HST Drivers who do not often get the opportunity to reach 125mph

michael74 · 6 Sep 2017

I have had a quick look around, can't see it anywhere, apologies if it has been done before. Are there any HST drivers that do not regularly drive 125's at 125 mph, for instance Penzance Depot drivers? I am assuming they don't sign far enough.

RailUK Forums

455driver · 6 Sep 2017

Penzance are indeed the only HS depot that do not work over 125nph line as they only sign as far as Exeter St Davids,the only bit of 100mph running they do is from Powderham to Alphington.

I think all other depots sign to Paddington but whether they actually reach 125mph is another thing as 115mph is usually enough to keep to time and normally means you wont get cautionary aspects, especially at Airport Jn where the Heathrow Express ECS takes priority.

superhands · 6 Sep 2017

Most of the midland mailine is 110 top speed, I belive the line was updated a few years ago.

LNW-GW Joint · 6 Sep 2017

Scotrail drivers will not have the opportunity for 125mph when HSTs move north next year.

LowLevel · 7 Sep 2017

London and Derby drivers at EMT now do 125 mph in various places.

However Nottingham drivers who sign them don't generally get that out of them - they usually only drive between Derby and Skegness.

class26 · 7 Sep 2017

superhands said:
Most of the midland mailine is 110 top speed, I belive the line was updated a few years ago.

Parts of the Midland main line are now clear for 125 mph

michael74 · 7 Sep 2017

LNW-GW Joint said:
Scotrail drivers will not have the opportunity for 125mph when HSTs move north next year.

Must be like being given an Aston Martin and not being allowed to take it on the motorway......

Lockwood · 7 Sep 2017

455driver said:
especially at Airport Jn where the Heathrow Express ECS takes priority.

How come ECS takes priority over a working passenger service? Didn't I read somewhere that priority went in the order
express passenger, passenger, urgent ecs, fast freight, ecs...?

455driver · 7 Sep 2017

Lockwood said:
How come ECS takes priority over a working passenger service? Didn't I read somewhere that priority went in the order
express passenger, passenger, urgent ecs, fast freight, ecs...?

Its a joke about the Heathrow Express service (which are nearly always empty) always getting priority.

The order you list was correct but isnt anymore, on the MML the Thameslink services will take priority over EMT services so they can get to the core on time (not that it will work anyway) and there are many examples of passenger trains being held to give freight priority.

headshot119 · 7 Sep 2017

Lockwood said:
How come ECS takes priority over a working passenger service? Didn't I read somewhere that priority went in the order
express passenger, passenger, urgent ecs, fast freight, ecs...?

455 driver is having a little bit of a joke. The Heathrow Express services which seem to spend a lot of time carting fresh air around get priority in front of various GWR services.

The sooner they're gone the better really!

As for order of priority, that's all based around PPM and keeping delay minutes down.

Flying Snail · 7 Sep 2017

Lockwood said:
How come ECS takes priority over a working passenger service? Didn't I read somewhere that priority went in the order
express passenger, passenger, urgent ecs, fast freight, ecs...?

He is referring to the in-service Hex services that carry mostly fresh air.

It is a good point though, total waste of 4 fast line slots per hour.

mcmad · 7 Sep 2017

How far south do Aberdeen based VTEC crews sign?

signallerscot · 7 Sep 2017

mcmad said:
How far south do Aberdeen based VTEC crews sign?

No Aberdeen based VTEC drivers, only guards and catering crew. Aberdeen is covered by Edinburgh and Newcastle men.

bramling · 7 Sep 2017

Lockwood said:
How come ECS takes priority over a working passenger service? Didn't I read somewhere that priority went in the order
express passenger, passenger, urgent ecs, fast freight, ecs...?

I think you're missing 455's sarcasm! I presume he is making the point that the HST is frequently checked to make way for often lightly loaded HEx services.

Crossover · 7 Sep 2017

If one were being picky, presumably depot drivers/shunters

signallerscot said:
No Aberdeen based VTEC drivers, only guards and catering crew. Aberdeen is covered by Edinburgh and Newcastle men.

How about Inverness?

bramling said:
I think you're missing 455's sarcasm! I presume he is making the point that the HST is frequently checked to make way for often lightly loaded HEx services.

I originally missed the sarcasm too - could have probably used a emoticon or such

signallerscot · 7 Sep 2017

Crossover said:
How about Inverness?

Inverness is covered by the Newcastle lodge link, same as Aberdeen (both are visited in one two day trip)

YorkshireBear · 7 Sep 2017

michael74 said:
Must be like being given an Aston Martin and not being allowed to take it on the motorway......

Or. Lets go glass half full.

It's like having a vintage Aston Martin DB5 but not wanting to thrash it on the motorway and just let the old girl live out her days in a relatively more sedate manner surrounded by fine scenery.

Liam · 7 Sep 2017

Crossover said:
How about Inverness?

Unless things have changed recently, it's a Newcastle driver and I think the rest of the crew are Edinburgh.

Lockwood · 7 Sep 2017

I can't think of a time I have ever gone to Paddington other than by LU, so I have no clue what the loading are like.

Sarcasm was duly lost.

Mag_seven · 7 Sep 2017

headshot119 said:
455 driver is having a little bit of a joke. The Heathrow Express services which seem to spend a lot of time carting fresh air around get priority in front of various GWR services.

The sooner they're gone the better really!

As for order of priority, that's all based around PPM and keeping delay minutes down.

Agreed - I can never understand why it was agreed that 100mph units were allowed to take up 4 paths per hour on an 125mph main line even only for 12 miles! (yes I know there are arguments about their superior acceleration relative to an HST but with the Class 800's coming that will soon change).

Agent_Squash · 7 Sep 2017

Mag_seven said:
Agreed - I can never understand why it was agreed that 100mph units were allowed to take up 4 paths per hour on an 125mph main line even only for 12 miles! (yes I know there are arguments about their superior acceleration relative to an HST but with the Class 800's coming that will soon change).

Isnt there a plan to move Express (and eventually Crossrail) to the Reliefs and have GWR on the mains?

swt_passenger · 7 Sep 2017

Agent_Squash said:
Isn’t there a plan to move Express (and eventually Crossrail) to the Relief’s and have GWR on the mains?

It comes up for discussion now and again, e.g. London Reconnections set a kite flying about HEx a few months ago, but they quickly retracted it.

The 2011 London and SE RUS suggested HEx might eventually have to run on the reliefs during the peaks, but it doesn't seem to be a firmly established current policy. Likewise GWR may end up being squeezed from the reliefs in the peaks by additional peak only Crossrails, but it isn't likely to be an all day thing.

BestWestern · 7 Sep 2017

I'm not sure that GWR's Gloucester 'cross traction' men (mostly Sprinter with a bit of HST mileage) ever see 125?

Wilts Wanderer · 7 Sep 2017

BestWestern said:
I'm not sure that GWR's Gloucester 'cross traction' men (mostly Sprinter with a bit of HST mileage) ever see 125?

Pretty sure they do, isn't there a Gloucester turn that goes right through to London?

BestWestern · 8 Sep 2017

Wilts Wanderer said:
Pretty sure they do, isn't there a Gloucester turn that goes right through to London?

I didn't think they went that far, but you could well be right!

SpacePhoenix · 8 Sep 2017

According to wikipedia the max speed for the Cotswold line is 100mph, I've no idea as to which depots/links sign the route

Mintona · 8 Sep 2017

Wilts Wanderer said:
Pretty sure they do, isn't there a Gloucester turn that goes right through to London?

No.

But they do sign to Didcot (as diversionary) so should be able to get 125 between Swindon and Didcot on occasion.

Kneedown · 8 Sep 2017

LowLevel said:
London and Derby drivers at EMT now do 125 mph in various places.

However Nottingham drivers who sign them don't generally get that out of them - they usually only drive between Derby and Skegness.

Add the Lincoln Christmas market specials to that.
As regards 125mph it is indeed rare for Notts Drivers to get it, although we did on last years training/refresher runs between Grantham and Peterboro if we were lucky enough to be routed fast line at Stoke Jct.

BestWestern · 8 Sep 2017

Mintona said:
No.

But they do sign to Didcot (as diversionary) so should be able to get 125 between Swindon and Didcot on occasion.

Very briefly!

MarlowDonkey · 8 Sep 2017

Mag_seven said:
Agreed - I can never understand why it was agreed that 100mph units were allowed to take up 4 paths per hour on an 125mph main line even only for 12 miles!

They only ever built the overhead wires suitable for 100 mph as well, hence the need for some rebuilding.

HST Drivers who do not often get the opportunity to reach 125mph

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