Problems with Hitachi Intercity Express Trains - ongoing discussion since 2022

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

Answering my own question.  Looking at Realtime Trains it was 166 207 as far as Exeter St Davids and then 150 248 forward from there.   Thinking about it, are turbos cleared on the main line past Newton Abbot?

Yes

[Timmer]

Another poor customer experience for those aboard the 1635 Paddington to Plymouth 5 vice 10 and absolutely rammed according to my wife who’s on the train. First declassified. Not listed on JC as being short formed.

[IndustryInsider]

Stickers have finally started appearing on the trolley/urn store in the middle of the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)).  Passengers have been confusing them for toilets since they were introduced!

[TaplowGreen]

Another poor customer experience for those aboard the 1635 Paddington to Plymouth 5 vice 10 and absolutely rammed according to my wife who’s on the train. First declassified. Not listed on JC as being short formed.

I expect you will be told to be grateful they managed to find 5!

[IndustryInsider]

Another poor customer experience for those aboard the 1635 Paddington to Plymouth 5 vice 10 and absolutely rammed according to my wife who’s on the train. First declassified. Not listed on JC as being short formed.

Could well be linked to the Hitachi maintenance staff industrial action which started yesterday and runs until Friday.

[Timmer]

Journey check has now been updated to include the 1635:

16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth due 20:04
Facilities on the 16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth due 20:04.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. Service full and standing from Reading.

I can assure the person writing this that the train was full and standing when it left Paddington.

[Timmer]

I expect you will be told to be grateful they managed to find 5!

Or that it even ran at all. Next Sunday it won’t be.

[ChrisB]

Another poor customer experience for those aboard the 1635 Paddington to Plymouth 5 vice 10 and absolutely rammed according to my wife who’s on the train. First declassified. Not listed on JC as being short formed.

Could well be linked to the Hitachi maintenance staff industrial action which started yesterday and runs until Friday.

That dispute is only in Hitachi LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) depots, not GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

The short forms are all down to the withdrawal of the Castle sets & IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) being transferred westwards to cover.

[TonyN]

The short forms are all down to the withdrawal of the Castle sets & IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))▸ being transferred westwards to cover.

Also covering the shortage of other DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit). Last Wednesday one of the Bristol-Worcester workings was being covered by a 5 car IET.

[ChrisB]

yes, indeed.

[grahame]

The short forms are all down to the withdrawal of the Castle sets & IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))▸ being transferred westwards to cover.

Also covering the shortage of other DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit). Last Wednesday one of the Bristol-Worcester workings was being covered by a 5 car IET.

There are 17 class 153 in store. One wonders if too early - I know the need for disabled loos these days but really wonder if 2 x 158 trains could run as 1 x 158 + 2 x 153.  Of course, whilst one wonders, one expects there's a very good reason why castles and 153s (and the 6 stored 156s) could be be used.

[IndustryInsider]

That dispute is only in Hitachi LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) depots, not GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

Not according to the official press release from UNITE:

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/january/national-strike-by-hitachi-rail-workers-over-pay

[Southernman]

According to this, Unite accepted the pay offer:-

https://www.cityam.com/400-rmt-workers-at-hitachi-to-strike-on-saturday-until-1-february/

A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said: “We are disappointed at RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)’s decision to carry out industrial action.

“We believe the combination of last year’s pay increase, and this year’s pay proposal, is fair and highly competitive in the current economic environment. As demonstrated by Unite members accepting the same offer this week and ending their planned industrial action.

[ray951]

Stickers have finally started appearing on the trolley/urn store in the middle of the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)).  Passengers have been confusing them for toilets since they were introduced!

How many crew can you get in a crew storage area ? what type of crew are stored there? how long can they be stored for? and has this been agreed with the Unions?

[broadgage]

Stickers have finally started appearing on the trolley/urn store in the middle of the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)).  Passengers have been confusing them for toilets since they were introduced!

How many crew can you get in a crew storage area ? what type of crew are stored there? how long can they be stored for? and has this been agreed with the Unions?

Two full sized crew, or three small ones.
Catering crew, mainly, possibly hitachi fitters
Two hours at a time, without being let out for exercise.
Strike bruvvers !