ScotRail HST Introduction - Updates & Discussion

[najaB]

Dundee Yard looking busy...

 

[GusB]

Dundee Yard looking busy...
View attachment 53033

Are both those sets refurbished?

 

[najaB]

Are both those sets refurbished?

No, just the one closest.

 

[Stoney1979]

It's not SRs fault that Wabtec haven't delivered. It would help if they would give some idea of when more sets will be coming.

Absolutely agree, the information vacuum from SR is becoming more damaging by the day.

Unfortunately, though, the gap between real-life practicalities and passenger experiences versus what the media report (or speculate on) is vast. Especially with the ill-informed and political aspects, which have been discussed at length earlier above (HSTs being "40 year old English cast offs" etc. etc.).

The unrefurbished coaches, judging by the limited training-train images I've seen, certainly look shabby on the outside. Can't comment on the inside as I've never been in one.

This could end up as a pigeon shoot for some parts of the media if un-refurbished GWR slam-doors end up in service with SR power cars at either end. And, yes, SR have clearly been let down by Wabtec. However, they've got to manage the situation very carefully or I fear the much lauded HST intro will stutter badly from day 1.

 

[twpsaesneg]

oh no , there's a nice shiny compound around that sidings now

Not the bit they were in. There's the compound bit around the corner near the river, these were on the sidings next to Ely North Junction.

Fingers crossed they don't get tagged!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Someone up thread mentioned the possibility of SR powerccar being used on LNER runs and vice versa. Just managed to get a photo of one currently pushing the 1E25 Aberdeen - Kings Cross (cancelled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, starting from EDB at 1730

I love how this guy decides to let us know he took a picture of this but didn’t actually include the picture in the post...?

 

[Tim R-T-C]

This could end up as a pigeon shoot for some parts of the media if un-refurbished GWR slam-doors end up in service with SR power cars at either end. And, yes, SR have clearly been let down by Wabtec. However, they've got to manage the situation very carefully or I fear the much lauded HST intro will stutter badly from day 1.

SR do have a pretty good PR machine - they managed to make the arrival of 365s a positive, even though they were just infilling for the diplopia-inducing 385s.

 

[sqrtc]

Someone up thread mentioned the possibility of SR powerccar being used on LNER runs and vice versa. Just managed to get a photo of one currently pushing the 1E25 Aberdeen - Kings Cross (cancelled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, starting from EDB at 1730)

Didn't manage any photos or to see what was on the other end as I was running for a different platform

That would be really something to see if you could share?

 

[DanNCL]

That would be really something to see if you could share?

Had this working myself between Newcastle and Darlington. I managed to get a photo of it, admittedly not of great quality but here it is anyway. It was 43163, 43257 was on the other end.

 

[Geoff DC]

Oh, believe me, it really is awful.

I live in Penzance - 5+hrs to London on a GWR HST - I never ever heard of anyone complaining about the comfort of GWR HSTs on this run
In fact so far - most would prefer to keep the HSTs (with Buffet rather than trolley) and let Scotland have the IETs

Scotland is lucky to get the HSTs - they maybe old but they are perfect for the job of transporting passengers in comfort & speed

 

[JohnMcL7]

I am curious to ride the new Scotrail HSTs when they get there as there seems to be such differing views on the current HSTs. I used to travel regularly in Scotland between Inverness, Edinburgh and Dundee around 1998-2006 which was mostly the DMU's but when I could take an HST, I always did as it felt a class above the others. I guess that's some time ago now though, have they degraded in that time?

 

[sprinterguy]

Someone up thread mentioned the possibility of SR powerccar being used on LNER runs and vice versa. Just managed to get a photo of one currently pushing the 1E25 Aberdeen - Kings Cross (cancelled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, starting from EDB at 1730)

Didn't manage any photos or to see what was on the other end as I was running for a different platform

Blimey; I suppose I should eat my hat then as I didn't expect to see that, let alone so soon!

 

[Macwomble]

Oh, believe me, it really is awful.

Well, a mate of mine (who works for NR & is up & down the ECML a lot) reckons we Scots are lucky "bar stewards" getting the HSTs.

 

[GrimShady]

So has anyone traveled on the new sets?

Do they suffer from the screaching between coaches that has some members so concerned?

Any sign of bouncing or rattling on the HML?

 

[gsnedders]

Blimey; I suppose I should eat my hat then as I didn't expect to see that, let alone so soon!

I mean, if anything, it's more likely in the immediate short term when ScotRail has them sitting around idle; much easier to borrow a pair of power cars that aren't doing anything all day anyway!

 

[palmersears]

Does anybody know where 43132 is currently situated? And is it one of the newly livered ones?

 

[Highlandspring]

It's with 43127 on training set HA01, which is currently working 3H60 0703 Inverness TMD - Perth.

 

[jopsuk]

presumably the Scotrail power car will be on a service back north today in daylight? Amusing that the first use in passenger service of a power car in that livery took it to London

 

[YorkshireBear]

presumably the Scotrail power car will be on a service back north today in daylight? Amusing that the first use in passenger service of a power car in that livery took it to London

Departed York on the Scottish end of the morning Leeds to Aberdeen service (which I was on Leeds to York) this morning.

 

[47271]

My main problem with the unrefurbed GWR mk3s isn't just with the lighting and the crammed in seats, although both are pretty grim. It's the lack of tables, meaning that whenever I travel on one it's a gamble on whether I can work properly or not. As far as I'm concerned this is one of the main benefits of the changes being made by Scotrail, and anyone used to getting their laptop and papers out on a 170 (and there are a lot of us) could get a nasty shock when or if one turns up in original condition.

This is one of the reasons why I'm not as upset as many by the GWR IETs - there's far more tables than in the HSTs so there's no need to waste money on First Class.

 

[sprinterguy]

I mean, if anything, it's more likely in the immediate short term when ScotRail has them sitting around idle; much easier to borrow a pair of power cars that aren't doing anything all day anyway!

That's true; I'm not sure how many have been completed so far, but Scotrail certainly don't seem to lack for refurbished power cars, and LNER have been experiencing a shortage recently.

 

[sprinterguy]

So has anyone traveled on the new sets?

Do they suffer from the screaching between coaches that has some members so concerned?

Any sign of bouncing or rattling on the HML?

That's "set" in the singular rather than plural as far as Scotrail is concerned - there's only the one modified one, and though I'm prepared to eat my words I'm not sure it's even been tested over the Highland main line yet: Most reports on here seem to have put it in the central belt.

There must only have been comparatively few staff who have actually been in the refurbished coaches to date.

 

[Highlandspring]

The refurbished set has been undertaking static staff training and has only moved for exams. It hasn't been out in service yet.

 

[connormill]

The refurbished set has been undertaking static staff training and has only moved for exams. It hasn't been out in service yet.

It can't be far away from it's first passenger service run though?

I recall SR twitter saying it would be running in a "few weeks" and that was end of August

 

[43096]

Does anybody know where 43132 is currently situated? And is it one of the newly livered ones?

43132 hasn’t been to Brush yet, so not in the new livery.

 

[sprinterguy]

The refurbished set has been undertaking static staff training and has only moved for exams. It hasn't been out in service yet.

Thanks for that, I had a feeling that it hadn't been out and about much yet.

 

[jingsmonty]

Believe me a rammed Class 170 overflowing with luggage bikes and people standing is much worse.

Yes. Any regular user of the HML would agree. I've travelled on these coaches once, when they were still at GWR, the legroom is not bad (considering the 'high density' layout). I hate the seats themselves, but that's a personal thing....which won't be changed with the refurb anyway (unless they are recushioned & pitch adjusted).

 

[Highlandspring]

It can't be far away from it's first passenger service run though?

Monday 8th October is what I've heard.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes. Any regular user of the HML would agree. I've travelled on these coaches once, when they were still at GWR, the legroom is not bad (considering the 'high density' layout). I hate the seats themselves, but that's a personal thing....which won't be changed with the refurb anyway (unless they are recushioned & pitch adjusted).

They, like ironing boards, do seem to be somewhat "Marmite"; they remain my favourite UK seat. The layout is not ideal, but legroom is quite good - I can at least sit comfortably in all seats, which, while also true of ScotRail layout Class 170s isn't true of a lot of other UK stock, particularly the likes of Class 158s. That said, they do have features to enable the use of smaller laptops such as a pull out wire bit on the seatback table.

 

[chuff chuff]

Monday 8th October is what I've heard.

Yup heard that as well.