Very very good news as an Alton Line user. I rather selfishly hope they stay on the line rather than boring same-old 450s.there are some 444s on the alton line diagrammed from monday
Very very good news as an Alton Line user. I rather selfishly hope they stay on the line rather than boring same-old 450s.there are some 444s on the alton line diagrammed from monday
I know rightVery very good news as an Alton Line user. I rather selfishly hope they stay on the line rather than boring same-old 450s.
A few 8 car 450s on the cobham/chessy and Woking stoppers from Monday tooThat has made me delighted
Those 444s are interworking with the Portsmouth via Guildford today.Not exactly about the to be withdrawn fleet (perhaps related to cascades) but I note that:
444009, 017, 018, 024, 037 and 038 are all on Alton/Basingstoke semis today, attaching and dividing at Woking. Altons are terminating at Farnham due to engineering work.
As a local of the Alton line when not at Uni, how I hope this will be a regular thing![]()
0653, 0954 and 1625 from Waterloo.there are some 444s on the alton line diagrammed from monday
Looks like 10 707 diagrams next week. All pairs, 4 on the all day Shepperton diagrams and 1 on a peak Shepperton via Richmond diagram.
So how will SWR cover their work when they pass across to SE in a couple of months?Looks like 10 707 diagrams next week. All pairs, 4 on the all day Shepperton diagrams and 1 on a peak Shepperton via Richmond diagram.
So how will SWR cover their work when they pass across to SE in a couple of months?
Just out of interest, would it be possible to know which Cobham services these will work please?A few 8 car 450s on the cobham/chessy and Woking stoppers from Monday too
0634, 0834, 0934, 1104, 1134, 1304, 1504, 1604, 1734, 1807, 1934, 2134, 2234 from GuildfordJust out of interest, would it be possible to know which Cobham services these will work please?
Isn't this exactly the sort of thing that p*ss*s off the Portsmouth line user group? - uncomfortable suburban stock on the fast Pompeys while mainline units trundle around on suburban stoppers. All because SWR were in too much of a hurry to dispose of metro stock without having the 701s ready to replace it. It was all so obviously predictable, and indeed was predicted on these forums.Due to an increased requirement for cl450s in the Inner area from Monday a number of 10 car 444 Portsmouth Line Fast services have had to become 8 car 450s and Alton line 8 car 450s reduced to 5 car 444s.
This is not intended to be a long term solution I understand, just until cl701s enter traffic as in all cases it reduces capacity as passenger numbers continue to rise.
Isn't this exactly the sort of thing that p*ss*s off the Portsmouth line user group? - uncomfortable suburban stock on the fast Pompeys while mainline units trundle around on suburban stoppers.
So if they've reorganised the stock workings to take account of the 707's departing no reason why they can't come over to SE sooner but they aren't so presumably they will need to batter back into use everything else thats currently stopped over the next few months.This is why some extra 450s have been moved from the mainline to the inner area, hence single 444s instead of 8 car 450s on Alton workings etc.
It’s very tight and will cause some levels of crowding until the 70s are ready. Hopefully they will start to work soon!
Many thanks.0634, 0834, 0934, 1104, 1134, 1304, 1504, 1604, 1734, 1807, 1934, 2134, 2234 from Guildford
0633, 0703, 0733, 0803, 0933, 1003, 1133, 1333, 1433, 1603, 1633, 1803, 2003, 2103, 2233, 2303, 2350 from Waterloo
That depends on the 701 introductionNow that 455s are gone on Southern, how much longer are they expected to last on SWR?
My uncle drives from Chichester to Petersfield "for the nicer trains" I will have to confirm if he means 450s or 444s !Indeed, I doubt it will go down too well!
Now that 455s are gone on Southern, how much longer are they expected to last on SWR?
That depends on the 701 introduction
I think WarrenTManager mentioned not that long ago that no other trains will be going off lease (455 I think he said) until 701s start coming into service.
Of course since then it does seem that 701s might be edging nearer to doing something useful at long last.In that case I'm looking forward to the 455s' Golden Jubilee celebrations![]()
What's the current best guess though... Days/weeks/months?That depends on the 701 introduction
To be honest it’s definitely months. Driver training hasn’t even started yetWhat's the current best guess though... Days/weeks/months?
I had a mental sweepstake going between Crossrail core, SWR 701s and GWR 769s, all three or four years late ... obviously Crossrail is about to win, but second place is still to play for.What's the current best guess though... Days/weeks/months?
I had a mental sweepstake going between Crossrail core, SWR 701s and GWR 769s, all three or four years late ... obviously Crossrail is about to win, but second place is still to play for.
As to when, I'm reminded of Piglet in Winnie the Pooh - "this year, next year, sometime, never" ... they're all still possible.
Thanks. Haven't really been paying attention to what's going on. I've got a little while yet to do a trip out to Guildford on the slow line yet, then.To be honest it’s definitely months. Driver training hasn’t even started yet
Not according to the more recent posts in the 701 thread though:SWR 701s coming second I would have thought. At least they have been approved by ASLEF and driver training is starting...
Well, as of this afternoon, the 701 discussion thread seems less optimistic about that.SWR 701s coming second I would have thought. At least they have been approved by ASLEF and driver training is starting...
To be honest it’s definitely months. Driver training hasn’t even started yet
Yes, despite reports that ASLEF had approved them it appears they haven't. So it looks like stalemate and the 455s staying forever.Well, as of this afternoon, the 701 discussion thread seems less optimistic about that.
[Edit, swt_passenger beat me to it]
If so, I think SWR had better get on with putting some of the units listed in post 876 through whatever maintenance is needed and back into service, 'cos a lot of returning passengers aren't going to be happy with the short-forms that Hamworthy Goods was warning about. I'd expect at least a few of them to be giving their MP a hard time about what DfT is up toYes, despite reports that ASLEF had them it appears they haven't. So it looks like stalemate and the 455s staying forever.![]()
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