Class 165 and 166's.

[whole diary]

[Plymboi]

When are the Class 165 and 166's coming to the south-west. It was mentioned in Department of transport July 2009. I was wondering were they would be deployed to and are they replacing any units?

[Zoe]

When are the Class 165 and 166's coming to the south-west. It was mentioned in Department of transport July 2009. I was wondering were they would be deployed to and are they replacing any units?

Class 165s/166s are not cleared west of Bristol/Castle Cary and in any case none are likely to be displaced until London to Bristol electrification is complete.  The 165s/166s may then be cascaded onto the Cardiff to Portsmouth route.

[autotank]

Interesting - have Turbo's ever run west of Bedwyn in service?

However the cascading works I hope pacers are banished from the southwest sooner rather than later. The Turbo's would need a significant refurb before being used on Cardiff - Portsmouth services as they aren't very comfortable for journeys over an hour (see the Cotswold line threads!).

Are there likely to be any problems getting them cleared for other routes? I heard they are a bit wider than sprinters to make the most of the more generous GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) loading guage.

[grahame]

Are there likely to be any problems getting them cleared for other routes? I heard they are a bit wider than sprinters to make the most of the more generous GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) loading guage.

I understand that the platforms at Trowbridge are too close to the rails for them, and that there may be issues at Avoncliff and Dundas.   I also wonder about the Southampton tunnel that 153s are not allowed to pass through. 

[Electric train]

The 165/6's will not be cascaded until at least Crossrail is completed and then it will only be a few sets, even after the electrification to Oxford and Newbury quite a number of 165/6 will be retained in the TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) for the branches, Guildford / Gatwick, Bedwins etc.   You are looking at 2017 at the earliest

[Lee]

Are there likely to be any problems getting them cleared for other routes? I heard they are a bit wider than sprinters to make the most of the more generous GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) loading guage.

I understand that the platforms at Trowbridge are too close to the rails for them, and that there may be issues at Avoncliff and Dundas.   I also wonder about the Southampton tunnel that 153s are not allowed to pass through. 

Gauge clearance for Class 165/166 units at various locations to enable deployment of this rolling stock on Cardiff to Portsmouth and Westbury to Weymouth services is listed as a Network Rail Discretionary Fund CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) candidate scheme in the current Wessex Route Plan, with a projected implementation date of 2009-2014.

It should be noted though, that the current Route Plan is dated 31 March 09, which is pre-Electrification announcement and also pre-RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) publication.

[super tm]

Interesting - have Turbo's ever run west of Bedwyn in service?



Are there likely to be any problems getting them cleared for other routes? I heard they are a bit wider than sprinters to make the most of the more generous GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) loading guage.

Years ago pre-privatisation there was one a day from Westbury to Paddington.  Up in the morning and returning in the evening.

I believe they are cleared to go via Trowbridge