Basic problem is - no-one can make a business case for new DMUs because only small quantities would be required (unlike new buses). And mid-life ones aren't going spare. So it's wait till the GWML gets electrified and hope for 165s.
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FGW West timetable changes from 18th May.
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Basic problem is - no-one can make a business case for new DMUs because only small quantities would be required (unlike new buses). And mid-life ones aren't going spare. So it's wait till the GWML gets electrified and hope for 165s.
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PHILIPE
Veteran Member
FGW seem to be struggling with DMU availability with many services short formed, some on an almost daily basis.
I don't know what's happened but there have been quite a few short formed trains and a few cancellations due to "train faults". Their stock is so heavily worked and a lot of it isn't exactly modern either which probably doesn't help. I hope whichever stock may take over from the 158s on Portsmouth/Cardiff will be formed of 4 coaches, or possibly if the 158s are retained they could be reformed into two cars and then joined together as this line seems to be overcrowded throughout most of the day.
I've noticed now that a fair few 'west' local services seem to have two guards - one checking and selling tickets and the other opening doors. This works well but is it too much on two carriage local services?
I took a trip down to Devon recently and saw a six carriage pacer working to Paignton, which was well loaded thanks to school children. I travelled on a 4 carriage pacer to Exmouth as well and was pleasantly surprised that they look quite smart on the inside! Definitely seemed to be in better condition than ATW's 143s!
I've noticed now that a fair few 'west' local services seem to have two guards - one checking and selling tickets and the other opening doors. This works well but is it too much on two carriage local services?
I took a trip down to Devon recently and saw a six carriage pacer working to Paignton, which was well loaded thanks to school children. I travelled on a 4 carriage pacer to Exmouth as well and was pleasantly surprised that they look quite smart on the inside! Definitely seemed to be in better condition than ATW's 143s!
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CC 72100
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The only thing is, what happens to a train with one failed unit if it's only formed of once coach in the first place?
Well done to the driver of the 15:14 Swindon - Westbury today for getting us there, and the guard for arranging the Penzance HST to be held for those wishing to travel westwards - our 153 was just about clinging on to life topping out at about 15 mph between Trowbridge and Westbury earlier!
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I used an ATW one today - the interior seemed similar to ours in Devon but not as in good shape. The green paneling looked particularly grubby under the windows.
Probably a guard and an Assistant Ticket Inspector (ATE).
Sillyness that 153318 was - as i'm sure you could guess it did not go back to Swindon.
For any 153 fans on here, it is worht mentioning that the old 67 diagram (07.36/11.04/16.07) from Taunton are booked 3 x 153 (although hasn't produced this very often!) and that the 09.00 Cardiff-Plymouth (then on to Penzance and back to Exeter (fx) and Bristol (fo) are booked 2 x 153.
fgwrich
Established Member
318 does seem to be one of GWs unlucky 153s of late. Mind you, the pair I had in April on the Falmouth Line weren't sounding too happy either, I know it's got a fairly steep gradient to it but to say it was feeling very sluggish was an understatement!
Saw a three car 150/1 (150/9) running between Cardiff and Portsmouth earlier, both the outbound and return journey - They had put seat reservations between the seat cushion and the plastic backing and bent the card up! I dread to think, if they had onboard catering 
Possibly due to either signalling problems/train faults/ broken down trains (the reason kept changing), the 14:07 to Frome from Bath Spa (well, it was delayed and left at 14:44 for Westbury) ran as four carriages, a 150/9 with one of the green ex-LM 153s on the back! This train is usually 3 coaches since the timetable change.
Possibly due to either signalling problems/train faults/ broken down trains (the reason kept changing), the 14:07 to Frome from Bath Spa (well, it was delayed and left at 14:44 for Westbury) ran as four carriages, a 150/9 with one of the green ex-LM 153s on the back! This train is usually 3 coaches since the timetable change.
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Rapidash
Member
I always feel sorry for whoever gets the Cardiff service from Paignton expecting an IC service of some kind. 3.5hrs on a 150 is enough to cause nightmares. The gods know how people survive the service down to Penzance on one.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Saw a three car 150/1 (150/9) running between Cardiff and Portsmouth earlier, both the outbound and return journey - They had put seat reservations between the seat cushion and the plastic backing and bent the card up! I dread to think, if they had onboard catering
Possibly due to either signalling problems/train faults/ broken down trains (the reason kept changing), the 14:07 to Frome from Bath Spa (well, it was delayed and left at 14:44 for Westbury) ran as four carriages, a 150/9 with one of the green ex-LM 153s on the back! This train is usually 3 coaches since the timetable change.
Is 4 carriages but more often than not is 3. Regularly see on FGWs short formed on Journey Check as 3 instead of 4 on 1528 Warminster to Great Malvern.
CC 72100
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Thing is, with Advance tickets people may expect a little more than a 150, especially with it being a 150/1. If you ask me, it's another one of those "If we could turn back time and build more 3-car 158s" type services, then it would actually be rather pleasant.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Unless any change in May booked 158 (2 Car). Not that it always is !!!
muddythefish
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Appalling really. Back in the days when we had a proper railway it would have been a Hall and 8 comfortable ex-GW Hawksworth/Collett coaches and probably a restaurant car too. :cry:
Believe it is booked 150+153 at the moment. 153s provide a much better level of comfort than 150s for lengthy journeys but are still some way below 158s.
Rapidash
Member
It's consistently been a 150 with the usual shuttle 153 on the back on the occasions that I have used it in the last few weeks. I'm talking a proper 150 as well! Not 2/3! A Table! A Table! My kingdom for a Table!
Shame we can't send a Pacer instead!
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The 153 detaches at EXD to scoot back to Paignton be used as a shuttle.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
It's consistently been a 150 with the usual shuttle 153 on the back on the occasions that I have used it in the last few weeks. I'm talking a proper 150 as well! Not 2/3! A Table! A Table! My kingdom for a Table!
Shame we can't send a Pacer instead!
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The 153 detaches at EXD to scoot back to Paignton be used as a shuttle.
No. 13+36 to Exeter TMD. The Paignton Shuttle is already shuttling around by this time..
Rich McLean
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I am right in thinking that since the last time table change, no 158s now operate south of Taunton?
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Or could a member post details of the 2 x FGW 158 (2 Car) Diagrams since May. One went to Exeter & Paignton to keep Exeter Drivers (1 Link only, I believe) to maintain traction knowledge. It could be that with the availability of FGW fleet at the moment which means grab whatever is available at times, it may still be diagrammed a 158 but is worked by a 150 (+ 153)on so may occasions people may assume it has been re-diagrammed.
5 links actually, East 1&2, West 1&2 and Central.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
To add to the current availability there are 2 x 158/9s (950 + 951) running around with 2 Cars due to tree bashing in the storms and perhaps Maintenance scheduling. There are a number of Cardiff to Portsmouths recently been reported as having been formed as 2 instead of 3 cars.
Was on one of these recently, reminded me of the dark Wessex Trains days on that route! I also saw a two carriage 150 operating this route a couple of weeks ago, whilst I was on a three car 158 stopping service to Worcester Forgate Street!
thelongestroad
Member
A 158/3 should still go down to Exeter on Saturday nights and return the next morning.
Don't forget there are many Exeter crew whose diagrams cover 158 work in and around the Bristol area so the 158s don't have to go to Exeter for traction knowledge.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
158950 and 158951 (the two 2-car 158/9s) seem to mainly work the routes the 150s do. I had 158950 and 150233 on the 2038 Westbury to Bristol last night and I think 158950 may have even wandered on the Avonmouth Line on Wednesday.
I also notice that the afternoon Paignton to Cardiff train (1248) now runs right through to CDF again, without the split in Bristol.
I also notice that the afternoon Paignton to Cardiff train (1248) now runs right through to CDF again, without the split in Bristol.
northernrailer
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Diagram 1 (2car 158)
0544 Bristol - Westbury with (3car 158)
detatches the 158, then attaches to 150
0718 Westbury - Bristol with (2 car 150)
detatches the 150
0905 ECS Bristol to Weston Super Mare
0945 Weston Super Mare to Cardiff
1200 Cardiff - Taunton
1515 Taunton - Cardiff
1800 Cardiff - Taunton
2013 ECS to Bristol
2213 Bristol - Gloucester with (2 car 150)
Diagram 2 (2car 158)
0715 Gloucester - Great Malvern
0850 Great Malvern - Westbury
1438 Westbury - Bath Spa
1643 Bath Spa - Bristol Parkway
1749 Bristol Parkway to Westbury
Diagram 3 SWT Hire in
Cheltenham - Swindon
Hope this helps
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Thanks very much, Northern Railer. Proves the 08 00 Cardiff to Paignton is no longer a 158.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Diagram 1 today is 150202.
Diagram 2 today is 158950.
The 0800 Cardiff to Paignton is booked for a 150+153 (I believe).
Diagram 2 today is 158950.
The 0800 Cardiff to Paignton is booked for a 150+153 (I believe).
trolleyman
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The 1448 BRI - WEY (ex Gt Malvern) and 1730 return are also booked for a 158/2,
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Indeed, 158766.
As for the other two 2-car 158s, 158951 is working the 3-car 158 diagram that goes to Brighton, starting with the 0723 Warminster to Great Malvern, 1050 Great Malvern to Brighton, etc
158763 is working the 3-car 158 diagram that starts with the 0749 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-super-Mare, 0841 Weston-super-Mare to Cardiff, 1100 Cardiff Central to Taunton, etc.
So for anyone who's interested, here are the diagrams for the 2-car 158s today:
158763:
2Y05 0749 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-super-Mare
2U08 0841 Weston-super-Mare to Cardiff
2C73 1100 Cardiff to Taunton
2U18 1307 Taunton to Cardiff
2C83 1600 Cardiff to Taunton
2U28 1808 Taunton to Cardiff
2C34 2100 Cardiff to Westbury
158766:
2M02 0517 Gloucester to Southampton
2M97 0823 Southampton to Great Malvern
2O90 1250 Great Malvern to Weymouth
2V93 1730 Weymouth to Bristol
(as posted by trolleyman)
158950:
2G80 0715 Gloucester to Great Malvern
2F97 0850 Great Malvern to Westbury
2D17 1438 Westbury to Bath Spa
2R98 1553 Bristol Parkway to Bath Spa
2D24 1643 Bath Spa to Bristol Parkway
2C22 1748 Bristol Parkway to Westbury
2M17 1932 Westbury to Cheltenham
(so diagram 2 as posted by northernrailer)
158951:
2E17 0723 Warminster to Great Malvern
1O98 1050 Great Malvern to Brighton
1V96 1659 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads
You've missed out something.
The 1438 from Westbury goes on from Bath to Bristol Parkway, then it works 2R98 1553 back to Bath, and then what you've got to Westbury on the 1643 to Bristol Parkway and 1748 return to Westbury, then it works the 1932 to Cheltenham.
So it's as follows:
2G80 0715 Gloucester to Great Malvern
2F97 0850 Great Malvern to Westbury
2D17 1438 Westbury to Bath Spa
2R98 1553 Bristol Parkway to Bath Spa
2D24 1643 Bath Spa to Bristol Parkway
2C22 1748 Bristol Parkway to Westbury
2M17 1932 Westbury to Cheltenham
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PHILIPE
Veteran Member
We can't have 3 Diagrams for a 2 train fleet.
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In view of the discussion I've been wondering if Northern Railers Post re 2 Car 158 Diagrams is current or for High Summer from 4th July.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Well I'm going to Westbury on 5th July so I shall keep an eye out for 2-car 158s.
Lots of 150s on the Cardiff to Portsmouth's yesterday (150927 and 150244 on the 1030 and 1730 from Cardiff respectively).
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