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

[CHAPS2034]

There should be a run tomorrow from Crewe to Edge Hill and back. Leaving CRE at 0910 ish and back before lunchtime.

Subject to change of course so don't take that as gospel.

Looks like this is / was a runner (depending on when you read this )
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N40282/2018/04/18/advanced

Return is on the move as I type
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N40285/2018/04/18/advanced

CW

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If the stock visible outside Arriva Crewe is part of the Mk3 operation, none of it is in TPE colours yet.
Several Mk3s in ex-Virgin red and silver, and 2 class 68s in DRS colours.

 

[Crossforth]

None of it is being put in TPE livery either as far as I know

 

[8A Rail]

The stock being used for the training runs consist of 4 Mk3 coaches, 3 in silver and red livery and the other in ex Anglia 'white' livery. The loco's last week in top and tail mode were 68022 (in plain blue livery) and 68027 (plain blue livery with DRS markings) and I assume may still be on the train today (23rd)?

 

[BMIFlyer]

Both sets of coaches will remain as is, the only mods are deep clean, some maintenance on the interior (installing emergency equipment and other items) plus a new set of coach exterior labels and interior safety info labels and stuff.

The locomotives will remain in DRS or dark blue colours.

You won’t see any TPE branding until the Mark 5A stock arrives.

 

[BMIFlyer]

The stock being used for the training runs consist of 4 Mk3 coaches, 3 in silver and red livery and the other in ex Anglia 'white' livery. The loco's last week in top and tail mode were 68022 (in plain blue livery) and 68027 (plain blue livery with DRS markings) and I assume may still be on the train today (23rd)?

See above regarding the coaches, by the way today is the 24th

The answer is yes to your question.

 

[8A Rail]

See above regarding the coaches, by the way today is the 24th The answer is yes to your question.

Never! Clearly I was referring to Monday 23rd as you may appreciate.

 

[BeHereNow]

I wonder how this is looking for May? They still haven't actually started running (even ECS) on the Liverpool to Scarborough route...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I wonder how this is looking for May? They still haven't actually started running (even ECS) on the Liverpool to Scarborough route...

They did some test runs between Huddersfield and Leeds a while back, though nothing at all between Leeds and Scarborough, nor between Stalybridge/Guide Bridge and Liverpool.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Never! Clearly I was referring to Monday 23rd as you may appreciate.

But, to be fair, you posted this at 0047 on the 24th

 

[rebmcr]

nor between Stalybridge/Guide Bridge and Liverpool.

Four weeks from now, that won't be required at all.

 

[ash39]

Both sets of coaches will remain as is, the only mods are deep clean, some maintenance on the interior (installing emergency equipment and other items) plus a new set of coach exterior labels and interior safety info labels and stuff.

The locomotives will remain in DRS or dark blue colours.

You won’t see any TPE branding until the Mark 5A stock arrives.

That's interesting. I'd assumed the mk3 turns would use the TPE modified 68's.

 

[59CosG95]

That's interesting. I'd assumed the mk3 turns would use the TPE modified 68's.

Well, the TPE modified 68s are modified to run with the Mk5a stock - the non-modded and modded locos alike have been running happily around with the Mk3s for a while now. The fact they have a different paint scheme to the final product really is neither here nor there.

 

[driver9000]

That's interesting. I'd assumed the mk3 turns would use the TPE modified 68's.

Apart from the pair in Velim the modified locos are plain blue.

 

[ash39]

I meant in terms of staff familiarisation with the modded locos, and DRS having their own locos to use for other duties, rather than the livery.

 

[BMIFlyer]

I meant in terms of staff familiarisation with the modded locos, and DRS having their own locos to use for other duties, rather than the livery.

All the TPE Class 68's are now modified with the new cab layout. These are the ones that the drivers are currently training on as mentioned by @driver9000 and are painted blue.

They are hauling the MK3s already. When the Mk5A's arrive, the additional training will be some additional driving from the DT and setting up / using the MK5A carriages TMS, PIS, cab to cab communications, etc on the locomotive/DT coach.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Four weeks from now, that won't be required at all.

Guide Bridge won't be (unless something goes wrong) but Stalybridge to Liverpool will be, albeit via Ashton, Victoria and Chat Moss. Only included Guide Bridge as they ran from Crewe via Denton to get to Huddersfield for the overnight test runs.

 

[Broseley man]

Please may I ask a question that could seem simplistic to those who follow this thread? Is it the intention to have loco hauled trains on Transpennine Express trains ahead of the new stock coming later in the year. If so will it be from May 20 and which trains? If this is the case I want to come up and travel on them. Maybe all this is answered upthread but please spare me looking back.

Thanks for ANY info.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Please may I ask a question that could seem simplistic to those who follow this thread? Is it the intention to have loco hauled trains on Transpennine Express trains ahead of the new stock coming later in the year. If so will it be from May 20 and which trains? If this is the case I want to come up and travel on them. Maybe all this is answered upthread but please spare me looking back.

Thanks for ANY info.

Yes, they will be formed of two class 68 locomotives and 4 mark 3A coaches for training reasons.

The loco hauled trains will run Monday to Friday only. So no service on 20th May.

The trains should be the 05xx, 06xx, 11xx, 12xx, 17xx and 18xx Lime St to Scarborough, plus the 08xx, 09xx, 14xx, 15xx, 20xx and 21xx Scarborough to Liverpool.

Latest update is that only 1 set will run between May 21 and the start of the Lime St blockade, so only one of the two diagrams above will run which I have now separated into colours for each diagram..

 

[Broseley man]

Thanks. Which colour will run from May 21 and when is the Liverpool blockade, please?

During the blockade do any of these run?

Thanks again.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Thanks. Which colour will run from May 21 and when is the Liverpool blockade, please?

During the blockade do any of these run?

Thanks again.

Not sure which diagram colour will run yet as as both sets of stock are still being modified.

June 2 - July 29 Lime St is closed and the loco hauled sets will not run in passenger service.

 

[BeHereNow]

What modifications are still being carried out?

 

[BMIFlyer]

What modifications are still being carried out?

Emergency equipment needs fitting for starters, plus a catering trolley ramp and new ETH cables.

 

[Broseley man]

What modifications are still being carried out?

Thanks once again. I presume those in the know will keep us up to date. I think it was a class 45 and seven mark ones last time I did this behind a loco.

 

[CosherB]

Both sets of coaches will remain as is, the only mods are deep clean, some maintenance on the interior (installing emergency equipment and other items) plus a new set of coach exterior labels and interior safety info labels and stuff.

The locomotives will remain in DRS or dark blue colours.

You won’t see any TPE branding until the Mark 5A stock arrives.

Does the ROSCO (Porterbrook iirc) have no interest in painting the single ex-AGA Mk3 into legacy VTWC livery?

 

[BMIFlyer]

Does the ROSCO (Porterbrook iirc) have no interest in painting the single ex-AGA Mk3 into legacy VTWC livery?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[43096]

Does the ROSCO (Porterbrook iirc) have no interest in painting the single ex-AGA Mk3 into legacy VTWC livery?

Why would they? If it isn't due a repaint, why spend money unnecessarily? The vehicles go off lease next year and are not PRM modified, so it's not like they have a long future.

 

[sharpinf]

The loco hauled trains will run Monday to Friday only. So no service on 20th May.

The trains should be the 05xx, 06xx, 11xx, 12xx, 17xx and 18xx Lime St to Scarborough, plus the 08xx, 09xx, 14xx, 15xx, 20xx and 21xx Scarborough to Liverpool.

During the Liverpool Street summer works it looks like most of the Scarborough services will be turning at Manchester Victoria - does anyone know will the MK3s run to the same timings those days please?

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/liverpool-summer-2018

 

[Bovverboy]

During the Liverpool Street summer works it looks like most of the Scarborough services will be turning at Manchester Victoria - does anyone know will the MK3s run to the same timings those days please?

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/liverpool-summer-2018

According to RTT there won't be any LHCS duties, but during the works there'll be a saving of up to three diagrams, so it's presumably thought that loco-hauled workings won't be necessary.

 

[37201xoIM]

Yes, that's what I've been told too. Assuming of course that they are running before the blockade... I'm not holding my breath!