Class 350/2 110mph

[BucksBones]

Control/fleet are going to have to try much harder to not do so much random allocating of they want this to work. Considering all the 350 fleet will be 2+2 table fitted and a common fleet it does seem mad to add an extra sub-fleet in.

Not helped by LNR diagramming from the May timetable change which interworks Liverpool services with the aforementioned MK / Tring stoppers. Unless there’s another substantial recast before the Aventras enter service I can’t see how it will be possible to get it right. Not the end of the world but an unnecessary problem of WMT’s own making.

 

[driver_m]

Also to add to the mix, a lot of 350s sit in Crewe LNWR overnight. Are they going to be maintaining these new units too as well as 350s or concentrating on just one fleet type? I'd presume that'll have some bearing on the 'random unit generator' as some of you call it..

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not helped by LNR diagramming from the May timetable change which interworks Liverpool services with the aforementioned MK / Tring stoppers. Unless there’s another substantial recast before the Aventras enter service I can’t see how it will be possible to get it right. Not the end of the world but an unnecessary problem of WMT’s own making.

Indeed, nobody dies if a unit makes it onto the wrong service. But it does make them look rather unprofessional, a problem that could be avoided by having a more homogeneous fleet. Most people probably wouldn't notice the difference between an Aventra and a Desiro (sufficiently so that I reckon many people will think "this train is formed of 10 coaches" means a short-form, probably enough to make the Press, I reckon), but they definitely do notice being subjected to the abomination that is 3+2 seating.

And when an Aventra shows up at Northampton with a 350 to couple to it (I give that a week, too), they really will look stupid.

 

[Railperf]

I cannot believe any train operator would want to prematurely replace one of the most reliable train fleets in the country.. especially as there will be a fair few extra class 350 spare once TransPennine Express release them

 

[Bletchleyite]

I cannot believe any train operator would want to prematurely replace one of the most reliable train fleets in the country.. especially as there will be a fair few extra class 350 spare once TransPennine Express release them

It's all down to the lease deal on the 350/2s which is stupidly expensive, as I understand it. The ROSCO's bluff was called, and they lost.

The TPE sets are coming to LNR to replace class 319s, though as one has been written off I suspect there will be 1 or 2 more 319s hanging around for a while.

 

[Railperf]

Sounds like the operator is going to come off worse. The electrostars do not come close to the reliability mileages of the 350's. And there's going to be a long bed -in period for the Aventra trains!!

 

[rebmcr]

one has been written off

A 350/4 or just one of the Watford tunnel units?

 

[Bletchleyite]

A 350/4 or just one of the Watford tunnel units?

One of the /4s, it hit a number of large animals I believe. The Watford units have been or will be repaired.

 

[SeanG]

Yes one of the 350/4s hit some cows - apparently it has twisted the chassis of all vehicles

 

[43096]

Yes one of the 350/4s hit some cows - apparently it has twisted the chassis of all vehicles

Ah, the internet rumour mill that xyz vehicle has been written off... use of “apparently” noted. There have been many cases over the years where the gibber has been that such-and-such a vehicle was beyond repair: that 59 on the Whatley or Merehead branch, the DRS 66 on the GSW, 43101 when it was at Brush etc etc etc.

I’ll believe it when it goes for scrap.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Ah, the internet rumour mill that xyz vehicle has been written off... use of “apparently” noted. There have been many cases over the years where the gibber has been that such-and-such a vehicle was beyond repair: that 59 on the Whatley or Merehead branch, the DRS 66 on the GSW, 43101 when it was at Brush etc etc etc.

I’ll believe it when it goes for scrap.

I think the difference is that these "rumours" are from insiders at Siemens or TPE.

 

[43096]

I think the difference is that these "rumours" are from insiders at Siemens or TPE.

Because the staff rumour mill is always accurate......


As above, I’ll believe it when it goes for scrap.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Because the staff rumour mill is always accurate......


As above, I’ll believe it when it goes for scrap.

True, but we know that TPE could really, really do with even just one extra unit, so if it was possible to repair it I'd have thought efforts towards said repair would already be underway.

 

[43096]

True, but we know that TPE could really, really do with even just one extra unit, so if it was possible to repair it I'd have thought efforts towards said repair would already be underway.

Damage repair is never that quick: repair assessment, costing, insurance, tendering the work and materials procurement is not a swift process.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Damage repair is never that quick: repair assessment, costing, insurance, tendering the work and materials procurement is not a swift process.

We're not hearing of any of these stages though. If a repair was in the works I'd normally have expected for at least something to be known about it.

 

[JN114]

We're not hearing of any of these stages though. If a repair was in the works I'd normally have expected for at least something to be known about it.

There’s been plenty of examples of late of work going on in the industry without this forum having the inside track on it.

 

[37057]

True, but we know that TPE could really, really do with even just one extra unit, so if it was possible to repair it I'd have thought efforts towards said repair would already be underway.

What makes you think they're not?

 

[43096]

What makes you think they're not?

This rumour of the unit being written off started, as far as I can tell, on another forum where a TPE conductor was quoted as saying it was "a total write off" whilst apologising for a short formation. Obviously conductors now have all the gen on engineering matters!

This is a photo of the damaged set: https://www.flickr.com/photos/37190-dalzell/30928103967/

By no stretch of the imagination is that a write-off, even though the cab desk is reported to have been shifted backwards by the impact. Indeed, a reliable source on said forum has asked Siemens through official channels and was told it's a four month repair job.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

This rumour of the unit being written off started, as far as I can tell, on another forum where a TPE conductor was quoted as saying it was "a total write off" whilst apologising for a short formation. Obviously conductors now have all the gen on engineering matters!

This is a photo of the damaged set: https://www.flickr.com/photos/37190-dalzell/30928103967/

By no stretch of the imagination is that a write-off, even though the cab desk is reported to have been shifted backwards by the impact. Indeed, a reliable source on said forum has asked Siemens through official channels and was told it's a four month repair job.

If that's the case that's good news for both TPE and WMT passengers. An extra unit could make a big difference to shortforms, or cancellations, for both.

 

[SeanG]

Ah, the internet rumour mill that xyz vehicle has been written off... use of “apparently” noted. There have been many cases over the years where the gibber has been that such-and-such a vehicle was beyond repair: that 59 on the Whatley or Merehead branch, the DRS 66 on the GSW, 43101 when it was at Brush etc etc etc.

I’ll believe it when it goes for scrap.

Source is direct from inside TPE

 

[37057]

Source is direct from inside TPE

Funny looking cows then.

 

[sd0733]

Source is direct from inside TPE

To be fair there were many sources inside London Midland at the time who said that 350264 was a write off after Watford, there were even pictures of it in a lorry 'going for scrap' I seem to remember. It could well be correct and it is a scrapper but the final decision will generally be from somewhere at the leasing company rather than the TOC itself.

 

[43096]

Source is direct from inside TPE

And the four month repair quote is an official source in Siemens.

 

[Kite159]

Wasn't there a 450 a few years ago which had an argument with a tree in the New Forest area during a spot of wind which was out of traffic for months when Siemens rebuilt the front end?

 

[cjmillsnun]

Wasn't there a 450 a few years ago which had an argument with a tree in the New Forest area during a spot of wind which was out of traffic for months when Siemens rebuilt the front end?

I seem to recall it running in traffic in multiple with other units for a while as they couldn't spare it.

 

[dilbertphil]

AFAIK the TPE 350 is going back to Germany to be repaired and will be back on service in 4 months. That info is from a TPE fleet memo delivered to staff.

 

[anamyd]

AFAIK the TPE 350 is going back to Germany to be repaired and will be back on service in 4 months. That info is from a TPE fleet memo delivered to staff.

Ah yes, standard procedure, just the first time in a couple of years and a bit

 

[oversteer]

No doubt we’ll be seeing it on the Allelys Facebook page soon!

 

[oversteer]

Shame they’re getting rid of them !

I wish to retract this statement, as LNW seem to be putting 350/2s on the Birmingham fasts now, and this is not fine

 

[Railperf]

I wish to retract this statement, as LNW seem to be putting 350/2s on the Birmingham fasts now, and this is not fine

What is wrong with using 350/2s to Birmingham?