HSTEd
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2011
- Messages
- 16,732
Well I have recently travelled on the down Night Riviera in the seated area, which means I have now travelled in both directions on the service in seating.
It was almost entirely full in seating and judging by the number of people around it is highly likely that the berths were similar.
So why are only two seating vehicles provided?
I understand that Platform 1 at Paddington is rather long, and that platforms at Plymouth and Penzance are hardly short either, as far as I can tell P1 at Paddington can take 11 23m vehicles plus two 18m ones, and such a formation would fit into at least one of the platforms at Penzance without fouling any points.
With the low traffic density at intermediate stations I doubt there would be much trouble with the train fouling points, even with the long wait at Plymouth.
So why can't they add perhaps another two seated vehicles to make it up to eleven, and then add a DVT to one end of the train. (Currently they have to use a second Class 57 to pull the train into Paddington and have to do a propelling move at Penzance, which could be avoided if the train was push pull).
As the trains are fitted with RCH jumpers they should already be able to carry TDM control signals, although I understand that this proved troublesome in actual service so they would likely have to be rewired with extra cables, and ofcourse some TDM gear would have to be fitted into the Class 57s.
The DVT would also allow them to offer a luggage van service to customers in berths.
But overall that doesn't seem to be a very bad choice considering the sets will be due for refurbishment soon and the franchise ITT includes it as a requirement of the franchise.
Does anyone know how long trains can be at Penzance without fouling points? The sectional appendix lookalike thing on the NR website says the longest platform there is roughly ~20m too short for this formation, but that Platform 1 at Paddington will easily take it.
Could a Class 57 could keep to the rather slack sleeper timetable with 11 Mark 3s and a DVT in tow? (Total formation length of 288m)
It was almost entirely full in seating and judging by the number of people around it is highly likely that the berths were similar.
So why are only two seating vehicles provided?
I understand that Platform 1 at Paddington is rather long, and that platforms at Plymouth and Penzance are hardly short either, as far as I can tell P1 at Paddington can take 11 23m vehicles plus two 18m ones, and such a formation would fit into at least one of the platforms at Penzance without fouling any points.
With the low traffic density at intermediate stations I doubt there would be much trouble with the train fouling points, even with the long wait at Plymouth.
So why can't they add perhaps another two seated vehicles to make it up to eleven, and then add a DVT to one end of the train. (Currently they have to use a second Class 57 to pull the train into Paddington and have to do a propelling move at Penzance, which could be avoided if the train was push pull).
As the trains are fitted with RCH jumpers they should already be able to carry TDM control signals, although I understand that this proved troublesome in actual service so they would likely have to be rewired with extra cables, and ofcourse some TDM gear would have to be fitted into the Class 57s.
The DVT would also allow them to offer a luggage van service to customers in berths.
But overall that doesn't seem to be a very bad choice considering the sets will be due for refurbishment soon and the franchise ITT includes it as a requirement of the franchise.
Does anyone know how long trains can be at Penzance without fouling points? The sectional appendix lookalike thing on the NR website says the longest platform there is roughly ~20m too short for this formation, but that Platform 1 at Paddington will easily take it.
Could a Class 57 could keep to the rather slack sleeper timetable with 11 Mark 3s and a DVT in tow? (Total formation length of 288m)
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