GWR Turbo cascade progress to Bristol region services

[uxm]

To replace the 150/1s and 143s those routes have lost. Why do they need to be on the current routes?

Ultimately the only HSTs at Cardiff will be going to Taunton/Exeter/Plymouth/Penzance - the London services will be entirely IET worked within the next 6 months.

So the 158s are replacing pacers and 150s? why can't the turbos do that and keep the 158s on the current routes?

 

[JN114]

So the 158s are replacing pacers and 150s? why can't the turbos do that and keep the 158s on the current routes?

Because the Portsmouth route is incredibly overcrowded and needs the additional capacity Turbos offer.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Turbos will reduce dwall time at stations with the door being 1/3 and 2/3 in the saloons instead of the ends.

 

[jimm]

But that's not really the key issue on the route - passenger capacity is the number one and has been for a long time now.

 

[Parallel]

Just saw 165129 on the 09:31 departure from Bath to Portsmouth today. Are Turbos now able to work down to the harbour?

 

[pompeyfan]

Just saw 165129 on the 09:31 departure from Bath to Portsmouth today. Are Turbos now able to work down to the harbour?

Last I remember reading was that a ground position signal at the Harbour wasn’t due to be moved until mid December, possible that they’ll either throw it into Fareham Bay, Fratton platform 2 or maybe even the low level.

 

[Melancholia]

Set swapped at Westbury for 150244.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Engineering works at Portsmouth Harbour is on Sunday 9 December with buses replacing trains between Postsmouth Harbour and Fareham.
https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdf...turday-8-to-friday-14-december-2018.pdf?la=en

 

[TJDevon]

I would appreciate an update from anyone 'in the know' as regards which Turbo units have been transferred to Bristol. Put simply, which 166 haven't and which 165s have moved. Possibly some that have been transferred are still not in use awaiting modifications?

Are the Turbos proving reliable?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Siemens Staines]

I think "moved" over simplifies the current situation. A lot of turbos have been to Bristol, worked in passenger service and then returned to Reading where they work for a bit and in some cases (e.g 165134) then go back to Bristol again. The situation is very fluid. I am not claiming this as a definitive list but I think currently;

166 (all RHM)
RDG 166201,203,215,217,221
SPM 166202,204-214,216,218-220

165 2-car
RHM
SPM 165119,122,127,129,131,132,134

Non RHM
RDG 165118,121,123-126,128,130,133,135-137
Wolverton 165120

With air-cooling 165118,119,123-125,128,130,131,134-137
Without air-cooling 165121,122,126,127,129,132,133

165 3-car (all non RHM)
RDG 165101,102,104-114,116,117
Wolverton 165103

With air-cooling 165110,116,117
Without air-cooling 165101,102,104-109,111-114

I welcome any corrections to mistakes I may have made.

 

[JN114]

I think "moved" over simplifies the current situation. A lot of turbos have been to Bristol, worked in passenger service and then returned to Reading where they work for a bit and in some cases (e.g 165134) then go back to Bristol again. The situation is very fluid. I am not claiming this as a definitive list but I think currently;

166 (all RHM)
RDG 166201,203,215,217,221
SPM 166202,204-214,216,218-220

165 2-car
RHM
SPM 165119,122,127,129,131,132,134

Non RHM
RDG 165118,121,123-126,128,130,133,135-137
Wolverton 165120

With air-cooling 165118,119,123-125,128,130,131,134-137
Without air-cooling 165121,122,126,127,129,132,133

165 3-car (all non RHM)
RDG 165101,102,104-114,116,117
Wolverton 165103

With air-cooling 165110,116,117
Without air-cooling 165101,102,104-109,111-114

I welcome any corrections to mistakes I may have made.

RHM 122 is currently Reading-based.

The works units are as follows:
165101 Wolverton
165103 Long Marston
165116 Long Marston
165120 Wolverton
165127 Overhaul on SPM

As far as I’m aware all are to return to Reading when done.

 

[PHILIPE]

I think "moved" over simplifies the current situation. A lot of turbos have been to Bristol, worked in passenger service and then returned to Reading where they work for a bit and in some cases (e.g 165134) then go back to Bristol again. The situation is very fluid. I am not claiming this as a definitive list but I think currently;

166 (all RHM)
RDG 166201,203,215,217,221
SPM 166202,204-214,216,218-220

165 2-car
RHM
SPM 165119,122,127,129,131,132,134

Non RHM
RDG 165118,121,123-126,128,130,133,135-137
Wolverton 165120

With air-cooling 165118,119,123-125,128,130,131,134-137
Without air-cooling 165121,122,126,127,129,132,133

165 3-car (all non RHM)
RDG 165101,102,104-114,116,117
Wolverton 165103

With air-cooling 165110,116,117
Without air-cooling 165101,102,104-109,111-114

I welcome any corrections to mistakes I may have made.

As said, the movements can be fluid but without knowing the actual numbers, there are only 5 x 165s at SPM with a further 5 expected to move in January

 

[FGW_DID]

01/12 planned rotation:

165137 RG-SPM
165127 SPM-RG

 

[Siemens Staines]

RHM 122 is currently Reading-based.

The works units are as follows:
165101 Wolverton
165103 Long Marston
165116 Long Marston
165120 Wolverton
165127 Overhaul on SPM

As far as I’m aware all are to return to Reading when done.

Thank you for that update. I thought that I would have missed a few changes but there were more than I had realised!

 

[TJDevon]

Many thanks to everyone for the information. Much appreciated.

As there have been no comments on reliability may I assume that they are at least as reliable as the 158s? Or better?

 

[Sean Emmett]

As there have been no comments on reliability may I assume that they are at least as reliable as the 158s? Or better?

They were very unreliable when first introduced on the Severn Beach line, but it has got better and the extra capacity is much needed here too.

 

[DaveHarries]

They were very unreliable when first introduced on the Severn Beach line, but it has got better and the extra capacity is much needed here too.

Agreed. I am glad that the 150s have gone from my morning commute between Sea Mills and Bristol Temple Meads. When we did have 158s they did a good job though and seemed to run well on the SBL.

As for the future of the 158s I believe that some are planned to be used between Exeter Central and Barnstaple once alterations come in during May 2019 which will see Paignton to Exmouth go half-hourly end-to-end, hence no through services between Exmouth and Barnstaple. I guess the times for the Barnstaple services may get revised once this comes in.

Dave

 

[adrock1976]

Agreed. I am glad that the 150s have gone from my morning commute between Sea Mills and Bristol Temple Meads. When we did have 158s they did a good job though and seemed to run well on the SBL.

As for the future of the 158s I believe that some are planned to be used between Exeter Central and Barnstaple once alterations come in during May 2019 which will see Paignton to Exmouth go half-hourly end-to-end, hence no through services between Exmouth and Barnstaple. I guess the times for the Barnstaple services may get revised once this comes in.

Dave

Although more of a timetabling/infrastructure question, would this make the Barnstaple line timetable more robust, as I remember trains are timetabled to pass each other at Crediton and Eggesford?

 

[TJDevon]

Does anyone know how many Turbos will be needed to work the Portsmouth services? As I recall at least some diagrams will need two units?

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Does anyone know how many Turbos will be needed to work the Portsmouth services? As I recall at least some diagrams will need two units?

There will be about eight 3 car 166 diagrams. With around 5 or 6 of them will have a 2 car 165 throughout or part of the day joining and spitting either at Bristol TM or Westbury.

 

[S-Bahn]

There will be about eight 3 car 166 diagrams. With around 5 or 6 of them will have a 2 car 165 throughout or part of the day joining and spitting either at Bristol TM or Westbury.

I'm assuming the reason for splitting would be to use the 2 car 165's for a local route at certain times?

 

[Parallel]

I’m still hoping they can rip out the current seating arrangement and fit 2+2 seating with arm rests and some tables throughout, in the future. The current seating isn’t really adequate and on such a busy route, you’re going to get lots of people who can’t or won’t sit in the middle seats and will instead block the doors or aisles. Hopefully GWR’s proposal will finally get approved by the DfT.

 

[Siemens Staines]

RHM 122 is currently Reading-based.

The works units are as follows:
165101 Wolverton
165103 Long Marston
165116 Long Marston
165120 Wolverton
165127 Overhaul on SPM

As far as I’m aware all are to return to Reading when done.

165116 noted on 1135 Long Marston - Reading today

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Rail mag has posted that GWR is delaying its’ introduction of new Hitachi trains on stopping services to Newbury and Berwyn until further notice. New CCTV cameras will have to be fitted so that the drivers can see when doors can safely be closed. Longer 9 car Hitachi trains on the route to the South West would be unaffected as they carry guards and do not stop at small unstaffed stations in Berkshire and Wiltshire.

Wonder how many Turbos will now be cascaded to Bristol in January with IET services to Bedwyn being put on hold?

 

[swt_passenger]

Wonder how many Turbos will now be cascaded to Bristol in January with IET services to Bedwyn being put on hold?

Other sources have said they’ll start anyway and run with guards.

 

[Trainfan061193]

So how many Turbos will still move to Bristol? Surely the extra 4 165s to make 10 of those there will now be affected.

 

[swt_passenger]

So how many Turbos will still move to Bristol? Surely the extra 4 165s to make 10 of those in Bristol will now be affected.

No idea. Just offering a second opinion about the IETs.

 

[Melancholia]

Other sources have said they’ll start anyway and run with guards.

Are there enough Reading guards/TMs that sign the route to Newbury/Bedwyn?

 

[swt_passenger]

Are there enough Reading guards/TMs that sign the route to Newbury/Bedwyn?

Haven’t a clue.

 

[Clarence Yard]

The Bedwyns are staying Turbo, for now. Use of guards on 800 units doing the Bedwyns is wibble.

3 Turbos are staying at Reading to cover the diagrams until Hitachi do a mod on the IET sets. The trial mod is likely to begin tests in mid to late January.