Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

[LAX54]

Anyone know what the particular problem is with the hauled sets at the moment. 07:05 and 08:30 from Norwich both cancelled, 09:00 321 vice hauled and almost all other sets short formed? GA tweeted out yesterday that this was due to ‘extra safety inspections’.

0705 was it seems a DVT fault, and the 0830 was 'shortage of sets' and the 1100 ex the Street used the 'stnad-by' set returning as 5K68 to Liverpool St

 

[dk1]

Looks like 321s will become normal traction for the 0625/1130/1630 down & 0903/1400/2200 up road on a daily basis from 20th May. A dedicated IC set will be almost impossible for the 90min services but that shouldn't make too much difference. No planned date for any Flirt introduction in the forseeable.

 

[Alfie1014]

Looks like 321s will become normal traction for the 0625/1130/1630 down & 0903/1400/2200 up road on a daily basis from 20th May. A dedicated IC set will be almost impossible for the 90min services but that shouldn't make too much difference. No planned date for any Flirt introduction in the forseeable.

So that’ll be another two short forms on the EMU services until the FLIRTs are introduced then!

 

[trebor79]

"It's happening"... The new trains omnishambles are nearly here.

 

[47421]

Journeycheck shortforms list for this AM from Norwich 0500, 0530, 0600, 0624, 0648, 0705 and 0800. Appreciate it may not be 100% accurate, but even so, what a mess.

 

[Grumbler]

Journeycheck shortforms list for this AM from Norwich 0500, 0530, 0600, 0624, 0648, 0705 and 0800. Appreciate it may not be 100% accurate, but even so, what a mess.

Abellio will be hiring Pacers next!

 

[dk1]

Journeycheck shortforms list for this AM from Norwich 0500, 0530, 0600, 0624, 0648, 0705 and 0800. Appreciate it may not be 100% accurate, but even so, what a mess.

Damn. Just needed the 0740 for a full house

 

[LAX54]

Journeycheck shortforms list for this AM from Norwich 0500, 0530, 0600, 0624, 0648, 0705 and 0800. Appreciate it may not be 100% accurate, but even so, what a mess.

Now where is the rake of Mk1 / 2 NSE coaches that used to be kept at Norwich ?

 

[rick_suffolk]

The short forms have gone on for so long now it really isn’t acceptable.

So tonight from liv st:
1630 is 321s
1730 only 8 no cafe
1750 only 8
1810 only 8 (and only one first)
1830 only 8
1900 cancelled
1930 only 8
2000 only 8 (reduced first no disabled toilet).

Not good

 

[F Great Eastern]

07:47 Lowestoft to Norwich down to a 153 instead of a 3 car 170. Wish me luck.

 

[dk1]

07:47 Lowestoft to Norwich down to a 153 instead of a 3 car 170. Wish me luck.

That should be 37s. They've gone bang again. Hopefully most will go for the 0735 from Lowestoft. The scud was 0652 Yarmouth but caped & sent cars to Lowestoft.

 

[LAX54]

That should be 37s. They've gone bang again.

No 'short set' today, being covered by a 153, although of course the short set, was in to cover for the DMU !

 

[dk1]

No 'short set' today, being covered by a 153, although of course the short set, was in to cover for the DMU !

That was the booked short set diagram. My 0648/0900 IC knocked on the head too.

 

[LAX54]

That was the booked short set diagram. My 0648/0900 IC knocked on the head too.

Yes sorry, the 37 diagram is covered by what could be argued it's correct formation ? ! I saw the 0648 caped, something to do with 'miles'

 

[dk1]

Yes sorry, the 37 diagram is covered by what could be argued it's correct formation ? ! I saw the 0648 caped, something to do with 'miles'

It's been an ongoing issue for the last week or so with various sets. Step ups planned if nothing comes good for P33.

 

[LAX54]

It's been an ongoing issue for the last week or so with various sets. Step ups planned if nothing comes good for P33.

Just seen: 1P35 1200 NC, 1P36 1430 LIV, 1P55 1700 NC, and 1P60 1930 LIV all cancelled too (at the mo)

 

[Bringback309s]

Acres of 365s sat about doing nothing and the ongoing fiasco with GA. Back in the BR days they'd have been brought out and put in service within a week. The 365 would be a great unit for a Norwich stopgap too

 

[dk1]

Acres of 365s sat about doing nothing and the ongoing fiasco with GA. Back in the BR days they'd have been brought out and put in service within a week. The 365 would be a great unit for a Norwich stopgap too

Can you just imagine the training and route testing that would be involved in clearing them for the GEML? Costs would be astronomical for such a short term hit. No suitable location for maintaining them either.

 

[LAX54]

NC03 expected to be back in service from 1P41 13.30 NRW-LST. Currently stepping up at Norwich 1P35 12.00 NRW-LST, 1P36 14.30 LST-NRW, 1P55 17.00 NRW-LST, 1P60 19.30 LST-NRW reinstated.

 

[delticdave]

Can you just imagine the training and route testing that would be involved in clearing them for the GEML? Costs would be astronomical for such a short term hit. No suitable location for maintaining them either.

I can understand that crew training could be a problem, but why aren't trains built to universal loading gauges anymore?
Back in my day, C1 meant almost anywhere & C3 covered longer HST's & loco-hauled Mk 3's.
Why isn't new stock built to an (almost?) universal UK loading gauge, or are the manufacturers incompetent?

 

[dk1]

NC03 expected to be back in service from 1P41 13.30 NRW-LST. Currently stepping up at Norwich 1P35 12.00 NRW-LST, 1P36 14.30 LST-NRW, 1P55 17.00 NRW-LST, 1P60 19.30 LST-NRW reinstated.

Driver now heading across. Told him he was having a lazzzzzy afternoon then spoilt it

 

[Shunter_69]

Can you just imagine the training and route testing that would be involved in clearing them for the GEML? Costs would be astronomical for such a short term hit. No suitable location for maintaining them either.

When the 365’s used to go to Ilford depot they were only cleared to use the Down Electric line through Ilford in both directions. I’m guessing that’s at least one of the reasons they aren’t being considered.

 

[Bringback309s]

I can understand that crew training could be a problem, but why aren't trains built to universal loading gauges anymore?
Back in my day, C1 meant almost anywhere & C3 covered longer HST's & loco-hauled Mk 3's.
Why isn't new stock built to an (almost?) universal UK loading gauge, or are the manufacturers incompetent?

Thats exactly what I meant by "back in the BR days" when everything was a Mk1 or a Mk2 and fitted everywhere. I remember DMU's running in place of EMU's when the overhead power went off, now its a bus. If there were some diesel locos knocking about they'd go off and find some rolling stock to make up trains and get put into service. I suppose its all health and safety, legislation and complications these days combined with trains built for only one line, so as a "for instance" the HSTs at Ely couldn't be hauled in last minute to cover the failing class 90 diagrams as 365s can't do it. Oh, that will be to do with leasing, another worry we didn't have with BR. Utter nonsense.

 

[trebor79]

I think some of those coaches at Ely will be getting a bit musty and mouldy inside, parked up with no air con running.

It does seem a nonsense but then I guess BR didn't have to worry about leasing (although similar issues did arise due to sectorisation) and also modern trains seem to be designed "tailor made" to the intended routes and therefore it's not simple to just send the elsewhere on a whim. Someone must have decided the tailoring is worth more than "go anywhere" ability - which is somewhat curtailed anyway by leasing...

 

[LAX54]

Thats exactly what I meant by "back in the BR days" when everything was a Mk1 or a Mk2 and fitted everywhere. I remember DMU's running in place of EMU's when the overhead power went off, now its a bus. If there were some diesel locos knocking about they'd go off and find some rolling stock to make up trains and get put into service. I suppose its all health and safety, legislation and complications these days combined with trains built for only one line, so as a "for instance" the HSTs at Ely couldn't be hauled in last minute to cover the failing class 90 diagrams as 365s can't do it. Oh, that will be to do with leasing, another worry we didn't have with BR. Utter nonsense.

As was mentioned earlier I think, there used to be a scratch set of Network S.E Mk1 and 2 coaches at Norwich, could call up a loco, normally a 47, sometimes a 31, and hey presto a train that could step in at the last minute, maybe not on a summer sat, as it would already be in use to the coast !

Although in defence of GA when we have had OHL issues in the past, we have managed to get either a 170 or even a 156 shuttle Nor to Ips/Col, and the odd time a diesel on top of the 90 as far as it is needed, maybe Diss or Ipswich, where it would be taken off and used down road, although they do tend to be rare !

 

[MrPIC]

As we are almost half way through 2019, how are things looking for the GA fleet thus far?
Flirts- on schedule for first pax service in the summer?
Aventras- who knows

Any news on any PRM mods for existing stock? Am I right in thinking that if enough BMU's can be brought in this year then the vast majority of PRM non compliant stock will be 321/317? Of which a handful of 321 ("Renatus"?) have been upgraded and at least one 317 has been missing for some time supposedly getting modified.
What does everyone think is the likelihood of a 365/Scotrail type thing happening, (perhaps even with 365's) to ensure PRM compliance by the end of the year?

 

[Adrian1980uk]

The bi modes might be on time ish but the 90s and mark 3s will be around for a while yet and I have a doubts they'll be gone even when the full fleet of intercity flirts is delivered.

 

[chubs]

I doubt it will be 365's. Waste of time and money retraining crew, especially when they will be deep in training for the new stock.

I have a doubts they'll be gone even when the full fleet of intercity flirts is delivered.

I suspect the local MP's, media, transport groups etc to stub out any silly notion of keeping the old junk on. It's day has long since passed.

 

[Owen]

Why would you keep ancient stock anyway? What benefit could a Class 90 possibly have over a Flirt train, with new technology?

 

[Adrian1980uk]

I don't think GA will keep them on, but they be hired in to cover when the flirts are on maintenance, I just feel that they don't have enough.