ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

[47271]

I'm pretty certain that the Highland Main Line HST timetable currently under consultation isn't due for introduction until December 2019, so there's plenty of time for the refurbs from that point of view at least.

 

[hexagon789]

I'm pretty certain that the Highland Main Line HST timetable currently under consultation isn't due for introduction until December 2019, so there's plenty of time for the refurbs from that point of view at least.

I think it was Edinburgh-Aberdeen, then Inverness and Glasgow-Aberdeen last in May 2019?

 

[gingertom]

I'm pretty certain that the Highland Main Line HST timetable currently under consultation isn't due for introduction until December 2019, so there's plenty of time for the refurbs from that point of view at least.

Also gives plenty of time to complete the infrastructure improvement works- longer passing loops and signalling upgrades. Anyone on here know exactly what works is being done?

 

[hexagon789]

Also gives plenty of time to complete the infrastructure improvement works- longer passing loops and signalling upgrades. Anyone on here know exactly what works is being done?

Supposed to be works at Pitlochry and I think Aviemore to allow higher approach speeds I believe.

 

[gingertom]

Supposed to be works at Pitlochry and I think Aviemore to allow higher approach speeds I believe.

I had heard that but the improvements are supposed to shave 16 minutes off the HML schedule?

 

[hexagon789]

I had heard that but the improvements are supposed to shave 16 minutes off the HML schedule?

Limited stopping and better acceleration to make up the difference

 

[47271]

Also gives plenty of time to complete the infrastructure improvement works- longer passing loops and signalling upgrades. Anyone on here know exactly what works is being done?

Resignalling to allow improved speed of approach at Pitlochry and Aviemore. That's it, the sum total of planned infrastructure investment in the Highland Main Line.

 

[hexagon789]

Resignalling to allow improved speed of approach at Pitlochry and Aviemore. That's it, the sum total of planned infrastructure investment in the Highland Main Line.

Does that involve increasing any linespeeds or just upgrades to the signalling?

 

[47271]

Does that involve increasing any linespeeds or just upgrades to the signalling?

As far as I'm aware just signalling. Passing trains will be able to enter the two loops more quickly than at present. Dunkeld should be included in the scheme since the plan is for Pitlochry to be controlled from Stanley, but whether the Dunkeld loop will be speeded up as well I don't know.

Anyone who has sat outside Dunkeld loop on an 'approach controlled' northbound crossing service will know exactly what I mean.

 

[Ben.A.98]

As far as I'm aware just signalling. Passing trains will be able to enter the two loops more quickly than at present. Dunkeld should be included in the scheme since the plan is for Pitlochry to be controlled from Stanley, but whether the Dunkeld loop will be speeded up as well I don't know.

Anyone who has sat outside Dunkeld loop on an 'approach controlled' northbound crossing service will know exactly what I mean.

Sounds like a dynamic loop then, similar to what has just gone in at Elgin and Forres.

 

[hexagon789]

Sounds like a dynamic loop then, similar to what has just gone in at Elgin and Forres.

I don't think Dunkeld is a dynamic loop, just a standard passing loop, could be wrong. Though I suppose the distinction blurs somewhat.

 

[Stopper]

Dont forget how many people from surrounding towns use B of A and Dunblane as a rail head . I would hate to think that holding people to account for services promised is not considered "moaning" Passengers have been long suffering and have just and reasonable aspirations for better services when "delivering Scotlands best ever railway" . If a company dose not listen to its customers when they invite feedback , it cant be viewed as "moaning"

“Moaning” is probably the wrong word. However, Dunblane is a fairly small commuting town, but gets services to all seven cities in Scotland throughout the day, I think that’s a very very good deal for Dunblane. I’m not sure how many stations (if any) get that benefit.

I appreciate the Dunblane-Edinburgh services are up there with one of the worst in Scotland, and links to every other city apart from Stirling are fairly irregular, however when the full new timetable comes into place, Dunblane will have a very good service.

1tph Glasgow
1tph Arbroath(Dundee)
2tph Edinburgh (faster at the expense of some busier stations)
3tph Stirling

While possibly losing Aberdeen and Inverness call outside of the peaks, that’s a very good service for a town the size of Dunblane, as all of these services will be semi-fast.

 

[hexagon789]

“Moaning” is probably the wrong word. However, Dunblane is a fairly small commuting town, but gets services to all seven cities in Scotland throughout the day, I think that’s a very very good deal for Dunblane. I’m not sure how many stations (if any) get that benefit.

I appreciate the Dunblane-Edinburgh services are up there with one of the worst in Scotland, and links to every other city apart from Stirling are fairly irregular, however when the full new timetable comes into place, Dunblane will have a very good service.

1tph Glasgow
1tph Arbroath(Dundee)
2tph Edinburgh (faster at the expense of some busier stations)
3tph Stirling

While possibly losing Aberdeen and Inverness call outside of the peaks, that’s a very good service for a town the size of Dunblane, as all of these services will be semi-fast.

Indeed, the basic service will improve, and it's not as if changing at Stirling is the end of the world.

 

[Stopper]

Indeed, the basic service will improve, and it's not as if changing at Stirling is the end of the world.

I don’t think a change at Perth for Inverness/Aberdeen services is unreasonable for a town that size.

Dunblane is going from a slow Edinburgh service and irregular services to all other cities, to getting a regular service to 5 of the cities.

Both of those services need to be a lot quicker, especially the Edinburgh/Glasgow to Inverness services, they’re basically stoppers with the amount of calls prior to Perth these days.

 

[hexagon789]

I don’t think a change at Perth for Inverness/Aberdeen services is unreasonable for a town that size.

Dunblane is going from a slow Edinburgh service and irregular services to all other cities, to getting a regular service to 5 of the cities.

Both of those services need to be a lot quicker, especially the Edinburgh/Glasgow to Inverness services, they’re basically stoppers with the amount of calls prior to Perth these days.

Hopefully the services will be quicker, the Inverness services in particular, as you say, seem to stop everywhere. If Dunblane gets an improved service and Gleneagles regular (at least hourly calls) then I don't see why bother shouldn't be omitted from all at least off-peak Inverness services.

 

[Stopper]

Hopefully the services will be quicker, the Inverness services in particular, as you say, seem to stop everywhere. If Dunblane gets an improved service and Gleneagles regular (at least hourly calls) then I don't see why bother shouldn't be omitted from all at least off-peak Inverness services.

Bridge of Allan should be omitted too. The Inverness service is painfully slow (for a lot more reasons than just calling everywhere), but at least remove those 3 calls and the Fife calls & Gateway from the Edinburgh services.

 

[hexagon789]

Bridge of Allan should be omitted too. The Inverness service is painfully slow (for a lot more reasons than just calling everywhere), but at least remove those 3 calls and the Fife calls & Gateway from the Edinburgh services.

I forgot about Bridge of Allan, I was sort of including it with Dunblane. I would run Glasgow-Stirling-Perth and Edinburgh-Haymarket-Perth respectively.

 

[Steddenm]

Some images posted by ScotRail of the new HST sets on Twitter:


First Class MK3


Standard Class MK3


Livery on the Class 43


43033 in full livery

 

[hexagon789]

Some images posted by ScotRail of the new HST sets on Twitter:

View attachment 44245
First Class MK3

View attachment 44246
Standard Class MK3

View attachment 44247
Livery on the Class 43

View attachment 44248
43033 in full livery

Very nice! The seats look comfortable avd the power cars look absolutely brilliant.

 

[Bungle965]

Both First and Standard look very nice, but only quibble is with the power sockets as they are quite difficult to plug laptop plugs into, they are not as flexible and are more bulky than phone ones often meaning that they cannot fit into the plug sockets which are on GWR and starting in the near future ScotRail Mk3s. Obviously too late to do anything now but hopefully that design will not be carried forwards.
Sam

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Very nice!

The standard class seating look superb, The GWR class 800s should have this sort of seating instead of the drab thinner ones.

What does the "7" in Intercity mean?

 

[hexagon789]

Both First and Standard look very nice, but only quibble is with the power sockets as they are quite difficult to plug laptop plugs into, they are not as flexible and are more bulky than phone ones often meaning that they cannot fit into the plug sockets which are on GWR and starting in the near future ScotRail Mk3s. Obviously too late to do anything now but hopefully that design will not be carried forwards.
Sam

A minor issue though, in the grand scheme of things.

 

[hexagon789]

Very nice!

The standard class seating look superb, The GWR class 800s should have this sort of seating instead of the drab thinner ones.

What does the "7" in Intercity mean?

The 7 refers to the seven cities of Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling, Perth and Inverness.

 

[Macwomble]

VERY nice......looking forward to my first trip already.

 

[hexagon789]

VERY nice......looking forward to my first trip already.

You and me both mate, can't wait to finally get "proper trains" up here again.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

The 7 refers to the seven cities of Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling, Perth and Inverness.

Cheers, I only thought about the first four not the last three!

Smaller cities tend to get overshadowed and less thought about, like Chelmsford or Bangor!

 

[hexagon789]

Cheers, I only thought about the first four not the last three!

Smaller cities tend to get overshadowed and less thought about, like Chelmsford or Bangor!

No worries, Perth only became a city again officially in 2012 (it was previously until 1975) and Elgin also used to be a City but hasn't since 1972, otherwise it might need to be Inter8City! Smaller cities and places in general always get overshadowed, such is the way things work.

 

[swaldman]

Agreed on power sockets like that being a pain, but then again the interior shots look to be renders, so who knows if they paid enough attention to detail to use the right design of socket faceplate!

 

[hexagon789]

Agreed on power sockets like that being a pain, but then again the interior shots look to be renders, so who knows if they paid enough attention to detail to use the right design of socket faceplate!

Hopefully they are at the very least more reliable than the ones in the 170s, they don't always seem to work in the 170s for some reason.

 

[nat67]

Very nice! The seats look comfortable avd the power cars look absolutely brilliant.

They are the same seats that are used on GWR and same in First class, the only hope is that there might be more leg room for a 4 hour run up to Inverness.