Entire 800/801/802 fleet stood down for safety checks

[PHILIPE]

So far, RTT reports only one LNER cancellation at Kings Cross today (the 0855 ex Newcastle) and none for Hull Trains, while at Leeds only one TPE service, the 1644 Newcastle - Leeds, is cancelled so far. Granted it's a Sunday and it remains to be seen what happens tomorrow morning. GWR is having to make more significant changes, including shuttle services from Swindon to Cheltenham and from Reading to Worcester. Are these 158s and 165/166s respectively, and where is GWR getting them from?

GWR Turbos are working between Reading and Worcester and a mix on the Golden Valley. They are getting them from their own allocation.

 

[cactustwirly]

GWR Turbos are working between Reading and Worcester and a mix on the Golden Valley. They are getting them from heir own allocation.

They were sort of lucky that the Berks and Hants line was closed this weekend.
From tomorrow they'll need to resource a Reading to Bedwyn shuttle as well.

 

[Horizon22]

I do agree, but tell that to the poor passengers needing to travel on these major Inter-City routes. They have had over 24 hours now to assess the seriousness of this situation. Someone in the DFT needs to get a grip and make a sensible, logical and workable decision and get it implemented as soon as possible.

Well it was only 36 hours ago that essentially 90% of one company’s (GWR) key product suddenly became unavailable overnight - and over a weekend - so it will take a bit of time to get arranged.

 

[HarryL]

It’s notable how LNER is going out of its way to avoid ever using the word ‘Azuma’ in all its communications about this.

GWR have been calling them both Intercity Express Trains and Class 800 Hitachi trains in their social media posts today to be fair, so LNER aren't the only ones doing it.

 

[Horizon22]

GWR have been calling them both Intercity Express Trains and Class 800 Hitachi trains in their social media posts today to be fair, so LNER aren't the only ones doing it.

That’s what GWR calls the fleet though (IETs) so perfectly accurate.

 

[55002]

GWR have been calling them both Intercity Express Trains and Class 800 Hitachi trains in their social media posts today to be fair, so LNER aren't the only ones doing it.

It’s only LNER that call them Azumas

 

[AdamWW]

That’s what GWR calls the fleet though (IETs) so perfectly accurate.

Quite. They haven't picked a trendy name for them and pushed it mercilessly only to drop it as soon as something negative happens.

 

[Ianno87]

Quite. They haven't picked a trendy name for them and pushed it mercilessly only to drop it as soon as something negative happens.

Does it matter?

 

[HarryL]

That's true, but they're also calling them class 800s in a number of posts, so the same as LNER in those ones.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Considering ‘Azuma’ is Japanese for ‘East’, the equivalent word for ‘west’ is ‘Nishi’. Not sure that has quite the right ring to it for a train fleet!

 

[Journeyman]

Does it matter?

Of course not. It's very strange what some people consider important.

 

[hwl]

This is a really good point. I know that the following article might be of interest https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/business/kobe-steel-japan-trains.amp.html?0p19G=0232

This scandal around the quality of aluminium emerged a few years ago. It might show quite the extent of the problem.

"It said that about 4 percent of the company’s output of those products from September 2016 to August this year had been affected" so it may not be all of the A trains that have been affected. It may also be that only those sets that used aluminium made by Kobe steel are affected. I suspect this will be something that Hitachi are investigating.

This article is probably more interesting:

Kobe Steel chief admits scandal has hit trust as car checks spread

General Motors joins auto, train and aircraft manufacturers investigating whether they have used substandard products

www.theguardian.com

...Hitachi said it had used Kobe Steel parts in trains built for the UK market...

 

[skyhigh]

That's true, but they're also calling them class 800s in a number of posts, so the same as LNER in those ones.

I'm not sure you understand - GWR don't have a name for them other than Class 800 or IET, so calling them 'Class 800' isn't the same as LNER saying "we have an issue with our class 800s" as normally LNER will never refer to them as anything other than Azuma.

 

[FGW_DID]

The brand name ‘Azuma’ was chosen by Virgin, it’s the Japanese word for East. GWR didn’t go for a fancy brand name. Intercity Express Train was used as they were trains from the Intercity Express Programme.

 

[Highlandspring]

Does it matter?

Well personally I think it’s a bit disingenuous of them to immediately drop the name like a hot potato and pretend it’s an entirely different fleet of trains that have been affected.

 

[Darandio]

Until everything has been rectified of course, then there will be sandwich boards at all stations welcoming back the 'Azuma'.

 

[Failed Unit]

That'd be true if the issues were randomly distributed. However, as the issues are highly dependent on age/mileage, it's the older fleets (including the 5 car GWR units) that are being most affected

I does reopen the coaches versus unit argument again. At least coach stock can be short formed. Oh well not much we can do about that now.

 

[hwl]

I'm not sure you understand - GWR don't have a name for them other than Class 800 or IET, so calling them 'Class 800' isn't the same as LNER saying "we have an issue with our class 800s" as normally LNER will never refer to them as anything other than Azuma.

Satsuma might be a more apt name given a good few will be sat around for a while...

 

[AdamWW]

Does it matter?

Does it matter that you don't find part of the discussion here of interest to you?

 

[hwl]

That'd be true if the issues were randomly distributed. However, as the issues are highly dependent on age/mileage, it's the older fleets (including the 5 car GWR units) that are being most affected

Given the bolster design differences between driving and intermediate vehicles and the intermediate vehicle might be more vulnerable to issues so it the 9 car might crudely be 7/3rds or 2.33x more likely to affect by at least one issue but the inside frame bogie vehicle seem to be much less affected so 5/3rds or 1.66x more likely to have a single problem?

 

[1D53]

Sounds like tomorrow's GWR availability will be just 3 sets.

 

[Nicholas43]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned (I can't keep up) but GWR customers who have purchased a ticket for travel on any date between the 8th and 16th May (advance tickets included) may use their ticket to travel on an alternative day between the 10th and 16th May, customers with advance purchased tickets are advised to travel as closely to the time of their original ticket as possible ...

Any source for this? It doesn't seem to be on GWR's website.

 

[birchesgreen]

Does it matter?

Well no but it can still be interesting. This is a forum after all.

 

[Ianno87]

Does it matter that you don't find part of the discussion here of interest to you?

I'm engaging in the discussion because(probably) 99% of passengers won't care what LNER refer to their trains as.

 

[Journeyman]

I'm engaging in the discussion because(probably) 99% of passengers won't care what LNER refer to their trains as.

It doesn't make any difference to stranded passengers, does it?

 

[Ianno87]

It doesn't make any difference to stranded passengers, does it?

Precisely- they just want "a train".

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Pleased to see after my suggestion yesterday that some from Dept of Transport should get involved given the significance of the situation Chris Heaton Harris has issued a statement

Today (9 May 2021) I have directed the rail industry to urgently set out a comprehensive plan to ensure services can safely resume as soon as possible.

I expect operators to explore all options for replacement services to help people complete their journeys, and have asked Hitachi for a safety inspection plan, as well as longer term repair strategy.

Our focus is to ensure trains are returned to service as quickly as possible, once they are fully approved as safe. Only then can we start to rebuild a reliable and punctual timetable for passengers.

I also want to thank passengers for their patience during what could be a significant period of prolonged disruption, likely to continue for some time.

along with

The rail industry has also been asked to set out a plan for how it will manage capacity, by moving rolling stock and proposing where alternative trains can be sourced. These will be brought into service as safely and quickly as possible.

Fantastic some old BR hand must be advising him that the industry can deal with a crisis like this if it works as one

and Hitachi need to present a report

The government has also commissioned Hitachi to present an initial assessment of when they expect problems to be resolved.

 

[43096]

I'm engaging in the discussion because(probably) 99% of passengers won't care what LNER refer to their trains as.

Which begs the question - why bother with the whole Azuma branding, then?!

 

[Failed Unit]

LNER are showing a small number of cancellations. Surprisingly the Peterborough - Lincoln stay. Can 2x 5 car work north of Edinburgh?

 

[Mag_seven]

Which begs the question - why bother with the whole Azuma branding, then?!

One word - "Branson"