GWR Class 769 information. (Units no longer with GWR - Off Lease March 23)

[JN114]

I’ve just spotted two (numbers unknown) outside Reading depot. They have an attractive purple and silver HEx livery but it’s clear the seats are the same ironing boards.

None of the units have been completed yet.

The first stage is exterior repaint and interior fittings strip.

Second stage is ETCS fitting.

Third stage is interior refit.

The units so far treated have been through stage one and come back to Reading for storage while validation work continues for stage two.

 

[urpert]

Makes sense, thanks.

 

[leomartin125]

Thanks for all the replies! Totally clears things up! I'll certainly keep an eye out for those supposed 319 training paths!

 

[FGW_DID]

Thanks for all the replies! Totally clears things up! I'll certainly keep an eye out for those supposed 319 training paths!

Tomorrow:

5Z61: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06625/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z62: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06626/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z63: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06627/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z64: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06628/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z65: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06629/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z66: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06630/2019/08/01/advanced

 

[leomartin125]

The mods are being done in phases. Ilford only has so much room, so once the interior strip and relivery has been done they’re coming back to GWR to make room for other units to be done. ETCS has been fitted to one unit so far; this needs validation before they do the others. Validation requires engineering access to Heathrow branch, which is hard to come by ordinarily- never mind with both GWR and XR wanting such access in the near term.



It was early 2019 the 319s arrived at Reading for driver training. Issues raised by the union need to be addressed before they can go out on the Mainline. The number of 319s coming to Reading to aid the driver training programme was not specified; only that a number would be based at Reading for driver training before going for conversion later once the first 769s have been delivered. That hasn’t changed in itself, just the 769 delivery date has slipped.



Aren’t they? That’s completely at odds with everything we’ve been briefed on them so far, wouldn’t explain why the interiors have been completely gutted, and isn’t what bombardier have been contracted to do.

EDIT sorry it was December the first unit arrived, thread here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/gwr-class-319-769-information-discussion.174866/

Tomorrow:

5Z61: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06625/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z62: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06626/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z63: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06627/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z64: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06628/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z65: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06629/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z66: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06630/2019/08/01/advanced

Yes I did see them. Useless for me as I'm working all day tomorrow, but hey, at least someone might see them on the mainlines.

 

[JN114]

Tomorrow:

5Z61: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06625/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z62: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06626/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z63: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06627/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z64: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06628/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z65: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06629/2019/08/01/advanced
5Z66: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V06630/2019/08/01/advanced

Ooo new toys coming out to play at last....

 

[59CosG95]

https://flic.kr/p/2gGNskm 37800 dragged 319423 to Wolverton last week, most likely for short-term storage prior to conversion into a 769/9.

 

[hexagon789]

Enjoy the painfully slow acceleration on electric, nevermind the acceleration on diesel...

Are they really that poor?

If so, it seems an interesting choice then.

 

[big all]

Are they really that poor?

If so, it seems an interesting choice then.

looks like tongue in cheek to me
to be fair it means nothing at at all until you have a real world trial in a real situation where the pitfalls and abilities will be fully exposed

 

[hexagon789]

looks like tongue in cheek to me
to be fair it means nothing at at all until you have a real world trial in a real situation where the pitfalls and abilities will be fully exposed

Ah right, I wasn't sure. I mean I appreciate they won't accelerate like a brand-new EMU, but I didn't think they were exactly slugs.

As you say, I guess we have to see how they perform in real life.

 

[FGW_DID]

https://flic.kr/p/2gGNskm 37800 dragged 319423 to Wolverton last week, most likely for short-term storage prior to conversion into a 769/9.

They’ll need to fix it first, it had a whole raft of faults apparently. One of those cases where it’s easier to list the good bits rather than the bad bits

 

[59CosG95]

They’ll need to fix it first, it had a whole raft of faults apparently. One of those cases where it’s easier to list the good bits rather than the bad bits

Oo lawks. That seems more likely as a reason to be sent to Wolvo!

 

[59CosG95]

In other news, 319449 has undertaken driver training runs on the GWML - pictured here at Didcot. https://flic.kr/p/2gMzqCV
(credit to "Rich09004")

 

[modernrail]

Maybe worth noting after passing those stores HEX units at Reading everyday to work this week...

Although stripped of seat covers in Standards Class, the “Business Class” section has no seats whatsoever if you look closely when passing. Maybe this means they are getting whole new seats for the proposed Business Class and not just recovers!

There is no way I am paying HEX fares if I am on an ironing board seat!! The only thing that stops me vomitting at the fare is a relatively quirky nice seat for 15 minutes of expense.

 

[JN114]

GWR 319439 moved from Reading TCD to warm store at Oxford UCS yesterday, hauled up there by a ROG loco (unaware of what number)bb

319439 has fulfilled its purpose as a static/fitter training platform and is now next in the queue for conversion into a 769.

 

[ainsworth74]

I've had a bit of a tidy up in this thread as we had several off-topic posts. As a reminder if you want to talk about GWR taking over HEX and refurbishing some 387s to run the service please use the existing thread which can be found here. If you want to talk about 319/769 conversions on other operators they all have their own threads as well which is the correct place for such posts.

This thread is concerned solely with the introduction of 319/769 conversions on GWR please stick to the topic at hand.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I know technically the Class 769's are around the same age (if not a few years older) than the Turbos but they will be new diesel trains at the same time.

Personally, I'll be happy to see these longer 4-coach trains which will be quieter.

 

[Siemens Staines]

I observe that there is ongoing work around P5 at Twyford. The NR notice on the station says that this relates to preparation for the new trains for the Henley branch from December, which I assume refers to 769 (even if they will still be 165 for a while). Given that the bay platform can already take 4 car 165 (& did so as recently as this years Henley Regatta) then I am wondering what work is required for a 4 car 769?

When I first saw the contractors appear, I assumed the work related to 345s using P4, but that is not what the NR notice says.

 

[samuelmorris]

I know technically the Class 769's are around the same age (if not a few years older) than the Turbos but they will be new diesel trains at the same time.

Personally, I'll be happy to see these longer 4-coach trains which will be quieter.

Technically true but 1987 vs 1992 is still a difference, especially when the Turbo design in 1992 was new-ish, whereas the 319s are basically an updated version of the 317 from 1981!

 

[hwl]

I observe that there is ongoing work around P5 at Twyford. The NR notice on the station says that this relates to preparation for the new trains for the Henley branch from December, which I assume refers to 769 (even if they will still be 165 for a while). Given that the bay platform can already take 4 car 165 (& did so as recently as this years Henley Regatta) then I am wondering what work is required for a 4 car 769?

When I first saw the contractors appear, I assumed the work related to 345s using P4, but that is not what the NR notice says.

They are bit narrower so possibly something to do with stepping distances (the 165s are comparatively quite wide)? A 769 is 15% shorter than a 4car 165.
One would really expect P4 to be a focus for December...

 

[cactustwirly]

They are bit narrower so possibly something to do with stepping distances (the 165s are comparatively quite wide)? A 769 is 15% shorter than a 4car 165.
One would really expect P4 to be a focus for December...

P4 can't be extended anyway, so I don't see what work they can do on it?

 

[hwl]

P4 can't be extended anyway, so I don't see what work they can do on it?

P4 - Fitting DOO cameras on the platforms and leaky feeders for 345s before they start there in passenger service in December. Twyford was meant to be the last completed according to an old workplan...

 

[Clarence Yard]

Twyford P5 is all about gauging distances for Turbos - it was found to be severely deficient. The necessary 769 work is being done at the same time.

These days clearance is usually done on an individual class basis, using the exact kinematic envelope for that class. If you modify the unit, you have to provide an updated KE for NR to run their clearance models.

 

[hwl]

Twyford P5 is all about gauging distances for Turbos - it was found to be severely deficient.

It has been while since I was last used it but nice to know my memory wasn't playing tricks on me!

 

[Siemens Staines]

Twyford P5 is all about gauging distances for Turbos - it was found to be severely deficient. The necessary 769 work is being done at the same time.

These days clearance is usually done on an individual class basis, using the exact kinematic envelope for that class. If you modify the unit, you have to provide an updated KE for NR to run their clearance models.

Thank you for that information. This will presumably see an end to the restriction on RHM165 being used on the branch, although I never understood why the same restriction does not apply to RHM166, but there must be some subtle difference that I am unaware of. The roof profile of air-cooled 165 vs air-con 166 was the only one I could think of, but that has no relevance to the platform edge, so cannot be it.

 

[Clarence Yard]

They passed the RHM166 by mistake! But NR weren't prepared to do the same thing on the RHM165 but fortunately they didn't re-impose the restriction on the RHM166.

From a recent video I saw of a Turbo arriving, it needed sorting.

 

[Antman]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O37254/2019/09/03/advanced
Europhoenix 37 dragging a 319/769 East through reading to Wolverton.....

presumably that's off for a refit ?

 

[JN114]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O37254/2019/09/03/advanced
Europhoenix 37 dragging a 319/769 East through reading to Wolverton.....

presumably that's off for a refit ?

Correct, it’s off to join the mods queue.

 

[3973EXL]

I observe that there is ongoing work around P5 at Twyford. The NR notice on the station says that this relates to preparation for the new trains for the Henley branch from December, which I assume refers to 769 (even if they will still be 165 for a while). Given that the bay platform can already take 4 car 165 (& did so as recently as this years Henley Regatta) then I am wondering what work is required for a 4 car 769?

When I first saw the contractors appear, I assumed the work related to 345s using P4, but that is not what the NR notice says.

New track has been laid in platform 5 using wooden sleepers.

 

[JN114]

I think the main thrust of the work at Twyford is actually correcting a long standing gauging issue with the 16x fleet, which has become more problematic now a number of them are “Ride Height Modified”.