OVERGROUND TO HIRE IN DIESEL TRAIN FROM CHILTERN RAILWAYS
In the last e-bulletin, the full utilisation of the LOROL Class 172 DMU fleet was discussed regarding the operator’s inability to provide more PIXC-buster trains. BGOLUG had concluded that LOROL would have to sub lease a 2-car diesel train from another train operating company if there were to be any quick relief of peak period overcrowding, citing LOROL’s sister company, Chiltern Railways as the most likely candidate. LOROL’s response was that Chiltern’s fleet was fully committed and their long term hiring of a unit to LOROL was out of the question.
Now comes news that LOROL is “borrowing” a train from Chiltern, so that a one of LOROL’s Class 172s can return to Bombardier at Derby for rectification to faults in the saloon floors. Questioned if the floor faults were caused by the strain of regularly carrying peak period crush passenger loads, LOROL insisted that there was no damage to the carriage floors, merely that the floor coverings were not performing as advertised!
Incidentally, Chiltern’s Class 172s have more seats than LOROL’s and have a toilet (which is bound to be kept locked out of use while the train is being operated by LOROL), which means there is less standing room. I think LOROL will try and keep the Chiltern set in reserve as much as possible. It may well become the regular unit for the 07:59 Woodgrange Park – Hampstead Heath PIXC-buster.
After several false starts, LOROL think that they have cracked the problem of the deafening public address systems on the Class 172 trains. A software fix that seems successful has been uploaded to 172 003, so perhaps members will look out for this particular unit (car numbers XXX13) and let us know if your ear drums notice the difference!