FGW West timetable changes from 18th May.

[83G/84D]

I see from 18th May, FGW West unit working changes mean a gain of 1 x 143 & 1 x 153 at Exeter and a gain of 1 x 150/2 & loss of 1 x 150/1 at St Phillip's Marsh.

I assume this is just "a shuffle about" of units and diagrams between depots rather than a transfer of units in or out of the fleet?

 

[455driver]

As all the FGW 143s are based at Exeter anyway how can they gain an extra one?
Also where is the 153 coming from?
Are these just 2 more examples of sweating the assets?

The 150 swap is just a paper exercise and is probably to increase seats on a service or 2 by using the higher seating capacity /1 instead of the much more comfortable (but lower seating capacity) /2.

 

[83G/84D]

455driver:- I am unsure as to what this all means hence my posting but this is accurate information.

The only other 143 operator is Arriva AFAIK, perhaps it is unlikely but are they giving one up?!

IF this is the case can they decide where it goes or does the DFT or leasing company have a say?

 

[TEW]

It must just be a case of sweating the assets. I believe 6 out of 8 143s are diagrammed on Mondays-Fridays at the moment. Diagramming 7 seems ambitious.

 

[455driver]

It must just be a case of sweating the assets. I believe 6 out of 8 143s are diagrammed on Mondays-Fridays at the moment. Diagramming 7 seems ambitious.

Diagramming 7 out of 8 seems f+++++g stupid to me! hock:
They are not the youngest trains on the network.

 

[TEW]

Indeed, and they seem to have trouble getting 6 unit in to traffic at times. The fact that units have to go to St Phillips Marsh for tyre turning can't help as that puts units out of action for a couple of days when the move up there is included. Should be less of an issue in the Summer though.

 

[83G/84D]

It must just be a case of sweating the assets. I believe 6 out of 8 143s are diagrammed on Mondays-Fridays at the moment. Diagramming 7 seems ambitious.

I did not realise only 6 out of 8 143's are used at the moment.

Given that there are nearly always failures and short formed trains in Devon & Cornwall one wonders if this is wise move as you say.

 

[TEW]

It doesn't seem to just be Devon and Cornwall. Short formations are a daily occurrence around Bristol too. It's all well and good diagramming more units in service but it does seem that the fleet is just being diagrammed too tightly. Would it not be better to diagram less units if it meant services would have the normal number of coaches every day.

 

[thelongestroad]

A service which is a 150/1 one day could be a 150/2 the next day so there is no change at all really! Our diagrams don't differentiate at all other than when we have a 150/9 unit.

 

[PHILIPE]

When there is a demand for additional units during the Summer, FGW do a rescheduling of the major Examinations to try and avoid this period to enable the increase in availability

 

[Rapidash]

Considering how...ropey the 143's have been recently, I would say they need a cold shower instead of sweating more. Could we swap empty with Northerns 144s?

 

[sonic2009]

Have FGW completed major exams if any were due on units that were stuck the other side of Dawlish?

 

[Rapidash]

Well, I'm not entirely sure if its down to the timetable changes, broken units, lack of drivers or a plague of ferrets, but the 17:18 from EXC has been repeatedly a single 143 the last two weeks, which has been crushloaded to Teignmouth and standing from Newton Abbot on all the occasions I've used it recently. Watching the 153's frolicking care-free at the Depot was a wonderful distraction.

The mild irony of a Ribena Girl handing out 'Station News' with the headline 'Thousands of Extra Seats on HST's!!!!!" at St Davids when standing next to our rather overfull Pacer was not lost on anyone. Especially when the middle doors gave up the ghost.

 

[CC 72100]

Well, I'm not entirely sure if its down to the timetable changes, broken units, lack of drivers or a plague of ferrets, but the 17:18 from EXC has been repeatedly a single 143 the last two weeks, which has been crushloaded to Teignmouth and standing from Newton Abbot on all the occasions I've used it recently. Watching the 153's frolicking care-free at the Depot was a wonderful distraction.

Because all of the trains on the depot are blatantly spare capacity that they just don't want to use, surely? :roll:

I will admit though, out of all the trains on Devon metro to be a single 143, that has to be one of the worst.

 

[Rapidash]

Because all of the trains on the depot are blatantly spare capacity that they just don't want to use, surely? :roll:

I will admit though, out of all the trains on Devon metro to be a single 143, that has to be one of the worst.

I know full well they are probably being repaired/readied/cleaned/abducted

Normally I would put it down to a broken unit, but its being a bit too regular for that.

 

[CC 72100]

I know full well they are probably being repaired/readied/cleaned/abducted
Normally I would put it down to a broken unit, but its being a bit too regular for that.

Knowing first hand how busy those services are, and how stretched the West fleet is at the best of times, a few longer-term maintenance problems are more than likely. FGW aren't stupid and I can't imagine them wanting that service to run with so few coaches either.

A side thought though - it doesn't have anything to do with the extra coach(es) being 'robbed' for use on the one train which is formed of 6 coaches (for the Torbay schools) does it?

 

[TEW]

No. The extra 2 carriages attached to the school train then form the 1745 Exeter Central-Paignton. As it is half term this week anyway that strengthening won't be happening.

 

[Rapidash]

Talking of the West fleet - is there any chance of any cascades from areas being electrified a bit sooner than the Turbos making an appearance? Surely First are making some noise to the DFT about the state of the antique collection?

 

[northernrailer]

The 1655 Exmouth to Paignton service is booked for a single 143, and the full days diagram for the 143 unit is:

0606 Exeter to Exmouth
0645 Exmouth to Paignton
0823 Paignton to Exmouth (full and standing usually from TGM to EXD, travelled on this a few times)
0953 Exmouth to Barnstaple
1143 Barnstaple to Exmouth
1323 Exmouth to Paignton
1513 Paignton to Exmouth
1655 Exmouth to Paignton
1835 Paignton to Exeter
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No. The extra 2 carriages attached to the school train then form the 1745 Exeter Central-Paignton. As it is half term this week anyway that strengthening won't be happening.

Then form the 1852 Paignton to Bristol, 2156 Bristol to Exeter.

 

[Rapidash]

Good gods, they must be mad or desperate. It's not even Summer proper yet and this is happening? Cornwall doesn't need it's 150's right?

Where do those 153's end up then? Do they scoot up to Bristol or are they being checked over after being attached to Pacer all day?

 

[northernrailer]

Good gods, they must be mad or desperate. It's not even Summer proper yet and this is happening? Cornwall doesn't need it's 150's right?

Where do those 153's end up then? Do they scoot up to Bristol or are they being checked over after being attached to Pacer all day?

until 04/07/14

153s stabled overnight M-Th (Fri sees different stabling):

Exeter TMD = 7
Bristol St Philips = 2
Laira Plymouth = 2
Gloucester stn = 1
Westbury = 1

leaves the 1 spare unit.

 

[91103eastcoast]

or are they being checked over after being attached to Pacer all day?

They probably need it after being attached to a Pacer for a day with all that bouncing!

 

[PHILIPE]

until 04/07/14

153s stabled overnight M-Th (Fri sees different stabling):

Exeter TMD = 7
Bristol St Philips = 2
Laira Plymouth = 2
Gloucester stn = 1
Westbury = 1

leaves the 1 spare unit.

Are there none at Penzance for the Falmouth or has it changed to 2 X 150s instead of 150 + 2x153. Thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

until 04/07/14

153s stabled overnight M-Th (Fri sees different stabling):

Exeter TMD = 7
Bristol St Philips = 2
Laira Plymouth = 2
Gloucester stn = 1
Westbury = 1

leaves the 1 spare unit.

Are there not 2 at Penzance for the Falmouth any more or have the two cycles changed to 2 x 150s instead of 1 x 150 and 2 x 153

 

[TEW]

Falmouth has gone over to 2x150 for now. 150s are better suited to the line than 153s but I imagine the 153s will be back before too long because otherwise it leaves the two Penzance crew depots with too little 153 work in the Winter.

 

[Martin_1981]

Talking of the West fleet - is there any chance of any cascades from areas being electrified a bit sooner than the Turbos making an appearance? Surely First are making some noise to the DFT about the state of the antique collection?

When was the last time the South West ever recieved brand new trains? Certainly not in the 13 years I've lived in Devon. The only ones I'm aware of are the XC Voyagers, though I wouldn't have thought these would count as they are not based in the SW. We always seem to get 2nd hand stock.

 

[PHILIPE]

The West of England, Wales and the North of England are the poor relations and have to put up with other TOCs throw aways. London area gets the best of new stock.

 

[Rapidash]

When was the last time the South West ever recieved brand new trains? Certainly not in the 13 years I've lived in Devon. The only ones I'm aware of are the XC Voyagers, though I wouldn't have thought these would count as they are not based in the SW. We always seem to get 2nd hand stock.

A similar thought went through my mind when I saw that latest addition to the Overground was going to be getting new trains.

I just assume that as long as the Tories know the area is a safe bet come an election, then there is no need for bribery/incentives in the form of investment.

If Stagecoach can see the merit in getting new or mid-life bus fleets down here, I'm not sure what the issue is with the rail network. Different funding models, sure, but there must be a business case for something, what with the journey numbers constantly going up. Even the North gets more than us these days, a sure sign of the apocalypse.

......I'm being naive again, aren't I?

 

[fgwrich]

Falmouth has gone over to 2x150 for now. 150s are better suited to the line than 153s but I imagine the 153s will be back before too long because otherwise it leaves the two Penzance crew depots with too little 153 work in the Winter.

Is that since the timetable change? As it was 1x150 and 2x153 when I was down there at the end of April, although it later became 1x153 as the ex LM unit decided not to play anymore.

 

[northernrailer]

From the high summer which start 7th July the Falmouth line gore back to 2x 153 and a 150.

 

[PHILIPE]

until 04/07/14

153s stabled overnight M-Th (Fri sees different stabling):

Exeter TMD = 7
Bristol St Philips = 2
Laira Plymouth = 2
Gloucester stn = 1
Westbury = 1

leaves the 1 spare unit.

Out of interest, what does the Gloucester 153 do. I was wondering if it was just a Standby as has been the habit there in the past. If so, how does it come and go ? Thanks.