East-West Rail (EWR) countdown to entry into service

[Sun Chariot]

thanks - that what you get for going on holiday - it is Tuesday today isn't it

Wednesday 5-Feb's 0Z45 path is also on RTT - although I don't know if it'll get used.

Realtime Trains | 0Z45 0955 Rugby Depot Access Line to Rugby Depot Access Line | 05/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z45 0955 departure from Rugby Depot Access Line to Rugby Depot Access Line on 05/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Good spot about Friday's WCRC path.

Realtime Trains | 1Z96 1250 South Marston Euro Terminl to Milton Keynes Central | 07/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 1Z96 1250 departure from South Marston Euro Terminl to Milton Keynes Central on 07/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[fishwomp]

Good spot about Friday's WCRC path.

Realtime Trains | 1Z96 1250 South Marston Euro Terminl to Milton Keynes Central | 07/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 1Z96 1250 departure from South Marston Euro Terminl to Milton Keynes Central on 07/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like a track bash - Paddington to South Marston terminal, to Milton Keynes, then Euston and reverse to Paddington.

 

[The Planner]

Looks like a track bash - Paddington to South Marston terminal, to Milton Keynes, then Euston and reverse to Paddington.

Its for the great and good looking at more plans for Old Oak closures.

 

[DavidGrain]

Looks like the Route Learning could be starting Monday 17th February. Also it looks like this will done on the class 196s as the starting point is Bletchley Depot. Of course it is possible that not all the trains shown will run from that date.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Milton Keynes Central all day on 17/02/2025

Train information at Milton Keynes Central all day on 17/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[BlueLeanie]

Also a pair of back to back HST worked along the line last week.

Was this first time an HST operated between Oxford and Bletchley, or was it a common diversion or ECS in the 70s, 80s, or even early 90s?

 

[DarloRich]

Was this first time an HST operated between Oxford and Bletchley, or was it a common diversion or ECS in the 70s, 80s, or even early 90s?

no idea. It is certainly the first time since i moved here 15 years ago

( i haven't seen many pictures of HST on that line)

 

[Sun Chariot]

Was this first time an HST operated between Oxford and Bletchley, or was it a common diversion or ECS in the 70s, 80s, or even early 90s?

The line was mothballed in 1993 and I certainly don't recall an HST on the line prior to then.
The Whatley-Wolverton ARC stone was mostly with 56s. On one occasion, I saw a 59/1 on that working.
I had a pair of 108/115 power twins, on an NSE Christmas shopper special, Aylesbury-Claydon-Milton Keynes & back.

 

[DarloRich]

The line was mothballed in 1993 and I certainly don't recall an HST on the line prior to then.

one ran in 1993: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930213hr.htm
http://www.hondawanderer.com/43064_Winslow_1993.htm

13th February 1993

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Midland Peaks

( I had to look it up!)

 

[Sun Chariot]

one ran in 1993: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930213hr.htm
http://www.hondawanderer.com/43064_Winslow_1993.htm



( I had to look it up!)

Curses! I lived in Bicester at that time and I didn’t see that one in the railway press. Oh, the Life Before Internet....

 

[DarloRich]

Curses! I lived in Bicester at that time and I didn’t see that one in the railway press. Oh, the Life Before Internet....

In honesty i expected to find the answer to be zero! HST along the Vale and the E-W line are rare beasts

 

[12LDA28C]

Looks like the Route Learning could be starting Monday 17th February. Also it looks like this will done on the class 196s as the starting point is Bletchley Depot. Of course it is possible that not all the trains shown will run from that date.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Milton Keynes Central all day on 17/02/2025

Train information at Milton Keynes Central all day on 17/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Route learning has been ongoing for weeks. Why do you think 165s have been traversing the line recently?

196 traction training has already started at Tyseley too.

 

[fishwomp]

Route learning has been ongoing for weeks. Why do you think 165s have been traversing the line recently?

196 traction training has already started at Tyseley too.

How much training is expected?- I see every Milton Keynes to Oxford through until start of August is headcode class 5 on realtimetrains. Has a date other than "2025" been hinted at?

 

[The Planner]

How much training is expected?- I see every Milton Keynes to Oxford through until start of August is headcode class 5 on realtimetrains. Has a date other than "2025" been hinted at?

It was always going to be some point during the summer.

 

[DarloRich]

Looks like a track bash -

it is down as a private charter. Suspect it will be some kind of VIP jolly/ high level strategic discussion about important things!

Looks like the Route Learning could be starting Monday 17th February. Also it looks like this will done on the class 196s as the starting point is Bletchley Depot. Of course it is possible that not all the trains shown will run from that date.

Training is already underway. It COULD be a 196 but no sign of any down here yet ( although I did recently see an electric unit on the depot sidings beyond the shed for the first time in ages so work must be progressing on the deport renovations)

Wednesday 5-Feb's 0Z45 path is also on RTT - although I don't know if it'll get used.

It is running so hopefully i will get to see it this evening

 

[Bletchleyite]

I note that there seems to be a DOO dispute brewing before the line has even opened. Have any guards been recruited? If not, and I don't think they have, DOO must presumably be the plan, unless they're going to taxi in existing Chiltern guards. I've certainly seen murmurs about it on X.

Presumably the drivers will be trained DOO regardless so they can work other bits of Chiltern.

 

[zwk500]

I note that there seems to be a DOO dispute brewing before the line has even opened. Have any guards been recruited? If not, and I don't think they have, DOO must presumably be the plan, unless they're going to taxi in existing Chiltern guards. I've certainly seen murmurs about it on X.

Presumably the drivers will be trained DOO regardless so they can work other bits of Chiltern.

It's possible it's changed since the 2021 consultation but in the technical appendix for that, it says the stock must be suitable for Driver Controlled operation:

5.12. Rolling stock characteristics
[...]
5.12.4. The trains shall be fitted with ETCS, Automatic Selective Door Opening and in cab Driver Controlled Operation through body side cameras and in cab CCTV.

https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/EAS060_TechDoc_Appendix_Master_DIG-1.pdf

Stock being compatible doesn't mean it'd necessarily be that mode of operation, of course.

 

[DavidGrain]

Was this first time an HST operated between Oxford and Bletchley, or was it a common diversion or ECS in the 70s, 80s, or even early 90s?

I don't think this was an HST, I think it was 2 43s back to back which is the Colas Rail route learning set.

Route learning has been ongoing for weeks. Why do you think 165s have been traversing the line recently?

196 traction training has already started at Tyseley too.

I assumed that the 165s were existing Chiltern drivers as the newly recruited drivers probably would not have been trained on these trains. As you say 196 training is being done at Tyseley which is logical.

 

[DarloRich]

I don't think this was an HST, I think it was 2 43s back to back which is the Colas Rail route learning set.

depends how we define an HST !

 

[Sun Chariot]

depends how we define an HST !

"Highly Shortened Train"

If you get the chance of a shot this eve, I'd love to see it.

 

[12LDA28C]

How much training is expected?- I see every Milton Keynes to Oxford through until start of August is headcode class 5 on realtimetrains. Has a date other than "2025" been hinted at?

Those Class 5 trains are running to the future passenger timetable so it would be easy enough to convert them to Class 1 at some point if necessary. That said, I believe late summer is most likely for services to start. All Bletchley drivers will need to sign the route as well as BY depot itself and the shunt to Fenny Stratford.

I note that there seems to be a DOO dispute brewing before the line has even opened. Have any guards been recruited? If not, and I don't think they have, DOO must presumably be the plan, unless they're going to taxi in existing Chiltern guards. I've certainly seen murmurs about it on X.

Presumably the drivers will be trained DOO regardless so they can work other bits of Chiltern.

The method of operation has not yet been determined. So no, no guards have been recruited. There certainly aren’t enough existing guards to be ‘taxied in’ to cover the work.

I don't think this was an HST, I think it was 2 43s back to back which is the Colas Rail route learning set.


I assumed that the 165s were existing Chiltern drivers as the newly recruited drivers probably would not have been trained on these trains. As you say 196 training is being done at Tyseley which is logical.

Newly recruited drivers have been taught existing Chiltern traction as they need to accumulate their driving hours under instruction prior to qualifying. Hard to do that on 196s with none available for use on the route yet!

 

[Cowley]

Before we end up down a DOO or railtour dead end, just a gentle reminder that this thread is to discuss driver training on route.

Thanks

 

[BlueLeanie]

Are Chiltern drivers using the HST set to train?

Or is that freight drivers route learning?

 

[Sim_Tim]

Are Chiltern drivers using the HST set to train?

Or is that freight drivers route learning?

Spoke to the driver at MKC yesterday, they were route learning Colas drivers for NR test / inspection trains

 

[Sun Chariot]

Spoke to the driver at MKC yesterday, they were route learning Colas drivers for NR test / inspection trains

Thanks for the insight. Which power cars were being used?

 

[12LDA28C]

Are Chiltern drivers using the HST set to train?

Or is that freight drivers route learning?

Why would Chiltern drivers be on an HST power car? As mentioned above, Chiltern drivers have been learning the route using mainly 165s.

 

[Sim_Tim]

Thanks for the insight. Which power cars were being used?

Only caught the front car 43257

 

[BlueLeanie]

Why would Chiltern drivers be on an HST power car? As mentioned above, Chiltern drivers have been learning the route using mainly 165s.

ScotRail drivers switch back and forth between an HST and a 170.

Isn't this about route learning rather than traction?

 

[DavidGrain]

Only caught the front car 43257

From a photo of Facebook the other loco was 43274

Isn't this about route learning rather than traction?

The HST locos are the Colas Rail route learning set

 

[12LDA28C]

ScotRail drivers switch back and forth between an HST and a 170.

Isn't this about route learning rather than traction?

Scotrail drivers sign HSTs and 170s. Chiltern don’t operate HST power cars. TOCs use their own trains for route learning their own routes.

 

[Gagravarr]

The Colas class 43 set is out for another play today, just saw it heading north out of Oxford - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R54108/2025-02-06/detailed