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ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

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JohnR

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Every day this week, the 1530 Edinburgh - Aberdeen has been the refurbished HST. Although yesterday it had to start at Haymarket.

Things starting to settle down?
 
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Wst71Pa2

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The fault which aborted the (already delayed) delivery last Saturday must have been quite major, since there is no sign of it being rescheduled. Unless it's an engine failure, and the path from Haymarket to Doncaster is for an engine.

Press a button one side, doors open other.. maybe/possibly/couldn't say..
 

nat67

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It was last Thursday, 7 March. Meanwhile I boarded a 158 as the 1942 to Inverness on an adjacent platform.

I'm so over these trains now. The refurbishment's a farce, the training's a farce, the deployment of the classic sets is a farce, the provision of stabling facilities is a farce.

If we ever get the full complement of refurbed sets then great, what will be will be. Meanwhile I'm totally resigned to the Abellio franchise stumbling to its conclusion with a hotchpotch of a few refurbed HSTs, classic HSTs, 170s and 158s.

Then another outfit will come along with another idea ahead of the next franchise.

Would anyone else like to predict an alternative scenario?
Your not far of there Chief ;). Give it 12 months and we might see 2/3 of the refurb sets complete.
When is it till the next franchise anyway?
 

nat67

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I have had one HST this year and use the train a lot. Like you say, it is a farce and wabtec are clearly miles off. How anyone can take them seriously is beyond me.

It's mid March and ONE set has been delivered this year yet they are saying all sets by the end of the year.

Theresa May has more credibility
But it doesn't make sense (not trying to go of topic TOC here) but GWR have already had 3 sets delivered with another imminent this week. XC are as slow but there is twice the stock for each there. It is that there are different teams for each TOC's MK3's?
 

nat67

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Read wabtec using kilmarnock now to convert some of the scotrail sets.
Not sure how long it will take staff to understand the program but working in engineering myself it wont be as straightforward as just jumping in and getting straight on with it unless they have carried out this work before.
They have done work on refurbishing Mk3's but only FGW ones and that was back in 2014.
 

nat67

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Every day this week, the 1530 Edinburgh - Aberdeen has been the refurbished HST. Although yesterday it had to start at Haymarket.

Things starting to settle down?
I would say they are keeping that set on that diagram so if it goes wrong they can do something with it at Haymarket (if they can).
 

Highland37

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But it doesn't make sense (not trying to go of topic TOC here) but GWR have already had 3 sets delivered with another imminent this week. XC are as slow but there is twice the stock for each there. It is that there are different teams for each TOC's MK3's?

Every day this week, the 1530 Edinburgh - Aberdeen has been the refurbished HST. Although yesterday it had to start at Haymarket.

Things starting to settle down?
Not even close as far as I can see.

I just passed Haymarket depot where there are at least three sets including one of the refurbished one I think. Of the ten classic sets, at least 20% of them are at the depot right now, one of the refurbished sets is there from what I could see, the 2nd set hasn't even carried a passenger yet (as far as I know) and the third set is sitting at Doncaster unable to depart for unknown faults.

So no, not even close.

Your not far of there Chief ;). Give it 12 months and we might see 2/3 of the refurb sets complete.
When is it till the next franchise anyway?

Very unlikely I would say. 12 months would mean delivering 17 sets which leaves sets 3-15 in 12 months meaning 1.25 sets per month. Wabtec are speeding along at 1 set in 2.5 months currently.

But it doesn't make sense (not trying to go of topic TOC here) but GWR have already had 3 sets delivered with another imminent this week. XC are as slow but there is twice the stock for each there. It is that there are different teams for each TOC's MK3's?

I have wondered about that also.
 

nat67

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Very unlikely I would say. 12 months would mean delivering 17 sets which leaves sets 3-15 in 12 months meaning 1.25 sets per month. Wabtec are speeding along at 1 set in 2.5 months currently.
Poor, very poor. Hornby have done more in this time with there ScotRail sliding door Mk3's.
 

Highland37

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I was hoping to get an HST north of Perth but it's a 170 which at least keeps to time usually. One HST in 2.5 months is my tally so far weekly travel to Glasgow and Edinburgh from Inverness.
 

adrock1976

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What's it called? It's called Cumbernauld
Read wabtec using kilmarnock now to convert some of the scotrail sets.
Not sure how long it will take staff to understand the program but working in engineering myself it wont be as straightforward as just jumping in and getting straight on with it unless they have carried out this work before.

I believe Kilmarnock have already got some sort of experience with corroded body shells as they have recently refurbished the Northern Class 155s, which were built in 1987 by that great bastion of the automotive industry British Leyland.
 

Journeyman

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I was hoping to get an HST north of Perth but it's a 170 which at least keeps to time usually. One HST in 2.5 months is my tally so far weekly travel to Glasgow and Edinburgh from Inverness.

I've long maintained that the train that shows up is significantly better than the one that doesn't.
 

Highland37

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Me too. However that doesn't deal with the issue.

The 170 I got was late as a "classic" set heading south was delayed into Dunkeld. The 170 I was on had no power sockets working at my table so my laptop ran out of battery at a time I am trying to write a report. The 158 to Perth didn't have any sockets.

The classic sets are only here because Wabtec have failed to deliver. They are causing delays due to the longer dwell times which means people are delayed. The entire thing is a farce and I can only presume that Abellio are so inept or the contract is so much in favour of Wabtec that nothing can be done about it.
 

PG

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The classic sets are only here because Wabtec have failed to deliver. They are causing delays due to the longer dwell times which means people are delayed. The entire thing is a farce and I can only presume that Abellio are so inept or the contract is so much in favour of Wabtec that nothing can be done about it.

Only a suggestion - Since it looks like the Classic sets will be around for another year or more - Would ScotRail put another member of staff to travel on the Classic sets to assist with closing the doors in order to reduce the dwell times?

Somehow I think I'm more likely to see a squadron of pigs flying past <D
 

nat67

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Only a suggestion - Since it looks like the Classic sets will be around for another year or more - Would ScotRail put another member of staff to travel on the Classic sets to assist with closing the doors in order to reduce the dwell times?

Somehow I think I'm more likely to see a squadron of pigs flying past <D
Or just make sure there is member of station staff ready for the dispatch. I know that can't be covered at all stations on the Highland main line such as Carrbridge (?). Or make sure the guard gets his/her but into gear and stop faffing around.
 

InvHst

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Or just make sure there is member of station staff ready for the dispatch. I know that can't be covered at all stations on the Highland main line such as Carrbridge (?). Or make sure the guard gets his/her but into gear and stop faffing around.

Can confirm right now if a manned station has that member of staff free to dispatch the train they have to dispatch it. My dad raised this question shortly after they came in
 

Wst71Pa2

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entire thing is a farce and I can only presume that Abellio are so inept or the contract is so much in favour of Wabtec that nothing can be done about it.

Is the contract for the refurb is between the owner of the equipment, Angel Trains, and not Abellio?
 

chuff chuff

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Can confirm right now if a manned station has that member of staff free to dispatch the train they have to dispatch it. My dad raised this question shortly after they came in

Only if trained in despatch,don't blame the guards for taking their time no point making an arse of it for a bit of time.
 

Stoney1979

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It was last Thursday, 7 March. Meanwhile I boarded a 158 as the 1942 to Inverness on an adjacent platform.

I'm so over these trains now. The refurbishment's a farce, the training's a farce, the deployment of the classic sets is a farce, the provision of stabling facilities is a farce.

If we ever get the full complement of refurbed sets then great, what will be will be. Meanwhile I'm totally resigned to the Abellio franchise stumbling to its conclusion with a hotchpotch of a few refurbed HSTs, classic HSTs, 170s and 158s.

Then another outfit will come along with another idea ahead of the next franchise.

Would anyone else like to predict an alternative scenario?

A well scripted vision of what is to come, sadly. I suspect Abellio couldn't' care less now, they'll just be trying to minimise their losses until they can run away.
 

AndrewE

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A well scripted vision of what is to come, sadly. I suspect Abellio couldn't' care less now, they'll just be trying to minimise their losses until they can run away.
Isn't that the basic failing of most franchises? (Unless they are so fortunate that DfT or NR have dropped such a b*ll*ck that the franchise just keeps banking the cheques year after year.) (VTWC are the first that come to mind here, of course.)
 

Stoney1979

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Isn't that the basic failing of most franchises? (Unless they are so fortunate that DfT or NR have dropped such a b*ll*ck that the franchise just keeps banking the cheques year after year.) (VTWC are the first that come to mind here, of course.)

I suppose overall, yes, but - keeping on thread - the point about the SR HSTs is that the project has been so dreadfully poorly thought through and managed on all fronts that we are at the stage now that, I fear, the "hotchpotch" described by @47271 looks most likely for the foreseeable future.
 

BRX

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Managed to catch one in the wild this evening! 1725 Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street

 

BRX

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I need to travel south from Inverness tomorrow... Question for me now is, get the 0755 chieftain for secure HST haulage or gamble on the 0944 and a couple extra hours of sleep?
 

BRX

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To be fair, the HST as a whole isn't that rare - the refurbished, non-slam-door version is though...
It's not that rare I know. But this is the first time I've managed to see one actually running in service on the HML.
 

Highland37

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I need to travel south from Inverness tomorrow... Question for me now is, get the 0755 chieftain for secure HST haulage or gamble on the 0944 and a couple extra hours of sleep?

I got that train yesterday. It was a 170.
It's not that rare I know. But this is the first time I've managed to see one actually running in service on the HML.
 

Stoney1979

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Managed to catch one in the wild this evening! 1725 Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street


A fine sight, thanks for posting. Even with all other things considered, as an HST enthusiast it warms the heart a just little that some of them will see out their days running in the beauty of the HML. A fitting retirement.
 

jingsmonty

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Only a suggestion - Since it looks like the Classic sets will be around for another year or more - Would ScotRail put another member of staff to travel on the Classic sets to assist with closing the doors in order to reduce the dwell times?

Somehow I think I'm more likely to see a squadron of pigs flying past <D

Personally, I think that's a great idea. We've had a lot of trainee conductors who have been route learning & assisting with shutting doors at stations (without, obviously, doing the dispatch side of things). It noticeably speeds things up.

Think you're 100% spot on with the likelihood of this actually happening though.....
 
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