Made it onto the BBC News website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...at-western-railway-launch-beset-with-problems
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...at-western-railway-launch-beset-with-problems
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GWR Intercity Express Train (IEP) initial diagrams & allocations
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D1009
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At what speed does it become "no contest"?
Sean Emmett
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Need to check that later, busy timing at mo
D1009
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No, a passenger alarm was activated on departure from Newport, bringing the train to a stand.
D1009
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Well my GPS showed 96 mph after the climb through Sodbury Tunnel at Badminton, which while not quite HST performance, I would not define as "no contest".
Ok thanks. I'm on board. Quite impressed so far. Changing at Swindon for Didcot then will return on the IET later Didcot-Bristol Parkway all being well
Genuine, accidentally pulled, or a system fault?
Did a passenger panic when they couldn't find a window to pull down to open the door?
Just a quick heads up we're going to allow people to post their first impressions on this thread for today only. Technically it's off topic but we're going to allow it anyway though I would still encourage people to use the main thread to keep things neat. From tomorrow if you wish to discuss your impressions of the new trains please do so in the existing 800 thread which can be found here. This thread should be used for information on diagrams only not the experience of the trains themselves!
Many thanks,
ainsworth74
Many thanks,
ainsworth74
D1009
Established Member
The TM announced that an alarm button was pushed in the toilet, so it sounded genuine to me.
Minilad
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That usually means someone has mistaken the alarm for the toilet flush button
PudseyBearHST
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They were mainly at London but yes, there were some at Reading. At Paddington, someone approached me from the Japanese news channel. He was interesting to talk to and told me that there was a big shot from Hitachi there (he was surrounded by cameras and people were even on step ladders to film him) and one big question that would pop up is the metal scandal and what affect, if any, would that have on the safety of the Trains. He also said that quite obviously this is a massive thing in Japan as the trains are made by Hitachi thus all the Japanese media. I know some of them did get on the train to Reading but not all.
On the train, they were giving out leaflets about the IEP but on the table I was sitting on, they only gave one and there was someone else sitting there so I didn't want to take it.
LBOTG
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Are the diagrams listed on page 1 an every-day thing, or was it just for today. I only ask because GWR's twitter account is stating that other services such as the 07:00 from Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington and the 17:00 from Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads are booked for a Hitachi, even though these diagrams state otherwise.
Please could someone clarify this for me, as I'm hoping to catch one next week!
Please could someone clarify this for me, as I'm hoping to catch one next week!
D1009
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I don't know why you should think it was just for today when it clearly says FROM October 16, with the next two diagrams taking effect from November 13. We must hope that today's problems can be sorted quickly, however.
class387
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Will tomorrow's diagrams be reduced given the problems to give them more time to sort things out? Running just one of the diagrams might help.
Why should they be?
The pair of 800s that started the morning at Paddington have performed okay all day - only issues seem to have been with calls at Neath and lack of clarity over which coaches would be unlocked there and someone triggering the alarm in a toilet. And three more Class 800s are passed for passenger service, so perfectly easy to do a set swap for tomorrow.
D1009
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I was thinking if there were really three more sets available for service, they could have done a swap today and avoided cancellations.
RobShipway
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Can anyone tell me please what times the class 800 trains will be running on Saturday 28th October?
Post #114 on about page 6 of this thread.
RobShipway
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Thank you FGW_DID. Just found it. https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...p-initial-diagrams.153431/page-6#post-3151534
LBOTG
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I did initially think that they were from October 16, although the GWR twitter account was stating other information about how the schedules are created overnight and I really don't want to trek to Reading to find my IET isn't coming for three hours!
Sean Emmett
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Examples from today would be eastbound start from Bath. IET did well to Bathampton Jn and matched typical HST time, but after that HST romps away and going 15 mph or more faster out of Box tunnel.
IET did well from BPW to Westerleigh Jn. But 96 coming out of Sodbury Tnl ebd compares with 110 for an HST. I'd call that no contest!
Met up with various colleagues from RPS today and we are chewing over our first impressions, but initial consensus is like the train, but its underpowered on diesel.
On electric it will be no contest again.
Which is to be expected as it wasn't supposed to be on diesel in these sections it was supposed to be on AC!
The fairer comparison will come when they start showing up on bits of the route that weren't supposed to be wired.
Sean Emmett
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Indeed. That's why the core electrification project needs to completed ASAP so that time savings on electric will outweigh slight losses on diesel.
Today also highlighted that those platform extensions also need prioritising. There was a bit more suck it and see that I anticipated...
Today also highlighted that those platform extensions also need prioritising. There was a bit more suck it and see that I anticipated...
Mainline421
Member
Caught 1B28 today, glad I chose that working! Was thinking I'd do that so I could justify to myself avoiding them in favour HSTs where possible, but they're actually much better than I expected. The standard class seats are very firm, but yet are still comfortable for a journey of well over an hour. There's plenty of leg room, good air quality, really quiet engines, smooth ride, good view out windows etc. Real shame to hear all the negative press today, because although HST are excellent trains, from a passengers point of view IETs seem to be worthy successors in my opinion. Just needs droplight windows and more thrash. 
I've kept mine. Tried attaching an image here but it's too large. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mainline421/37074464863/in/dateposted/
PudseyBearHST
Member
Caught 1B28 today, glad I chose that working! Was thinking I'd do that so I could justify to myself avoiding them in favour HSTs where possible, but they're actually much better than I expected. The standard class seats are very firm, but yet are still comfortable for a journey of well over an hour. There's plenty of leg room, good air quality, really quiet engines, smooth ride, good view out windows etc. Real shame to hear all the negative press today, because although HST are excellent trains, from a passengers point of view IETs seem to be worthy successors in my opinion. Just needs droplight windows and more thrash.
I've kept mine. Tried attaching an image here but it's too large. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mainline421/37074464863/in/dateposted/
You read my mind
But I agree with you that the class 800 is a very nice train and it's quite hard to fault.
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