FGW rumours

[387star]

First is a completely new uniform for next year with new colours and branding
Second is some 153s will be fitted with class 378 style seating and be used essentially as luggage vans
Third is the first 150/2 is having toilet retention tanks fitted

Also according to another forum FGW will swap 150/1s for more LM 153s

 

[21C101]

Second is 153s will be fitted with class 378 style seating and be used essentially as luggage vans

Er, why?

 

[Darandio]

So this is a forum thread to discuss rumours raised on another forum?

 

[Flamingo]

I heard a rumour that a certain driver from Swansea was seeing a customer host, does that count?

 

[thelongestroad]

There is already a HST going about with the new First Class. It's branded as "GWR First Class". Very classy... and not a rumour.

All staff have been required to specify sizes for 'new' uniform. Whether that's new new or new old we don't know but the current rumours are the uniform will be "un-branded".

 

[ainsworth74]

I heard a rumour that a certain driver from Swansea was seeing a customer host, does that count?

Well probably for an FGW depot but I suspect not really on this forum

 

[Flamingo]

Well probably for an FGW depot but I suspect not really on this forum

Well, the OP didn't specify...

 

[SkinnyDave]

I heard a rumour that a certain driver from Swansea was seeing a customer host, does that count?

We could start a completely new forum with those ones!
I have led a very sheltered life according to what I've saw since I started on railway

 

[Blindtraveler]

I cant believe the DMU ones (retention tank aside) as from what Iv read FGW already struggle to get enough DMUs for booked work for pax???

 

[Qwerty133]

First is a completely new uniform for next year with new colours and branding
Second is some 153s will be fitted with class 378 style seating and be used essentially as luggage vans
Third is the first 150/2 is having toilet retention tanks fitted

Also according to another forum FGW will swap 150/1s for more LM 153s

If they have the spare diesel stock to convert trains into luggage vans and swap 2 coach trains with 1 coach trains, the stock can be better utilised elsewhere. I hope the DFT immediately stops the hire of SWT units and also forces them to forfeit some units for franchises where they would be used for passenger accommodation, if FGW actually try this.

 

[richw]

If they have the spare diesel stock to convert trains into luggage vans and swap 2 coach trains with 1 coach trains, the stock can be better utilised elsewhere. I hope the DFT immediately stops the hire of SWT units and also forces them to forfeit some units for franchises where they would be used for passenger accommodation, if FGW actually try this.

It's utter bull ****, fgw have a unit shortage and the fleet is stretched.

Next we will be told they are going to be using steam trains.......

 

[Flamingo]

Ok, I'll bite. Why the hell would we use 153's as luggage vans?

 

[455driver]

67s will be working off Penzance next week!



Well somebody said they had hired a couple of skips!

 

[HowardGWR]

I heard a rumour that a certain driver from Swansea was seeing a customer host, does that count?

Well if he/she could not see him/her that would be rather concerning for safety.

 

[jon0844]

There is already a HST going about with the new First Class. It's branded as "GWR First Class". Very classy... and not a rumour.

I did wonder when I saw this earlier if it means the line will be re-branded as Great Western Railway and the First name/logo dropped? Perhaps showing that the new IEP stock will just have the DfT-style livery - and maybe the HSTs getting that same livery even before?

 

[Temple Meads]

I did wonder when I saw this earlier if it means the line will be re-branded as Great Western Railway and the First name/logo dropped? Perhaps showing that the new IEP stock will just have the DfT-style livery - and maybe the HSTs getting that same livery even before?

Considering First's bus arm appears to be distancing itself from the First name, with the Buses of Somerset brand, this could prove to be correct.

I have heard, from a decent source, that a new livery is in the offing too, which could also tie in with this theory nicely.

 

[jon0844]

If a new livery goes back to the old, romantic, days of travel it could become more loved than GNER!

What will the Reading commuters say? Presumably that the train company has taken them back to the old days etc.

 

[starrymarkb]

Considering First's bus arm appears to be distancing itself from the First name, with the Buses of Somerset brand, this could prove to be correct.

I have heard, from a decent source, that a new livery is in the offing too, which could also tie in with this theory nicely.

First Kernow is apparently going to get the Buses of Somerset treatment too. Ray Stenning has been working with them for a bit now on a new brand.

 

[387star]

First Kernow is apparently going to get the Buses of Somerset treatment too. Ray Stenning has been working with them for a bit now on a new brand.

Looks good http://www.busesofsomerset.co.uk/about.shtml

Though first have just come up with a new corporate bus livery...

 

[starrymarkb]

Looks good http://www.busesofsomerset.co.uk/about.shtml

Though first have just come up with a new corporate bus livery...

They have, but not in Somerset and in the near future Cornwall. The MD of First Bus down here has been given the freedom to rebrand and relaunch the failing First SW operations and they are starting to turn the corner. Of course they haven't been given Stagecoach levels of budget so the vehicles are still mostly second hand - just refurbished and repainted

 

[HowardGWR]

Looks good http://www.busesofsomerset.co.uk/about.shtml

Though first have just come up with a new corporate bus livery...

She's got the wrong sort of apple for Somerset. You can't eat cider apples anyway of course.

 

[Rapidash]

Wonder if the FGW rebrand will be in cream and green (again)? All my local stations are getting extra dollops of paint in those colours at the moment.

 

[Busaholic]

First Kernow is apparently going to get the Buses of Somerset treatment too. Ray Stenning has been working with them for a bit now on a new brand.

Buses of Somerset came out of a response to serious competition from an independent, Webberbus. Here in Cornwall, with Western Greyhound apparently 'hors de combat' and no such competition I would think there's little need for anything very drastic. Now if W.G. were to go it would be a different situation. East Cornwall could well fit in with any plans Plymouth Citybus might have for expansion, especially with so many tendered services guaranteeing an element of profitability, and Stagecoach would no doubt be running a sliderule over it all.

Cannot really see how applying a coat or two of paint in a new shade is going to get many more flocking to the buses, except possibly with the students in Penryn.

 

[richw]

First Kernow is apparently going to get the Buses of Somerset treatment too. Ray Stenning has been working with them for a bit now on a new brand.

For First Kernow It will only be on the Falmouth-Truro, Falmouth - Redruth and Falmouth - Tremough services.

It is part of a Contract tendered by the University to improve the service available to the university.

It will have a maximum vehicle age of 5 years. The colour scheme is unknown but strongly believed to be a Blue colour similar to that of Truro Park and Ride. The contract will initially be operated by 12 plate Enviros coming from Plymouth in exchange for 15 year old Tridents.

 

[Manchester77]

If FGW do rebrand I can see them only doing the intercity stock since the recently refurbished turbos are in first group colours (although without dynamic lines)

 

[David Goddard]

That "Buses of Somerset" branding looks good, but looks very similar to Greenline. Another top job from Mr Stenning.
First have recently taken their Bracknell services (again ailing and in need of a refresh) back to their roots with reintroduction of the Beeline branding, which looks smart.

 

[BestWestern]

They aren't rebranding. The HST fleet is largely due for replacement within the next few years, the cost of a refurbishment or even a fleet wide repaint could never be justified. MK3s are currently being overhauled and are being outshopped where appropriate in a fresh coat of the current livery.

The uniform issue is simply a fresh issue of new items, they will be the same as the current items.

What is definitely true though is that displaced 225s from EC are going to be running non-stop express services from Reading to Pad every 5 mins... ;D

 

[Flamingo]

I've heard we're putting an RPI on every train, with instructions for zero tolerance, NRCoC applied for every ticket, regardless of excuses, with a target of 100 PF's a week...

 

[ainsworth74]

I've heard we're putting an RPI on every train, with instructions for zero tolerance, NRCoC applied for every ticket, regardless of excuses, with a target of 100 PF's a week...

At least then passengers would know exactly where they stand on every journey on FGW

 

[21C101]

I've heard we're putting an RPI on every train, with instructions for zero tolerance, NRCoC applied for every ticket, regardless of excuses, with a target of 100 PF's a week...

That will please the Daily Mail, plenty of click bait and sadfaces for them.