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Alliance Blackpool service to be run by Grand Central and start in 2021

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TT-ONR-NRN

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That will give impressive acceleration! Presumably this is how it will stay out of the way of 125mph units - Pendolinos are not that quick off the mark.
The 390s have very good acceleration! We’ve already established that acceleration doesn’t outdo tilt on the WCML anyway.
 
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Aictos

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Well, if my next trip to Blackpool North (first trip up there since September 2014) is with Grand Central then arriving on a Class 90-hauled Mark 4 will be the biggest most spacious train I've arrived on.

I'd love it if the 90-hauled Mark 4's were called InterCity 175's or 110's - 175's for 175kph and 110 for 110mph as I understand these are restricted to 110mph operation.

I wonder if the front coach behind the Class 90 will be the Quiet Coach - either way I hope there's an option, when booking online, to select the coach by the Class 90. One advantage of this is you're near the station entrance which is really useful if having heavy luggage!

I'll be tempted to, from Oxford, to go via Milton Keynes on the X5 to MK Central rail station then GC service to Blackpool North from there. The 12:10 will suit me as if cancelled there's the 13:10 :)!

As will I, usually I would go via Leeds but am looking forward to Grand Central with the alternate route via MKC.
 

hexagon789

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This confirm in terms of formation (initially at least) it will be 90 + TOE + TO + TOD + SV + POD + DVT ... giving 4x STD (incl. buffet) and 1x 1st.

So 5+DVT, interesting formation - I'd kind of expected 7, don't know why.

Mind you, it's about 17hp per tonne which I think is more than a 390.

The 390s have very good acceleration! We’ve already established that acceleration doesn’t outdo tilt on the WCML anyway.

0-60mph in 60 and I believe they are quicker than an 801.
 

Glenn1969

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But this is all academic because the times and the LN code have been removed from RTT which means presumably yet another delay?
 

Bezza49

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Ouch, but you're not wrong.

Londoners don't go up north to visit the seaside. The weather is far worse, food questionable, the main recreational activities are missing, and it's too far. They do Devon and Cornwall overwhelmingly (even though also far), as well as closer spots like Brighton (lash, culture) or Solent/Wight/Dorset (sailing peeps). Some niche surf and kite-surfing spots in South and North Wales, of course.

Plus HS1 and East London/hipster culture have helped boost a lot of the Kent coastal towns and some, like Whistable, are popular 'cool' places to visit closer to London.

Us Northerners are happy for the hipsters to stay down there. No problem to us. And the food is decent, and less expensive thanks.
 

cle

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The total population of the 3 Fylde Coast boroughs is 330,000. Surely that warrants a reasonable London service even without the tourism factor
Now split by demographics, income and travel patterns...
 

sprunt

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Ouch, but you're not wrong.

Londoners don't go up north to visit the seaside. The weather is far worse, food questionable

Leigh on Sea, of course, famously having more Michelin starred restaurants than Paris.
 

sprinterguy

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90020, in EWS livery, was coupled nose to nose with the DVT to provide ETH on the training set at Wembley this morning. Wasn't able to identify the mark 4 set involved.
 

sprinterguy

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90020, in EWS livery, was coupled nose to nose with the DVT to provide ETH on the training set at Wembley this morning. Wasn't able to identify the mark 4 set involved.
Just to follow up, on the way back north I THINK that the DVT involved was 82228, which would mean that it's component vehicles from set BN27:

That tallies with the sets withdrawn from service post haste last year, and, given that TfW are leasing parts of sets BN23-BN25, it seems reasonable to assume that Alliance Rail's sets are formed of the most part of sets BN26-30?

Vehicles 12466 and 12538 were removed from BN27 for scrap at Booths, Rotherham late last year, so that suggests the standard class carriages in the training set are 12216, 12449 and 12317, plus catering service vehicle 10319. Not sure of the first class vehicle being retained, but if they follow the same pattern as TfW it'll be 11327.
 

ScottDarg

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It will be: 1x DB 90 + Mk4s + Mk4 DVT

90s initially will be 90020 / 021* / 026* / 029 / 039 - all repainted in Grand Central black/orange livery.

*being reinstated from store at Crewe ETD. 90026 is mechanically pretty much there and heading to Toton on Wed for paint.

Not sure of exact rake length, but at least five and shorted than the nine LNER used on the ECML.

The rake at Wembley is one for the service and is currently there for training etc. 86401 was providing ETH for it the other day - although that's not going to be involved in hauling the services before anyone gets excited.

DVTs are a no brainer really - otherwise there'd be the need for draw-back locos and/or run arounds at each end. 90s have also regularly worked with the Mk4s + DVTs in push-pull mode for many years on the ECML, so tried and tested.

90026 moved to Toton today as per the quoted post:
Video stills from Toton this morning of 90026 arriving on 0Z26 Crewe - Toton, the 90 due a visit to the paint shop for a new coat of Grand Central livery. Full video here..... https://t.co/pqjWTQ9IK5
https://twitter.com/fav1F62/status/1217435245592662017?s=19
 
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Aictos

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Typically it's three months ahead isn't it? Open access operators may have their own policies though.

Indeed, anyone remember when GC and Hull Trains first started retailing tickets?
 

Ianno87

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Indeed, anyone remember when GC and Hull Trains first started retailing tickets?

With Wrexham & Shropshire (remember them?!) I seem to recall them pretty much announcing on a Thursday "We'll be running from Monday" or something like that.
 

43096

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I know this is slightly of-topic, but are the Grand Central services actually going ahead?

It seemed to go stone cold quiet where that was concerned.
Yes, it is going ahead. Three sets of stock have been earmarked so far and DB Cargo Class 90s 90020/21/26/29/39 have been identified for the new service. 90026 is now at Toton for repaint after having overhaul work completed at Crewe, including overhauled bogies.
 

D365

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Yes, it is going ahead. Three sets of stock have been earmarked so far and DB Cargo Class 90s 90020/21/26/29/39 have been identified for the new service. 90026 is now at Toton for repaint after having overhaul work completed at Crewe, including overhauled bogies.

Five locomotives for three sets?
 

43096

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Five locomotives for three sets?
Three diagrams in service - I expect there will be a fourth set allocated to provide maintenance cover. Of course any DB 90 from the WEDC pool could be used, but those are the five identified.
 

D365

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Three diagrams in service - I expect there will be a fourth set allocated to provide maintenance cover. Of course any DB 90 from the WEDC pool could be used, but those are the five identified.

To be fair, I've just seen that (according to wiki) 021 is currently in store.
 

43096

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To be fair, I've just seen that (according to wiki) 021 is currently in store.
It is, but is being returned to service by DB for the Grand Central service, as 90026 has been.
 

DJH1971

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Yes, it is going ahead. Three sets of stock have been earmarked so far and DB Cargo Class 90s 90020/21/26/29/39 have been identified for the new service. 90026 is now at Toton for repaint after having overhaul work completed at Crewe, including overhauled bogies.
Thought the original plans was to use 91's?
 

D365

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... even if, as originally devised the Mk.4s would be tilting retrofitted and go up to 140 on the WCML.

I wasn’t aware of a plan to go 140mph, let alone fit the Mk4s out for tilting operation.
 

Ianno87

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I wasn’t aware of a plan to go 140mph, let alone fit the Mk4s out for tilting operation.

The bodyside profile (in theory) allows for tilt to have been retrofitted at a later date whilat staying in gauge. No chance of fitment now, though, surely...?
 

class26

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The bodyside profile (in theory) allows for tilt to have been retrofitted at a later date whilat staying in gauge. No chance of fitment now, though, surely...?

No. Who would pay ? Likely to cost a fair bob or two
 
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