GWR Class 769 information. (Units no longer with GWR - Off Lease March 23)

[WizCastro197]

What's wrong with them. Nice and clear?

No the clearness of them isn’t the problem I find. It is that they protrude onto the door grey area I can’t really explain that but also the colour could be toned down slightly

Other than that they don’t look half bad.

 

[jackot]

I hope 769 FC isn't a complete copy of Southern with a piece of fabric on a standard seat which says GWR First or something.

According to the seating plan on Page 17 of GWRs' April 2021 facilities guide, there are 12 first class seats arranged in a 2x1 configuration with tables - this might well have been changed though.
Its also good to see lots of luggage racks unlike the incumbent 165s, especially for a train regularly operating to Gatwick.

 

[WizCastro197]

According to the seating plan on Page 17 of GWRs' April 2021 facilities guide, there are 12 first class seats arranged in a 2x1 configuration with tables - this might well have been changed though.
Its also good to see lots of luggage racks unlike the incumbent 165s, especially for a train regularly operating to Gatwick.

Of Course, space for luggage is needed and surprised me when GatEx doesn't have a lot of storage.


Not sure how 2+1 config will go down on a commuter train would've preferred 2+2 for extra capacity but I suppose it does give Solo travellers privacy to sit by themselves.


Why the large gap in middle compartment? Disabled access?


is Green for Priority seats?

 

[jackot]

Not sure how 2+1 config will go down on a commuter train would've preferred 2+2 for extra capacity but I suppose it does give Solo travellers privacy to sit by themselves.

I'm guessing they have just kept it as that is what the 319s had (attached below). They have probably reupholstered the old seats to save money. Not all bad though, they at least look more comfortable than anything fitted to modern stock.

is Green for Priority seats?

Yep. I have attached the whole seating plan also.

 

[WizCastro197]

Only 1 toilet? 165's at least had 2 or 3?


I know The picture only shows 319 seats in Southern or Thameslink upholstery but I do hope that the new GWR seats are just as comfortable.

 

[JonathanH]

Only 1 toilet? 165's at least had 2 or 3?

165s only have one toilet. 166s have 2.

 

[WizCastro197]

165s only have one toilet. 166s have 2.

Alright. Must've travelled on a 166 from reading to Redhill as it had one non accessible and one accessible


I found some random clip on YouTube of a 769 at Reading and the First Class seats look like Southern/Thamelsink with GWR upholstery.

I can link it but I wasn't particlaulry clear.

Around the 0:43 mark

 

[TurboMan]

VivaRail have an arrangement with Plassers nearby to use there facilities for exams.

A bit off topic for this thread, but that arrangement has fallen through.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2022 ==

I hope 769 FC isn't a complete copy of Southern with a piece of fabric on a standard seat which says GWR First or something.

It's the same FC seating as on a 319 but completely reupholstered. On delivery it was only the seat fabric that had changed to GWR colours, but not the arm rests, and the side panels. These were looking a bit shabby, so they have now been replaced too. It looks very smart!

 

[generalslee]

The 1333 Reading Traincare Depot to Reading Traincare Depot has a Train ID of 5Q11 today. Just saw it pass through Wanborough on its way back to Reading.
I wonder why it is now a class 5 train instead of a class 3 of recent months?

 

[TurboMan]

Colas Rail operated the 769 runs this week (to maintain their drivers' competence - they haven't worked many 769 recently, now that most of the moves between Reading, Eastleigh and Long Marston are finished), so they must have booked it as a class 5 instead of 3. There's no real significance to it though.

 

[generalslee]

Thanks TurboMan! Maintaining driver competence also explains why they went through to Gatwick and did not stop short at Redhill.

 

[JonathanH]

769930 paying a visit to the siding at Reigate this lunchtime.

[Picture shows 769930 stabled beyond the fence and undergrowth in the siding in Reigate, taken from the adjacent car park.]

 

[TurboMan]

769930 paying a visit to the siding at Reigate this lunchtime.
View attachment 122652
[Picture shows 769930 stabled beyond the fence and undergrowth in the siding in Reigate, taken from the adjacent car park.]

Not really supposed to be there, it's only there because it failed...

 

[JonathanH]

Not really supposed to be there, it's only there because it failed...

Seems like it is staying overnight as it is still there.

Presumably one of the others will be down on Friday to make a rescue.

 

[TurboMan]

Seems like it is staying overnight as it is still there.

Presumably one of the others will be down on Friday to make a rescue.

It's been fixed so will be returning under its own power tomorrow.

 

[Ladder23]

It's been fixed so will be returning under its own power tomorrow.

Great news is there a allocation set for this leaving do you know? Would love to catch this if possible

 

[JonathanH]

Great news is there a allocation set for this leaving do you know? Would love to catch this if possible

Path now in for a 1030 departure from Reigate siding.

5V10 1030 Reigate C.H.S. to Reading Traincare Depot
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:91516/2022-10-28/detailed

 

[Ladder23]

Path now in for a 1030 departure from Reigate siding.

5V10 1030 Reigate C.H.S. to Reading Traincare Depot
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:91516/2022-10-28/detailed

Thanks so much

 

[Deepgreen]

No the clearness of them isn’t the problem I find. It is that they protrude onto the door grey area I can’t really explain that but also the colour could be toned down slightly

Other than that they don’t look half bad.

The purpose of the markings is to denote the area clearly, so toning down would be counter-productive. Compared with GWR's almost useless silver pencil stripe on its other types it is a huge improvement.

 

[BPN2022]

When are these on test? Do they have specific days?

 

[JN114]

When are these on test? Do they have specific days?

There are typically “refresh runs” for the limited driver/project managers who have attained 769 competency on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on an as-required basis.

There is no further testing required per se, before their initial entry into service.

If/When driver training commences proper, then I expect the number of those trips will increase.

 

[BPN2022]

There are typically “refresh runs” for the limited driver/project managers who have attained 769 competency on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on an as-required basis.

There is no further testing required per se, before their initial entry into service.

If/When driver training commences proper, then I expect the number of those trips will increase.

Blimey. Seems a long way off until we see them on the North Downs then.

 

[TurboMan]

There are typically “refresh runs” for the limited driver/project managers who have attained 769 competency on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on an as-required basis.

There is no further testing required per se, before their initial entry into service.

If/When driver training commences proper, then I expect the number of those trips will increase.

That's not quite the case: the M/W/F runs are still happening to accumulate mileage and identify weaknesses that might affect reliability so they can be addressed before the trains enter service (e.g. WSP racks have shown a high failure rate recently). There is a need for driver managers to maintain competence, true, so they will drive when they can, but the runs still happen if not, with Colas driving.

 

[Deepgreen]

Blimey. Seems a long way off until we see them on the North Downs then.

Quite. We have given up hope and fully expect them to be used only as electro-diesel technology experience test-beds! In the late 1950s BR developed a very successful ED (class 73), but in 2022...

 

[Wyrleybart]

There are typically “refresh runs” for the limited driver/project managers who have attained 769 competency on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on an as-required basis.

There is no further testing required per se, before their initial entry into service.

If/When driver training commences proper, then I expect the number of those trips will increase.

So the driver managers and instructors and the Colas drivers are all competent on 769s.
Just waiting on someone in GWR to get drivers and presumably ASLEF to agree to the training commencing ?
Thanks

 

[JN114]

So the driver managers and instructors and the Colas drivers are all competent on 769s.
Just waiting on someone in GWR to get drivers and presumably ASLEF to agree to the training commencing ?
Thanks

Not instructors, just a very small handful of managers; and Colas drivers.

I understand the sticking point is a lack of agreement between company and ASLEF - and from TurboMan’s previous postings it would sound as if the main sticking points there are addressed, it is perhaps waiting for the current industrial dispute to dissipate before thrashing out an agreement.

That's not quite the case: the M/W/F runs are still happening to accumulate mileage and identify weaknesses that might affect reliability so they can be addressed before the trains enter service (e.g. WSP racks have shown a high failure rate recently). There is a need for driver managers to maintain competence, true, so they will drive when they can, but the runs still happen if not, with Colas driving.

Colas can’t drive the trains on our safety case; so they can only “cover” on a pre-arranged basis with the paths resubmitted as Colas trains not GWR (as an easy way of telling such runs normally run with ‘Q’ headcodes not ‘O/V’) - late notice unavailability of the manager on the booked M/W/F runs results in cancellation; from first hand experience.

 

[Deepgreen]

When whoever is driving them, what is reliability like now? Failures still seem to be rife but I may be wrong.

 

[Ladder23]

deleted comment

 

[Deepgreen]

As I sit and write this I can see a 769 stopped (westbound) just east of Chalk Pit Lane AHB crossing (Brockham, between Betchworth and Dorking) through the trees opposite my house, with a door light illuminated. It's been there for over 20 minutes. Its run to Gatwick was seemingly aborted at Redhill. Edit - still there with door light on, and 1V54 will be coming up behind it from Redhill soon. I wonder if it has failed, hit something or if there has been a landslip after all the rain. The line is on a moderate embankment there. Given the door light's illumination it would seem not to be a simple signal stop for a failed crossing, etc.

 

[zwk500]

As I sit and write this I can see a 769 stopped (westbound) just east of Chalk Pit Lane AHB crossing (Brockham, between Betchworth and Dorking) through the trees opposite my house, with a door light illuminated. It's been there for over 20 minutes. Its run to Gatwick was seemingly aborted at Redhill. Edit - still there with door light on, and 1V54 will be coming up behind it from Redhill soon. I wonder if it has failed, hit something or if there has been a landslip after all the rain. The line is on a moderate embankment there. Given the door light's illumination it would seem not to be a simple signal stop for a failed crossing, etc.

On the move now, although I notice 2O42 in the opposite direction lost 10 minutes between Dorking and Reigate whilst 5Q11 was sitting there.