I very much think abellio will be looking for a fairly standard fleet for regional/rural trains as well.it keeps the servicing and maintainance costs down.Depending on what happens with the regional fleet, what can run into Lincoln Central? Class 170s apparently cannot because of the gauge change during the re-modelling in 2007/8. Will 156/158s be kept on and refurbed for the LEI/NOT-GMB, DON-PBO and NNG-LCN services?
That's very careless of somebody. Do you have any more details or a source?Depending on what happens with the regional fleet, what can run into Lincoln Central? Class 170s apparently cannot because of the gauge change during the re-modelling in 2007/8. Will 156/158s be kept on and refurbed for the LEI/NOT-GMB, DON-PBO and NNG-LCN services?
ps, i would absolutely love 185's on nottingham-skeg diagrams,they are cosmetically and logistically perfect for the route, but they cost an absolute fortune to run!
3 car 17x/159 would be a suitable deputy in my opinion
yes I'm with you on planet east midlands!Are you with us on planet East Midlands Railway? An over heavy thirsty 100mph DMU with no luggage space on a branch line that varies between 50 and 60 mph mainly existing to serve leisure passengers with luggage? I can hardly think of anything less suitable than a 185. They'd smash the track to bits.
That's very careless of somebody. Do you have any more details or a source?
Yes, the 170s were removed from SWT for a reason, I doubt they will want them back.The chances of SWR swapping out 158/159 for 170s are vanishingly small. They want a common fleet of gangwayed stock, which is split and joined all day, and usually carries a trolley. Remember they already got rid of their previous 170s about 12 years ago...
I'll take it with a dessertspoonful of salt. I've not heard anything about 170's being barred from lincoln following the remodelling. IF it is the case, then my money would be on it being a clerical issue rather than an infrastructure related one.I'm going off what the EMR wikipedia page says, which is why I'm taking it with a pinch of salt and saying the gauge apparently cannot cater for 17xs
The chances of SWR swapping out 158/159 for 170s are vanishingly small. They want a common fleet of gangwayed stock, which is split and joined all day, and usually carries a trolley. Remember they already got rid of their previous 170s about 12 years ago...
I agree with the above for the most part, though I'd go as far as to say with the way the 222s are now (I.E. ratty) the 158s are looking really rather nice.Having been on a majority of EMT’s class 158 fleet on my travels from either Derby, Leicester or Nottingham I can honestly say I’ve never been on a bad one. Interiors are tip top & always clean & the ride quality is very good too especially at the top end of 90mph.
I also prefer them to the class 170.
Not quite as good as a class 222 unit though.
Incidentally some 170’s operating on CrossCountry are right old dog boxes now. They’re in need of an overhaul.
I’ve been on Northern class 158’s that are in better shape.
Given the state of the GWR fleet, perhaps a more pertinent question would be how are Abellio going to get their new (s)Hitachi sets reliable?I don’t know if this has already been mentioned however the 180’s are due to come into service next summer, although no specific date at this moment in time.
I’m taking no risk in posting the whole document however I quote from it:
‘How are Abellio going to turn the Class 180 fleet into a train that’s reliable?’
“Abellio intend to invest time, effort and money to ensure they are as reliable as the existing Class 222 fleet, working with other industry partners to help achieve this. It is the intention that this fleet will be maintained by Bombardier.”
Given the state of the GWR fleet, perhaps a more pertinent question would be how are Abellio going to get their new (s)Hitachi sets reliable?
Well the 180 is only dross below the floor. The IEP is dross both above and below the floor.A lot more easily than the dross that is the Class 180. They really just need scrapping.
Well the 180 is only dross below the floor. The IEP is dross both above and below the floor.
My wife went on a Hull Trains class 180 about 18 months ago, and she thought it was one of the nicest trains she'd ever been on; she's seen the inside of an IEP (in an adjacent track in Reading station) and wasn't impressed
Might be nice, but this goes against everything EMR has said, and presumably have put in their bid (three types of stock only).ideally it would be a 2 car 158 on crewe/lincoln/matlock and a 3 car 159 on the skeggy's(6 car 159 on the norwich-liverpool)
If the Class 170s aren't cleared at Lincoln and I'm surprised they can't be if whats been said about Class 800/801s then just put them on Norwich to Liverpool services.
Depends if they can get any more paths to allow extra services to run. I doubt they need that many extra spares.Also: It appears the 180s will have 6 months of refurbishment/staff training before entering service.
So long as they're released from Hull Trains in a timely manner of course!
Wonder what Grand Central feel about these coming over here?
Maybe they're just biding their time and will grab them when EMR are finished with them?
Considering all of the issues that GWR are having with their 800’s, is it wise that EMR order a train based on the AT300 design? You could argue that Hitachi will have learned from their mistakes but will that be the case?
I'm not sure the 80x issues (bar the seats) are any greater than any new design, though?