Network rail yellow fleet withdrawal

[Zontar]

Apparently it is all going to be replaced.

Network Rail engages on £1.2bn contract to replace ‘yellow fleet’ with new monitoring tech | New Civil Engineer

The Rail Infrastructure Monitoring Service Replacement contract is expected to run from 26 February 2027 through 25 February 2035, with a potential

www.newcivilengineer.com

Network Rail has started preliminary market engagement on a contract to provide new rail infrastructure monitoring services, with an estimated total value of £1.2bn excluding VAT.
The Rail Infrastructure Monitoring Service Replacement contract is expected to run from 26 February 2027 through 25 February 2035, with a potential extension up to 25 February 2043 for a total of 16 years.

The current infrastructure monitoring data is primarily gathered through a fleet of dedicated monitoring trains, known colloquially as the “yellow fleet”. However, Network Rail has identified that this ageing fleet is outdated and increasingly unpredictable, necessitating its retirement and replacement.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I'm not sure if its just me but it doesnt seem reasonable that drones, robots, and satellite systems are able to do PLPR or MENTOR duties.
I'm struggling to decipher if the word 'Replacement' is intended to insinuate new rolling stock or a 'Withdrawal' with no rolling stock replacement.

 

[Ben Anslow]

I personally think a heavily modified class 745 would be a suitable replacement

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Looks like a fishing exercise to see what gets suggested!

I can't somehow see the yellow fleet being replaced - a complete new fleet of bespoke monitoring trains would cost a fortune.

 

[zwk500]

I'm not sure if its just me but it doesnt seem reasonable that drones, robots, and satellite systems are able to do PLPR or MENTOR duties.
I'm struggling to decipher if the word 'Replacement' is intended to insinuate new rolling stock or a 'Withdrawal' with no rolling stock replacement.

It's probably a mix of both.

Looks like a fishing exercise to see what gets suggested!

Which is a very normal thing for these tendering options to have. I'm quite happy for NR to ask what other people offer rather than ask people to match a pre-set specification, as there's lots of good ideas outside NR as well as inside it.

I can't somehow see the yellow fleet being replaced - a complete new fleet of bespoke monitoring trains would cost a fortune.

I can see any of the current fleet on the production lines being heavily modified after initial assembly. It'd then be able to be maintained at any of the manufacturer's depots for the mechanical/electrical side. A fleet of 125mph Go-anywhere bi-modes would be handy.

 

[saismee]

I personally think a heavily modified class 745 would be a suitable replacement

Why?

 

[Yorkshire09876]

I personally think a heavily modified class 745 would be a suitable replacement

An articulated unit would probably not be a great idea - it would only be possible to maintain it at sites which could jack the whole thing. Something with more conventional separate vehicles with their own bogies would be more flexible.

 

[WirralLine]

I can see any of the current fleet on the production lines being heavily modified after initial assembly. It'd then be able to be maintained at any of the manufacturer's depots for the mechanical/electrical side. A fleet of 125mph Go-anywhere bi-modes would be handy

950001 of course being just that was it not - a fleet on a current production line at the time (150/1) but built as a track monitoring unit from day 1.

I'm sure plenty of additional costs involved these days though!

 

[brad465]

Looks like a fishing exercise to see what gets suggested!

I can't somehow see the yellow fleet being replaced - a complete new fleet of bespoke monitoring trains would cost a fortune.

Like everything, it can't last forever. Except 37s though, which run on fuel from the fountain of youth.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Logic says; Bolt the requirement on as a follow on from a new train order since the factory is already producing body shells. Something like the AT300 or Civity would be ideal.
I find it hard to believe the 153s are life expired.. they’re being upgraded as we speak.

 

[Halish Railway]

I do wonder if one or several of the off-lease Class 221s would make an ideal replacement for the NMT and PLPR trains, being a high performance and mechanically robust train, with a possible maintenance facility in the form of Central Rivers being a stone’s throw from where the PLPR trains are currently based.

 

[fgwrich]

Don’t forget though, as technology moves on the capabilities and requirements of Network Rail to have such a large infrastructure monitoring fleet will change. Nearly new item of A/C rolling stock in the country now can provide realtime OHLE / Pantograph information back to both the operators & NR, while a small number of SouthEasterns 707s have LIDAR* fitted to the fronts of them.

*or similar

 

[dk1]

I personally think a heavily modified class 745 would be a suitable replacement

There are none spare and they are all electric. Not much cop off the wires.

 

[zwk500]

https://trainlogger.co.uk/units - this link has a list of trains on order, although it may be out of date. NR are going to need a bi-mode or Diesel option you'd think, unless they order a 730 that can be dragged around as needed. Hitachi's greater length would restrict options for the very twisty branch lines, but the 897s may be suitable if one set can be shortened appropriately.

 

[saismee]

There are none spare and they are all electric. Not much cop off the wires.

Also not suitable for 125mph operation, so it would almost certainly be better to use some kind of IET derivative in every conceivable case.

 

[zwk500]

Also not suitable for 125mph operation, so it would almost certainly be better to use some kind of IET derivative in every conceivable case.

Although one consideration with that is 125mph stock is likely to be less suitable to go over the majority of the network, so either NR procures a 'Main line' and 'branch line' fleet, or it accepts that slower (90/100mph?) paths are an acceptable trade-off.

Given how busy the network is, having two groups of units might be justified, although given NR's financial position procuring more than is strictly necessary may be harder to justify. All depends if NR feels it will be able to get much better efficiency from a high-speed path on the 100mph+ bits of the network than the efficiency of having fewer units that can go over more lines without restrictions.

 

[noddingdonkey]

This is a good point- could the capability be added to a proportion of production units/locos to record as they go about their daily work rather than using dedicated trains?

 

[brad465]

I personally think a heavily modified class 745 would be a suitable replacement

There are none spare and they are all electric. Not much cop off the wires.

Is it possible you/they meant class 755, which is bi-mode?

 

[Deepgreen]

Although one consideration with that is 125mph stock is likely to be less suitable to go over the majority of the network, so either NR procures a 'Main line' and 'branch line' fleet, or it accepts that slower (90/100mph?) paths are an acceptable trade-off.

Given how busy the network is, having two groups of units might be justified, although given NR's financial position procuring more than is strictly necessary may be harder to justify. All depends if NR feels it will be able to get much better efficiency from a high-speed path on the 100mph+ bits of the network than the efficiency of having fewer units that can go over more lines without restrictions.

Why - HSTs are able to get to the most dilapidated and remote branch lines, so what would prevent other 125mph-capable stock from doing the same?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Why - HSTs are able to get to the most dilapidated and remote branch lines, so what would prevent other 125mph-capable stock from doing the same?

Most restrictions on 'HST's as a consist are due to the Mk3 profiles and lengths. Powercars are usually fine.

 

[gingertom]

dare I suggest 180? [ducks for cover]

 

[XCTurbostar]

Additional reading for those interested:
Gov Find a Tender - Rail Infrastructure Monitoring Service Replacement
BidStats - Rail Infrastructure Monitoring Service Replacement

 

[zwk500]

Why - HSTs are able to get to the most dilapidated and remote branch lines, so what would prevent other 125mph-capable stock from doing the same?

Length of fixed formations at terminal stations will be one problem, and the Hitachi 26m bodyshell is still awkward for twisty routes despite the various mitigations in the design.

 

[Pete_uk]

dare I suggest 180? [ducks for cover]

The middle three carriages minus their engines pulled by a loco could be a good idea.

But I believe they are slightly on the wide side.