Grand Union south wales service

[mrmartin]

Any update on this? Is it still planned to launch at the end of this year?

If so, when would we know proposed timetables?

 

[The Planner]

Any update on this? Is it still planned to launch at the end of this year?

If so, when would we know proposed timetables?

Dec 2027 last I saw.

 

[anthony263]

All gone quiet think their issue is getting rolling stock especially as the avanti class 221s abd EMR class 222s are in high demand.

 

[brad465]

If this service goes ahead how will it interact with Old Oak Common station? Calling there could cause revenue abstraction issues, but skipping it maybe harder to path and also be abstractive for Paddington passengers being attracted by the faster service, which in turn could cause GU services to be relatively overcrowded.

 

[anthony263]

If this service goes ahead how will it interact with Old Oak Common station? Calling there could cause revenue abstraction issues, but skipping it maybe harder to path and also be abstractive for Paddington passengers being attracted by the faster service, which in turn could cause GU services to be relatively overcrowded.

I believe grand union will be serving it as network rail have said they won't be able to path any non stopping

All has gone quiet on this

 

[3RDGEN]

Now reported Grand Union Trains are talking to Hitachi for four 5 car units;

"https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-train-service-launch-south-30411280" - New train service to launch from south Wales to London -

"A planned launch date for a new south Wales to London Paddington rail service has been revealed. The original plan from Grand Union Trains was to launch its open access service in competition to First Great Western this year, but is now on track for late 2027.

The train operating company, which secured a 10-year track access contract to operate its services from the Office of Rail and Road in 2022, said it had been unable to secure the required off-lease rolling stock to launch this year and is now in negotiations with train maker Hitachi to deliver a new dedicated fleet. Managing director of Grand Union Trains, Ian Yeowart, said: "We've been unable to secure any suitable off-lease rolling stock to begin services earlier.

As a result, we are close to an agreement with Hitachi on a suitable new build and hope to confirm that before the New Year. That will however mean a delay while trains are built and the target start is in December 2027.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Top notch accuracy from Wales Online there, referring to GWR as "First Great Western"...

 

[CapitalStar378]

Wow! 3 more years until the start of service? This feels like a never gonna happen project, it's years late already.

 

[Simon11]

Considering that their website is still under construction, it does seem odd that this announcement has come out in the blue.

Thought it would have been better to wait until the deal has been done in a few weeks?

 

[JonathanH]

This feels like a never gonna happen project, it's years late already.

Obviously takes more effort to set up a train operation than the people involved thought it would.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

I wonder if GWR are regretting introducing their two-hourly service to and from Carmarthen, since this was brought in as a direct response to the Grand Union proposal.

Does anyone have any information on how well these services are actually loading, and how many passengers are travelling to / from Bristol Parkway or east thereof (i.e. direct journeys that can't be made on existing TfW services)?

 

[JonathanH]

I wonder if GWR are regretting introducing their two-hourly service to and from Carmarthen, since this was brought in as a direct response to the Grand Union proposal.

I doubt GWR are particularly fussed. Not their costs or revenue at stake.

 

[Western 52]

I wonder if GWR are regretting introducing their two-hourly service to and from Carmarthen, since this was brought in as a direct response to the Grand Union proposal.

Does anyone have any information on how well these services are actually loading, and how many passengers are travelling to / from Bristol Parkway or east thereof (i.e. direct journeys that can't be made on existing TfW services)?

I don't know figures but these pass my house in Burry Port and I often use them. Loadings are usually low. A 153 would suffice in some cases

 

[Envoy]

I don't know figures but these pass my house in Burry Port and I often use them. Loadings are usually low. A 153 would suffice in some cases

A bit of marketing might help as a lot of the general public are not aware that you can use the GWR from Carmarthen as far east as Newport for £12 return.

 

[brad465]

If this does happen, four 5-car units is not a lot, even if there are only a few services a day each way.

 

[31160]

I just can't see the demand for this at all

 

[CapitalStar378]

There will be a lot of demand if GU offer comfortable seats, nicer interiors, a buffet and decent pricing. Shame it's taking an age to materialise.

 

[anthony263]

I just can't see the demand for this at all

Cardiff to london they'd do well.

I think they'd get more custif they were allowed to serve port Talbot Parkway. I can see a few using Gowerton as an alternative to Swansea or traveto neath etc.

 

[DelW]

There will be a lot of demand if GU offer comfortable seats, nicer interiors, a buffet and decent pricing. Shame it's taking an age to materialise.

Since it's reported that GU are proposing to order trains from Hitachi (ref post 6), that'll only work if they fit better seats than the utter rubbish fitted to GWR's and LNER's Hitachi trains. A park bench is more comfortable than those horrors.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Since it's reported that GU are proposing to order trains from Hitachi (ref post 6), that'll only work if they fit better seats than the utter rubbish fitted to GWR's and LNER's Hitachi trains. A park bench is more comfortable than those horrors.

If their plans are still the same, GU were making a big deal about nice seats and interiors. Not many/no operators have gone for the terrible GWR/LNER seats in the 8XX's.

 

[DelW]

If their plans are still the same, GU were making a big deal about nice seats and interiors. Not many/no operators have gone for the terrible GWR/LNER seats in the 8XX's.

Maybe some lessons have been learned from those then, which is something! If this comes to fruition, I might even be able to return to using trains between Wales and south-east England. I've switched to driving as I refuse to sit on a narrow steel bar for three hours.