200 new coaches to be brought forward

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

172/4 for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) now on Wikipedia

Well  it must be true. 

[paul7575]

I'm beginning to think, in the absence of any confirmation from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) or FGW^▸ (First Great Western), it's just a misinterpretation of previous announcements. In other words it is still the figure for Bristol and L&TV combined, even if it does turn out to be new units rather than cascaded 150s.

If the newspaper story had any legs, isn't it the sort of thing FGW and DfT would be shouting from the rooftops, to take the heat off the problem for the time being?

Paul

[John R]

I think these two quotes help.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "Because of the competitive tendering process we are limited in what we can say.
"But this is good news for Bristol travellers. These are brand new trains.

I agree 52 extra coaches just for the ex Wessex services would appear to be over the top. But if 13 x 4 coach sets are delivered what could it mean?

10 sets are probably needed for the Cardiff-Portsmouth run (including maintenance) with 3 left to form a couple of half decent Bristol - Penzance type workings.

The 3 car 158s cascade could cascade down, and in doing so cover for the 20 coaches which are already allocated elsewhere (5xCl 142 and 5 x 150 ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)))).

Someone else then picks up the hand me down Class 150s. There's enough demand for them.

Now what would be really good is if this released a unit for Melksham and one for Portishead. But that's probably asking too much!

Does this make sense?

[eightf48544]

Does this make sense?

Only if your interpretation is correct.

It seems to me that DafT have got themselves in such a muddle over new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) orders and cascades that they are probably as confused as we are.

When the Coffee shop reports 13 four car 172s as running on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services then I might just believe it.

Until then don't hold your breath you'll only go blue.

[Btline]

172/4 for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) now on Wikipedia

I have had a look at Wiki, and the 172/4 statement is totally unsourced. I would take it with a pinch of salt.

If you read at the bottom, the editor who added 172/4 has done so on the speculation that they "might" be Turbostars (therefore, most likely 172s).

I expect an Wikipedia admin will removed the speculation, as they won't want their untarnished record for reliability being affected.

[devon_metro]

Great news 

[smithy]

although unconfirmed from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or the DAFT i spoke to a manager today who says we are to receive 13 4 car 172's for 11 diagrams allowing 1 spare and 1 maintenance.the 150's are still coming to fgw land to replace the 142's at some point.hopefully fgw will keep all the other stock we already have so services like malvern-weymouth and cardiff-taunton can have more carriages to improve capacity.

as i say still unconfirmed but lets hope this is how it pans out,only time will tell i suppose.

[willc]

Try this for size, with a little help from a piece about the DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) fleet by Roger Ford in Modern Railways.

Northern has been asking for 125 new DMU coaches, TransPennine 24 (Ford is sure the 42 was a DafT typing error and the TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) depots can only handle another 24 coaches anyway apparently). Add on the 52 for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and you get 201.

Having made inquiries wearing my journalist's hat, the official line from FGW is that they don't know the detail of DafT's intentions at this stage as regards either numbers coming their way, nor where new stock might be used, but want talks as soon as possible to get the ball rolling.

[vacman]

My rumours are always true....

[John R]

It hasn't gone unnoticed.

Let's hope you don't get raided by the police (and Graham too, as host of the Forum), to find the source of the information. 

[vacman]

I now believe that it's in the public domain propperly, it appears that the fast tracked new stock is for FGW^▸ (First Great Western), FTPE^» (First TransPennine Express - website) and Northern although still not confirmed as in official announcement from DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) or FG, the order will be put to competetive tender for units of a similar spec to 170's but no mention of 172's, obviously FTPE's order will be for the fourth coach for the 185's, orders are planned to be put to tender within the next three months.

[eightf48544]

I now believe that it's in the public domain propperly, it appears that the fast tracked new stock is for FGW^▸ (First Great Western), FTPE^» (First TransPennine Express - website) and Northern although still not confirmed as in official announcement from DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) or FG, the order will be put to competetive tender for units of a similar spec to 170's but no mention of 172's, obviously FTPE's order will be for the fourth coach for the 185's, orders are planned to be put to tender within the next three months.

Wonder what we will be posting in three months time. That's still a long time to hold ones breath!

[willc]

the order will be put to competetive tender

Is that competitive like the order for the extra Pendolinos was? A complete waste of time and money, coming up with the obvious answer anyway.

In this case, the obvious answer is more 172s. Other than the extra TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) coaches, no-one is going to order more 185s, not at ^2m per coach, so the 172 is the only game in town.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

just out of interest what would people prefer more frequent services and a seat even if it was on a pacer or standing up on an in frequent brandnew train

[John R]

The answer would depend entirely on the length of the journey involved and the difference in frequency.