Equipment on the 96 Stock is based on the Networker traction package, which is of course pretty primitive and crude compared to what came later. You pay a price for pioneering certain forms of technology.
Yep, there was a reason for Bombardier buying those in, but I don't recall what it was.
Was it a case of Virgin wanting as much fleet commonality as possible? The Southern deliberately did this with its DEMU fleet as well, of course - much of the equipment was interchangeable with EMUs.
At the time the Voyagers were ordered Bombardier didn’t have an in-house traction system: they hadn’t yet bought ADtranz, which gave them that capability.
I think Clifton just adds to the confusion, with a “one size fits all” explanation.
Exactly that. 444/450s will be converted to DO/GC and I imagine the same for the refurbished 458s until these units are replaced.
No need for conversion, just the buttons that are already in the cabs since they were built to be enabled again.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Reported elsewhere these workings will convey 442(s) to Wolverton, for stripping of useful new parts, spares, seats etc, which will be used in the refurbishment programme of the 458s.Has this working for tomorrow got anything to do wit either 442s or 458s?
5Q81 0425 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wolverton Centre Sidings
Realtime Trains - 5Q81 0425 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wolverton Centre Sidings
Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.
Has this working for tomorrow got anything to do wit either 442s or 458s?
5Q81 0425 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wolverton Centre Sidings
Realtime Trains - 5Q81 0425 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wolverton Centre Sidings
Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.
442s as posted upthread ^^
Oh really? Wow!
Is it going to be 2 units or one at a time?
Ah, thanks for the heads up on that!
Posts on the se-gen group.io suggest it will be 66 759 hauling 442 409 and 442 410 with the possibility of 442 420 going as well ( though I think unlikely as that would have length issues? ). The barrier vehicles will apparently be 73 212 and 73 213, which if true would make for some particularly interesting photographs along the route.
I think I probably read the same post, which also seems to suggest the 442 seats will be taken out and used in the 458 refurbs.
Reduced to components, they would simply be a stack of parts in a container. They wouldn't be transported complete. They have to be taken apart to remove and install them. It may just be the first class seats in any case as the standard class ones (if still the ones from Gatwick Express days) aren't better than the ones already in the 458. Perhaps the question though is whether the original 458 seats to put them back to a suitable configuration for longer distance operation are stored somewhere.
Given that refurbishment sites usually box everything up and store it off site, it's no biggie to just send it elsewhere really.
I did wonder about ownership regarding the 442 seats. Presumably the seat frames belong to Angel, and swr paid for the new cushions/upholstery? So if they wanted to take the seats as a whole, would they then need to purchase the frames?
