Slightly off topic but I have not seen 150001 or 150002 in the Plymouth or Cornwall area in recent weeks. Does anyone know where they have been operating recently?
Are we now at the stage where no more Turbos will move to Bristol until the Flex trains are operational at Reading - whenever that might be?
Any 166s now left at Reading?
Currently on a rammed 166 on the Cardiff to Portsmouth corridor. Air conditioning has failed, window hoppers closed and short formed to 3 coaches (missing the 165 so absolutely packed and the guard can’t get through) due to I presume ‘A fault on this train’ (usually the standard reason given for short forms) - Will anything ever get better on this route?
Ah, but we’ve got all those extra seats that no one can fit in!!
If it wasn’t for the dodgy bridge on the Netley road, ‘Castle’ style 2+4/5 HSTs would have been ideal.
I still see some on the Reading-Gatwick Airport route sometimes.Any 166s now left at Reading?
Not sure if its anything to do with this thread but 165104 passed me at Bushley earlier, southbound.
When these get refurbished, will they put in NICE and comfortable 2x2 seating? They would be VERY nice units then.
Not sure if its anything to do with this thread but 165104 passed me at Bushley earlier, southbound.
No. DFT have vetoed it due to their obsession with counting and provision of seats and putting this ahead of customer comfort.
It would be this thread but nothing exceptional to write home about as cascaded 165/1s pass through there every day
cheers i just couldnt104 returning to Reading from Wolverton
Perhaps some of the 165s/166s could have been more suitable for Devon/Cornwall local services, with 158s retained on the longer-distance Wessex main line services?I don’t find the doors too bad, it’s made up for by how quickly the external doors open. However they are definitely commuter trains, unlike the 158s which have interiors that seem more intercity than the 800s, and I’m not sure that a commuter interior is what Cardiff-Portsmouth services need.
They didn’t have anything like enough 158s to increase the length to 5 car though...Perhaps some of the 165s/166s could have been more suitable for Devon/Cornwall local services, with 158s retained on the longer-distance Wessex main line services?
An interesting news article on the Cornwall Railway Society website (dated 30th May 2019) in a post about Cowley Bridge. Mention is made about the cancelled testing of 165s in Devon during May. Supposedly there was overnight testing planned all the way west to Plymouth, including the Barnstable, Exmouth and Paignton lines.
http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc/30th-may-2019
I know a Turbo has done an Exeter run at least once in recent times. But I was surprised to hear GWR were already giving consideration towards imminent running of Turbos in Devon and Cornwall. I was under the impression Bristol was very DMU depleted and it would be several years before Turbos would be available or ever needed west of Taunton?
Thank you for posting that. Interesting that Gunnislake and St Ives are included but Falmouth is not. I would’ve thought Falmouth would have been the easiest to clear due to longer Class 158 stock having worked there previously.Route clearance plans including west of Plymouth have been known for some years, (although they’re perhaps running a bit late), but there should be little surprise that Penzance and certain branches were included.
There’s a list from 2018 here:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...l-region-services.146681/page-18#post-3479316
It looks like the 06:00 Portsmouth to Cardiff has now gone over to Turbo operation. Plus, we’re only on the second day of said operation and the service has been short formed from 5 coaches to 3 (no 165) Train is wedged. Service was previously booked 158 with 150 strengthening from Westbury (when it was available)
It looks like the 06:00 Portsmouth to Cardiff has now gone over to Turbo operation. Plus, we’re only on the second day of said operation and the service has been short formed from 5 coaches to 3 (no 165) Train is wedged. Service was previously booked 158 with 150 strengthening from Westbury (when it was available)
I think we’d all like to see that. The question is who is going to pay for them?GWR should be providing new trains for all its services.
Perhaps we could use the same Magic Financing Tree that's enabling SWR to replace brand-new trains with even newer ones?I think we’d all like to see that. The question is who is going to pay for them?