The Southwest trains class 158/9

[heart-of-wessex]

It's a shame that this stock can't be used to provide more services to Exeter and Bristol though in the off-peak times!

I can't say I've been on ALL the Bristol services, of the small amount of services they have anyway, but I've done the morning and mid-day ones, I've found that a 3 car 159 is pretty sufficient, mainly as it's not far behind some form of Cardiff <-> Portsmouth stopper and people tend to be on that instead.

Not only that, adding a 158 might add more work at Salisbury, as from Bristol, the 158 would need to be detached so that the 6 car 159 from Exeter can join, and coming from London will need to be attached. It's quicker to split a 12 car 159, as the 3 cars to Bristol can follow on 3-4 minutes after the Exeter has left. Plus if it's late, a split will only take a minute and they can dispatch pretty sharpish too, having a 158 might cause some issues, especially possible overhanging the platforms at Salisbury

 

[Kite159]

If given the choice between a 444/450 or 159 coming back from Waterloo to Basingstoke I will pick the 159.

Random question, but what sort of speed does it reach between Basingstoke & Waterloo?

 

[Bigfoot]

If given the choice between a 444/450 or 159 coming back from Waterloo to Basingstoke I will pick the 159.

Random question, but what sort of speed does it reach between Basingstoke & Waterloo?

Max 90mph iirc. Max line speed is 100mph but only for certain stock if memory serves.

 

[455driver]

Max 90mph iirc. Max line speed is 100mph but only for certain stock if memory serves.

Which is 442, 444, 450 and HST.

Those poxy 159s do get in the way crawling along at 90!

 

[Kentish Paul]

I love the seats on an SWT 158/159. Very comfortable. Infact the best DMU's in the country. I'd happily sit on one for 9 hours to Scotland in favour of a Voyager..

Quite agree. Flew into Gatwick last week, took a 377 to Clapham then the 13.27 to Yeovil Junction on a 159. Very comfortable (standard class) smooth and quiet. Yes quiet. The underfloor engine seemed less intrusive than before.

On my normal trips from Kent to Somerset I prefer the 159 trip to Yeovil over the HST trip to Castle Cary.

 

[Dieseldriver]

Which is 442, 444, 450 and HST.

Those poxy 159s do get in the way crawling along at 90!

Although I have heard that the 159s *still* catch up with the juice drivers out on their Sunday drive...

 

[455driver]

Although I have heard that the 159s *still* catch up with the juice drivers out on their Sunday drive...

I wondered when you would join in!

 

[Parallel]

I can't say I've been on ALL the Bristol services, of the small amount of services they have anyway, but I've done the morning and mid-day ones, I've found that a 3 car 159 is pretty sufficient, mainly as it's not far behind some form of Cardiff <-> Portsmouth stopper and people tend to be on that instead.

Not only that, adding a 158 might add more work at Salisbury, as from Bristol, the 158 would need to be detached so that the 6 car 159 from Exeter can join, and coming from London will need to be attached. It's quicker to split a 12 car 159, as the 3 cars to Bristol can follow on 3-4 minutes after the Exeter has left. Plus if it's late, a split will only take a minute and they can dispatch pretty sharpish too, having a 158 might cause some issues, especially possible overhanging the platforms at Salisbury

Some fair points there - I never understood the timetabling of some services, particularly from Bristol to Salisbury with South West Trains - There's the 16.07 service from Bath that departs 5 mins after the 16.02 FGW Westbury stopping service and every time I've used it, we get held just outside of Freshford for 5-10 minutes. Same with the late evening one, although there is a gap of about 15 minutes, there are then no trains for just over an hour. I understand that timetabling and diagramming is all part of the bigger picture but it's frustrating to see good stock go woefully underused on quite a busy line, especially when the stopping services a few minutes before are full and standing. Also, services between Salisbury and Westbury are fewer than the rest of the line (excluding the small amount of FGW that terminate at Warminster).

Also, I agree with the point that 159s are really nice trains!

 

[swt_passenger]

Some fair points there - I never understood the timetabling of some services, particularly from Bristol to Salisbury with South West Trains - There's the 16.07 service from Bath that departs 5 mins after the 16.02 FGW Westbury stopping service and every time I've used it, we get held just outside of Freshford for 5-10 minutes.

SWT are only allowed to operate Bristol to Waterloo as a portion of the Exeter to Waterloo service (and vice versa). Therefore it must leave Bristol in time to meet the train from Exeter. That therefore defines its timings all the way to Salisbury.