Cross Country Class 170 2 car --> 3 car upgrades

[Spirit555]

I have not seen any confirmation that it was 170621. It did run over 2 hours late though and 170638 made the return journey roughly 2 hours late too.

Mark

 

[ABB125]

Also, the Bristol-Tyseley working appeared to be diverted via University, rather than Camp Hill as booked. I was at UNI station, and then a 3-car XC class 170 came through non-stop (which is very unusual; normally they always stop). However, there was nothing on RealTime Trains. I later checked the train in the link posted earlier, and it didn't report at Lifford East Jn, nor did it appear to reverse at St Andrews Jn, implying that it went via New Street instead (and confirmed by sight, although I didn't bother looking for a number as I assumed it would be a voyager coming through ("the next train in platform 1 does not stop here").
Given that it ran very late, is it possible that there was a defect in one of the cabs, meaning it couldn't reverse as booked and had to run via BHM?

 

[greatvoyager]

I have not seen any confirmation that it was 170621. It did run over 2 hours late though and 170638 made the return journey roughly 2 hours late too.

Mark

Thanks for the update.

 

[The_Train]

I have not seen any confirmation that it was 170621. It did run over 2 hours late though and 170638 made the return journey roughly 2 hours late too.

Mark

Is 638 pencilled in to lose a carriage?

 

[43096]

Is 638 pencilled in to lose a carriage?

No, it's a Cross-Country unit already.

 

[The_Train]

No, it's a Cross-Country unit already.

I knew that - just testing you

 

[Spirit555]

170621 in service today. Currently on Tyseley. Sue to work Birmingham NS to Nottingham later today.

Mark

 

[Dave91131]

170621 in service today. Currently on Tyseley. Sue to work Birmingham NS to Nottingham later today.

Mark

Is Sue the driver or the guard?

 

[DannyMich2018]

170621 in service today. Currently on Tyseley. Sue to work Birmingham NS to Nottingham later today.

Mark

It was in service working the 1350 Leicester - Birmingham NS yesterday so that may be it's first day in service? Centre vehicle very nice inside although whole train looked really nice. The poster displays inside the centre vehicle have not yet been filled with anything and the lights in that vehicle were switching between on and off but it's great to have extra capacity for when things get better.

 

[Spirit555]

170622 returned from Barton Hill Saturday 03/04 with centre car 56634.

Mark

 

[The_Train]

170622 returned from Barton Hill Saturday 03/04 with centre car 56634.

Mark

Great stuff, thanks Mark.

I have that down as the 4th unit to be completed (620-623) with centre cars from 530 and 531 still to be added to their new units?

 

[DannyMich2018]

Great stuff, thanks Mark.

I have that down as the 4th unit to be completed (620-623) with centre cars from 530 and 531 still to be added to their new units?

That's right. It's just 170518 and 170519 left to go down to Barton Hill receive their centre cars and be re-numbered 170618 and 170619. I'd assume one of these should go south any day now.

 

[Spirit555]

They usually go down on a Saturday on using paths 5Z70 or 5Z71 on the standard maintenance contract Barton Hill has, depending on whether going or coming from Barton Hill. Usually down there a week, but if centre car added it's 2 weeks.

HTH

Mark

 

[The_Train]

That's right. It's just 170518 and 170519 left to go down to Barton Hill receive their centre cars and be re-numbered 170618 and 170619. I'd assume one of these should go south any day now.

They usually go down on a Saturday on using paths 5Z70 or 5Z71 on the standard maintenance contract Barton Hill has, depending on whether going or coming from Barton Hill. Usually down there a week, but if centre car added it's 2 weeks.

HTH

Mark

Thanks very much both!

 

[adrock1976]

With all of the switching around of making some of the XC 170s into 3 coach sets from some 3 coach West Midlands/LM 170s, being as both the LM and XC belong to the exact same depot at Tyseley, would it have been far more simpler and straightforward to exchange the sets?

This is not the first time this has happened in recent times, as for the bringing back into service 221144, some 5 coach XC 221s were reduced to 4 coaches, where it would have been easier for Virgin Trains [sic] to have put 221142-143 back to how they were originally and done a swap with XC as both operators fleets are based at the exact same depot (Central Rivers).

Sometimes, I totally despair of how the country has ended up in the terrible state it is in nowadays.

 

[swt_passenger]

With all of the switching around of making some of the XC 170s into 3 coach sets from some 3 coach West Midlands/LM 170s, being as both the LM and XC belong to the exact same depot at Tyseley, would it have been far more simpler and straightforward to exchange the sets?

I remember from the earlier thread on the same subject it‘s because the existing XC end vehicles have first class already, and the others don’t.

 

[ABB125]

With all of the switching around of making some of the XC 170s into 3 coach sets from some 3 coach West Midlands/LM 170s, being as both the LM and XC belong to the exact same depot at Tyseley, would it have been far more simpler and straightforward to exchange the sets?

This is not the first time this has happened in recent times, as for the bringing back into service 221144, some 5 coach XC 221s were reduced to 4 coaches, where it would have been easier for Virgin Trains [sic] to have put 221142-143 back to how they were originally and done a swap with XC as both operators fleets are based at the exact same depot (Central Rivers).

Sometimes, I totally despair of how the country has ended up in the terrible state it is in nowadays.

I imagine the cost of repainting and refurbishing whole trains rather than a few coaches might dissuade a few people.
It does irritate my OCD though!

 

[Wyrleybart]

With all of the switching around of making some of the XC 170s into 3 coach sets from some 3 coach West Midlands/LM 170s, being as both the LM and XC belong to the exact same depot at Tyseley, would it have been far more simpler and straightforward to exchange the sets?

This is not the first time this has happened in recent times, as for the bringing back into service 221144, some 5 coach XC 221s were reduced to 4 coaches, where it would have been easier for Virgin Trains [sic] to have put 221142-143 back to how they were originally and done a swap with XC as both operators fleets are based at the exact same depot (Central Rivers).

Sometimes, I totally despair of how the country has ended up in the terrible state it is in nowadays.

The Turbostar switching around has been covered before, but basically ....... XC needed more capacity while WMR 170s were moving to EMR as 2 cars. Therefore, 6 centre cars from WMR units were sent to Barton Hill to be reliveried for XC and exam'd. 6 2 car XC 170s were sent to Bristol for an exam, then augmentation.

Result 6 cars reliveried for XC, and all WMR untis to be reliveried on transfer to EMR anyway. Why do 18 when only 6 need doing, as well as all the internals from 170518-170522 remain in their cars when they become 170618-170622.

Easy peazy when you think about it.

221141-221144 were built as 4 car units
When the XC franchise was taken over by Arriva the first thing Bombardier did was isolate then remove the tilt linkages so that XC 221s were locked in the non tilt position. Augmenting 221142 and 221143 to five cars involved putting tilt cars into them. Using ex XC 221 cars required the tilt system recommissioning on those two, but then using non tilt XC 221 cars to go into 221144 as a non tilt unit. A lot of work was saved by doing it this way.

Don't despair though old chap, there is generally a reason for it.

 

[greatvoyager]

Any news on 170518/519 being extended?

 

[DannyMich2018]

Any news on 170518/519 being extended?

519 according to RTT is out (as a 2 car) coupled to 112 on the Birmingham- Cambridge route. Cannot see 518 out though.

 

[greatvoyager]

519 according to RTT is out (as a 2 car) coupled to 112 on the Birmingham- Cambridge route. Cannot see 518 out though.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Spirit555]

170518 has now returned as 170618 formed with addition of 56630. Seen at Birmingham New Street, sat as the standby XC 170 unit. I also believe that 170519 has gone for addition of 56631.

Mark

 

[greatvoyager]

170518 has now returned as 170618 formed with addition of 56630. Seen at Birmingham New Street, sat as the standby XC 170 unit. I also believe that 170519 has gone for addition of 56631.

Mark

Thanks. So XCs 170/5 fleet is pretty much obsolete.

 

[D.K.TAYLOR]

170518 has now returned as 170618 formed with addition of 56630. Seen at Birmingham New Street, sat as the standby XC 170 unit. I also believe that 170519 has gone for addition of 56631.

Mark

170618 Today on the 13-22 Birmingham - Cambridge

 

[greatvoyager]

170618 Today on the 13-22 Birmingham - Cambridge

Thanks for the update.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Thanks for the update.

Seen it at Hinckley. Passed 170102 which I was arriving on 1350 Leicester to Birmingham NS. Was very well loaded too!

 

[D.K.TAYLOR]

170534 has just coupled up to 170509 in New Street to form the 10-00 Birmingham to Shrewsbury service

 

[greatvoyager]

Seen it at Hinckley. Passed 170102 which I was arriving on 1350 Leicester to Birmingham NS. Was very well loaded too!

All the better that more of them are 3-cars then.

 

[DannyMich2018]

All the better that more of them are 3-cars then.

It sure is! Only 7 2-car units left so presume in May when as far as I know it goes back to a Pre Covid timetable on the 170 routes they'll diagram the 2-car units carefully to avoid been used on busy services or pair them.

 

[greatvoyager]

It sure is! Only 7 2-car units left so presume in May when as far as I know it goes back to a Pre Covid timetable on the 170 routes they'll diagram the 2-car units carefully to avoid been used on busy services or pair them.

It’s good that they’ve got the extra cars in preparation. I’m sure that will be a big relief to travellers as more people return.