175s to GWR

[whole diary]

[John D]

A 175 is due to come down from Wolverton tomorrow under what looks like it's own power. I'll be watching Dawlish Cams at 1603 if it runs.

Should pass Bath Spa at 13:55

Rumoured to be unit 175 003 and will be first time a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) liveried one appears, unless it is in some new GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) colours

[IndustryInsider]

Rumoured to be unit 175 003 and will be first time a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) liveried one appears, unless it is in some new GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) colours

Having just watched it pass Watford Junction on Railcam it is just in its old TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) livery, but unbranded.

[REVUpminster]

175114+175009 on it's way to Penzance from Laira. May return to Laira by returning as far as Newton Abbot before reversing back.

[GBM]

175114+175009 on it's way to Penzance from Laira. May return to Laira by returning as far as Newton Abbot before reversing back.

Although the first leg - Plymouth to Newton Abbot and return was cancelled!

[REVUpminster]

175114+175009 on it's way to Penzance from Laira. May return to Laira by returning as far as Newton Abbot before reversing back.

Although the first leg - Plymouth to Newton Abbot and return was cancelled!

It did manage Newton Abbot this afternoon. These two trains have been at Laira for some time. Another one tomorrow.

[REVUpminster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0U-WSbXSVE

Penzance

[REVUpminster]

175002+175009 doing the Penzance trip today. Both yesterday and today involved two trips to Penzance.

[matth1j]

Apologies for asking what is probably a daft question, but I can see that they look relatively modern; presumably they are actually an improvement (from a passenger's perspective) over what they are replacing?

[REVUpminster]

Apologies for asking what is probably a daft question, but I can see that they look relatively modern; presumably they are actually an improvement (from a passenger's perspective) over what they are replacing?

I've only been on a 175 in Wales at Newport and it seemed alright.
The first job is to replace the Castle HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) which passengers might think of as a downgrade seating wise. It also frees up 800s for other work.
Second job is to replace the 158s at Exeter which are needed for Bristol services. Passengers won't notice a lot of difference but will be pleased when a 5 car 175 turns up at Barnstaple and Okehampton gets a 3 car regularly. Okehampton Parkway should increase passenger usage even taking into account those who transfer from Okehampton.
Thirdly it frees up a couple of 150s for use on the new Newquay services and will have to soldier on.
Exeter could have more turbos for the Exmouth-Paignton. There have been up to 5 running even now.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Apologies for asking what is probably a daft question, but I can see that they look relatively modern; presumably they are actually an improvement (from a passenger's perspective) over what they are replacing?

They're a bit like a cross between a 180 (Adelante) and a 156 (one of the better Sprinters), just without the flambée effect common to the Adelantes. I wouldn't say they're enormously different from the 158s. I used them fairly frequently when Arriva Trains Wales ran them on the Marches line and they're decent, comfortable enough trains.

[Mark A]

Apologies for asking what is probably a daft question, but I can see that they look relatively modern; presumably they are actually an improvement (from a passenger's perspective) over what they are replacing?

With entrances into vestibules at the carriage ends, windows ok and interiors appropriately lit they made for a pleasant journey with TfL^» (Transport for London - about). Recollections of cheerful good-natured sociable passengers of all ages too, despite the services often being capacity constrained.

Mark

[grahame]

Apologies for asking what is probably a daft question, but I can see that they look relatively modern; presumably they are actually an improvement (from a passenger's perspective) over what they are replacing?

With entrances into vestibules at the carriage ends, windows ok and interiors appropriately lit they made for a pleasant journey with TfL^» (Transport for London - about). Recollections of cheerful good-natured sociable passengers of all ages too, despite the services often being capacity constrained.

Mark

Just give me "anything" safe and with enough space that runs 98% of the time or better.   Class 142, 150, 158, 165, 201, 802 - don't mind.  Please not single 121 or 153 as they don't have enough space ...

[Hafren]

They were good for legroom, and quite comfortable, although the seat back angle sometimes made my neck ache if I dozed for too long! Not sure if that's unique to me!

Although end-doored they worked reasonably well on stoppers (door cycles *felt* slightly nippier than on a 158 or 153) as long as not too crowded, when of course a 150 or Turbo works better for dwell times. I didn't often travel on them with luggage but IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') luggage racks not as good as on a 158 or HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) - in common with a lot of newer stock.

Lack of inter-unit gangway could be a problem if working in multiple, especially on a route with short platforms or request stops; are they to be paired on peak Barnstaples? Probably wouldn't be able major issue on main line duties. I imagine the same issue arises when a 5-car Turbo formation serves Dilton Marsh, but at least that's a one-off stop.

[John D]

Lack of inter-unit gangway could be a problem if working in multiple, especially on a route with short platforms or request stops; are they to be paired on peak Barnstaples? Probably wouldn't be able major issue on main line duties. I imagine the same issue arises when a 5-car Turbo formation serves Dilton Marsh, but at least that's a one-off stop.

The Modern Railways article on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) based on Mark Hopwood comments says will be 5car 175s on some busy Barnstaple trains.

But experience tells me that 5car workings, formed of a 2car and a 3car can be prone to ending up as 4car or even 3car (or occasionally 6car) fairly often in Bristol area.    Operationally having 2 types combined to form a train seems to be too hard to do on a regular basis, unless you have both sizes available in a siding at start point.

[grahame]

But experience tells me that 5car workings, formed of a 2car and a 3car can be prone to ending up as 4car or even 3car (or occasionally 6car) fairly often in Bristol area.    Operationally having 2 types combined to form a train seems to be too hard to do on a regular basis, unless you have both sizes available in a siding at start point.

The lack of standardisation of coupling is, I think, something of a nightmare - where "multiple" units cannot be used in multiple unless it's multiple of a similar type.   GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) has ... 15x, 16x, 175, Castle, 57 and IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) and "never they shall mix" except the occasional emergency coupling such as castle dragging a broken sleeper.    For sure, 4s and 6s are going to turn up on trains that are nominally 5 carriages, just as 2 and 3 car trains seem to switch at times (as do 5 and 9 car).