TPE Mark 5A coaching stock progress

[hexagon789]

Yes, I think we'll see the 802s first.

Having said that, what are the chances of the diagram from the 29th July running? Zero?

 

[js1000]

First will not cancel their Mk5 order, of that I am quite confident. It is more usual in such situations that CAF would throw in some extra coaches as has happened with some other train orders that have taken excessive time to fulfil. I think the IC4 of Germany was one such case this happened. So perhaps we shall see longer rakes than expected?

I don't see First agreeing to more coaches as compensation if they deem them 'not fit for purpose' or of inferior quality than what they thought they were getting when they placed the order. The problem is here and now - not 18-24 months in the future.

TPE "need the capacity now" opinion isn't wholly true. The Mk5s are like for like and will release about 20 185s. The 397s & 802s are the important ones which will release the expensive 350s. First could theoretically operate the spare 185s for the forseeable future and get CAF to sort out the Mk5 issues properly.

 

[BeHereNow]

The Mk5s are like for like and will release about 20 185s. The 397s & 802s are the important ones which will release the expensive 350s. First could theoretically operate the spare 185s for the forseeable future and get CAF to sort out the Mk5 issues properly.

Why is a Mk5 replacing ‘like for like’ and the 802s additional? The 185s were only supposed to go after the 802s were delivered.

Hence the Mk5s make the fleet bigger and are therefore additional cost. Which is why TPE aren’t interested in getting them in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why is a Mk5 replacing ‘like for like’ and the 802s additional? The 185s were only supposed to go after the 802s were delivered.

Hence the Mk5s make the fleet bigger and are therefore additional cost. Which is why TPE aren’t interested in getting them in.

The whole order is to make the fleet bigger - 5 cars for 3.

Why are the 350s more expensive? It's only 350/2s that are on a silly expensive lease, isn't it?

 

[Bertie the bus]

Why are the 350s more expensive?

Because since May they have been sub-leased from WMT and the word is if TPE want to keep them post-December WMT will want some serious compensation.

 

[Kieran1990]

Because since May they have been sub-leased from WMT and the word is if TPE want to keep them post-December WMT will want some serious compensation.

I imagine come December- some class 802’s and Mk5’s will be in service which could see Class 185’s re-deployed on Anglo-Scottish to release some if not all (depending on class 397 roll out) the Class 350’s to WMT

 

[sjpowermac]

More overnight testing with a run MID-Stafford-Warrington Bank Quay-Crewe-MID. Then straight back out on 3C91 and it looks like a full Bletchley circuit again today

Does anyone know if the night time brake testing is done under possession to test emergency braking conditions?

 

[sjpowermac]

Class 68 driver training/refresher trips this week have been fewer than in previous weeks. I think this reflects no further drivers being train on the Class, the training courses always generate an upswing in activity.

If anyone can help with the identity of the Crewe loco, that would be greatly appreciated.

Yorkshire locos
68019 York Siemens
68022 York Siemens
68024 Scarborough
68032 York station

Saturday 22.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67

Sunday 23.06.2019
68032 0B62/63/64/65

Monday 24.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/64/65

Tuesday 25.06.2019
68032 York Exam Rd to Siemens Depot
68032 Siemens Depot to York Exam Rd

Wednesday 26.06.2019
68024 0B61/62/63/64/65/66/67/68

Thursday 27.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67

Friday 28.06.2019
Nothing running

Crewe loco
Monday 24.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Tuesday 25.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Wednesday 26.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Thursday 27.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Friday 28.06.2019
Nothing running

 

[sjpowermac]

It has been busy this week for test trains/FFR. 68025 with TP11 has been out each day on FFR, these trips together with its runs last week would put that set over 2000 miles already.

In addition there have been some overnight trips with a second set. This has run with 68030 and TP01. With grateful thanks to @Erniescooper for the info on this one.

Test trains/FFR
Monday 24.06.2019
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
3H69 12:23 Crewe-MID

Tuesday 25.06.2019
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Bletchley
3H93 15:33 Bletchley-MID

Wednesday 26.06.2019
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Bletchley
3H93 15:33 Bletchley-MID

68030 plus TP01
21:26 MID-Stafford
23:23 Stafford-Warrington Bank Quay

Thursday 27.06.2019
68030 plus TP01
01:40 Warrington Bank Quay-Crewe
04:51 Crewe-MID (163 early due to Crewe-Stafford round trip cancelled)

68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
3H69 12:23 Crewe-MID

68030 plus TP01
3B32 21:20 MID-Bletchley

Friday 28.06.2019
68030 plus TP01
3F32 01:33 Bletchley-MID
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
3H69 12:22 Crewe-MID

 

[Ben Bow]

Class 68 driver training/refresher trips this week have been fewer than in previous weeks. I think this reflects no further drivers being train on the Class, the training courses always generate an upswing in activity.

If anyone can help with the identity of the Crewe loco, that would be greatly appreciated.

Yorkshire locos
68019 York Siemens
68022 York Siemens
68024 Scarborough
68032 York station

Saturday 22.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67

Sunday 23.06.2019
68032 0B62/63/64/65

Monday 24.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/64/65

Tuesday 25.06.2019
68032 York Exam Rd to Siemens Depot
68032 Siemens Depot to York Exam Rd

Wednesday 26.06.2019
68024 0B61/62/63/64/65/66/67/68

Thursday 27.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/62/63/64/65

Friday 28.06.2019
Nothing running

Crewe loco
Monday 24.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Tuesday 25.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Wednesday 26.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Thursday 27.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Friday 28.06.2019
Nothing running

Once again many thanks for your summaries. To add - on Thursday 27.06.19, 68032 also operated 0B66 and 0B67.

It remains to be seen whether 68019/022 stay at York Siemens depot now the training courses have been cancelled, I spoke with one of the drivers whose course this week was cancelled and no alternative dates have yet been advised.

 

[sjpowermac]

Once again many thanks for your summaries. To add - on Thursday 27.06.19, 68032 also operated 0B66 and 0B67.

It remains to be seen whether 68019/022 stay at York Siemens depot now the training courses have been cancelled, I spoke with one of the drivers whose course this week was cancelled and no alternative dates have yet been advised.

Many thanks indeed for that, post updated with the extra runs for 68032.

I wonder if the courses have been cancelled in order to save on later having to run refresher trips?

Taking a very rose tinted view, is it possible those drivers might be the first to do a Class 68 plus Mk5a combined course? Maybe I’ve already had too much sun

 

[Erniescooper]

TP01 was the set out at night. Driver training will hopefully resume end of week after next.

 

[sjpowermac]

TP01 was the set out at night. Driver training will hopefully resume end of week after next.

Thank you so much for that, post updated. It’s certainly been a very busy week for test trains and FFR.

 

[Jamesrob637]

It has been busy this week for test trains/FFR. 68025 with TP11 has been out each day on FFR, these trips together with its runs last week would put that set over 2000 miles already.

In addition there have been some overnight trips with a second set. This has run with 68030 and TP01. With grateful thanks to @Erniescooper for the info on this one.

Test trains/FFR
Monday 24.06.2019
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
3H69 12:23 Crewe-MID

Tuesday 25.06.2019
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Bletchley
3H93 15:33 Bletchley-MID

Wednesday 26.06.2019
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Bletchley
3H93 15:33 Bletchley-MID

68030 plus TP01
21:26 MID-Stafford
23:23 Stafford-Warrington Bank Quay

Thursday 27.06.2019
68030 plus TP01
01:40 Warrington Bank Quay-Crewe
04:51 Crewe-MID (163 early due to Crewe-Stafford round trip cancelled)

68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
3H69 12:23 Crewe-MID

68030 plus TP01
3B32 21:20 MID-Bletchley

Friday 28.06.2019
68030 plus TP01
3F32 01:33 Bletchley-MID
68025 plus TP11
3C91 05:15 MID-Carlisle
3B92 08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
3H69 12:22 Crewe-MID

Notice this is all during the week. Would it aid matters running some of this on weekends when there are less other trains to fit around?

 

[Ben Bow]

TP01 was the set out at night. Driver training will hopefully resume end of week after next.

Loco training, or mk.5 training?
6 weeks notice applies.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Class 68 driver training/refresher trips this week have been fewer than in previous weeks. I think this reflects no further drivers being train on the Class, the training courses always generate an upswing in activity.

If anyone can help with the identity of the Crewe loco, that would be greatly appreciated.

Yorkshire locos
68019 York Siemens
68022 York Siemens
68024 Scarborough
68032 York station

Saturday 22.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67

Sunday 23.06.2019
68032 0B62/63/64/65

Monday 24.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/64/65

Tuesday 25.06.2019
68032 York Exam Rd to Siemens Depot
68032 Siemens Depot to York Exam Rd

Wednesday 26.06.2019
68024 0B61/62/63/64/65/66/67/68

Thursday 27.06.2019
68032 0B60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67

Friday 28.06.2019
Nothing running

Crewe loco
Monday 24.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Tuesday 25.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Wednesday 26.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Thursday 27.06.2019
0F22/0K23

Friday 28.06.2019
Nothing running

See this has been running all week including weekends and look at the progress they've made with it

 

[sjpowermac]

See this has been running all week including weekends and look at the progress they've made with it

The driver training/refresher trips on the Class 68s do sometimes run on a weekend.

I’m not sure why the test runs/Fault Free Running with the Class 68 plus Mk5a don’t run on a weekend. I’d guess it might be down to the number of engineers/drivers allocated to the work or possibly to avoid engineering work on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

 

[sjpowermac]

Loco training, or mk.5 training?
6 weeks notice applies.

Were the Mk5a courses that ran in May a complete write off or is it possible the driver instructors might not need to start from scratch? Would the six week rule apply to a shorter course? Just a bit hopeful of guessing!

 

[Ben Bow]

Were the Mk5a courses that ran in May a complete write off or is it possible the driver instructors might not need to start from scratch? Would the six week rule apply to a shorter course? Just a bit hopeful of guessing!

I don't know about "write off" but there were only a couple of instructors involved so if/when the training does start again its practically from scratch.

 

[Erniescooper]

Loco training, or mk.5 training?
6 weeks notice applies.

Mk5a it’s been six weeks since the last lot was cancelled so they must have rearranged the rosters then.

 

[dilbertphil]

Instructor courses are running from July into August and then some drivers will go through the course also. Not sure when summer officially ends but I would be surprised if enough drivers are trained by September to be able to cover 2 diagrams. If all goes smoothly my guess (and it's just a guess) would be October to get the 2 sets into service.

 

[sjpowermac]

Instructor courses are running from July into August and then some drivers will go through the course also. Not sure when summer officially ends but I would be surprised if enough drivers are trained by September to be able to cover 2 diagrams. If all goes smoothly my guess (and it's just a guess) would be October to get the 2 sets into service.

Thanks for that, great to know that things are (hopefully!) moving forward.

Do you think the Mk5a might work the SO diagram that was mentioned a bit back, Longsight-York then Scarborough shuttles? That would fit with ‘introduced into service during the summer’.

 

[dilbertphil]

Thanks for that, great to know that things are (hopefully!) moving forward.

Do you think the Mk5a might work the SO diagram that was mentioned a bit back, Longsight-York then Scarborough shuttles? That would fit with ‘introduced into service during the summer’.

Not sure to be honest, my guess would be they would work the full Liverpool to Scarborough route to make best use of the drivers that actually sign them.

 

[sjpowermac]

Not sure to be honest, my guess would be they would work the full Liverpool to Scarborough route to make best use of the drivers that actually sign them.

Thank you for that, and good point about getting the best use of the drivers.

 

[realnovice]

They could be a spotters' special if only covering two diagrams. Especially if they are not fully rolled out!

 

[Ben Bow]

Instructor courses are running from July into August and then some drivers will go through the course also. Not sure when summer officially ends but I would be surprised if enough drivers are trained by September to be able to cover 2 diagrams. If all goes smoothly my guess (and it's just a guess) would be October to get the 2 sets into service.

Not to mention guards, station despatch staff, catering staff..... whilst all the time keeping the daily service going during the peak holiday season.

 

[Pete_uk]

I'm not sure if I've missed something, but what are the problems with these mk5s? Is it just general build quality or something more specific?

 

[sjpowermac]

They could be a spotters' special if only covering two diagrams. Especially if they are not fully rolled out!

After reading the ‘Caledonian Sleeper’ thread, if I were a railway manager I’d ban spotters from my new trains

 

[sjpowermac]

With Nova 3/TPE Class 68s around at Crewe C.S. I wondered if these might be some TransPennine action on Tuesday 2nd July 2019:

09:42 Crewe C.S.-Scarborough
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R01916/2019/07/02/advanced

15:25 Scarborough-Crewe C.S.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R01917/2019/07/02/advanced

A heads up if these are TPE 68s/Nova 3 would, as always, be greatly appreciated

 

[BMIFlyer]

They could be a spotters' special if only covering two diagrams. Especially if they are not fully rolled out!

Hahaha what?? You’re having a laugh.