Who said three coach 100mph stock is needed? The ideal unit, most of the time, would be a 2-car 90mph class 158. I did mention using a 3-car 175 at busy times, but only at busy times. Even a pair of 153s working the service in multiple would be a damn sight better than the inner-suburban 150s and Pacers this regional express service is burdened with at the moment. I have seen the 150 filled (can't remember if there were one or two standing) so a single 153 is unlikely to be enough unfortunatly.To put it into context, how many people were using the service?
(before we get carried away and start demanding three coach 100mph stock etc)
A class 158 would be ideal, better than anything else (except at busy times, when 2x 158 or a 3-car 175
To put it into context, how many people were using the service?
(before we get carried away and start demanding three coach 100mph stock etc)
Who said three coach 100mph stock is needed?
Imagine the impression gained by a first time visitor to Wales when seeing a Pacer masquerading as a boat train. It's just not good enough. We do not live in the 'Third World' but Arriva does its best to let us down.
I think the 23:45 Swansea - Fishguard Hbr is formed of the stock which arrives from Pembroke Dock at around 23:25 and yes the majority of the time is normally formed of a class 153 or maybe two if they expect the service to be busy.
I wasn't aware Mk3 sleepers had ever worked to Fishguard ? There were HSTs, but that was before the budget airlines took away most of the traffic.In the not-too-distant past the boat trains to Fishguard, Holyhead and Stranraer used to include sleeping cars. A bit of a comedown from a Mk3 sleeper to a Pacer.
I wasn't aware Mk3 sleepers had ever worked to Fishguard ? There were HSTs, but that was before the budget airlines took away most of the traffic.
It probablly wouldn't be practical to add a sleeper car to one of the London - Swansea services, but if it could be done I'd suggest doing that, with a buffet car, the sleeper coach and 1 or 2 day cars being detached at Swansea to form the night boat train to Fishguard. At Fishguard, the buffet and sleeper car would be left (the platform line would need to be made permissive so daytime trains could access it) and the day cars would be attached to another sleeper+buffet pairs, worked back to Swansea and inserted into the London train.In the not-too-distant past the boat trains to Fishguard, Holyhead and Stranraer used to include sleeping cars. A bit of a comedown from a Mk3 sleeper to a Pacer.
I wasn't aware Mk3 sleepers had ever worked to Fishguard ? There were HSTs, but that was before the budget airlines took away most of the traffic.
Shame that Fishguard lost its summer HST service to Paddington. And yet Pembroke Dock still sees two HSTs on summer Saturdays through to Paddington. My experience of using them (admittedly only once) was that it was nearly empty west of Tenby. Why not send one to/from Fishguard instead?
Was it Mk1 Sleepers to Fishguard then? I wasn't sure the exact date when the service was withdrawn. I know they used Mk3s to Holyhead towards the end of the service (late 1980s/early 1990s?). Even so a Mk1 Sleeper beats a Pacer! I can't see a Sleeper boat train service making any money nowadays given that through seated trains from London to Fisguard / Stranraer no longer run.
Shame that Fishguard lost its summer HST service to Paddington. And yet Pembroke Dock still sees two HSTs on summer Saturdays through to Paddington. My experience of using them (admittedly only once) was that it was nearly empty west of Tenby. Why not send one to/from Fishguard instead?
My recollection dates back to the early 1970s (class 52 era) and there were no sleepers to Fishguard. There were 2 sleeper services to Milford Haven each way, one of which went via Gloucester, but as Greenback said they were a casualty of the withdrawal of the Mk1 sleeper fleet. If there were ever sleepers to Fishguard they didn't last into the 1970s
Rail/sea is never going to be able to compete with the low cost airlines on price, so it should be marketing itself as the quality alternative. And that means operating the route with comfortable rolling stock, not Pacers (which are even less comfortable than a Ryanair flight, for several times the price).There still seems to be a good market of rail travellers to and from Saundersfoot and Tenby. I am not sure the same can be said for Fishguard these days. Even the most optimistic person must admit that the rail sea market has markedly declined over the last 10-15 years.
Rail/sea is never going to be able to compete with the low cost airlines on price, so it should be marketing itself as the quality alternative. And that means operating the route with comfortable rolling stock, not Pacers (which are even less comfortable than a Ryanair flight, for several times the price).
If there were a reliable first-class service to and from Fishguard Harbour I'd gladly travel to the Irish Republic that way, almost regardless of cost. But I know that the trains are going to be overcrowded, noisy and uncomfortable and so my money goes into Cityjet's pockets instead.
ATW does its best with the stock it has. If that means an occasional Pacer, so be it