GWR Class 800

[Taunton]

Not the best of news stories, and some real issues. Late, sweaty and wet is not the 21st Century way to arrive.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...high-speed-train-launch-falls-flat-commuters/

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who was on the first service, said: "These are the smartest trains in the country, probably the best we have ever had in the country.

"This going to be a fantastic service, really regular trains and far more capacity."

Grayling just hasn't got it. Parroting out his civil servant's brief written last week just doesn't cut it when it is far removed from reality on the day, but he doesn't realise it.

 

[Swanage98]

Teething issues aside, I think they will prove to be a success but time will tell, regarding the air con I recall a similar issue when I was on a voyager when they first came in way back when. Lots of GWR suits on the service I was on, heading back now on a HST from Swindon to reading, with comfier seats!

 

[Swanage98]

The media love a good story and from.a PR point of view, yes it's not the best of starts but once these trains are established it will be forgotten, that's if reliability is ok. Can't believe I'm going to say this but I'm going to miss the noise of an MTU powered 43

 

[gallafent]

That lime green truly is manky, isn't it?

Are there any Saturday/Sunday diagrams yet? I fancy a go.

I quite liked the green decor — and several other aspects of the interior too (more on that later once I've had a go in first class too with any luck

I'm sure somebody posted the initial weekend diagrams somewhere … aha, here you go: GWR Super Express Train initial diagrams

 

[Phil G]

No internal showers on this one!

 

[Mag_seven]

You would have thought that the sets allocated for the first run would have been wrapped up in cotton wool at the depot. Knowing that the first service would be full of journalists (who we all know will be looking for the smallest bit of bad news), special attention would be given every technical aspect of the train even if only for this run. If the AC leak happens tomorrow no-body notices, but on the launch train....

 

[43096]

I don't agree, and I was there.

There are teething problems whenever new trains come into service - that's the same in any industry with brand new hardware. I'm not surprised there were technical problems - what they really need to do is fix them quickly for routine passenger service.

I'm sorry, that is just making excuses. Launch day train should be a top priority and it certainly shouldn't be p***ing water over the passengers. 12 years to get this far and it still isn't right.

It is an utter embarrassment. A shambles.

Though I will admit I find it very very funny.

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm sorry, that is just making excuses. Launch day train should be a top priority and it certainly shouldn't be p***ing water over the passengers. 12 years to get this far and it still isn't right.

It is an utter embarrassment. A shambles.

Though I will admit I find it very very funny.

Nobody that matters (i.e. the public, not us enthusiast types) will remember this in a year's time.

It was a funny experience but the doom the news stories suggest are far removed from the atmosphere on the train this morning - mostly ironic chuckling, rather than outrage. There were a lot of non-enthusiast types at Paddington grabbing pictures of the train.

 

[nottsnurse]

One wonders if Hitachi have produced an app detailing the procedure for seppuku as well as dispatch procedures? Might prove useful today.

 

[Taunton]

Memo to project engineers on how to introduce into service :

- Off peak, midday run, not at the peak.
- Just one round trip, initially. Work up.
- Off the depot hours in advance, to check it all, not just the normal few minutes before.
- Check all the passenger bits (eg reservation displays) thoroughly in advance, not just the mileage accumulation mechanical parts.
- Invite the minister to a formal session in a couple of weeks, not your first one.

 

[Marklund]

Memo to project engineers on how to introduce into service :

- Off peak, midday run, not at the peak.
- Just one round trip, initially. Work up.
- Off the depot hours in advance, to check it all, not just the normal few minutes before.
- Check all the passenger bits (eg reservation displays) thoroughly in advance, not just the mileage accumulation mechanical parts.
- Invite the minister to a formal session in a couple of weeks, not your first one.

Very APT advice
At least they didn't do it in the middle of winter!

 

[Suraggu]

I'm sorry, that is just making excuses. Launch day train should be a top priority and it certainly shouldn't be p***ing water over the passengers. 12 years to get this far and it still isn't right.

It is an utter embarrassment. A shambles.

Though I will admit I find it very very funny.

Agreed it was rather funny reading all the wibble this morning. And your right as they brought out all the bells and whistles for the launch they certainly delivered a delayed project, on a delayed service. Rather fitting.

 

[devonexpress]

If I was managing the entry into service of these trains I would have put them on Paddington to Oxford Fast/Semi fast passenger services for 3 weeks minimum to iron out any wrinkles. Then by November time when more IEP are available. Do a day one soft launch 1 or two trains. Then the next day go for a full launch, etc.

But of course the would never happen on public railways, the DFT just want to shove them on the rails. Hitachi/Agility want to get some investment back, and GWR are short of high speed express trains and wanted to get them out, They've been banging on about them for 2 years or more!

Whilst given a year most people won't remember what happened, I do wonder about the IEP's future already, GWR have said all services will be 9 or 10 cars, apart from say Pad to Weston trains where half will detach at BRI or the same for Pad to Penzance where 5 will terminate at Plymouth and 5 carry on into Cornwall. Given how rapidly passenger numbers are growing in 5 or 7 year time could we see some services having to run as 5 cars because they need more trains to run more services?

 

[Great_Western]

Due to work commitments I couldn't get an extended ride on one, but I managed to get the 13:31 Newport to Cardiff. Have to say, despite the teething issues this morning, I was very impressed.

The interior was lovely, the seats were firm but no firmer than the HST's (and I prefer firmer seats). The ride was fantastic and the acceleration was fast and smooth. Yes they have a few issues, but they will be sorted in time, and they seem to be a good successor to the HST.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No internal showers on this one!

Every time I look at it that lime green looks worse. And why are the grab handles practically on the floor? Not much use for grabbing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I quite liked the green decor — and several other aspects of the interior too (more on that later once I've had a go in first class too with any luck

I'm sure somebody posted the initial weekend diagrams somewhere … aha, here you go: GWR Super Express Train initial diagrams

Cheers.

FWIW I think 1st looks really nice. Not the big armchair old fashioned style of the HSTs, but more the kind of thing you'd expect in a modern European train like an ICE.

 

[pdeaves]

Selection of my 'first day' photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pdeaves/37475886000/.

 

[theageofthetra]

Cheers.

FWIW I think 1st looks really nice. Not the big armchair old fashioned style of the HSTs, but more the kind of thing you'd expect in a modern European train like an ICE.

So basically a civil servant lead committee has specified and signed off a brand new train where if there is an AC fault in one part of one coach the system has to be turned off in the entire train?

Given that Hitachi engineers were travelling on it as well I find this just incredible but predictable.

 

[SWT_USER]

Not the best of news stories, and some real issues. Late, sweaty and wet is not the 21st Century way to arrive.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...high-speed-train-launch-falls-flat-commuters/



Grayling just hasn't got it. Parroting out his civil servant's brief written last week just doesn't cut it when it is far removed from reality on the day, but he doesn't realise it.

The man is a walking disaster and not fit to be a minister. Known as Failing Grayling for a reason.

 

[jimm]

Knowing that the first service would be full of journalists (who we all know will be looking for the smallest bit of bad news), special attention would be given every technical aspect of the train even if only for this run. If the AC leak happens tomorrow no-body notices, but on the launch train....

There seem to be an awful lot of non-journalists posting in this thread who are also looking for - even revelling in - the smallest piece of bad news.

Having ridden from Didcot to Paddington and back to Reading, I remained bone-dry throughout, the seats were fine by me and as for the supposedly gloomy interiors, I was pleasantly surprised - looking at a couple of pictures I took myself (without flash) the seat covers look a lot darker than they actually are - it probably needs a professional photographer who knows about lighting to get them looking right. And thanks to the lower seat backs than in GWR HSTs standard class feels a lot more open. Beat the socks of the 180 I had just got off for noise and vibration. The suspension feels firm, but gives a smooth ride.

If I was managing the entry into service of these trains I would have put them on Paddington to Oxford Fast/Semi fast passenger services for 3 weeks minimum to iron out any wrinkles. Then by November time when more IEP are available. Do a day one soft launch 1 or two trains. Then the next day go for a full launch, etc.

But of course the would never happen on public railways, the DFT just want to shove them on the rails. Hitachi/Agility want to get some investment back, and GWR are short of high speed express trains and wanted to get them out, They've been banging on about them for 2 years or more!

Why on earth would you put a brand-new long-distance express train on a stopper from Paddington to Oxford?

This would never have happened on public railways, eh?

Here's a BBC account of the first ever BR HST service from Paddington to Bristol on October 4, 1976. It left Paddington at the not exactly off-peak time of 08.05.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/4/newsid_2486000/2486817.stm

Wonder if anyone got a shot with Tornado and British Pullman at Old Oak?

The PA is completely inaudible when done by a staff member rather than the train.

The train manager was perfectly audible on the 11.45 from Paddington - at least in coach D.

 

[Taunton]

Not the big armchair old fashioned style of the HSTs

No, the "Emperor has no clothes" publicity tries to present this sort of thing as beneficial.

Unfortunately if you want to sit in pleasantly comfortable seats nowadays you have to go into Didcot museum and sit in some of their 80-year old Great Western old stock.

 

[WelshBluebird]

And thanks to the lower seat backs than in GWR HSTs standard class feels a lot more open.

Hmm, I quite like the high backs of the HST's seats, hope I am not going to be disappointed regarding that. Will wait before I judge though!

 

[Taunton]

Here's a BBC account of the first ever BR HST service from Paddington to Bristol on October 4, 1976. It left Paddington at the not exactly off-peak time of 08.05.

I think that was the introduction of the new timetable. The trains had been running in public service for some time previously. The first roster left Old Oak at about 0400 ECS to Bristol, to come back at about 0700 from Bristol TM, various round trips ending up at Bristol in the evening, then ECS back to Old Oak arriving after midnight. The continuous running was more about mileage accumulation.

 

[Clarence Yard]

So basically a civil servant lead committee has specified and signed off a brand new train where if there is an AC fault in one part of one coach the system has to be turned off in the entire train?

Given that Hitachi engineers were travelling on it as well I find this just incredible but predictable.

Not quite one part of one coach - all the coaches were in trouble to some degree. For some (as yet) unaccountable reason, Stoke Gifford had let the set heat up inside overnight (nearing 40 degrees was quoted) so when they switched on the air con it was trying to do the near impossible in trying to cool that lot down and the predictable happened. I also think the Hitachi engineers on board were quite busy enough on other issues with those sets, a complete contrast to the sets that came off North Pole which, at the moment, seems to be working fine.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is dumping water in the saloon "the predictable"?

If dumping water in the saloon is normal, that's one almighty design flaw.

 

[theageofthetra]

Not quite one part of one coach - all the coaches were in trouble to some degree. For some (as yet) unaccountable reason, Stoke Gifford had let the set heat up inside overnight (nearing 40 degrees was quoted) so when they switched on the air con it was trying to do the near impossible in trying to cool that lot down and the predictable happened. I also think the Hitachi engineers on board were quite busy enough on other issues with those sets, a complete contrast to the sets that came off North Pole which, at the moment, seems to be working fine.

Why on earth did they do something so stupid? -The meeting without tea & biscuits will be later then.

To be fair the usual piss poor reporting has been full of errors including one rag quoting a top speed of 148 mph!

 

[D1009]

a complete contrast to the sets that came off North Pole which, at the moment, seems to be working fine.

I'm on the 1529 Swansea Paddington currently, and there certainly have been no serious issues. The only slight problem, which occurred in both directions seemed to be at Neath, where there was some confusion as to which doors would open. On the way back there was a PA announcement from the driver apologising for the delay in releasing the doors, and eventually people had to walk through several coaches to alight. Incidentally I believe this is the first time I have ever heard a GWR driver using the PA.

 

[Mikey C]

If I was managing the entry into service of these trains I would have put them on Paddington to Oxford Fast/Semi fast passenger services for 3 weeks minimum to iron out any wrinkles. Then by November time when more IEP are available. Do a day one soft launch 1 or two trains. Then the next day go for a full launch, etc.

But of course the would never happen on public railways, the DFT just want to shove them on the rails. Hitachi/Agility want to get some investment back, and GWR are short of high speed express trains and wanted to get them out, They've been banging on about them for 2 years or more!

They've been testing them for an eternity, it's not as if they've been "shoved" on the rails, literally off the boat from Japan.

Today, whoever's fault it was, was a poor show. I'm sure Hitachi are embarrassed as it's their name attached to the trains

 

[Oxfordblues]

Today's fiasco reminds me of similar scenes on 7 December 1981 when the ill-fated APT was launched: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35061511
Clearly no lessons have been learnt from that shambles!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Selection of my 'first day' photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pdeaves/37475886000/.

What did it say inside the first class booklet? Do you still get complementary refreshments, are the still the same?