[Techniquest]

Eurostars on the WCML to New Street? Most stations are too short on the ECML (and that's after lengthening some!), I dread to think what they'd be like on the WCML! Would have to run them fast from Euston to pretty much International or straight through to New Street, with them running fast through Wolverhampton to, say, Crewe and ultimately up to Glasgow (I'm just thinking of stations with lengthy platforms here). That would be a sight mind. Better yet would be re-instating Eurostar connecting HSTs to ensure the maximum amount of people can access the Eurostar services, a problem that ensures people have a stay in London if travelling from further afield than Reading, Stevenage, Ipswich...I can dream still...

Glad we saw the GNER-liveried 373 at Leeds on Saturday then. We would have bashed it to Wakefield, but we all wanted to do new lines instead. Pity, I needed to film it really. Too late now.

[86242]

Originally Posted by yorkie

It would, but not while there are spare HSTs.

I'm sure that the option could be considered if we get to a point where GNER want to further increase services and there are no spare HST sets. A 90 can keep to a 91 timetable on some, frequent-stations, diagrams(e.g. those that call at places like Stevenage, Newark, Retford, etc).

But it is a bit pointless running HSTs under the wires for all of journey after BR spending so much to electricfy the line 15 years ago...

[Julian G]

well it such a shame Eurostars are going being replaced by plastic

Err, aren't Eurostars plastic or have I missed something?

[Guinness]

I think the best option here to get Electric Traction. The problem is its 110mph Stock unless you re-gear the 90s to do 125mph, I remember you telling me Yorkie that it will be easy to stick to 125mph timing (Times can be always changed thought) so it could be a viable option for GNER.

As it currently stands in the Gen forum, MML are giving up 7 HSTs for GNER and using the 7 x 9 Car Meridians but not until Cricklewood Facilities are fully open, 3 x 222-9s can be ran at the moment. This is whats bound to happen as GNER already can accommodate HSTs. But it seems such a waste of fuel seen as its all under wires and with today's fuel prices, expect some form of fare rise.

[86242]

Originally Posted by Chaz

. The problem is its 110mph Stock unless you re-gear the 90s to do 125mph, I remember you telling me Yorkie that it will be easy to stick to 125mph timing (Times can be always changed thought) so it could be a viable option for GNER.

They could always get the 89 back

[joy54.gen]

Problem with the 89 is that spare parts would be a problem and expensive, due to them having to be specially made. Also all drivers would have to be retrained to drive them due to none of them signing them anymore.

[yorkie]

Originally Posted by 1288gaje

well it such a shame Eurostars are going being replaced by plastic

Do you call HSTs plastic?

Originally Posted by tubechallenger

Err, aren't Eurostars plastic or have I missed something?

No, they're not!

As for the 90s, they're ideal for services such as the 0600:

King's Cross	    06.00
Stevenage	       06.19
Peterborough 	   06.49
Grantham	        07.08
Newark North Gate  07.20
Retford	         07.35
Doncaster	       07.51
Wakefield Westgate 08.10
Leeds	           08.34

They can keep to those timings as a train like that doesn't have so much 125mph running, and the higher acceleration of a 90 (geared that way) will help.

[tramboy]

Is it actually possible to regear a 90 to do 125mph though...I'm sure I read somewhere that a 90 is virtually a "second generation" 87, so that converting it to a higher gearing is difficult, plus changes the locomotive dynamics and could make it unstable. However, with a set of refurbished coaches and a DVT a 90 could feasibly do some Leeds diagrams.

TC, 373s are maybe "plastic" in the more construction sense of the word...but are a lot different and have a lot more character (IMO) to real "plastic" such as 390s. (No offence to 390 lovers out there)

Regards

Dave

[AlexS]

You would encounter a lot of problems regearing a 90 to make a 125 mph locomotive. They are set up as such that they will do around 120mph at the moment, but no more. They are only safety certificate passed for 121mph anyway.

[Tomnick]

Anything that GNER do obtain as a replacement, really does need to be 125mph capable - sure, there might be one or two services that a 90 might be able to keep to the timings for, but that's unlikely to apply throughout the whole diagram. I can see why diesel traction might be a 'backwards step', but it would also give GNER more flexibilty for, in the future, diagramming those services that do go off the juice. Also don't forget that rising fuel prices are also likely to have an effect on the price of electricity!

[Dennis]

IMO, the Eurostars are great on GNER & I will be sad to see them go

[xplo42]

I'm not 100% sure but I'm partly sure the 373s were restricted to 110mph on the ECML. (or parts of it at least)

If this is the case I'm sure a 90+MK3s+DVT set would have no problem keeping up with the White Roses, maybe even out running them because I'm sure there were a couple of speed restrictions which applied to 373s only on the London-Leeds route which would of slowed them down even more.

[TheSlash]

In response to ChrisJ, i think they have gauging issues rather than power supply. Its something to do with the air turbulance they cause

[Tom B]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

But it is a bit pointless running HSTs under the wires for all of journey after BR spending so much to electricfy the line 15 years ago...

But lots of services (Hull, Skipton, Inverness etc) need HSTS and with others I presume it's a matter of having a few trains spare.

Shouldn't the 90's be passed up to 132mph if they're able to do 120? +10%.

As for the 373s they are excellent crowd-soakers. Never failed to find a seat on one.