Short HST's

[whole diary]

[Thatcham Crossing]

I've noticed a few times over the last few days that there seem to be some 7 coach HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s about again.

The ones I saw yesterday (Fri 21/3) seemed to have a Standard Class carriage missing.

Is this because of the Dawlish problems?

I guess it's not to do with the conversion of First Class carriages to Standard, as you'd expect the former to be missing if that was the case.

[bobm]

I think it is more to do with Dawlish than conversions.

I have seen one 2+6 in use and also a 2+7 with no Coach E and the Coach F with a mini buffet turned round so the buffet was next to coach D, meaning anyone in First - and the Customer Host with the trolley - had to go through the standard class section of F to reach the buffet.

[a-driver]

There's also an 8+2 set running around with TWO standard mini buffets in the formation!

[Southern Stag]

Some good news for the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) fleet. The first of 5 newly converted ex-buffet carriages was reported as being in service today, and the second has also been delivered to Laira Depot.

[John R]

Given all the sets are (when up to strength) already 2+8, IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), I'm not clear on why extra vehicles are needed.  I didn't think the "first to standard" conversion required any additional vehicles.

[bobm]

Maybe for two reasons.  Firstly to keep sets up to strength as the conversions take place while in the longer term give additional opportunities to release coaches for maintenance.   It has already been noted on here how many seem to be running, or rather thumping, around with wheelflats.

[Southern Stag]

As far as I know the extra coaches are to provide some extra slack in the fleet, which given the number of short formations reported seems like a good idea.

[lordgoata]

I saw the shortest HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) possible the other day run through Maidenhead - was a 2+0 (i.e.. an engine+engine!) Was quite funny to look at It was heading towards Reading but I don't know where it ended up.

[BBM]

I saw the shortest HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) possible the other day run through Maidenhead - was a 2+0 (i.e.. an engine+engine!) Was quite funny to look at It was heading towards Reading but I don't know where it ended up.

It is possible to go even shorter and it has happened! 

The shortest HST formation ever to run in passenger service

[lordgoata]

Haha! Excellent, bet that looked funny when it went past :-)

[stebbo]

The Cathedrals Express last Tuesday (18th March) was 2+6. Had to stand all the way from Kingham to Paddington. Never had that before.

[Phil]

I'm fairly sure someone on here once corrected me, a long while ago now, by saying that an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) couldn't run without a Coach A.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Well, here's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) running around without a Coach A ...



 

[a-driver]

I'm fairly sure someone on here once corrected me, a long while ago now, by saying that an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) couldn't run without a Coach A.

It has to have a Coach A (a Trailer Guard Standard) to work in passenger service. 

[readytostart]

I'm fairly sure someone on here once corrected me, a long while ago now, by saying that an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) couldn't run without a Coach A.

It has to have a Coach A (a Trailer Guard Standard) to work in passenger service. 

A HST doesn't need to have a TGS to operate in passenger service, but it is desirable, if there is no TGS then the emergency equipment needs to be relocated, usually to the buffet area and the driver-guard buzzer will not be operational, so the train will need to be despatched with flags. The central locking system will, however, still work.