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5x Class 153 conversion to bike and baggage vans for Scotrail

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w1bbl3

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fgwrich said:
The now disappointing GWR had the right idea with their "Express Cafe" a few years ago, in fact I believe it was until the start of this year when they used to offer the Kuboto Noodle Pots on their HSTs. I enjoyed them, offering something different to the now familiar sandwich offering and perhaps being one of the first TOCs to offer "hot pots" type meals. Disapointingly, like most of the rather good buffet offerings they have since been dropped - a decision I find a little odd on the IETs given that the trollies still cart plenty of hot water up and down to provide hot drinks.
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The GWR food offering is all the more bizarre considering that every IET is equipped with a full kitchen and thus chill chain compliant cold storage, then again actually seeing the trolley pass through on the Wales and Bristol runs would be a step up from where the service offer has now declined too.

I must admit seeing the Scotrail new menu it is apparent how comprehensive an offer they've decided to introduce, sandwiches, pies, panni, pastries all in a world when on train catering supposed doesn't pay.
 
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InOban

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It doesn't pay, but it is a franchise commitment. So in the end, the scogov is paying, ie taxpayers like me.
 
43096

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InOban said:
It doesn't pay, but it is a franchise commitment. So in the end, the scogov is paying, ie taxpayers like me.
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It may not pay directly, but offering a higher quality on board service will likely attract more passengers.
 
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43096 said:
It may not pay directly, but offering a higher quality on board service will likely attract more passengers.
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Given the more rural nature of ScotRail's Inter7City services as compared to a typical English InterCity operation (noting that TPE is not, other than on the WCML route, an InterCity type operation, and is more similar to ScotRail's in many ways) there may well be more demand due to fewer choices of place to buy before boarding.
 
najaB

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marks87

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Absolutely loving the cycle storage there.

It would be great to see similar across the network, such as a 50:50 passenger/cycle(+other sports equipment) trailer in the HSTs. I accept that's pie in the sky, though.
 
GrimShady

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43096 said:
It may not pay directly, but offering a higher quality on board service will likely attract more passengers.
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As I have been arguing over since I joined this board only to be told WHL isn't worth it.
 
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InOban

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marks87 said:
Absolutely loving the cycle storage there.

It would be great to see similar across the network, such as a 50:50 passenger/cycle(+other sports equipment) trailer in the HSTs. I accept that's pie in the sky, though.
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I'm sure that if the owners of the cycles were willing to buy a ticket, at a price corresponding to the space their cycle occupies on the train, then the tocs would be happy to provide more cycle space
 
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dubscottie

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marks87 said:
Absolutely loving the cycle storage there.

It would be great to see similar across the network, such as a 50:50 passenger/cycle(+other sports equipment) trailer in the HSTs. I accept that's pie in the sky, though.
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i don't know about the Uk but in Dublin it is common for people to own 2 cycles.

For example, home to train station on bike 1 (or use the car), station at other end to work on bike 2.

Reverse is bike 2, train, bike 1 or car back to the house.

They are cheap bikes also so it is not a great loss if bike 2 is stolen over the weekend.

It also saves the hassle of putting a cycle on the train.
 
TheEdge

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dubscottie said:
i don't know about the Uk but in Dublin it is common for people to own 2 cycles.
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I get the impression that's quite common in quite a few places. I know it is in Holland and GA have tried to encourage the practice in the UK with the various secure and large bike parks at their stations. Ipswich (and Lowestoft!) have large caged parks. Norwich has a large number of tiered bike parks and then Cambridge now has an enourmous bike park. If its caught on I don't know.
 
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marks87 said:
Absolutely loving the cycle storage there.

It would be great to see similar across the network, such as a 50:50 passenger/cycle(+other sports equipment) trailer in the HSTs. I accept that's pie in the sky, though.
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I'm a cycle campaigner, but I only want to see cycle space on trains increased where platform length isn't limiting train length and services don't need extra seating capacity. Seats first then bike space.
 
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dubscottie said:
i don't know about the Uk but in Dublin it is common for people to own 2 cycles.

For example, home to train station on bike 1 (or use the car), station at other end to work on bike 2.

Reverse is bike 2, train, bike 1 or car back to the house.

They are cheap bikes also so it is not a great loss if bike 2 is stolen over the weekend.

It also saves the hassle of putting a cycle on the train.
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This is more about leisure cycling. There are not many commuters, cycling or not, on the WHL.
 
Monkeyhead

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Seems an odd way to go out of Neville Hill, though Leeds and Castleford to get to York, why wouldn't it just go straight to York via Garforth and Church Fenton? Too busy with other services??
 
najaB

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Monkeyhead said:
Seems an odd way to go out of Neville Hill, though Leeds and Castleford to get to York, why wouldn't it just go straight to York via Garforth and Church Fenton? Too busy with other services??
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I find the reversal back out of Newcastle, via Carlisle and Dumfries to be more interesting - I would have thought up to Millerhill for a break would've been simpler. A Grand Day Out, that's for sure.
 
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It doesn't seem to be able to keep up with its timings either. Overtime in Newcastle (how can it have been timed out at exactly the same time as the 1128 to the Metrocentre? and why didn't it precede it?) and has lost time all the way since. Given that it's not shown to call at Carlisle (but didn't lose any time there either) it looks as though the driver has gone through! What did he or she do to deserve this job?
 
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AndrewE

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HLE said:
What a joke. There's lines in the country that currently have severe overcrowding in the peaks where this unit wouldve helped in the short term. Instead it's off for a holiday in Kilmarnock before the summer.
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Haven't you noticed the current difficulties in Scotland after some of "their" DMUs have had to be released into England (long before their replacement stock will be ready)? Yet there are still people who defend the current structure of the industry! If it was a family it would be called disfunctional... here we have half the players actively trying to extort what they can, only just stopping short of cutting other players' throats.
najaB said:
Like the West Highland Line in the summer.
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Exactly. I wonder how optimistic they are about getting them in service this year, though?
 
ld0595

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Wow, that was quick. Didn't realise they were arriving this soon. Looking forward to seeing the final refurbishment.
 
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HLE

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My point is there is severe overcrowding now. At least one operator could have benefitted from that unit but as it stands it's going to sit out of use for months while being refurbed to carry bikes and a small number of passengers in Scotland. It is sorely needed on several lines now.

There is a valid business case for this to be done, and being one of the rare few that appreciate the 153's, I am interested in the project and seeing the final product.
 
ash39

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Monkeyhead said:
Seems an odd way to go out of Neville Hill, though Leeds and Castleford to get to York, why wouldn't it just go straight to York via Garforth and Church Fenton? Too busy with other services??
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Entry/exit to Neville Hill is only possible from the Leeds direction. Presumably it's easier to take the Castleford route than to reverse in Leeds station.

ld0595 said:
Wow, that was quick. Didn't realise they were arriving this soon. Looking forward to seeing the final refurbishment.
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What's more of a surprise to me is that 153373 was only with Northern for a few months in total, hardly worth the effort!
 
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ld0595 said:
Wow, that was quick. Didn't realise they were arriving this soon. Looking forward to seeing the final refurbishment.
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Refurbishment?

Things are in such a desperate state in Scotland that they should be pressed into passenger service immediately.
 
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HLE said:
My point is there is severe overcrowding now. At least one operator could have benefitted from that unit but as it stands it's going to sit out of use for months while being refurbed to carry bikes and a small number of passengers in Scotland. It is sorely needed on several lines now.
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But if you follow your course of action, there will be large numbers of trains sitting unusable in sidings this time next year, and larger numbers of passengers left on platforms. There is a huge amount of work that needs doing this year, so just expect more of the same, in multiple regions, for the rest of the year and beyond. And we'll still have stock unused and severe overcrowding in January next year. It's pretty much unavoidable now, the issue has been brewing for years and it's now too late for any fix that doesn't involve several years of pain.
 
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