State of GWR’s IETs

[Benjwri]

Does anyone know if the state of GWR’s IETs has been acknowledged?

On the last two IETs I travelled on, one had an extremely loud humming noise (Conversation could not be heard over it) in the vestibule when running on OHLE, between coach D and E, when a member of staff walked through they looked visibly worried and commented it shouldn’t be making that noise.

The 802 that I was on this evening had what the staff called wheel flats which were causing bad sounds and extreme vibrations around bends. Multiple passengers were asking staff about it and they said they were talking to control about it.

Both obviously had the recurring issue of collapsed seats, and the amount of short forming happening, when the diagrams are still fairly lose till May, suggests a fair few units are out of service, at what seems to be a much higher rate than almost any other fleet.

Is there any plan to fix either interior or exterior issues with the trains? Personally I don’t even see them being able to provide a reliable service by the end of the decade, let alone make it to the end of their 27 year lifespan.

 

[fgwrich]

I can't say I'm surprised to see them suffering already, they've always had a feeling of style over substance since new. Over the years, I've had the usual well documented knocking noises from underneath, no carpet in the vestibule, and back in 2019 a door control panel held on with hazard tape as the hinges had broken off already. What with the current short forming, reported issues, and cracking issue yet to be fully resolved, only time will tell to see how well GWR / Hitachi will cope come May & December when these are supposed to see off many of the Short HSTs.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Funny I should see this thread. I was on 800014 last night in carriage D (the seats right before the first class compartment) and it seemed as if the wall was loose as it kept hitting my seat!

800019 also makes a ridiculously loud fan type of noise when it accelerates!

 

[150249]

From my experience, the 8021xxs are the best condition ones. I was on 800317 on Saturday. It had a gas leak in coach A. I could hear it from coach J. They had to get everyone out of coaches A and B to fix it at Chippenham.

Funny I should see this thread. I was on 800014 last night in carriage D (the seats right before the first class compartment) and it seemed as if the wall was loose as it kept hitting my seat!

Same happened to 802010.

 

[Parallel]

The reliability of toilets seems poor. Often pairs of toilets are out of service together with red and white tape put across the doors. I was on a 5-car IET a while ago that only had one working toilet. The carpets are often filthy and look like they need a good clean.

 

[irish_rail]

The 800 5 cars are in my experience by far the worst in terms of collapsed seat bases. Absolutely shocking. The 802 9 cars on the other hand are a little better in this respect. Is it I wonder a time thing ( ie after a certain amount of time the seat base cushion is just totally worn out, as the 800 5 cars are the oldest members of the fleet ). Id also be very interested to know if the problem has been acknowledged by GWR as I personally am getting fed up of travelling on the metal bar on long trips.

 

[150249]

The reliability of toilets seems poor. Often pairs of toilets are out of service together with red and white tape put across the doors. I was on a 5-car IET a while ago that only had one working toilet. The carpets are often filthy and look like they need a good clean.

I am a 6' 2" male and I can barely fit in the toilets.

 

[irish_rail]

From my experience, the 8021xxs are the best condition ones. I was on 800317 on Saturday. It had a gas leak in coach A. I could hear it from coach J. They had to get everyone out of coaches A and B to fix it at Chippenham.


Same happened to 802010.

800317 didn't have a gas leak as I drove it but it did have an air leak from a bogie . Minor and not affecting the overall main air reservoir, and I guess just one of the faults that occur on all trains from time to time.

 

[Snow1964]

800317 didn't have a gas leak as I drove it but it did have an air leak from a bogie . Minor and not affecting the overall main air reservoir, and I guess just one of the faults that occur on all trains from time to time.

Isn't air a gas (or strictly a mixture of gases)

But it is relevant, as a leak on a bogie with air suspension potentially could give unsafe ride

 

[irish_rail]

Isn't air a gas (or strictly a mixture of gases)

But it is relevant, as a leak on a bogie with air suspension potentially could give unsafe ride

No, it was perfectly safe. If there was an issue with the suspension , then relevant action would have to be taken. If it wasn't safe I'd have failed it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I am a 6' 2" male and I can barely fit in the toilets.

At least they have sliding doors. They're thus easier to use for a big person than the Electrostar ones which have a hinged door. Would have to use the accessible one for a "seated performance" though were that necessary.

 

[Mikey C]

At least they have sliding doors. They're thus easier to use for a big person than the Electrostar ones which have a hinged door. Would have to use the accessible one for a "seated performance" though were that necessary.

Those sliding doors are a useful space saver, but really heavy. I can imagine some people struggling to open them.

 

[trebor79]

At least they have sliding doors. They're thus easier to use for a big person than the Electrostar ones which have a hinged door. Would have to use the accessible one for a "seated performance" though were that necessary.

Have you tried to use the non-accessible bog on a 755? I'm an average build 5'10" bloke and it's a contortion to get in and out!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have you tried to use the non-accessible bog on a 755? I'm an average build 5'10" bloke and it's a contortion to get in and out!

Can't say I have, but the thread is about 80x so I assumed it concerned those

 

[150249]

800317 didn't have a gas leak as I drove it but it did have an air leak from a bogie . Minor and not affecting the overall main air reservoir, and I guess just one of the faults that occur on all trains from time to time.

You were the driver of the 2004 from Paddington?

I was tired. I heard leak on the speaker and I heard the word gas so I assumed it was a gas leak!

It was a bus I was on recently that had a gas leak. Just got mixed up between the two.

At least they have sliding doors. They're thus easier to use for a big person than the Electrostar ones which have a hinged door. Would have to use the accessible one for a "seated performance" though were that necessary.

800317 had one without a handle from the inside (God knows how). I spotted and hastily moved to the toilet adjacent.

 

[irish_rail]

You were the driver of the 2004 from Paddington?

I was tired. I heard leak on the speaker and I heard the word gas so I assumed it was a gas leak!

It was a bus I was on recently that had a gas leak. Just got mixed up between the two.


800317 had one without a handle from the inside (God knows how). I spotted and hastily moved to the toilet adjacent.

Not the 2004 driver no. I drove that set elsewhere on the network last week and as far as I'm aware the problem lasted more than a day. The day I drove it no one except me noticed it as far as I'm aware, the TM certainly never said anything to me.

 

[150249]

Not the 2004 driver no. I drove that set elsewhere on the network last week and as far as I'm aware the problem lasted more than a day. The day I drove it no one except me noticed it as far as I'm aware, the TM certainly never said anything to me.

I was on it on Saturday. It stopped just before making an unscheduled stop at Chippenham to fix a leak in the front carriage.

 

[irish_rail]

I was on it on Saturday. It stopped just before making an unscheduled stop at Chippenham to fix a leak in the front carriage.

That set has spent most of last week on the Wofe route, it stalked me lol. Though can't comment on that 2004 train (Plymouth men not trusted to go London at weekends these days!)

 

[fgwrich]

Those sliding doors are a useful space saver, but really heavy. I can imagine some people struggling to open them.

The biggest problem I have with those doors is the sillly twisty lock / handle set up, next to the sink. Heavy and stuff lock = people refuse to use them and move on to the next coaches.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I noticed these new(?) brown seat covers in first class this evening. I haven’t seen any on another set yet.

Is this a new design or borrowed parts from another TOC?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I noticed these new(?) brown seat covers in first class this evening. I haven’t seen any on another set yet.
View attachment 133254
Is this a new design or borrowed parts from another TOC?

Ooh, that looks ugly. I believe that's the same standard neutral seat cover that was used with the original prototype, perhaps there were no GWR ones available and a need to replace the cover on some seats.

 

[Mag_seven]

800023 plus at least one other GWR 5 car unit still has the original seat covers.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

That godawful electrical buzz at one end of the motor carriages is a known problem with the entire fleet of AT300s. Its apparently some sort of field isolator that prevents signalling equipment interference. Fortunately my poor ears dont have to endure the punishment when running on diesel.

I have read a note somewhere (cant remember where -probably internal) stating a new design was being tested that didnt make anywhere near as much noise

 

[fgwrich]

Something else that’s becoming noticeable is the worsening external state of the IET fleet, with quite a bit of paint either chipped off or bubbling up already. Just two examples from this morning.

 

[Intercity110]

not even 5 years old yet...it's disgraceful

 

[Ashley Hill]

Something else that’s becoming noticeable is the worsening external state of the IET fleet, with quite a bit of paint either chipped off or bubbling up already. Just two examples from this morning.

I’ve always thought this was caused and made worse by repeatedly being struck by overhanging lineside vegetation. This cracks/chips away at the paint allowing water ingress.

 

[Mzzzs]

It’s just sad considering the lner ones have always been taken care of better than gwr ones.

Gwr must be going for some consistency with the state of the trains with the turbos being in bad state aswell.

 

[FGW_DID]

It’s just sad considering the lner ones have always been taken care of better than gwr ones.

Gwr must be going for some consistency with the state of the trains with the turbos being in bad state aswell.

You do realise that both fleets are maintained by Hitachi themselves.

 

[Mzzzs]

You do realise that both fleets are maintained by Hitachi themselves.

I know that but still there appears to be a difference in the care.

 

[LiftFan]

I know that but still there appears to be a difference in the care.

Even the general cleanliness... GWR's IETs always seem to have had dirty windows, meaning each time the sun hits them you can barely see out.