have come back to FGW from store at Oxley but not sure which two out of 102, 108 and 109 they replaced - it still seems to be a struggle to turn out two for service each morning at the moment.
The diagram that starts with the 05.42 to Worcester and 08.37 return was a 180 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week (I had to drive Tuesday, so don't know what ran then) and will be amazed if it isn't a 180 again this morning. On Thursday, FGW didn't even bother to post the set swap as a service alteration on the website.
This duty's allocated
HST▸ was, as ever, nicked for the 07.10 from Oxford instead of the booked 2x180, even though I bet this service does not need all those seats in August, due to the commuters taking their holidays.
In contrast, the 08.37 from Worcester needs every seat it can get at this time of the year, as it's the first train from the Cotswold Line and Oxford on which
CDRs▸ and Network railcards are valid, with passenger numbers topped up for the month with lots of holidaymakers and day trippers. A 180 is usually full from Charlbury onwards, so avoid this service if you're doing Oxford-London mid-morning until the schools have gone back.
