GWR Class 165/166 Turbo Diagrams

[HamworthyGoods]

2 coaches are ok if the mainline was open and XC were running a full timetable (not one train every 2 hours with some extras).

Passengers from Basingstoke have learnt that it is far quicker to go Basingstoke - Reading - Paddington then onto LU then it is using the bus to Woking/Guildford for a train to London, it's OK during the day on Sundays when SWR run an hourly service from Reading to give extra options, but those stop after the 17:12 departure. Can you blame then for wanting to avoid the lottery of replacement buses (i.e. will it be a nice coach with legroom or will it be a double decker service bus) when there is reported issues with RRB supply?

But this goes back the issue isn’t the capacity on the local stopping services but the fact the SWR service to Reading stops at 17.12.

 

[RPI]

Sure, but I'd argue that it is poorly suited for journeys such as Worcester-Bath, or Bristol-Weymouth. I agree it isn't useful to just look at end-to-end journey times, but plenty of longer journeys are made on these units and they don't provide a great experience. A member of the general travelling public making the over 2 hour journey from Bristol to Weymouth on a busy summer weekend on a turbo with failed AC and knackered upholstery might well just drive next time, and tell their friends not to bother with the train.

They are indeed fine for local hops- Severn beach, cornish branches, westbury stoppers, etc.- but they need to be replaced by something more suitable on the regional routes, and themselves sent to replace 150s elsewhere where I'm sure they'll do a perfectly good job.

If its a 165 then there is an incredibly high chance that the AC is fine, the Air cooling system on the 165s is far superior to the 166 Air Conditioning.

I work these trains sometimes and they're not bad for Weymouth as its mostly families with young kids, having bays of 6 seats suits them perfectly, average Joe who isn't an enthusiast really doesn't mind, they just want A seat, the train not to be rammed, being on time and it not to be either freezing or like a sauna.
When we first had 166s in the Exeter area the regulars were commenting how nice the "new" trains were, even with their tired blue interiors! Likewise very few normal passengers complain about IET seats!

 

[JohnRegular]

If its a 165 then there is an incredibly high chance that the AC is fine, the Air cooling system on the 165s is far superior to the 166 Air Conditioning.

I work these trains sometimes and they're not bad for Weymouth as its mostly families with young kids, having bays of 6 seats suits them perfectly, average Joe who isn't an enthusiast really doesn't mind, they just want A seat, the train not to be rammed, being on time and it not to be either freezing or like a sauna.
When we first had 166s in the Exeter area the regulars were commenting how nice the "new" trains were, even with their tired blue interiors! Likewise very few normal passengers complain about IET seats!

True enough, I recall taking a 165 to Weymouth in the middle of summer and it was at fridge temperature! The 166s are not so reliable however.

I am probably being a bit unfair on the Turbos because they're such a poor offering on the Portsmouth-Cardiff route (as has been discussed enough elsewhere!). Ultimately they're not too bad, once the refurbs are done they'll be fine on the Weymouth route, and they're perfectly decent for shorter distance stuff as I said above. It's not the Turbos' fault they get lumped on services they're not well suited to!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Are the 165s not a step up from the 150/1s with that 2+3 airline seating that used to work the route?

I personally think they are. Some might say the 150/1s are more comfortable due to the reclined position of the Ashbourne seats though. The Networker ones are really rather upright. Weymouth also saw a lot of Class 150/2 and 158, of course, with a fair few 153s, and the loss of tables and armrests isn't great. That said, there are still some 158s on the route.

165s aside, a 166, I will take over any of Great Western Railway's Regional stock if the declassified first class sections are open and available. If they retain these at both ends after refurbishment, then I think the trains will be very suitable for longer Regional journeys. They'll have two designated areas for longer journeys and a large amount of seats for commuters in the rest of the saloons.

Is the movement to swap a Turbo from Bristol onto the Thames Valley still in place every Saturday, and has another 166 made its way to Reading since 219 drifted around early August?

 

[FGW_DID]

Is the movement to swap a Turbo from Bristol onto the Thames Valley still in place every Saturday, and has another 166 made its way to Reading since 219 drifted around early August?

No, Saturday 10th was the last one. New LTP Saturday diagrams start this Saturday 17th and there is no 3 car swap, although the 2 cars will continue to flip flop between RG & SPM through the week as they do now.

Off the top of my head I think a 166 appeared at RG twice on the Saturday Swap.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Does this mean that 165102 will join 165101 as a permanent allocation at Bristol?

I believe that 166220 & 166219 have both worked off Reading this summer. 166219 stint lasted for two weeks due to the middle Saturday coinciding with a strike so the swap trains did not run. A 166 has occasionally appeared on the 2-car swap diagram, but only between Foregate St and Shrub Hill where it is swapped for whatever 2-car came down from Oxford.

 

[REVUpminster]

Optimum trains down here in Devon and Cornwall today. 4 166s (01.02,19,20) Paignton-Exmouth and everything else 4, 3, 2 car as required.

 

[Snow1964]

Optimum trains down here in Devon and Cornwall today. 4 166s (01.02,19,20) Paignton-Exmouth and everything else 4, 3, 2 car as required.

Nothing running between Yeovil and Weymouth today, and plenty of 2car units running in Wessex area. 1F29 Cardiff to Portsmouth also 2car.

So remains a struggle whilst Thames Valley and North Downs continue not to release units due to 769s not being usable.

 

[JN114]

Nothing running between Yeovil and Weymouth today, and plenty of 2car units running in Wessex area. 1F29 Cardiff to Portsmouth also 2car.

1F29 is 4 coaches (instead of 5) between Cardiff and Bristol; and 2 coaches (instead of 3) between Bristol and Portsmouth

 

[Snow1964]

GWR seem to have made the local trains in Wessex compulsory reservations today.

With the usual mix of 158, 165, 166 of varying formations between 2car and 5car wonder what the gains of doing this are, especially when they are allowing tickets from strike day yesterday to be used today

As many of the stations are unmanned on Sundays, how are guards going to enforce this, or is it just a bonkers idea

 

[CC 72100]

I'd hazard a guess that it's a mistake. It wouldn't surprise me if the Guards weren't even aware.

 

[yorkie]

GWR seem to have made the local trains in Wessex compulsory reservations today.

With the usual mix of 158, 165, 166 of varying formations between 2car and 5car wonder what the gains of doing this are, especially when they are allowing tickets from strike day yesterday to be used today

As many of the stations are unmanned on Sundays, how are guards going to enforce this, or is it just a bonkers idea

It's a data thing only, there is nothing to 'enforce' by staff. The purpose is to control the sale of tickets (only works for sales made in journey planning mode). To discuss this further, feel free to create a new thread.

 

[CptCharlee]

Are there any plans to operate into Plymouth after cascades are completed? Are class 165/166 even cleared that far?

Can't say I've ever seen them down that far south to be fair.

 

[JonathanH]

Are class 165/166 even cleared that far?

Plymouth but not beyond. While they aren't routinely scheduled to Plymouth they have occasionally been there since they have worked in Devon.

 

[Siemens Staines]

166211 shows on RTT to be on a Reading - Basingstoke diagram today

Realtime Trains | 2J15 0737 Reading to Basingstoke | 03/10/2022

Real-time train running information for 2J15 0737 departure from Reading to Basingstoke on 03/10/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I thought the swapping of 3-cars between Reading and Bristol had ended but there does seem to have been quite a number of 165 cancellations at Reading of late, so perhaps this is the reason? 165121 has not been in use for nearly a month and a 165 hit a tree near Wanborough yesterday which may have been 165105.

 

[JN114]

166211 has been “borrowed” from West temporarily

 

[Jamiescott1]

Sorry not very technical info but the unit running the bourne end maidenhead shuttle this morning is still branded "first great Western" and painted blue. Still got the old interior too.
Haven't seen one of these on this branch for years since the rebrand.

Thought this info might be of use to someone

 

[FGW_DID]

Sorry not very technical info but the unit running the bourne end maidenhead shuttle this morning is still branded "first great Western" and painted blue. Still got the old interior too.
Haven't seen one of these on this branch for years since the rebrand.

Thought this info might be of use to someone

That would have been 166211 which came over from the West yesterday to lend a helping hand in LTV land. Its now back in the West.

 

[RPI]

That would have been 166211 which came over from the West yesterday to lend a helping hand in LTV land. Its now back in the West.

2 2 car 150's out on the Devon Metro today, one ended up on the 08:00 from St Davids to Paignton and looked snug leaving St Davids (school train into Teignmouth, picks up loads at St Thomas, Starcross and Dawlish), also 09:16 down to Exmouth which was rammed on arrival into St Davids from Paignton!

 

[Snow1964]

Special timetable today with trains operating Cardiff-Westbury (nothing continuing south to Portsmouth or Weymouth). Seem to have opted for mix of 4car 158, 5car 158, 5car 165+166 for these short services.

Similar special timetable tomorrow (but seems to start about hour later, and finish an hour later) which limits availability for morning commuting.

 

[Snow1964]

An updated status info leaflet of the new services around Bristol seems to have been released (as it includes photo of nearly complete Portway platform)

Some of the increased services still seem to be at the timetable planning stage (although that might be railway code for haven’t got enough diesel multiple units in Bristol area, but don’t want to admit it)

MetroWest 1​

• Increase in services on the Severn Beach line (hourly between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach and half-hourly between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth) – achieved December 2021
• Creation of a new railway station at Portway Park & Ride, Bristol – construction underway, due for completion in 2022.
• Increase in services between Bristol and Westbury – timetable planning underway.
• New hourly passenger service between Bristol Temple Meads and Portishead, with stations at Pill and Portishead – planning decision from the Department for Transport due by February 2023.

MetroWest 2​

• New hourly passenger service between Bristol Temple Meads and Henbury, with stations at Ashley Down, North Filton and Henbury.
• Increase to half-hourly services between Bristol Temple Meads and Yate, and on to Gloucester.

There is a handy map showing the Metrowest phase 1 half hourly services with hourly extensions. Basically Avonmouth to Westbury with hourly extension Avonmouth to Severn Beach.

MetroWest rail upgrades - Network Rail

Transforming rail travel in Bristol and the West of England. MetroWest is a West of England Combined Authority programme of...

www.networkrail.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2022 ==

A very unusual version tomorrow (Sunday) 2C01 Bristol-Westbury
pick up only at Keynsham, set down only at Bath, unadvertised at Westbury

 

[Jim]

MetroWest rail upgrades - Network Rail

Transforming rail travel in Bristol and the West of England. MetroWest is a West of England Combined Authority programme of...

www.networkrail.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2022 ==

A very unusual version tomorrow (Sunday) 2C01 Bristol-Westbury
pick up only at Keynsham, set down only at Bath, unadvertised at Westbury

Bath Half Marathon additionals.

 

[REVUpminster]

4 166s Paignton Exmouth today. Very sparse last week. Only 13 150s operating in Devon and Cornwall against 19 last Monday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2022 ==

4 166s Paignton Exmouth today. Very sparse last week. Only 13 150s operating in Devon and Cornwall against 19 last Monday.

Only 2 166s today. 4 short formed 150s 14 in operation. One more than yesterday. Never seems a logic to it.

 

[Jim]

4 166s Paignton Exmouth today. Very sparse last week. Only 13 150s operating in Devon and Cornwall against 19 last Monday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2022 ==


Only 2 166s today. 4 short formed 150s 14 in operation. One more than yesterday. Never seems a logic to it.

There's lots of logic behind the decisions, most of it not so obviously mind!

Of note 43029 088 are working 2T17 EXD-PGN today.

 

[RPI]

4 166s Paignton Exmouth today. Very sparse last week. Only 13 150s operating in Devon and Cornwall against 19 last Monday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2022 ==


Only 2 166s today. 4 short formed 150s 14 in operation. One more than yesterday. Never seems a logic to it.

The logic is two of your wonderful 166's were stopped on depot so the 150 fleet had to step up! today that is.

Todays Devon local services have been a total utter farce, 2 x 166 out on Exmouth to Paignton the rest all 2 car 150's, a 2+4 has done Paignton service and is booked for another this evening.

 

[REVUpminster]

The logic is two of your wonderful 166's were stopped on depot so the 150 fleet had to step up! today that is.

Todays Devon local services have been a total utter farce, 2 x 166 out on Exmouth to Paignton the rest all 2 car 150's, a 2+4 has done Paignton service and is booked for another this evening.

But that 2 x 150 was on the Torre school train. GWR does not want a barrage of complaints from parents and headteachers. They have finally learnt something ie the stock allocators.

 

[RPI]

But that 2 x 150 was on the Torre school train. GWR does not want a barrage of complaints from parents and headteachers. They have finally learnt something ie the stock allocators.

That was more luck than judgment, all are now 2 car 150 due to another failure, though a 3 car 158 is being swapped into a circuit. As it is the Axminster is cancelled as there is a 166 on that diagram (not route cleared)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

But that 2 x 150 was on the Torre school train. GWR does not want a barrage of complaints from parents and headteachers. They have finally learnt something ie the stock allocators.

I’m sorry, but unless the school pays GWR to put on an extra service, there is no “school train,” just a train which a lot of their students choose to take, and GWR does not have any obligations to fill on their behalf.

 

[py_megapixel]

I’m sorry, but unless the school pays GWR to put on an extra service, there is no “school train,” just a train which a lot of their students choose to take, and GWR does not have any obligations to fill on their behalf.

But from both a business perspective and one of common sense, if there is a service which is predictably busier than the ones before and after (maybe because of a school, maybe because of something else), it makes sense to allocate the most resources to that service, doesn't it?

I doubt there would be many complaints if GWR were choosing to put more RPIs to that service...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

But from both a business perspective and one of common sense, if there is a service which is predictably busier than the ones before and after (maybe because of a school, maybe because of something else), it makes sense to allocate the most resources to that service, doesn't it?

I doubt there would be many complaints if GWR were choosing to put more RPIs to that service...

Sure, but I don't consider it the right of the school to be assured that GWR will put four carriages on for the benefit of their pupils.