GWR Intercity Express Train (IEP) initial diagrams & allocations

[Mitchell Hurd]

Yesterday, 800308 (9-car) did the honours on the 08:59 from Didcot Parkway to Liskeard - 8-car HST on the 16:31 from Liskeard to Reading and on the 20:10 from Reading back to Didcot Parkway.

Regarding 800308, I wondered why we the acceleration didn't feel as fast and that it was ok up the hills either between Newton Abbot and Totnes or between Totnes and Plymouth.

 

[jimm]

Service booked for a Turbo on GWR pdf timetable. First signs Turbos are withdrawing slowly on the Oxford fasts.

Sorry, but it's not a first sign. IETs have been appearing on London-Oxford and back fast services (ie not those continuing to/coming from the Cotswold Line) since late July, as I noted back up this thread at the time.

Even on the September update of GWR timetable T1, there are still services indicated for Turbo operation that have been operated by an IET for some weeks now.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Sorry, but it's not a first sign. IETs have been appearing on London-Oxford and back fast services (ie not those continuing to/coming from the Cotswold Line) since late July, as I noted back up this thread at the time.

Even on the September update of GWR timetable T1, there are still services indicated for Turbo operation that have been operated by an IET for some weeks now.

The good question on here next will be remaining Fast Turbos and HST diagrams from Oxford/Newbury/Bedwyn to Reading/London Paddington.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Someone will correct me if I am wrong but the final LTV turbo trains that were intended to be IET are now all IET as of today with the 0608 Newbury - Paddington, 0721 Paddington - Oxford, 0901 Oxford - Paddington being IET today. Of course the 2118 Paddington - Oxford hasn't run yet, so I perhaps I am being premature.

The 0950 Paddington - Oxford & 1201 Oxford - Paddington is regularly an 802. Its formed off one half of the 0553 Plymouth - Paddington on the days when the 0553 from Plymouth is a 10-car 802.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Someone will correct me if I am wrong but the final LTV turbo trains that were intended to be IET are now all IET as of today with the 0608 Newbury - Paddington, 0721 Paddington - Oxford, 0901 Oxford - Paddington being IET today. Of course the 2118 Paddington - Oxford hasn't run yet, so I perhaps I am being premature.

The 0950 Paddington - Oxford & 1201 Oxford - Paddington is regularly an 802. Its formed off one half of the 0553 Plymouth - Paddington on the days when the 0553 from Plymouth is a 10-car 802.

Sorry but what about the hourly Bedwyns? These are supposed to be all 5 carriage 800s, no?

 

[jimm]

How do you define 'meant to be IET'? The change you note is more a case of an IET finally taking over on the last of the duties that used to be in the hands of a 180.

Unless someone knows different, the 07.50 from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh/Great Malvern is likely to remain Turbo-worked until the point at which the new GWR timetable finally kicks in - this service requires a two-set formation to divide at Moreton-in-Marsh so the rear set can go back to London at 09.50.

Paddington-Bedwyn workings are yet to see an IET. Although this route was not in the initial plan for 80x use, that was of course overtaken by events and the follow-on order for extra 802s, so I'd say its services could be classed as meant to be IET in the near future. And in the case of Oxford, the original electrification plan called for emus to work a fair number of the London-Oxford fast services, rather than an 80x.

 

[Siemens Staines]

I apologise, by meant to be, I meant in 2018. A lot of fast Oxford trains were originally shown with HST timings in 2018 and diagrams originating or ending at North Pole so clearly were intended to be IET, but in practice have been amended to be turbo operated throughout the year due to the various well publicised reasons e.g late IET deliveries and issues relating to LTV driver training. These trains are not just the former 180 diagrams(that was just coincidence the trains that went over this morning were also 180 diagrams), but many long standing 166 trains, but do not include trains such as the the 0750 which were never intended to be IET in 2018. Similarly 0550, 0931, 1401, 1601, 1932, 2101 Oxford - Paddington and 1150, 1350, 1450, 1718, 2050, 2218, 2250, 2320 Paddington - Oxford which are either tied in with the Moreton in Marsh/Great Malvern diagram or rotating sets involved with Oxford - Didcot shuttles, although it is conceivable that some could go over to IET and hence why I stand to be corrected.

Just looked on tiger and 2301 Oxford - Paddington is an IET tonight.

 

[PHILIPE]

802005 today worked 2C48 1557 Plymouth to Penzance and 2E89 1916 Penzance to Plymouth (normally Exeter but changed trains at Plymouth) vice a 150. Looking at RTT it would appear that this is booked all week under STP arrangements.

 

[Clarence Yard]

It’s being done so that drivers down there get their handling hours in.

 

[PHILIPE]

It’s being done so that drivers down there get their handling hours in.

Thanks very much for that explanation

 

[31160]

Would anyone be able to tell me please if the closure of the line from Bristol Park to Newport due to wireing works on the 24 Dec - 1st Jan mean South Wales services are diverted through Stroud and Lyndey or is it a case of all aboard the fun bus?

 

[PHILIPE]

Would anyone be able to tell me please if the closure of the line from Bristol Park to Newport due to wireing works on the 24 Dec - 1st Jan mean South Wales services are diverted through Stroud and Lyndey or is it a case of all aboard the fun bus?

www.railforums.co.uk/threads/christmas-2018-engineering-works.168389

 

[31160]

www.railforums.co.uk/threads/christmas-2018-engineering-works.168389

Fun bus it is then, thanks

 

[cambsy]

Looks like 1A77 05.41 Penzance-Paddington has gone over to IET operation, as this train shown to form 1C80 Paddington-Penzance, and 1A35 17.42 Penzance-Paddington with an ECS to North Pole IEP Depot at end of diagram, there is no 11.44 ECS arrival from North Pole depot, to form 1C80 to Penzance, so looks like Penzance has enough drivers trained to work IET’s on Penzance starters and finishers.

 

[spark001uk]

Does anyone know if there's due to be any more iet dropped into diagram from Monday after next (22nd)?

 

[CMRail]

All the Cheltenham’s but 4 are IET on Monday.

 

[njtruscott]

Looks like 1A77 05.41 Penzance-Paddington has gone over to IET operation, as this train shown to form 1C80 Paddington-Penzance, and 1A35 17.42 Penzance-Paddington with an ECS to North Pole IEP Depot at end of diagram, there is no 11.44 ECS arrival from North Pole depot, to form 1C80 to Penzance, so looks like Penzance has enough drivers trained to work IET’s on Penzance starters and finishers.

This doesn’t appear to be happening next week. STP for 5C80 from North Pole on RTT for Mon-Fri.

 

[JN114]

Looks like 1A77 05.41 Penzance-Paddington has gone over to IET operation, as this train shown to form 1C80 Paddington-Penzance, and 1A35 17.42 Penzance-Paddington with an ECS to North Pole IEP Depot at end of diagram, there is no 11.44 ECS arrival from North Pole depot, to form 1C80 to Penzance, so looks like Penzance has enough drivers trained to work IET’s on Penzance starters and finishers.

As per Clarence Yard’s multiple repetitions - take tracing diagrams in RTT with a massive pinch of salt - the way GWR train planning have compiled diagrams of late relies heavily on STP amendments to LTP diagrams - some of these may not show in RTT until shortly before the day in question.

 

[spark001uk]

Right so all bar 4 of the Cheltenhams are going iet from Monday, is that as in this Monday (15th)? Or 22nd?

 

[Clarence Yard]

It should be the 22nd. 3 HST diagrams become 9 car IET.

 

[31160]

Will there be a big change in the Dec timetable changerover ie. No more HST west of Bristol, that sort of thing??

 

[CMRail]

Will there be a big change in the Dec timetable changerover ie. No more HST west of Bristol, that sort of thing??

Dec timetable has moved to between September and December 2019.

 

[spark001uk]

According to a RAIL mag report it's due to several operators having been made a bit wary by the May GTR/Northern epic fails. How true that is, or whether that's the only reason in GWR's case I don't know.

 

[swt_passenger]

Will there be a big change in the Dec timetable changerover ie. No more HST west of Bristol, that sort of thing??

Withdrawal of HSTs doesn’t need to coincide with a timetable change. It’s been stated that the rundown will see no HSTs operating from “slightly later” than the end of March.

(Except the short conversions for Devon and Cornwall services.)

 

[swt_passenger]

According to a RAIL mag report it's due to several operators having been made a bit wary by the May GTR/Northern epic fails. How true that is, or whether that's the only reason in GWR's case I don't know.

It’s true that NR and RDG have centrally decided that certain TOCs including GWR will roll over existing timetables:
https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/media-centre/press-releases/2018/469774201-2018-07-09.html
This announcement has already been widely discussed in the December timetable thread though.

 

[CC 72100]

It should be the 22nd. 3 HST diagrams become 9 car IET.

Clarence Yard, do you know (roughly) which services these equate to?

(Fully understand if you can't divulge.. so far your info has been very much appreciated!)

 

[CMRail]

Clarence Yard, do you know (roughly) which services these equate to?

(Fully understand if you can't divulge.. so far your info has been very much appreciated!)

1L10 0528 Worcester-Pad (via Stroud)
1G21 0936 Pad-Chelt
1L58 1236 Chelt-Pad

Leaving these as HST:
1L16 0630 Chelt-Pad
1L28 0708 Worcester-Pad (via Stroud)
1L91 1834 Chelt-Pad
1G88 Pad-Worcester (via Stroud)

 

[Bringback309s]

802005 today worked 2C48 1557 Plymouth to Penzance and 2E89 1916 Penzance to Plymouth (normally Exeter but changed trains at Plymouth) vice a 150. Looking at RTT it would appear that this is booked all week under STP arrangements.

Are these workings 802's again this week?

 

[Clarence Yard]

Will there be a big change in the Dec timetable changerover ie. No more HST west of Bristol, that sort of thing??

It's more of a gradual decline. The current base plan (which is being validated as I speak) has 3 diagrams going on 22/10, 1 on 05/11, 3 on 19/11 and 2 on 10/12. However, to finish using OOC from 10/12, a couple of current SG-SG 800 workings have to temporarily revert to being SPM-SPM HST to release enough 9 cars so there is a bit of a swap round on 10/12/18. Wales will still see a (very) few HST workings per day. A Penzance starter should commence from that date too.

The aim in that plan is to only have 13 SX HST diagrams as from 10/12. After Xmas, with all the Scotrail units gone and OOC vacated, the pace of replacement can, at last, slacken.

The draft diagrams for 22/10 are planned as follows - usual comments about STP alteration for engineering works apply. For brevity, train reporting numbers only;

(WOS) - 1L10 - (NP) - 1G60 - (SG).
(SG) - 1G02, 1L36, 1C12, 1A20, 1B55 - (MAL).
(MAL) - 1L20, 1G21, 1L58, 1B48, 1L88, 1W39 - (WOS).

For 5/11 the planned working is;

(MAL) - 1L14, 1C07, 1A15, 1C16, 1A24, 1B76 - (MAL).

That's it for now.

 

[Siemens Staines]

It looks like all of these trains listed for 22/10 & 5/11 are already IET with the STP alterations that apply for this week (or for today anyway);

So far on tiger today;
9-car 1L10
9-car 1G02, 1L36, 1C12
9-car 1L20, 1G21, 1L58
5-car 1L14, (& then 1B17)
9-car 1L16, 1C07, 1A15

So far the majority of the Cardiff terminators seem to be 5-car though (0715, 0815(started Parkway), 0915, 1015, 1215 from Paddington)