GWR Class 800

[PHILIPE]

Loads of GWR short forms today (5 car instead of 9 or 10). What's going on?

A GWR Twitter reply:-

This means that we have to take some trains out to expedite our driver training, and means the rest of the fleet has to work more than originally intended and can lead to some shortages.

This is due to late electrification and late delivery of the IETs to GWR meaning the period for training having had to be condensed. The HSTs, which they are replacing, still have to go off lease by their contracted date so the training has to be done.

 

[Mag_seven]

A reply from GWR Twitter to a punter:-

This means that we have to take some trains out to expedite our driver training, and means the rest of the fleet has to work more than originally intended and can lead to some shortages.

Appreciate that but we have had the need for drivers to be trained for weeks now - today seems to be particularly bad!

 

[WelshBluebird]

Nice to see GWR are actually now being honest on Twitter! When we first started seeing this happen, and posts on here and other forums indicated it was due to driver training, GWR would refuse to say if it was or not.

 

[swt_passenger]

Appreciate that but we have had the need for drivers to be trained for weeks now - today seems to be particularly bad!

End of school holidays? All drivers now available, training ramps up?

Possibly training extending to non-HST drivers and guards, with Newbury and Bedwyn starting in a few months?

 

[Mintona]

1L51 just called at Severn Tunnel Junction (800036 - 1056 Cardiff-Paddington) to transport passengers from Newport and Cardiff as a Taunton train was turned around there. I’m not sure if this has happened before?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Nice to see GWR are actually now being honest on Twitter! When we first started seeing this happen, and posts on here and other forums indicated it was due to driver training, GWR would refuse to say if it was or not.

I think this is good. Some passengers won't be placated by this, but those are the ones who will moan anyway. You may as well try to get understanding from those who will give it by being honest and realistic.

(This is where Northern, by contrast, have spectacularly failed)

 

[Mag_seven]

End of school holidays? All drivers now available, training ramps up?

Possibly training extending to non-HST drivers and guards, with Newbury and Bedwyn starting in a few months?

Even if it is "driver training" that would lead to cancellations, not short forms surely?

 

[FGW_DID]

When I last looked there were 36 units available for 43 working diagrams.

There are 5x 5 vice 10 formations out today, one of which is because a 5 car IET is covering an HST diagram.

Conversely there are two HST vice IET, one of which is due to Driver traction knowledge.

 

[158820]

as I understand it Hitachi have been running behind in accepting units so have now outsourced some acceptance work to Eastleigh.

https://twitter.com/g5btb5g/status/1036934844222197760

Link to photo on twitter of a Class 800/1 on its way to Eastleigh from North Pole

 

[Agent_Squash]

as I understand it Hitachi have been running behind in accepting units so have now outsourced some acceptance work to Eastleigh.

https://twitter.com/g5btb5g/status/1036934844222197760

Link to photo on twitter of a Class 801 on its way to Eastleigh from North Pole

That is not a Class 801. It's a 800/1.

 

[158820]

That is not a Class 801. It's a 800/1.

yes thank you should always check what I type

 

[K.o.R]

There are 5x 5 vice 10 formations out today

I've seen a lot of people using this word vice. Are you sure you don't mean versus (vs.), meaning "opposed to"?

 

[samuelmorris]

It's still grammatically correct as far as I know (think vice versa)
I think versus is the commonly accepted current usage however.

 

[CC 72100]

1L51 just called at Severn Tunnel Junction (800036 - 1056 Cardiff-Paddington) to transport passengers from Newport and Cardiff as a Taunton train was turned around there. I’m not sure if this has happened before?

Don't know if this specific has happened before, but if 1F05 0730 Cardiff - Portsmouth is only 3 coaches (booked 5) , the 1L24 06:29 Swansea - London Pad will call additionally at Severn Tunnel Junc. at 0750 to take pressure off 1F05 behind by giving Bristol passengers the opportunity to go via Bristol Parkway. I think you get into Temple Meads about 3-4 minutes later as a result.

Back end of last year there were weeks when 1L24 would stop at STJ more often then not!

 

[FGW_DID]

I've seen a lot of people using this word vice. Are you sure you don't mean versus (vs.), meaning "opposed to"?

No I meant ‘vice’

Commonly used on our part of the Railway.

 

[K.o.R]

No I meant ‘vice’

Commonly used on our part of the Railway.

Please explain? I'm interested to learn some new terminology.

 

[Dai Corner]

Even if it is "driver training" that would lead to cancellations, not short forms surely?

You need a train to train the drivers. Running a 5 car train vice a 10 car train provides the training train without having to cancel a train. A short formed train is better than no train.

 

[FGW_DID]

Please explain? I'm interested to learn some new terminology.

Used when something is different to the norm (or ‘as booked’) e.g

5 vice 10
4 vice 8
9 vice 6
Signal showing Black vice Red.
Starting at Reading vice Paddington.
Turbo vice HST
HST vice IET

etc etc

 

[FGW_DID]

According to Dictionary.com VICE when used in the above context, it is a ‘preposition’
With the meaning of:

“Instead of, in the place of”

 

[K.o.R]

Used when something is different to the norm (or ‘as booked’) e.g

5 vice 10
4 vice 8
9 vice 6
Signal showing Black vice Red.
Starting at Reading vice Paddington.
Turbo vice HST
HST vice IET

etc etc

Funnily the term "vice president" make a lot more sense now. The "instead of" president.

Still reads very awkwardly to me

Weirdly, that seems to mean the phrase "vice versa" doesn't actually make sense as-is ("and vice versa" -> "and instead of the opposite"); it seems to preclude the alternative when we usually mean it as an alternative or extra.

And now I'll shut up about language and grumble to myself about odd but valid turns of phrase

 

[Clarence Yard]

Nice to see GWR are actually now being honest on Twitter! When we first started seeing this happen, and posts on here and other forums indicated it was due to driver training, GWR would refuse to say if it was or not.

It would be if they were 100%. The shortage is primarily down to units running out of time for the mandated maintenance windows so Hitachi have to keep them on depot to get the required maintenance done.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And now I'll shut up about language and grumble to myself about odd but valid turns of phrase

If you're looking for anything vaguely logical in a language, English is about the least likely place to find it...

 

[83G/84D]

First Class 800 in passenger service to Penzance today, 800012 on 0730 Paddington to Penzance and 1400 return.

Presumably vice a Class 802?!

 

[K.o.R]

If you're looking for anything vaguely logical in a language, English is about the least likely place to find it...

I work in a school that teaches English as a foreign language. Believe me, I know

 

[InterCity:125]

Does anyone know if the 7:00 hull to London service will be the first class 800 in passenger use with lNer?

 

[Mintona]

Don't know if this specific has happened before, but if 1F05 0730 Cardiff - Portsmouth is only 3 coaches (booked 5) , the 1L24 06:29 Swansea - London Pad will call additionally at Severn Tunnel Junc. at 0750 to take pressure off 1F05 behind by giving Bristol passengers the opportunity to go via Bristol Parkway. I think you get into Temple Meads about 3-4 minutes later as a result.

Back end of last year there were weeks when 1L24 would stop at STJ more often then not!

It probably has happened, I just wanted to claim a first

 

[JN114]

It probably has happened, I just wanted to claim a first

To be fair, I don’t recall ever getting 1L51 to stop at Severn Tunnel before - at least never on my watch, so you could still have your first!

 

[jimm]

First Class 800 in passenger service to Penzance today, 800012 on 0730 Paddington to Penzance and 1400 return.

Presumably vice a Class 802?!

Are you sure you have got the right set number? GWR Journeycheck says the train is a 9-car instead of a 10-car formation - 800312 perhaps?

Facilities on the 14:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 19:20.
Will be formed of 9 coaches instead of 10.

 

[JN114]

Are you sure you have got the right set number? GWR Journeycheck says the train is a 9-car instead of a 10-car formation - 800312 perhaps?

Journey Check was updated by yours truly at 4 this morning with today’s full complement of short forms - it’s entirely possible things have changed and Journey Check hasn’t been kept up to date for whatever reason

 

[Mintona]

Are you sure you have got the right set number? GWR Journeycheck says the train is a 9-car instead of a 10-car formation - 800312 perhaps?

Yeah it was definitely 800012.