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ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

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47271

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The simple fact is come December all hell is going to break loose when scotrail lose the use of classic HST sets
Is that for sure? I'm hearing it all over the place from staff, but I haven't seen anything official that says it.

Appalling if they - and I mean Transport Scotland and Scottish Government as well as Scotrail - think that they can get away with saying nothing ahead of it happening.

Without the classics, Inter7City will typically amount to three sets out of the supposed 26 in service each day based on current performance.
 
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alangla

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Do they have enough non HST stock for that?
They’re sending a 156 away to their East Midland cousins as well apparently. That could have been useful for freeing up something in Fife.
The reality is that if the classic HSTs disappear, you’re probably looking at short-forms across the whole country on diesel routes to free up as many 170s as possible. Either that or attempting to borrow 156s or 158s from Northern, but I can’t see that being a goer.
 

InvHst

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Is that for sure? I'm hearing it all over the place from staff, but I haven't seen anything official that says it.

Appalling if they - and I mean Transport Scotland and Scottish Government as well as Scotrail - think that they can get away with saying nothing ahead of it happening.

Without the classics, Inter7City will typically amount to three sets out of the supposed 26 in service each day based on current performance.

That's the main problem here no official communication but if staff are being told it and it's been leaked to public domain then it's probably going to happen. Their is no contingency plans in place and with only 3 semi functioning refurbs then it's going to be chaos Need the other 5 out in service now and running consistent but we haven't seen the latest 2 yet in service I really worry for December
 

Killingworth

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Derogations and dispensations will abound from 1st January or rail services across the nation will collapse. Late deliveries of new stock and faults on units delivered are only slightly less severe than Scotrail's HST refurbishment issues. Aren't the 153 conversions also behind schedule?
 

Northhighland

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Today’s performance in Perth with Inverness train terminating is simply unacceptable.

This just can’t limp on and on. This is doing long term damage to the HML. People will put up with a lot if the promises are delivered. Short forms and terminations are going to put customers onto other methods of transport.

Someone surely has to get a grip of this mess.
 

47271

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It's frustrating that there appears to be no real accountability for what's happening with the HSTs. No opposition politicians spouting off and no hostile pieces in the press. Meanwhile Caledonian Sleeper had a bad night last night, half of which was categorically not their doing, and it's all over the media.
 

Northhighland

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It's frustrating that there appears to be no real accountability for what's happening with the HSTs. No opposition politicians spouting off and no hostile pieces in the press. Meanwhile Caledonian Sleeper had a bad night last night, half of which was categorically not their doing, and it's all over the media.

Reflects the paucity of political opposition in Scotland. Totally useless.
 

Highland37

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Today’s performance in Perth with Inverness train terminating is simply unacceptable.

This just can’t limp on and on. This is doing long term damage to the HML. People will put up with a lot if the promises are delivered. Short forms and terminations are going to put customers onto other methods of transport.

Someone surely has to get a grip of this mess.

You are speaking in the present tense. The promises have already been broken.
 

ld0595

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At least three refurbished sets out today st least. I'm on the 07:07 Glasgow to Inverness (my first refurb!) and passed one at Dunblane and Kingussie.

Overall, a huge step up from the 170 I'll likely be taking back this afternoon!
 

InOban

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The list of refurbished services tweeted by ScotRail this afternoon suggested that 4 were in service.
 

Highland37

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The list of refurbished services tweeted by ScotRail this afternoon suggested that 4 were in service.

Wow, that really is pathetic given what was promised. Around the time the HSTs were announced, I started a new job where I work from a place about 7 miles from Aviemore. I had high hopes that the "at least 20" bikes spaces might represent something new, exciting and drive modal shift. The opposite has been true and I usually drive as there is little chance I can get my bike onto the train. The HSTs represent the worst ever bike provision in Scotland, maybe the whole UK. Mind you, they are so unreliable that it's rare to be on one.
 

scotraildriver

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Really good idea not. With current situation last thing needed is less sets.
It's HA08 going to Ely to drop off the TGS vehicle and will pick up a standard class vehicle then head to Doncaster for refurbishment. This will make 10 sets currently in works.
 

bigmoose

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Finally managed to get on a refurb, 1442 ABD - GLQ. Very nice, and I’d gladly see more of these in service. Buffet not in use, bike space laughably poor, but still...

1st looks very similar to 1st on the sole Classic I’ve encountered. Standard appears to have had a much greater makeover.

So it’s taken me until the last day in October to find one of these beasts in the wild, despite travelling on the Inter7City routes at least monthly since January. And that’s a sad state of affairs.
 

Northhighland

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Beat me to it it's ha11
So where are 8,9&10? Assuming 8 is the fabled set ready for departure for the last number of weeks and 9&10 are works in Progress? If so what is happening Kilmarnock? Surely they must have a set reay to go very soon?
 

InvHst

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So where are 8,9&10? Assuming 8 is the fabled set ready for departure for the last number of weeks and 9&10 are works in Progress? If so what is happening Kilmarnock? Surely they must have a set reay to go very soon?

8/9/10 all in Doncaster as far as I'm aware no idea what Kilmarnock are doing but I'm sure they only gave 153s on conversion project at moment and are only being used for exam.works for the refurbs
 

InvHst

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Remember they delayed 8 leaving as they don't want to be taking units that haven't had the faults that the refurbs have had in service until those sets have been fully fixed. What would you prefer a fully working HST or a HST that breaks down every few days
 

DannyMich2018

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So where are 8,9&10? Assuming 8 is the fabled set ready for departure for the last number of weeks and 9&10 are works in Progress? If so what is happening Kilmarnock? Surely they must have a set reay to go very soon?
Very good question!! Some progress must be made? It's been 2 and a half months since last delivery from Wabtec. Due to faults no more sets have been accepted but it's still a very sad state of affairs. This isnt of course all Wabtecs fault as Scotfail appears to not understand how to run an HST and for goodness sake these are been in use 43 years...
 

mcmad

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8/9/10 all in Doncaster as far as I'm aware no idea what Kilmarnock are doing but I'm sure they only gave 153s on conversion project at moment and are only being used for exam.works for the refurbs
The 153 works and exams are at Brodies in Kilmarnock not Wabtec.
 

Brian Spence

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I was speaking to a friend who is employed by Scotrail. He advised that it will be likely later next year before the full set of HST trains will be made available on the Inter7City routes. He said that on one of the trains to be refurbished, the measurements to fit new doors were incorrect because of the amount of corrosion on the roof. Work on the roof then meant that the doors didn't fit properly! That is one example which has held up the refurbishment programme.
 

Northhighland

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Seems the XC and GWR works will soon be completed. Hard to see why these contracts have gone reasonably to plan and the stock is leaving Wabtec and going into revenue service almost straight away and performing reliably. GWR sets would have the same corrosion levels as the Scotrail stuff. That excuse is really worn thin now. By this time the amount of experience Wabtec have should be coping with any issues relating to the condition of the stock.

Seems this mess is struggling to come to a conclusion any time soon. It does start to look as if Scotrail don't have the required skills to make this work.
 

CJSwan

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Quite a few short formed services today. Single 158s running between Inverness and Edinburgh, and Glasgow and Aberdeen.

While there’s at least 4, maybe 5, HST sets sitting Haymarket. There’s at least one refurbished set in that mix.

Better in the making...
 
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