Potential Rolling Stock for GO-OP! Taunton-Nuneaton Service

[150001]

Just found this new operation scheduled due to run from Spring 2014; it has an up to date website here http://www.go-op.coop/train/ Looks interesting as it looks like new stock shall be used; interestingly I've seen this on their website from last year that the CSRE Pacemaker is to be used. http://www.go-op.coop/info/network-rail/

Could be interesting considering CSRE is yet to make any breakthrough into the UK market.

 

[swt_passenger]

Won't happen.

Read their Jun 13 newsletter; they have no rolling stock available at all:

One of these is the company from which we hoped to secure our rolling stock. We had a concrete and very attractive proposal on the table which is now no longer available. We have had to take several steps back to re-open the whole question of what type of rolling stock to use, and from which supplier. This means that issues of profitability, stabling and support from Wiltshire Council, which we had thought were settled, must also be reconsidered.

http://www.go-op.coop/workspace/uploads/files/go-op_newsletter6.pdf

 

[150001]

That's a shame; wouldn't mind that Pacesetter! Looks like a 172 actually

 

[swt_passenger]

That's a shame; wouldn't mind that Pacesetter! Looks like a 172 actually

Most announcements to do with CSRE were kite flying, IMHO.

Nobody is interested. They haven't even renewed their website.

 

[asylumxl]

Most announcements to do with CSRE were kite flying, IMHO.

Nobody is interested. They haven't even renewed their website.

More to it than that I believe. Especially when you consider that the government wasted CSRs about on that large DMU order a few years back.

 

[anthony263]

GO-OP do seem to be doing a lot of work in the background quietly.
That said I do wonder if they will get off the ground especially with FGW finally improving the service between Westbury and Swindon from December.

Certainly I cannot see GO-OP starting services in may 2014 earliest I suspect would be december 2015.

 

[southern442]

I think that new rolling stock would be an inappropriate use of money. The best thing for the line would be 185's, but unfortunately they would look horrible in the livery.

 

[Mojo]

This outfit have been going for years and claimed they'd have made progress by various dates in the past.

See previous threads:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=60853 - Feb 2012
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=50297 - Aug 2011
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44090 - Apr 2011
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=41720 - Feb 2011

 

[theblackwatch]

This outfit have been going for years and claimed they'd have made progress by various dates in the past.

See previous threads:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=60853 - Feb 2012
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=50297 - Aug 2011
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44090 - Apr 2011
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=41720 - Feb 2011

I thought it was that outfit - I remember them approaching more than one Class 50 owner some a few years ago.

 

[The Planner]

They were very close to bidding for paths apparently.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The best thing for the line would be 185's, but unfortunately they would look horrible in the livery.

North of Oxford they wouldn't be because the fatty 185's can't use any differential speeds and as for the livery, if it made them money they wouldn't care if they were fluorescent pink with green spots, that is probably the least of their concerns.

 

[ainsworth74]

North of Oxford they wouldn't be because the fatty 185's can't use any differential speeds and as for the livery

Would that matter though? Between York and Scarborough and around Selby they can't use differential speeds but they accelerate so much quicker than 158/170s they can keep time with them.

 

[The Planner]

Potentially could have between Oxford and Aynho due to crap headways, minutes count on that section. North of Leamington it could have hindered them too.

 

[route:oxford]

Top and tail some Mk2s or if possible Mk3s with some new Class 68s.

 

[The Planner]

Ah yes, loco hauled....

 

[nathanclass323]

A peak and a rake of mk1s would be best

 

[The Ham]

With the electrification projects (some which are going further than they were planned to) and all the EMU's that are currently being built or are on order (plus all the Mark 3's and 4's which are being replaced) it should be at least vaguely possible to get some rolling stock. Maybe not this very second, but proberbly in the next few years. Even if it is only a stop gap until something else needs sourcing for 2020 and beyond.

 

[theblackwatch]

A peak and a rake of mk1s would be best

Their Class 50 and Mk 2 stock idea from a few years ago wasn't a great deal different! I actually think BestWestern is probably right here and mentions some concerns. There's also the issue of money - you just have to look at Grand Central's losses up to 2011 (they made a small profit for the first time in 2012) to see that a lot of cash is needed to set up and run an operation.

 

[nathanclass323]

Their Class 50 and Mk 2 stock idea from a few years ago wasn't a great deal different!

No. Class 44/45s are way better and so are mk1s

 

[superalbs]

I stumbled across this artist's impression of trains for the proposed GO-OP! service from Weymouth to Birmingham Moor Street, showing what is known as a 'Class 188'. Are there any more pieces of information about these units, such as who is to build them, and other specs?

 

[fgwrich]

Ah, the GO-OP proposals. I think this is a service or operator which is unlikely to be seen ever again.

The units were the turbostar clone once proposed by Chinese manufacturer CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Co as part of it's once proposed UK Range. Very little detail IIRC Existed, and they just remained on the proposal board for several years. These were one of GO-OPs rolling stock proposals - another included using Class 50s & Mk2s on Yeovil to Bristol to Oxford services.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/csr-to-offer-pacemaker-emu-in-britain.html

 

[WatcherZero]

Actually based on older than the Turbostar. They acquired a complete set of Sprinter plans after buying a UK rolling stock maintenance company.

 

[Harbornite]

I stumbled across this artist's impression of trains for the proposed GO-OP! service from Weymouth to Birmingham Moor Street, showing what is known as a 'Class 188'. Are there any more pieces of information about these units, such as who is to build them, and other specs?

Looks nice, I remember hearing about this plan and I thought it had died or was at least moribund. It seems rather unrealistic but good luck to them. Nothing wrong with a bit of ambition!

On another note, this article features an artists impresssion of a class 801/2 in the proposed GNER livery, among other things.

www.railstaff.uk/2015/03/10/the-role-of-open-access/
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here's GO-OP's website www.go-op.coop

And here's the latest news on them.

http://www.thenews.coop/106682/news...-op-presents-somerset-rail-improvement-plans/

http://www.thenews.coop/106682/news...-op-presents-somerset-rail-improvement-plans/

 

[Harbornite]

This topic was discussed in 2012 on here.

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=60853&page=7

 

[superalbs]

And here's the latest news on them.

http://www.thenews.coop/106682/news...-op-presents-somerset-rail-improvement-plans/

That article was only posted yesterday, looks like the plans are back in action!

 

[superalbs]

Current plans on the starter service seem to be a mini-HST set, likely similar to the GWR sets.

 

[The Planner]

Their 2015 annual report now states they are trying to do Taunton to Nuneaton with 2 or 3 car units, that is the best thing Ive heard in ages, if they can't get to Moor St there is no chance of getting to Nuneaton, bonkers.

 

[richw]

Their 2015 annual report now states they are trying to do Taunton to Nuneaton with 2 or 3 car units, that is the best thing Ive heard in ages, if they can't get to Moor St there is no chance of getting to Nuneaton, bonkers.

I've seen another recent report of what the proposed trains actually are. Think about which 2-3 car units are soon surplus to requirement, have a bouncy ride, and you wouldn't want to go more than 10 minutes on. Yep you guessed right... pacers!

 

[swt_passenger]

Weymouth to anywhere dates it as an early superseded proposal. They quickly reduced that to Westbury, and as others have mentioned the latest great idea is Taunton to Nuneaton (of all places)...

It'll never happen, IMHO. For a start any paths going between Didcot and Oxford are almost bound to be reserved for EWR extensions, and/or GWR frequency increases.

 

[The Ham]

I've seen another recent report of what the proposed trains actually are. Think about which 2-3 car units are soon surplus to requirement, have a bouncy ride, and you wouldn't want to go more than 10 minutes on. Yep you guessed right... pacers!

Although from their annual statement (for the year ending Dec 2015):

http://www.go-op.coop/workspace/uploads/files/go-op_2015_annual_report.pdf

We have developed a plan for a transitional service, operating between Taunton and Swindon only, using the 'D-train' being manufactured (or remanufactured, as they are based on old London Underground trains) by Vivarail.

 

[fgwrich]

Given how many times Go-Co have said that they are going to provide a service only for it to be scrapped (you forgot the Parry People Mover proposal for the Mid Hants line) I'm also not convinced that anything much will happen.

Oh I remember that thing, I didn't include it because I thought it was an idea they had given up on after the prototype PPM burst with a brake failure on the Mid Hants. Whether or not a similar trial could be run again remains to be seen, but I'd have thought using a Railcar on such a service on a pres line would be a better solution. The idea of the PPM being that GO-CO would have used Medsted as a Park and Ride for Alton, mostly for local commuters heading into London - rather than the commuter driving to Alton and parking their cars there.