Abellio wins West Midlands franchise

[WatcherZero]

Stock deals
Bombardier £540m Aventra
36x3 90mph electric metro
45x5 110mph electric suburban/long distance
CAF £140m
12x2 car DMU
14x4 car DMU

 

[pt_mad]

Agreed, even if DCO/DOO isn't planned, you can bet Mr Cash will be demanding a "cast iron guarantee" that nothing whatsoever will be changing when the new stock starts arriving (similar to SWR), and when Abellio are unable to give said guarantee will be when the ball starts rolling.

If anything, I suspect the new stock might be operated in a "Driver Open, Guard Closes" style.

Is it not policy now that any new stock ordered has to have the bodyside cameras fitted? (The only question being whether they are used or not)??

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it not policy now that any new stock ordered has to have the bodyside cameras fitted? (The only question being whether they are used or not)??

I think so. But the 350s don't, and probably can't easily be fitted because they are wide at cantrail level.

 

[pt_mad]

I would expect the long-distance ones to be 2+2 in a layout similar to the 350/1 or new Electrostars, quite possibly with ironing board seats, and the suburban ones to be identical to the 3+2 ones for Greater Anglia.
Hi
It would be nice if First Class was 2+1 (I would start using it then), but I doubt it will be.

But that's just opinion/conjecture, no details have been released yet.

The only problem with two different layouts is that if for whatever reason a suburban unit gets used on a Birmingham to Liverpool it's not going to be greatly comfortable. Like if they use 3 + 2 on Crewe services, it shouldn't really be but it happens.

If they use the (387) Electrostar style 2 + 2 ironing board type seats with arm rests and large grab rails throughout, it's going to cater for both uses.

Like when they put a 387 on a Greater Northern Peterborough - Kings Cross service, it services both long distance with fairly comfortable seating, and when it becomes standing around Potters Bar it serves standing well, with wide aisles, grab rails and wide doors.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The only problem with two different layouts is that if for whatever reason a suburban unit gets used on a Birmingham to Liverpool it's not going to be greatly comfortable. Like if they use 3 + 2 on Crewe services, it shouldn't really be but it happens.

As I've mentioned 3+2 seated 350s are a surprisingly good fit on that route - it is heavily used by groups and families who prefer the facing groups of 6 (on which the width is no issue if the middle seat is occupied by a kid) over the almost all airline layout of the /1s and /3s.

 

[pt_mad]

I think so. But the 350s don't, and probably can't easily be fitted because they are wide at cantrail level.

You're probably right re the 350 not being suitable for bodyside cameras. Hence the differences to the Siemens class 380, which does have the cameras and has a totally different profile.

Would have thought it was highly highly unlikely there would be any desire to fit them to existing stock, especially these. And these routes are pretty much long distance, and the TOCs seem pretty content with leaving fully qualified guards on long distance intercity type routes.

But it would seem fairly likely that the stock for the Birmingham electrified suburban stuff is likely to be ordered with bodyside cameras? And if this becomes the case, once unions have this information they will obviously want to ask the relevent questions. How it goes from there is anyone's guess.

 

[Silverlinky]

Some from today....courtesy of a colleague!!

 

[DenmarkRail]

As I've mentioned 3+2 seated 350s are a surprisingly good fit on that route - it is heavily used by groups and families who prefer the facing groups of 6 (on which the width is no issue if the middle seat is occupied by a kid) over the almost all airline layout of the /1s and /3s.

I kind of feel that most familes travelling from the main stations (Crewe, Stoke, Stafford, Rugby, Milton Keynes) would take the VT train. Maybe right for the other stops though.

 

[JordyWM]

there's a few funny tweets going on with animated GIFs from the LNR Twitter team. Especially in reply to a tweet from SC Railway

 

[WatcherZero]

Bit ironic the only station still named for the London North Western rail company wont be on the revised brands network.

 

[sprinterguy]

Some from today....courtesy of a colleague!!

Cheers for those.

I've just realised what the front end treatment of the LNR 350 reminds me of - The AM9 "Clacton Express" units when they carried BR maroon.

 

[JordyWM]

Some from today....courtesy of a colleague!!

Great pictures!

I have to admit that darker green looks lovely there in the first picture. It looks like sort of metallic emerald, which is one of my favourite colours. If only the whole body was that colour, but I know it would be too similar to GWR...

The body is a grayish silver right?

 

[E_Reeves]

Some from today....courtesy of a colleague!!

Great pics, but that front end does not look right

 

[Bletchleyite]

I kind of feel that most familes travelling from the main stations (Crewe, Stoke, Stafford, Rugby, Milton Keynes) would take the VT train. Maybe right for the other stops though.

I think you'd be surprised due to the very low fares and the fact that the family/group market tends to be more price sensitive than the business travel market.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Great pics, but that front end does not look right

I agree, I think it's because it emphasises the gangway which is the most ugly bit, particularly with the peeling paint on that one.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Just dropped LNR a complaint about how I feel about the livery and it’s lack of yellow, busy appearance and simularies to southern rail. Something else I thought of as well;

How is first class being identified?

I’ll see what I get back (if anything)

 

[Idon'tKnow]

I think you'd be surprised due to the very low fares and the fact that the family/group market tends to be more price sensitive than the business travel market.

There is definitely more leisure travellers at off peak as well as, surprisingly a lot of leisure travellers at peak times also, it is funny though when you see a business traveller trying to balance their laptop, coat, coffee and dossier on their lap when a 350/2 pulls up

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is definitely more leisure travellers at off peak as well as, surprisingly a lot of leisure travellers at peak times also

The LM Only Anytime fares are not unreasonable, so that is no great surprise. Particularly if you stack something like a Family Railcard on top.

 

[387star]

Hot off the press: both Bombardier and CAF have signed on the dotted line this morning, re the new Rolling Stock Orders worth £680 Million:

http://www.bombardier.com/en/media/...ck-and-maintenance-contra.bombardiercom.html?

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.c...-680m-deal-for-new-west-midlands-trains-stock

Two carriage trains long enough?

 

[STKKK46]

Just dropped LNR a complaint about how I feel about the livery and it’s lack of yellow, busy appearance and simularies to southern rail. Something else I thought of as well;

How is first class being identified?

I’ll see what I get back (if anything)

A complaint? Really?

 

[sheepy1991]

Im suprised that Abellio have got away with that small panel of Yellow, the class 350 as far as im aware does not meet the current regs to bypass the Yellow Warning Panel and that does not appear to be a sufficient area by only covering the walkthrough door. Im sure they would have done their homework but seeing first hand how Abellio have handled other franchise’s it wouldnt suprise me if this colour scheme will have to be modified... Also the Doors seem to blend in with the rest of the Bodyshell which always used to be frowned upon for Disabled Access reasons

 

[superalbs]

How can anyone say that the livery looks similar to Southern, but not have issues with the present one?

London Midland livery was almost identical, except from the slightly different shade of green, window band, and the green at the carriage end curves in the opposite direction.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Two carriage trains long enough?

Mostly running as 4. I think the 2-car DMU thing has little to do with actually running them as 2-car sets and more to do with making them more marketable in future as more electrification (ha!) takes place, by making them a length suitable for the sort of branch lines that are never going to get wired.

 

[XCTurbostar]

A complaint? Really?

That wasn’t the only thing which I complained about. It’s annoying the way which they’re marketing the franchise as three brands and I’ve made it clear what the issue is and how they can (if they want to) fix it.

 

[STKKK46]

That wasn’t the only thing which I complained about. It’s annoying the way which they’re marketing the franchise as three brands and I’ve made it clear what the issue is and how they can (if they want to) fix it.

That part is fair enough. However I’m sure over time you’ll see less and less of WMT and will start to think of LNR and WMR as separate brands. People will get used to it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That part is fair enough. However I’m sure over time you’ll see less and less of WMT and will start to think of LNR and WMR as separate brands. People will get used to it.

If they get it right...trains announced as WMR at Bletchley this morning...

 

[STKKK46]

If they get it right...trains announced as WMR at Bletchley this morning...

At least it wasn’t London Midland

As I say, I’m sure it will all come right with time.

 

[12guard4]

I agree the branding isn't the best. For me the similarity between West Midlands Trains and West Midlands Railway will cause confusion. Especially if you have a 350 on the WSL-WVH running a service for West Midlands Rail, by West Midlands Trains in a London Northwestern liveried train.

 

[sprinterguy]

Two carriage trains long enough?

If they are used on the Snow Hill lines to provide 4 and 6-car formations as the current fleet of 172s do now, then yes.

 

[XCTurbostar]

It makes sense because at the moment you can have 2 (one unit), 3 (one unit), 4 (two units), 5 (two units) and 6 (two units and three two carriage units) car formations whereas the new arrangements will be 2 (one unit), 4 (two units or one four carriage unit), 6 (three two carriage units or one two carriage unit and one four carriage unit) so its more consistent with even numbered formations. My guess is that this is preparing for 8 carriage formations.