Class 172 Production Progress

[trains2064]

Why on Earth the Stratford line!!!!! Why not the Dorridge line!!!! I am now very angry. So we can't have any 172s for another 2 weeks. What a stupid plan!

These are start and finish Tyseley and don't involve Worcester Crews. Luck of the draw that the are no Dorridge trips!

 

[RPM]

Are Chiltern drivers allowed to do 100mph between the Sudburys/Northolt yet?

Yes and no. The new speeds are in force but there are a lot of temporary speed restrictions.
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Planned Chiltern 172 workings from Monday are as follows:

2A05 0600 MYB - AYS (2 car)
2W06 0620 MYB - HWY (4 car)
2H07 0710 HWY - MYB (4 car)
2H15 07.20 AYS - MYB (2 car)
2W14 0813 MYB - HWY (4 car)
2R17 0900 MYB - SRU (2 car)
2H21 0912 HWY - MYB (4 car)
2H91 0948 GER - MYB (2 car)
1N53 1816 MYB - BCS (6 car)
2H64 1947 BCS - MYB (6 car)

 

[oversteer]

I assume the speed limits are on the new junctions while stuff 'settles'

I only checked because I was on a 172 doing 97mph earlier (GPS) just past Denham so hopefully that settles any lingering doubts whether Chiltern's trains were geared for 75 or 100

 

[SSL1990]

Heres a link from London Midland to show which services the 172's will operate next week

http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http:...wQFjAE&usg=AFQjCNGaLwOjc66-dHtrw-L1CIsRTO1p_g

 

[trainspotter]

I take it all/most stations in between as well

 

[SSL1990]

I'm hoping so as I live in Hagley, and having looked at the document, the 13:14 from here would be one of the 172's, arriving in Stourbridge at around 13:17 and departing at 13:19. Either way I shall be down at the station on Monday to see!
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I've just taken two trips on the 172345, excellent and much better than the 150's! Everyone was intrigued and cruious to get on them as we pulled up to Stourbridge Junction. Apart from the fact they're much quieter, I noticed how much better their acceleration is.

Overall, very good trains!!

 

[Dampflok]

Planned Chiltern 172 workings from Monday are as follows:

2A05 0600 MYB - AYS (2 car)
2W06 0620 MYB - HWY (4 car)
2H07 0710 HWY - MYB (4 car)
2H15 07.20 AYS - MYB (2 car)
2W14 0813 MYB - HWY (4 car)
2R17 0900 MYB - SRU (2 car)
2H21 0912 HWY - MYB (4 car)
2H91 0948 GER - MYB (2 car)
1N53 1816 MYB - BCS (6 car)
2H64 1947 BCS - MYB (6 car)

I went to Princes Risborough this morning, Monday 5th September 2011, to see what use was made of the new through line. The first train I saw on arrival was 2A05, the 06:00 MYB - AYS above, which arrived slightly late with 165 037. It wasn't until it departed that I realise that 172 101 was on the rear of the train, having not seen these posts prior to my visit.

172 101 duly reappeared by itself working 2H15, 07:20 AYS - MYB. This is due to depart Princes Risborough at 07:37 and the 06:19 BMO - MYB LHCS passes through on the centre road at 07:35 (or did this morning - is this still 1H09?), so there is potential to get a shot of the 172 alongside the 67 coming into the station area if things work out, or for bowlage if they don't!

Cheers, Geoff

 

[Cherry_Picker]

They are out in force now. The headlight is bloody bright, isn't it? Just had my retinas scorched by one!

 

[LouJ]

It appears that week commencing 19th September will see a further two diagrams introduced from Tyseley using 172s. Had a ride on one today and they are nice (for a dmu). Sadly station dwell times are not good and we consistently lost time from Snow Hill towards Stourbridge Junction.

 

[The Planner]

They probably will be as they sit in 150 timings and will do for a considerable time yet.

 

[Class172]

Went on my first ride on a 172 today on the way back from school; I was thoroughly impressed. The seats were more comfortable than I had expected; there was plenty of legroom and it was very quiet; the air-con was on and was lovely and refreshing. Loads of people seemed to keep going into the new toilets! I never knew they had automated announcement systems! My friends who don't have any interest in trains usually were very happy and even excited! I (and they) can't wait for our mornig service to become 150 operated.

 

[bjm2000uk]

Are there any booked diagrams for Chiltern 172s on saturdays?

 

[Old Hill Bank]

It appears that week commencing 19th September will see a further two diagrams introduced from Tyseley using 172s. Had a ride on one today and they are nice (for a dmu). Sadly station dwell times are not good and we consistently lost time from Snow Hill towards Stourbridge Junction.

Yes I've had a go on a couple of them this week and they are so much better than the 150s.
As for the timekeeping, dwell times etc. I dont think there is a problem.
The crews will get used to them and the extra power will more than compensate for the marginal increase in dwell times.

 

[150001]

Just got live times on at the moment for the 19:48 Shirley service which is 172 operated, is bang on time unlike some Chiltern services at Moor street. There seems to be no timing issues. Are there any services on Saturday which are LM 172 operated and also 150105, 150107 and 150109 are staying permanently at LM, been confirmed. 150101 has also gone down to FGW now.

 

[Class172]

Are there any services on Saturday which are LM 172 operated and also 150105, 150107 and 150109 are staying permanently at LM, been confirmed. 150101 has also gone down to FGW now.

There are currently no weekend services using 172s as far as I know as yet.

I saw a NWM 150/1 at Worcester Foregate St this morning forming the FGW service to Malvern.

 

[150001]

Probably 150126. Already there as well. Typical. The only time I get on them, the time they aren't there. I might make a evening trip on a weekday though!

 

[TEW]

150126 is currently the only 150 in NWM livery in service with FGW. 150108 is in service in Central Livery.

 

[SSL1990]

I hopped on 172345 and 172337 today.
Does anyone know if when all the 172's are in service whether there will be any substantial changes to the timetable?

 

[The Planner]

No, you won't get any changes in the timetable. One, because you need to bed the units in and see what they can do, two, by the time that has happened you are into the 2012 Olympic timetable and nothing will get moved substantially during that.

 

[Class172]

Went on 172337 today; a guy in a orange jacket was checking all the door control panels between Worcs and Droitwich.

I saw two 172/2s stabled at Worcester LMD earlier.

 

[150001]

So will there be a 172 out today then?

 

[Class172]

Don't think so.

 

[biggyn]

I've been on the new class 172s three times now in the last few days, but only between Stourbridge and Cradley Heath, so I've only really been on and off quite quickly. Anyway, some things to report:

1 - Seats. Seeing are they are the same as those in the class 350's, they aren't what you call particularly comfortable. They are quite firm to say the least. Plus, because the backrests are quite high, if you're sat in the airline-style seats as opposed to sitting with two seats facing you, it's a little bit difficult to see forward, and that's coming from someone who is quite tall. Plus, it doesn't feel like you're sitting in the seat, like on a class 150, but on top. That said, the extra width is very welcome, which doesn't feel like you're sitting in a baby's pram anymore!

2 - Toilet. I hopped on at Cradley Heath today and thought "I know, I'll see what the toilet is like". So, hopped on the train, waited for it to move and waddled over to the loo and pressed the button to open the door. The door, being one of those big, curved sliding doors, opened about a foot and stopped. Luckily for me, the guard was nearby as he had operated the doors from the near-by doorway, something that you couldn't do with a class 150. He said it had done it several times (typical of Bombardier is suppose!!) and he pushed it round to the open position, it closed itself and when I pressed the button again, it actually opened. Is this really what should be expected of a new train, an incorrectly functioning toilet door? What if I'd been desperate for the toilet?! The interior of the toilet was pretty space-age compared to what you normally see in a train loo around these parts, but what's the point in having a nice easy-to-use interior if you can't get into the thing?!

3 - Noise. Now, I'm not talking about the interior of the train, as that is lovely and quiet, and you can hardly hear the engines at all compared to the class 150s. What I am talking about is when you're stood by it at a station. I got on the Stratford - Stourbridge Service today, so when I got to Stourbridge, it terminated there (obviously!). Walked over from platform 3 to platform 1 and one thing you notice other than how spotlessly clean it's been kept is the tremendous racket coming from the engines when it's stood still. Compared to when a class 150 is stood in platform 3 ready to head back off to Stratford or Dorridge, the noise is not half as loud as a 172. They may have made it a nice quiet ride for the passengers on board the train, but for te passengers standing next to it, it's not particularly pleasant on the ears.

4 - Gear changing. First thing that sprung to mind is that when it changes gears, it doesn't half sound like a bus! But the main thing I'm worried about is that there is a noticeable jolt when it changes gears, not anything that would make you slam your head off the chair in front of you, but still enough to move you slightly. It doesn't particularly bother me now, but will it remain this smooth when it starts to wear in a bit? Or may it smooth out a bit once it's slackened up a bit, seeing as they are probably quite tight and new at the moment.

I think that's about all that I have to mention. I know it sounds like I'm splitting hairs with how small some of these little problems are, but on the whole, i think they are really nice replacements to the class 150s.

 

[bengley]

If you desperately needed the toilet you could have pushed the door open like most people would have done and like I have done several times on trains with dodgy toilet doors.

 

[biggyn]

If you desperately needed the toilet you could have pushed the door open like most people would have done and like I have done several times on trains with dodgy toilet doors.

I didn't need it desperately thankfully, but if someone was in a situation of desperation, they'd have shoved the door open, but then been in full view of any passengers near by because the toilet itself is right next to the point where the door opens! Those automatic sliding doors are a pest, especially on trains. Why can't things be made nice and simple any more rather than being complex with more things to go wrong?

 

[jon0844]

The door, being one of those big, curved sliding doors, opened about a foot and stopped. Luckily for me, the guard was nearby as he had operated the doors from the near-by doorway, something that you couldn't do with a class 150. He said it had done it several times (typical of Bombardier is suppose!!) and he pushed it round to the open position, it closed itself and when I pressed the button again, it actually opened. Is this really what should be expected of a new train, an incorrectly functioning toilet door?

I said the same about a new 377/5 on FCC that was just a few weeks old, which also stuck. So, I've highlighted the magic word - Bombardier.

Quality control = Non existent.

And now tax payers are giving up £250k to help Bombardier mount a legal challenge for not getting the Thameslink contract. God help us.

Does the toilet have the 379 style lock that looks like a handle (even if it's still just a switch) to lock? That's a very good idea and gives reassurance that you've definitely locked the door (if it doesn't stick by itself).

 

[MCR247]

Although the seats are high backed, they aren't the same seats as the 350/2s, they are slightly different

The rest of what you said is...well..like Jon said, to sum it up;

Thats Bombardier at Derby for you

 

[biggyn]

I said the same about a new 377/5 on FCC that was just a few weeks old, which also stuck. So, I've highlighted the magic word - Bombardier.

Quality control = Non existent.

And now tax payers are giving up £250k to help Bombardier mount a legal challenge for not getting the Thameslink contract. God help us.

Does the toilet have the 379 style lock that looks like a handle (even if it's still just a switch) to lock? That's a very good idea and gives reassurance that you've definitely locked the door (if it doesn't stick by itself).

Actually, from looking at this photo: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p598103563/h11A91229#h11a91229 it does look very similar, if not the same, as the one on a class 172, and I agree that the lock does actually reassure you that it can't be opened by someone from the outside when it's engaged

Although the seats are high backed, they aren't the same seats as the 350/2s, they are slightly different

The rest of what you said is...well..like Jon said, to sum it up;

Thats Bombardier at Derby for you

Ahh right, they do feel very similar to sit on though. The comfiest seats I've sat on in a train was on a South West Trains class 158, but they'renot the seats in a 172, so I'll leave it there!

 

[fgwrich]

Although the seats are high backed, they aren't the same seats as the 350/2s, they are slightly different

The rest of what you said is...well..like Jon said, to sum it up;

Thats Bombardier at Derby for you

Yep! As for the Disabled toilet - Im supprised it actually just about works, as Bombardiers disabled toilets, usually seem to spend more time being well...Disabled of their own!:roll:

The gear changing jerk - dosent supprise me whatsoever really...Mechanical transmission...Why?:roll:

But yeah, as Jon said...Quality control = Non existent.

Also nice to know that were contributing to the Bombardier vs Siemens legal challenge...Great! Always nice to know that were paying for Bombardiers management failings!

 

[jon0844]

The problem with that 'lever' is that it's still operating a switch, so it's not a physical lock and someone from outside (e.g. train staff) could open it.

And, being a Bombardier made train, I'm sure that it could go wrong and the door will open half way - then get stuck - while you're on the toilet!