GWR Turbo cascade progress to Bristol region services

[Dai Corner]

Was it a case of providing train crews for the Bath shuttles rather than providing units? Doesn't justify the lack of advance info of the suspension of the Severn Beach trains though.

Quite possibly. Perhaps nobody wanted the overtime, preferring to start their Christmas shopping instead?

 

[jayah]

I'm sure it is all in hand and if extra stock is needed it will be arranged.

People need to stop worrying, after all what's the worst that could happen apart from lots of angry, disappointed customers?

Were there Class 800s running, they are suppose to be replacing the off lease HSTs after all not the Turbos?

 

[PHILIPE]

Gauging ECS Bristol to Weymouth and return planned for Friday this week

 

[pompeyfan]

Gauging ECS Bristol to Weymouth and return planned for Friday this week

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V15306/2017/12/01/advanced

The above is the down path of 5Z50, there isn’t yet a return path in RTT.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Might this be the return run? http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V14472/2017/12/01/advanced

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Might this be the return run? http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V14472/2017/12/01/advanced

Seems to be with saying Test on service information.

 

[PHILIPE]

Seems to be with saying Test on service information.

It is testing

 

[50031]

What about clearance Bristol Parkway to Gloucester and South Worcester as these services run through to Weymouth, or is that section already cleared?

 

[D1009]

What about clearance Bristol Parkway to Gloucester and South Worcester as these services run through to Weymouth, or is that section already cleared?

Plenty of time to do it if not.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Plenty of time to do it if not.

It’s only 5/6 weeks until a bulk of Turbos cascade to Bristol with the Class 387 services starting between Didcot Parkway/Reading to London Paddington semi fast services on 2 January.

 

[JN114]

It’s only 5/6 weeks until a bulk of Turbos cascade to Bristol with the Class 387 services starting between Didcot Parkway/Reading to London Paddington semi fast services on 2 January.

Yes; however Turbos require door mods to be able to work at stations with short platforms. Expansion beyond their current sphere of operation not expected until Spring once program of door mods completed.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Yes; however Turbos require door mods to be able to work at stations with short platforms. Expansion beyond their current sphere of operation not expected until Spring once program of door mods completed.

29th January is the key date. That is the date when SDO is required as the 166 diagrams go from 9 to 11 and Weymouth comes into play.

Route clearance is almost done. Now the station testing begins on the cleared routes.

 

[50031]

29th January is the key date. That is the date when SDO is required as the 166 diagrams go from 9 to 11 and Weymouth comes into play.

Route clearance is almost done. Now the station testing begins on the cleared routes.

Will the Weymouth diagrams with turbos still run through to Gloucester etc as of now by end of January?

 

[superalbs]

Will the Weymouth diagrams with turbos still run through to Gloucester etc as of now by end of January?

There may be testing to Gloucester in the future.

Unless they have already been to Gloucester in the past and there is no need?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The 166 Turbos have first class at one end, with first class doors, exterior “1” sticker and little fabric signs on the seat indicating First.

At the other end there is the ex-First class section that was declassified a few years ago.

Has the former section I talked about been given the same treatment? Are there still those fabric signs, the closed interior first class doors, the exterior “1”?

 

[ATW158Xpress]

29th January is the key date. That is the date when SDO is required as the 166 diagrams go from 9 to 11 and Weymouth comes into play.

Route clearance is almost done. Now the station testing begins on the cleared routes.

How many 166’s are in Bristol at the moment and are any 165’s being cascaded in January?

 

[JN114]

How many 166’s are in Bristol at the moment and are any 165’s being cascaded in January?

From January Bristol should have all 21 166s and all bar 10 of the 2 car 165s.

All 3 car 165s and the remaining 2 car 165s will remain LTV based for now.

 

[Clarence Yard]

From January Bristol should have all 21 166s and all bar 10 of the 2 car 165s.

All 3 car 165s and the remaining 2 car 165s will remain LTV based for now.

I am afraid not. Not enough wires or AT300 - that will be the December 2018 timetable position.

This January 16 x cl.166 and 6 x 165/1 2 cars are due to be in the west. Only 9 (from 11) cl.166 will be in service as from 02/01/18 and there will be a progressive ramp up of diagrams as units are modified. The end position for the west Turbo diagrams (by May 2018) will be 14 from 16 cl.166 and 4 from 6 cl.165/1 2 car.

 

[thelongestroad]

Has anyone seen the door mod? Will it be like the retrofitted panel in the 150s? Will it just be for local door use or will it be able to be used for regular dispatch too?

 

[JN114]

I am afraid not. Not enough wires or AT300 - that will be the December 2018 timetable position.

This January 16 x cl.166 and 6 x 165/1 2 cars are due to be in the west. Only 9 (from 11) cl.166 will be in service as from 02/01/18 and there will be a progressive ramp up of diagrams as units are modified. The end position for the west Turbo diagrams (by May 2018) will be 14 from 16 cl.166 and 4 from 6 cl.165/1 2 car.

Ah yes; I’ve misread the dates.

 

[JonathanH]

I am afraid not. Not enough wires or AT300 - that will be the December 2018 timetable position.

This January 16 x cl.166 and 6 x 165/1 2 cars are due to be in the west. Only 9 (from 11) cl.166 will be in service as from 02/01/18 and there will be a progressive ramp up of diagrams as units are modified. The end position for the west Turbo diagrams (by May 2018) will be 14 from 16 cl.166 and 4 from 6 cl.165/1 2 car.

Interesting to see the split of Turbos between West and LTV services. These numbers leave 16 x 3-car 165, 5 x 3-car 166 and 14 x 2-car 165 for LTV, 35 units for something like 27 diagrams. Presumably some of these are retained against the possible increase in the North Downs Line service from May 2018 but a few more become spare once electrification reaches Newbury. At the moment, the 2-car 165s still need to go to Wolverton for their overhaul so that might also account for the apparent spare capacity in the LTV fleet.

Do all 166s get the Ride Height Modification or will a specific group of 5 be allocated to Reading for LTV services?

 

[Siemens Staines]

Comments elsewhere suggest an increase in the number of Ride Height Modified 166s on North Downs (now that apparently they are passed to work through to Gatwick) and with the Basingstokes also able to utilise these units, then it must be a possibility that all of the 166 diagrams at Reading could be RHM units? Also, I do wonder if some of the diagrams may be four car units which may account for some more of the 2-car units, plus Wolverton as you say.

 

[Clarence Yard]

All the Turbos will eventually get the RHM, not just the units that are going to Bristol.

From 02/01/18 there was going to be 28 Turbo diagrams (10 x 165/1 2 car, 14 x 165/1 3 car and 4 x 166), if you counted the enhanced North Downs. However, until 15/01/18, there is now the requirement to cover two cl.180 diagrams as the two AT300 units are not due to arrive until late the previous week. There are still some peak Turbo "doubles" to/from Oxford in this timetable.

The low availability on the 2 cars is to cover for the various mods programmes that run on until at least the Autumn. That is also what is anticipated to happen with the extra two North Downs units until May.

 

[superkev]

Presumably the ride height mods means a bigger step up with no alterations to the steps.
Any sign of all the promised pristine 150's supposed to be moving north.
K

 

[childwallblues]

Thank you

 

[JN114]

Presumably the ride height mods means a bigger step up with no alterations to the steps.
Any sign of all the promised pristine 150's supposed to be moving north.
K

1st is already at Doncaster for conversion; 3 more off lease after today.

 

[PHILIPE]

There are 2 Turbos scheduled for Cardiff to Tauntons tomorrow, the usual one and also the 1000, 1500 and 2000s.

 

[Noddy]

How much of a difference will having 90mph Turbos replacing 75mph 150s stock make (20% faster). Especially Bristol-Worcester which is virtually all 90mph+. I know these timetables haven’t been amended yet but I’m wondering how much time will be taken off when they do this in 2019? Or will it just be extra padding...

 

[swt_passenger]

Here are the initial workings:-

DIAGRAM 452:-

2O01 0524 WESTBURY – SALISBURY

2E16 0602 SALISBURY – GLOUCESTER

2O01 used to be the unit that attached to the daily 158 hire-in from SWT - will that be done differently in the new year?

 

[83G/84D]

I will look into it.