TPE Mark 5A coaching stock progress

Erniescooper said:

It should be back tonight it went onto the depot on Monday

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Again, thank you very much, greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the updates in my response to my query about how many 68s have been at Scarborough. A long time surely since we had 4 locos at the coast
I'm just on my way back from London so will see what's what with the Prima Donna 68 on platform 1 when I get back

EE Andy b1 said:

Not strange at all. Do you know how bad TPE are? We all know the problems with the rollingstock and CAF and all other manufacturers, but the problems with TPE started long before the Mk5a sets started to arrive. The Mk3 debacle as well.
So before we see some lovely, everything is wonderful with TPE advert, let's at least have a descent running timetable, because if you think all is well then you obviously don't use TPE that often. TPE are worse than Northern at the moment and that's saying something.
TPE ordered the Mk5a sets, they must have told CAF what they wanted at a price, they decided on the interior layout, they cancelled training with the Mk3s and the in service operation, they have messed up delayed training of staff, so I would say that TPE management, not frontline staff, management have nothing to gloat about.
Please let me know if I'm wrong!!

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I travel with TPE daily. I've been disrupted by two broken rails in Morley tunnel, one in Standedge tunnel and sadly the suicide at Slaithwaite in the past month. So while it's easy for the media to portray TOC's as being terrible, TPE's recent performance is mainly due to external factors. They're not bad at all, just lacking capacity which the new trains will fix.

And as for the Nova 3's, been on them twice and they're good. Plenty of room, I can fit carry-on under my seat and the seats are good for my back. Personally I have no interest in window alignment as when I travel, I do so with my laptop open. Once they fix the snags, I think they'll go down very well with passengers.

And am I not right in thinking that if TPE had run Mk3 coaches they'd not comply with disability laws? Plus drivers would still have to train up on the DT... so they'd still require plenty of training.

Well, today I went to Scarborough and managed, from a 155, to take this photo’ of the set in platform 1. Please excuse the reflections from the window. I would have taken one from platform 2, but couldn’t get a good angle.

I just caught the TV star and her supporting cast leave the stage at about 20:50 this evening. I was hoping they might reverse back in for an encore but alas not. Leave em wanting more Courageous...

Supporting act was a 185 that scuttled away just minutes before

68026 'Enterprise' with TP11 working today, 1E23 0556 LIV - SCA first working.

Swedish Keith said:

View attachment 68458

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Woah! That’s a stunning image, thank you for sharing

Spartacus said:

68026 'Enterprise' with TP11 working today, 1E23 0556 LIV - SCA first working.

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Many thanks for that.

Loco on the Scarborough end (or for the Mk5a purists, first class at the front of the train on 1E23)

That's a great photo Swedish Keith. Thanks for braving the drizzle!

Goldie said:

That's a great photo Swedish Keith. Thanks for braving the drizzle!

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sjpowermac said:

Woah! That’s a stunning image, thank you for sharing

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Thanks both Its actually a screenshot from a videoclip-I didn't upload cos I recall a while back putting videos can make it tricky for some readers. And in any case I can barely upload a photo let alone a video clip

It wasn't too rainy ta, altho I got a little bit sodden on my subsequent bike ride home!

LittleAH said:

I travel with TPE daily. I've been disrupted by two broken rails in Morley tunnel, one in Standedge tunnel and sadly the suicide at Slaithwaite in the past month. So while it's easy for the media to portray TOC's as being terrible, TPE's recent performance is mainly due to external factors. They're not bad at all, just lacking capacity which the new trains will fix.

And as for the Nova 3's, been on them twice and they're good. Plenty of room, I can fit carry-on under my seat and the seats are good for my back. Personally I have no interest in window alignment as when I travel, I do so with my laptop open. Once they fix the snags, I think they'll go down very well with passengers.

And am I not right in thinking that if TPE had run Mk3 coaches they'd not comply with disability laws? Plus drivers would still have to train up on the DT... so they'd still require plenty of training.

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Like any TOC or FOC there are unforeseen circumstances that can affect timetables and service reliability, these can happen anytime anywhere.
Cancelling of trains, short of traincrew, terminating trains before destination due to late running and cancelling service trains to run training trains is unacceptable.
The whole process of introducing 3 types of new rollingstock has been mismanaged from the start. TPE knew it was happening but failed to get proper training into place in good time whether the Mk5a sets were running late or not and now it all affects the other two types as well, so the service they provide is degraded, just not enough staff and resources.

Let's not defend the Mk3 debacle again. TPE were the one's who proposed to use the 2 Mk3 sets and Class 68s top n tail, for much needed added capacity for one thing and LHCS handling for drivers, yes a conversion to Mk5a sets would still be required. This use of the disability laws was a cop out, as restrictions don't come into force until 01 Jan 2020 and the stock which had a fare bit of money spent on it did one return trip MAN - MIA - MAN to satisfy there franchise agreement.
If they had of carried on with there original plan i thick TPE would have had 2 or 3 Nova 3 trains running in service by now, as it is we have one at the moment running Adhoc until hopefully the 2 sets are running later this month.

So no TPE are not to blame for everything that happens, but plenty is TPEs doing and if your travelling in the main core probably more likely to get a descent service, if your at either end, you might or might not get there as booked, but your never quite sure.

Swedish Keith said:

View attachment 68458

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You should see if FTPEL want any footage for a Noir version of their ad! Very atmospheric.

026 and set 11 looking nice, but 15 late out of Leeds heading to Scar. Looking forward to catching it on it's return.

neilboo said:

026 and set 11 looking nice, but 15 late out of Leeds heading to Scar. Looking forward to catching it on it's return.

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Seems pretty standard based on what I've witnessed so far. I appreciate congestion on the core is the issue, but once they lose a bit of time they seem to lose more and more resulting in a 10-15 min delay by journeys end.

Everyone bangs on about the power to weight being superior to a 185 but what about the brakes? Total conjecture on my part but is it the braking performance that's affecting timekeeping? Or driver familiarity?

The screens at the carriage ends are still displaying the time one hour forward, but the 'trains at your destination ' now works.

neilboo said:

The screens at the carriage ends are still displaying the time one hour forward, but the 'trains at your destination ' now works.

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Is the 'trains at your destination' an hour off?

Yorkshire locos
A very quiet week for driver refresher trips, with mainly just the Scarborough loco working.

68032 York driver refresher (platform 2)
68028 York Siemens Depot
68023 Scarborough

Saturday 07.09.2019
68028 0B60/61

Monday 09.09.2019
68028 0B84

Tuesday 10.09.2019
68032 0B62/63

Wednesday 11.09.2019
Nothing running

Thursday 12.09.2019
68028 0B81/82/83/84/85/86/87
To York Siemens Depot fuelling point.

Friday 13.09.2019
Nothing running

68030 has continued its test runs with TP12. A new feature this week was the set starting out from Crewe CS on Tuesday.

The cycle for TP12 has been much longer than for previous sets. Perhaps software tweaks to then be rolled out to accepted sets?

As always, happy to be corrected on any of the post and I’ll update

Tuesday 10.09.2019
68030 plus TP12
04:49 Crewe C.S.-Carlisle (via Manchester Picc)
08:12 Carlisle-Crewe
12:22 Crewe-MID

Wednesday 11.09.2019
Nothing running

Thursday 12.09.2019
68030 plus TP12
05:15 MID-Carlisle
08:12 Carlisle-Crewe

Friday
Nothing running.

1F76 crossing the Ouse at York on 07.09.2019


Nova 3 TPE accepted sets
This week has seen 68029 at Scarborough with TP06 for the filming of a commercial.

Passenger services ran Sat/Sun/Mon/Tue/Fri

A fresh turn was used Mon/Tue/Fri commencing at 04:33 at Longsight and finishing there the next day at 01:35!

Saturday 07.09.2019 (Liverpool end)
68027 plus TP09
5F48/1F48/1E25/1F62/1E39/1F76/1J53/5H53

Sunday 08.09.2019 (Liverpool end)
68027 plus TP09
5E29 07:09 Longsight-Liverpool Lime Street (via-Warrington Central)
1E29/1F66/1E43/1F80/5H93

Monday 09.09.2019 (Scarborough end)
68029 plus TP06
04:42 MID-Scarborough (via Wakefield Kirkgate)

68027 plus TP09 (Liverpool end)
5E23/1E23/1F60 Scarborough to Manchester Vic (train cancelled Manchester Vic to Liverpool LS)
5F60 12:22 Manchester Vic-Eccles Up Good Loop
5E37 13:21 Eccles Up Goods Loop-Manchester Victoria
1E37 12:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough cancelled between Liverpool LS and Manchester Vic
1E37 13:22 Manchester Victoria-Scarborough
1F74/1E51/1P98/5F86

Tuesday 10.09.2019
68026 plus TP11 (Scarborough end)
5E23/1E23/1F60/1E37/1F74/1E51/1P98/5F86

Wednesday 11.09.2019
Nothing running

Thursday 12.09.2019
No passenger services
68029 plus TP06 (Scarborough end)
21:05 Scarborough TMD-Longsight
(Started from Scarborough at 20:53)

Friday 13.09.2019
68026 plus TP11 (Scarborough end)
5E23/1E23/1F60/1E37/1F74/1E51/1P98/5F86


Selected days Mon-Sat
Diagram 1
5F48 04:54 Longsight-Manchester Vic
1F48 05:55 Manchester Vic-Liverpool LS
1E25 06:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1F62 10:41 Scarborough-Liverpool LS
1E39 13:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1F76 17:44 Scarborough-Liverpool LS
1J53 20:56 Liverpool LS-Stalybridge
5H53 21:56 Stalybridge-Longsight

Diagram 2
5E23 04:33 Longsight-LIV
1E23 05:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1F60 09:41 Scarborough-Liverpool LS
1E37 12:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1F74 16:44 Scarborough-Liverpool LS
1E51 19:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1P98 22:46 Scarborough-Manchester Picc
5F86 01:32 Manchester Picc-Longsight

Selected Sundays
5E29 07:09 Longsight-Liverpool LS
1E29 08:56 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1F66 12:41 Scarborough-Liverpool LS
1E43 15:52 Liverpool LS-Scarborough
1F80 19:44 Scarborough-Liverpool LS
5H93 22:52 Liverpool LS-Longsight

Sleeperwaking said:

You should see if FTPEL want any footage for a Noir version of their ad! Very atmospheric.

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Cheers...a total fluke Was lucky in that my connection from London arrived just before the TV star left. You can't beat a bit of black & white can you you...?!

Sleeperwaking said:

You should see if FTPEL want any footage for a Noir version of their ad! Very atmospheric.

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Wonder how long till we see the ad ?

Have the Nova 3's been on the CLC route yet? Either on test or on the early morning ECS Longsight - Lime Street?

Boysteve said:

Have the Nova 3's been on the CLC route yet? Either on test or on the early morning ECS Longsight - Lime Street?

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Yes, the early morning empty stock goes that way from Longsight to Lime Street

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y83002/2019/09/13/advanced

Thanks JonathanH. I have not definitively seen a Nova 3 on the CLC yet and live along side the line. The other day I did just catch then end of a train out of the corner of my eye but it seemed to resemble an 802 rather than the Mark 5a DVT, although the latter seems more likely!

superalbs said:

Is the 'trains at your destination' an hour off?

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No, the other info, like expected arrival times etc, are accurate!!!!

68027 ‘Splendid’ with TP09 crossing the river Ouse at York with 1E23 this morning. Assume the day will be
5E23/1E23/1F60/1E37/1F74/1E51/1P98/5F86. Loco on the ‘Liverpool’ end (first class at the rear on 1E23).

ash39 said:

Seems pretty standard based on what I've witnessed so far. I appreciate congestion on the core is the issue, but once they lose a bit of time they seem to lose more and more resulting in a 10-15 min delay by journeys end.

Everyone bangs on about the power to weight being superior to a 185 but what about the brakes? Total conjecture on my part but is it the braking performance that's affecting timekeeping? Or driver familiarity?

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It might be down to dwell times at stations due to longer being needed to get passengers on and off, with the smaller end doors.

68026 with set 11 delayed at Mirfield on Friday a.m. making a good sound trying to catch up some time.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80654/2019/09/13/advanced

I’m travelling on ALR on week commencing 30th sept, will the 2 diagrams be running by then? And what diagrams will the Mk5a’s work? Will they reliably be running every weekday that week or is it still ad hoc then?.