Pendolino 390055 may be imminent

[Peter Sarf]

Very slight hint that it might make it to the UK on Wed or Thu 16-17.11.2011. No indication of timings. Even if it turns out to be a true plan it could still get delayed. Keep the salt ready.

All I would say is that it is worth keeping an eye out for more info on this as it seems slightly less unlikely !. Anyone else heard anything even slightly likely ?. I seem to remember the plan last year was that it was supposed to arrive around Nov 2011 anyway.

I almost could not be bothered to post this as I fear it will only be a rumor however I assume after delivery it will be hard to get until it comes out to play as a 9 car unit (minus 2 cars). I assume 390 054 is (still ?) running around as only 9 cars. So photographers and spotters will need to be at the ready !. The last one (054) came through Clapham High street in London at 7-50 am on Mon 06/12/2010 LAST YEAR, to give people a rough idea.

 

[bnsf734]

There is a path for 6X39 0537 Dollands Moor - Edge Hill showing for Wednesday 16.11.11 .

There is a Pendo 55 thread about it on WNXX

6X39 on TRUST for Wednesday 16 November (same headcode as when 390054 was delivered)

Selected times
Dollands Moor 0537
Maidstone East 0624
Swanley 0716
Nunhead 0736
Wembley Central 0827
Milton Keynes 0917
Northampton 0934
Rugby 1034 1036
Nuneaton 1053
Stafford 1144
Basford Hall 1220
seems to be booked via the freight lines avoiding Crewe station
Crewe Coal Yard 1239
Winsford 1248
Weaver Junction 1258
Runcorn 1304
Edge Hill depot 1329



I have my salt ready as well!

 

[Peter Sarf]

Ah ha. Well that is ominously close to the 6X39 timing for the previous run. within 5 minutes south of the Thames maye, then I think half an hour earlier escaping London. I have also gathered it is 6X39 - hopefully not via the same source as that really doubles the probability.

I think the only use for salt now is if it gets cancelled. I still dont seem to get much clues as 390s come across Europe. Seemed to get more clues from Europe as the 380s treked towards the tunnel over 11 months (?) from 2010 to 2011.

It must be true as its about the coldest part of a day. Means an early rise for me and pre peak (hopefully) 80 minutes bus ride. I used to find the 380 deliveriess were caped after I was a long way through the journey on a LONG lunch hour. I was so glad when they were all over here (well there) !. Now what is the weather forecast (it was snow last year).

 

[Geezertronic]

Will it be arriving as an 11 coach unit? And will it be stripped of two to allow it to enter service (after the necessary tests)?

 

[Jedipickles]

Will it be arriving as an 11 coach unit? And will it be stripped of two to allow it to enter service (after the necessary tests)?

It'll mostly likely be 11car - it'll do it's testing, then go to 9car before entering service, i do believe

 

[whhistle]

See, I don't see the point in that.
They come as 11-car trains, they're going to be 11-car trains, why spend the time and effort taking two off, especially as there are booked routes which can take then 11-car length.

 

[IanXC]

See, I don't see the point in that.
They come as 11-car trains, they're going to be 11-car trains, why spend the time and effort taking two off, especially as there are booked routes which can take then 11-car length.

Indeed, now Virgin have an extension aren't they introducing 11-car working anyway?

 

[AlterEgo]

Rail magazine report that 66744 has just passed Willesden Jn at 0812 hauling 390055. On Twitter.

 

[sprinterguy]

I thought that the reason that 390054 could enter service (as a 9-car unit) was because Virgin found a "loophole" in their franchise agreement in as much as it was worded to the effect that the franchise specification described Virgin as being able to operate 53 x 9-car Pendolinos, and of course with the loss of 390033 at Grayrigg, before the arrival of 390054 they were only operating 52.

I was under the impression that the area of the contract pertaining to the extension of their existing Pendolinos and introduction of additional trains was so tightly specified that Virgin would be unable to introduce any additional carriages prior to the date agreed with the DfT.

Plus, one eleven car Pendolino would be a bit of a headache to diagram, and as far as I can tell, all the platform extension works to accomodate 11-car Pendolinos have not yet been completed.

P.S. It's irritating that the delivery of these new Pendolinos doesn't take place a couple of hours earlier or later so that I could actually make it across to the Trent Valley to see them. Mid-morning is no good for me.

 

[tcm1106]

Just passed through Cathiron (nort of Rugby) approx 8 early.

 

[GodAtum]

I saw it passing near Clapham Junction today at 0800.

 

[swt_passenger]

See, I don't see the point in that.
They come as 11-car trains, they're going to be 11-car trains, why spend the time and effort taking two off, especially as there are booked routes which can take then 11-car length.

The original idea was that 390054 and 390055 would be used by the depot staff in the months prior to April 2012 to practice extending them from 9 car to 11 car, prior to starting on the original fleet - it is all described that way in the original ITT. 390054 arriving as an 11 car was not in the original plan, indeed I've just checked and all four new trains were to be delivered as 9 car trains, with 056 and 057 being extended in July and November 2012

 

[western Champion]

See, I don't see the point in that.
They come as 11-car trains, they're going to be 11-car trains, why spend the time and effort taking two off, especially as there are booked routes which can take then 11-car length.

If only it were as simple as that.

The infrastructure work at stations and depots to cope with the 11 car trains is not completed yet also all the sets are, one at at time, visiting Oxley where they spend a week in the main shed undergoing a program of 200+ modifications mainly for reliability but also including electrical work for selective door opening and other work to enable them to work as 11-car with passengers. Last time I looked less then half the sets had been done.

 

[Blindtraveler]

If only it were as simple as that.

The infrastructure work at stations and depots to cope with the 11 car trains is not completed yet also all the sets are, one at at time, visiting Oxley where they spend a week in the main shed undergoing a program of 200+ modifications mainly for reliability but also including electrical work for selective door opening and other work to enable them to work as 11-car with passengers. Last time I looked less then half the sets had been done.

what other mods have been happening to them?

Be interesting als6 to see how quickly fleat extension happens and this makes me wonder if the programme wil start early.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Passed through Rugeley TV fifteen early, she was flying!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Passed
through Rugeley TV fifteen early, she was flying!

good to know. Incidentally welcome back Ian

 

[Simon Poole]

66744 with 390055 at Rugeley Trent Valley! 66744 working the 6X39 Dollands Moor to Edge Hill, 16th November 2011 its been 336 days since 390054 was dragged up by an Class 66

 

[IanPooleTrains]

good to know. Incidentally welcome back Ian

I've been back a week now and already gotten into a slanging match

NOTE TO MODS: That was meant in a funny way and not inciting anything

 

[Blindtraveler]

the First LM thread? i spotted it!
If somebody p's me off I sign out for a bit!

O/T Again I wonder if they will put 390055 into traffic whilst each set is extended as 054 was really just bringing the fleat back up to strength again after the loss of 033 so having 055 in traffic, even if it means taking 2 vehicles out wil maybe cut down on the ammount of use the pretendaleano gets?

 

[callum112233]

Is 390055 brand new? Or am I missing something?

 

[headshot119]

Yes it's brand new.

 

[IanXC]

Is 390055 brand new? Or am I missing something?

Yep brand new, 4 new 11 car Pendos (1 to replace the unit lost at Grayrigg) and a further 31 existing units will be extended by 2 cars to 11.

 

[Blindtraveler]

and if VT win West Coast again it wouldnt surprise me if the remainder were extended too as think VT would maybe be up for investing maybe.

 

[Phil H]

I'm sure I saw something like this today.
Just south of Northampton at 09:30 on the WCML loop. Said Alston 11 car Pendolino on each driving trailer with a flat bed wagon each end and was being pulled by a Colas Class 66.
Is this the same one you refer to?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

and if VT win West Coast again it wouldnt surprise me if the remainder were extended too as think VT would maybe be up for investing maybe.

That is a known aspiration for VT so wouldn't it be likely that the other bidders will all include this proposal in their own bids as well?

 

[Blindtraveler]

well maybe, but some of the shortlist are known for being unwilling to invest so it may not be the case. Personally I think west coast bidding is just a formalitty and virgin wil retain it.

 

[507 001]

well maybe, but some of the shortlist are known for being unwilling to invest so it may not be the case. Personally I think west coast bidding is just a formalitty and virgin wil retain it.

I hope your right!

 

[sprinterguy]

I'm sure I saw something like this today.
Just south of Northampton at 09:30 on the WCML loop. Said Alston 11 car Pendolino on each driving trailer with a flat bed wagon each end and was being pulled by a Colas Class 66.
Is this the same one you refer to?

Yep, that'll be the blighter.

 

[Offertonhatter]

Reading the thread, I am intrigued.
Some threads state that there is certain infrastructure upgrades as needed to cope with 11 car sets.
Considering that most stations where the pendos stop were built by LNWR and hence upgraded by LMS to cope with 14 carriage trains, where is the upgrade required? I only ask, as stations like Stockport. Manchester Picc, Preston, Carlisle already have platforms that can take trains of such length.
So are there stations that cannot cope?
This is an honest question, and I would love to know.

 

[MCR247]

Well without trying to be rude, look at the VT network map (see, I've even provided a link), and then look at the stations which aren't on your 'list'. Then you may find that there are a lot, which aren't capable of holding 11 coaches, and therefore are being extended