Transpennine Express decide not to use MK3's on limited services

[LNW-GW Joint]

Possibly a reluctance to repair a rival company's Mk3s?

Rival company?
It's all First Group, and it's all franchise business (commitments in fact, as we can see in the franchise agreement).
The delay in TP/Northern service changes to May 2018 due to late electrification may have knocked on to the Mk3 conversion plans.

 

[43096]

Is the fact that the two DRS DVTs had remedial cosmetic work started at Loram, then stopped and finally send to Long Marston, got anything linked with the Pretendolino impasse?

Mark 3 DVTs not part of the TPE plan AIUI.

 

[59CosG95]

Rival company?
It's all First Group, and it's all franchise business (commitments in fact, as we can see in the franchise agreement).
The delay in TP/Northern service changes to May 2018 due to late electrification may have knocked on to the Mk3 conversion plans.

Ahh I see. Just proves how little I know about the railway industry!

 

[scarby]

Is this plan to top-and-tail 68s with the Mk 3s for TPE still on?

 

[CosherB]

Is this plan to top-and-tail 68s with the Mk 3s for TPE still on?

Might need the help of someone like gimmea50anyday with this scheme. Last I heard, the whole rake was still languishing at Laira and no repairs/upgrades had started.

DRS bought DVTs 82101 and 82126, started work on their exteriors at Loram, then stopped it and moved them to Long Marston (I think) so the DVT rumour is dead.

TPE clearly aren't in a hurry for the 2 x Mk3 rakes!

 

[pemma]

Might need the help of someone like gimmea50anyday with this scheme. Last I heard, the whole rake was still languishing at Laira and no repairs/upgrades had started.

DRS bought DVTs 82101 and 82126, started work on their exteriors at Loram, then stopped it and moved them to Long Marston (I think) so the DVT rumour is dead.

TPE clearly aren't in a hurry for the 2 x Mk3 rakes!

When are the first mk5 sets expected to be in service? With the proposed December 2017 recast being put back to May 2018 due to Northern not getting enough Sprinters from GWR, it means TPE don't require extra units for an additional 6 months. Although, they were suppose to have the mk3 set available ASAP so they could use it for special events like York races.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

The mk3s are stilll proposed to be used for training and as "crowd busters" however no start date has been confirmed despite the mk3s and 3 68s now being on TPEs books. One 68 is due to ship out to Spain for compatibility tests.

That's all I know....

 

[43096]

The mk3s are stilll proposed to be used for training and as "crowd busters" however no start date has been confirmed despite the mk3s and 3 68s now being on TPEs books. One 68 is due to ship out to Spain for compatibility tests.

That's all I know....

It's now four 68s.... 68022 is stopped at Crewe and has transferred to the XHTP pool.

 

[alexl92]

Referring back to a comment earlier in this thread, why would MK3 DVTs be out of gauge if the normal MK3 coaches are cleared? Are they longer?

 

[scarby]

Thanks for the updates.

 

[CosherB]

Referring back to a comment earlier in this thread, why would MK3 DVTs be out of gauge if the normal MK3 coaches are cleared? Are they longer?

A very simple internet search will tell you that a Mk3 DVT is about 19m long.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Update as of today on this project:

2x Mk3 sets to be used
Crew training starting within a month
Both sets will be placed on the Liverpool to Scarborough route, but starting and ending the diagrams each day at either Longsight or Manchester Airport (1 set will start or end at each location - in essence one will stable overnight on depot and the other at the airport).

This will free up 2 class 185s, to strengthen other services / speed up maintenance / overhauls, etc.

The primary aim of the mk3s being used is to train drivers on class 68 operation with a trailing load.

In May 2018 the Mk5A sets will begin operation and the Mk3s will depart.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Update as of today on this project:

2x Mk3 sets to be used
Crew training starting within a month
Both sets will be placed on the Liverpool to Scarborough route, but starting and ending the diagrams each day at either Longsight or Manchester Airport (1 set will start or end at each location - in essence one will stable overnight on depot and the other at the airport).

This will free up 2 class 185s, to strengthen other services / speed up maintenance / overhauls, etc.

The primary aim of the mk3s being used is to train drivers on class 68 operation with a trailing load.

In May 2018 the Mk5A sets will begin operation and the Mk3s will depart.

Good stuff, so is the rake scheduled to leave Plymouth anytime soon?

 

[BMIFlyer]

Good stuff, so is the rake scheduled to leave Plymouth anytime soon?

I would hope so as the sets will be placed into service on the December timetable change day.

 

[Starmill]

I would hope so as the sets will be placed into service on the December timetable change day.

I passed those coaches sat at Liara recently - they looked untouched. No visible changes inside or out from when I first saw them there.

 

[CosherB]

I would hope so as the sets will be placed into service on the December timetable change day.

Is it true that the ex-Pretendolino rake needs plenty of mechanical TLC to get it fit for the mainline again? Are the RFMs still going to be modified to give guards accommodation?

I'd assume that cosmetic changes will be minimal - just some TPE logo stickers ......

 

[Bletchleyite]

They're already in a silver livery (albeit with VT red roof-lining) and the interiors are, while they have IC70 seating, not *that* unpleasant. So not much really needed.

 

[CosherB]

They're already in a silver livery (albeit with VT red roof-lining) and the interiors are, while they have IC70 seating, not *that* unpleasant. So not much really needed.

Well, 9 out of the 10 carriages are in VTWC colours .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX4S2kwl54Q Not mine.

 

[DarloRich]

worth noting that I saw pictures of a 68 in TPE colours recently.

 

[Mollman]

Update as of today on this project:
In May 2018 the Mk5A sets will begin operation and the Mk3s will depart.

Thanks for the update, does this mean a revision of the plan to keep the Mk3s for special event extras then?

 

[pemma]

Thanks for the update, does this mean a revision of the plan to keep the Mk3s for special event extras then?

The original plan was to have them in regular service from December 17 until the new trains were in service but with the December 17 enhancements being postponed it seemed less likely that they would be used in regular service.

 

[pemma]

Both sets will be placed on the Liverpool to Scarborough route, but starting and ending the diagrams each day at either Longsight or Manchester Airport (1 set will start or end at each location - in essence one will stable overnight on depot and the other at the airport).

So will Scarborough still be via Warrington in December or will it be re-routed via Chat Moss? While the extra carriages would be welcome on the Liverpool-Warrington-Manchester line, I think using loco-hauled may create problems with dwell times.

 

[Camden]

Are they slam door??

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, they are.

 

[Camden]

That is just not workable.

 

[mpthomson]

worth noting that I saw pictures of a 68 in TPE colours recently.

And very smart it looked too, including lack of yellow ends.

 

[CosherB]

That is just not workable.

Any chance you could furnish us with your font of knowledge on this matter?

 

[DarloRich]

That is just not workable.

why??

 

[Blindtraveler]

Perfectly workable IMO, on ScotRail there are MK2s doing Fife Circle passenger work with a stop every 5 to 10 minutes on busy morning and evening commuter trains, not an automatically opening external door to be found unless you count the one at the very front which more often than not will be opperated by a helpfull 68 basher who has taken up residence in the vestibule!

 

[gimmea50anyday]

worth noting that I saw pictures of a 68 in TPE colours recently.

Disclaimer:- these images are openly available on social media/internet forums are are not my images!