GwR HSTs to be stood down

[The exile]

You do realise that the duties they do now are over the same routes that they covered as part of their time as full 2+8 sets, with the same station stops?

Not sure all-stations Bristol - Cardiff was ever a regular turn as it is now.

 

[stj]

I wonder if there is also some green "box ticking" involved as GWR will be running more electric services between England and Wales.(when using IETs)

 

[Railperf]

Funny, part of the line they currently work, is the very same line that they worked when forming the London Paddington services. Although there is one extra station, some of these London Paddington services stopped at the very same stations that the current service stops at. So they have been used at least partly for “stop-start work” for many years before becoming known as Castle Class / Class 255 / 2+4 HST.

And being that the two power cars are now only hauling four coaches around, surely that’s less strain than stop-starting with seven coaches.

The engine and gearbox noise can be very annoying on the 150/158/16X units. And on some of them, they definitely struggle when pulling away. But this does not affect all of them.

I can’t say that I remember a HST ever struggling like this (even when only running on one power car).

Acceleration is more than adequate on dry rails - though still struggling to match an IET from 0 to 30mph - they are much faster above that speed. Adhesion appears to be an issue in the wet in many places. Also HST brakes are less responsive than units ..which means the units (15x, IET) can brake later and harder.

 

[170UTD]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but could a solution to the Castle withdrawal be to transfer some 158s from either EMR (when all the 170s arrive) or TfW?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but could a solution to the Castle withdrawal be to transfer some 158s from either EMR (when all the 170s arrive) or TfW?

The solution already exists in the form of using 80x that aren't being used on the Bristol superfast, which will not return.

 

[Chester1]

I wonder if there is also some green "box ticking" involved as GWR will be running more electric services between England and Wales.(when using IETs)

I think its driven by necessity to cut leasing costs. The spare units being bi mode is just a nice bonus.

 

[gabrielhj07]

I wonder if there is also some green "box ticking" involved as GWR will be running more electric services between England and Wales.(when using IETs)

I think its driven by necessity to cut leasing costs. The spare units being bi mode is just a nice bonus.

GWR in their press release did mention that they wanted to cut carbon emissions.

No mention of the reduction in air quality that the passengers will experience though!

 

[northernbelle]

Acceleration is more than adequate on dry rails - though still struggling to match an IET from 0 to 30mph - they are much faster above that speed. Adhesion appears to be an issue in the wet in many places. Also HST brakes are less responsive than units ..which means the units (15x, IET) can brake later and harder.

Yes indeed. I don't think the top speed or acceleration in the higher speed ranges is the problem. They just aren't as nimble a train in terms of braking and the initial getaway from stations when compared with DMU stock.

What! Are you serious? Hard seats,no decent luggage space and poor cycle provision.

That's your view. Yes, the cycle provision isn't great but the IET layout is far better for the leisure journeys which represent a lot of the footfall on these services. God forbid you're in a group of any more than 2 and want to sit together on a 2+4 HST!

 

[HamworthyGoods]

No mention of the reduction in air quality that the passengers will experience though!

Care to elaborate?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

GWR in their press release did mention that they wanted to cut carbon emissions.

No mention of the reduction in air quality that the passengers will experience though!

I assume you are referring to the hyperbolic press article suggesting 80x emit “dangerous emissions” when on Diesel.

 

[170UTD]

The solution already exists in the form of using 80x that aren't being used on the Bristol superfast, which will not return.

Thanks. I wasn't sure I'd they'd have enough 80x units.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Care to elaborate?

I assume you are referring to the hyperbolic press article suggesting 80x emit “dangerous emissions” when on Diesel.

Yes, the RSSB report claiming Class 800 series trains on Diesel have considerably more Nitrous Oxide in the passenger compartments than other stock.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes, the RSSB report claiming Class 800 series trains on Diesel have considerably more Nitrous Oxide in the passenger compartments than other stock.

But not a ton more belching out of the front and blowing out the back end

 

[gabrielhj07]

But not a ton more belching out of the front and blowing out the back end

Well that’s the other side to the story, but overall carbon emissions from either HSTs or 800s are neither here nor there.

 

[43096]

Reported elsewhere that 43022 will stop tonight when it gets to Laira. It is due G exam and engine overhaul.

 

[D6130]

Reported elsewhere that 43022 will stop tonight when it gets to Laira. It is due G exam and engine overhaul.

Just as well I managed to get a video of it leaving Cardiff Central on the front of the 17 00 to Taunton on Wednesday evening then!

 

[43172]

Just as well I managed to get a video of it leaving Cardiff Central on the front of the 17 00 to Taunton on Wednesday evening then!

I managed to get a photo of it this morning at Bristol (photo attached), not thinking that it would be stopped tonight. Have any sets of coaches been stood down yet, and if so which ones?

 

[JonathanH]

Have any sets of coaches been stood down yet, and if so which ones?

GW01 and GW13 reported elsewhere to be stored.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

43022 now out of service. Likely it will be scrapped.

 

[Pete_uk]

Is 43041 "Meningitis Trust" still working?

 

[43096]

Is 43041 "Meningitis Trust" still working?

No, it is stopped.

 

[Techniquest]

Have we a list of ones stopped and not coming back out? If I've missed it, apologies. I really must get down to that part of the world and have some spins on the class before it is too late!

 

[irish_rail]

43041 unlikely to re emerge. Anything endangered is likely to be found on the Taunton to Cardiff runs, and not far west due to the "spotter" persuasion of the loco allocator at Swindon who obviously likes to enjoy the final days of locos close to home and not out West! So for endangered stuff id focus on Bristol area. For example, despite 43022 finishing today at Laira, it spent all day on Cardiff to Taunton diagrams. From memory, 43158 might be on the endangered list, but I'm sure "43096" can elaborate further on that front...

 

[150249]

How long has 43022 been with 43189?

 

[Annetts key]

There’s rumours going around that the sets may be withdrawn far faster than the available information suggests. I presume this may happen if staff training on the 80X proceeds more quickly.

Anyway, I had a nice ride on the set formed with 43189 + 43022 (set GW02) last week after suffering a long ride on a 80X with their horrible seats.

 

[43096]

43041 unlikely to re emerge. Anything endangered is likely to be found on the Taunton to Cardiff runs, and not far west due to the "spotter" persuasion of the loco allocator at Swindon who obviously likes to enjoy the final days of locos close to home and not out West! So for endangered stuff id focus on Bristol area. For example, despite 43022 finishing today at Laira, it spent all day on Cardiff to Taunton diagrams. From memory, 43158 might be on the endangered list, but I'm sure "43096" can elaborate further on that front...

43158 and 43160 are both getting close to their next major exams (E and G respectively).

Anyone wanting the full details on the GWR fleet: this can be found in the current 125 Group magazine.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Anyway, I had a nice ride on the set formed with 43189 + 43022 (set GW02) last week after suffering a long ride on a 80X with their horrible seats.

It’s interesting how subjective seating is - really is divisive, some like yourself who vastly prefer HST seating then contributors such as @TT-ONR-NRN who are quite the opposite and view 80X as a step up over HSTs. Or someone like myself who is quite ambivalent. One wonders can the railway ever find a middle ground when it comes to interiors!

There’s rumours going around that the sets may be withdrawn far faster than the available information suggests. I presume this may happen if staff training on the 80X proceeds more quickly.

This would be no surprise if training progresses more quickly.

 

[fgwrich]

43022 now out of service. Likely it will be scrapped.

Likely, according to who? The decision on its future will be made by Angel Trains, who it will ultimately return to.

 

[43096]

Likely, according to who? The decision on its future will be made by Angel Trains, who it will ultimately return to.

Indeed, amazing how many times we have to go over the concept of handing a vehicle back to its owner!

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Likely, according to who? The decision on its future will be made by Angel Trains, who it will ultimately return to.

I asked on Twitter. It probably won't get used elsewhere so it will probably end up getting scrapped at some point.