TPE Mark 5A coaching stock progress

[sprinterguy]

According to Richard Clinnick on twitter, the spare driving trailer for the TPE mark 5 rakes, 12814, has arrived in the country now:
https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1194588336805027840

More new train news for the UK. The final @CAFRailUK vehicles for @TPExpressTrains have been delivered from Spain. 5-car 125mph EMU 397012 and Driving Trailer 12814 have arrived. Means all 44 Nova trains have been delivered to UK.

Combined with the delivery of 397012, all three of TPE's new "Nova" fleets have now been fully delivered. Just need to get a few more in passenger service now!

 

[DannyMich2018]

According to Richard Clinnick on twitter, the spare driving trailer for the TPE mark 5 rakes, 12814, has arrived in the country now:
https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1194588336805027840

Combined with the delivery of 397012, all three of TPE's new "Nova" fleets have now been fully delivered. Just need to get a few more in passenger service now!

Yes will ALL 44 new trains here, some been in the UK more than a year and no 397's in service yet the introduction is awfully slow (only 2 802s and 2 MK5 sets in daily service)......even the troubled Northern Franchise has got more than that in service.....

 

[FFFC 57]

According to Richard Clinnick on twitter, the spare driving trailer for the TPE mark 5 rakes, 12814, has arrived in the country now:
https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1194588336805027840

Combined with the delivery of 397012, all three of TPE's new "Nova" fleets have now been fully delivered. Just need to get a few more in passenger service now!

Do you know how the spare DT will work in practise?

 

[Pete_uk]

Pop the spare driving trailer against a loco and you have a nice little unit

 

[yorkie]

This thread is about the new TPE trains. Please create a new thread if you wish to discuss anything else.

 

[sprinterguy]

Do you know how the spare DT will work in practise?

Swapped into a set following instances of collision damage, I would think. I reckon cab system failures such as AWS, TPWS or DSD faults will get dealt with overnight with the sets remaining in their fixed formations.

I expect it to have a similar career to the spare Eurostar power car - Probably won't see it out to play for a number of years.

 

[Ih8earlies]

I believe the plan (last time I asked) is to rotate the spare DT into other sets on a regular basis.

 

[sprinterguy]

I believe the plan (last time I asked) is to rotate the spare DT into other sets on a regular basis.

Ah fair enough. Quite surprised by that, given the otherwise fixed formation nature of the rakes.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Ah fair enough. Quite surprised by that, given the otherwise fixed formation nature of the rakes.

Makes sense to do it that way unless the software is going to throw a wobbler whenever a vehicle is swapped out. Otherwise you end up with one vehicle on a different maintenance schedule to all the others, or that has components replaced before they need it.

 

[507 001]

I did Leeds-Scarborough in standard class yesterday, and then Scarborough-Liverpool in first.

The ride quality seems to alternate between good and absolutely terrible at least once a mile, the interior feels a lot cheaper than the 802s and the seats in standard are horrific (a common problem with all nova sets though).

However, I still quite liked it, and the staff seem happy with them. The 68 on the back makes a fantastic racket coming through Standedge tunnel and Manchester Vic, which makes up for a lot of the deficiencies .

The main thing for me though is the way they simply swallow crowds. Passenger numbers that would make me worry about getting a decent seat on a 185 barely trouble the new trains. Much better.

 

[sjpowermac]

68027 plus TP09 in traffic again today, the 11th consecutive day for this Nova 3 set. Great to see how well the trains have settled down and a big ‘well done’ to all concerned.

 

[sjpowermac]

TP13 Fault Free Running
This week has seen TP13 out each weekday on fault free running mileage accumulation trips.


Monday 11.11.2019
68022 plus TP13
10:57 MID-Bletchley
15:33 Bletchley-MID

Tuesday 12.11.2019
68022 plus TP13
05:18 MID-Carlisle
08:12 Carlisle-Bletchley
15:33 Bletchley-Crewe C.S.

Wednesday 13.11.2019
68022 plus TP13
04:45 Crewe CS-Carlisle
08:12 Carlisle-Crewe CS

Thursday 14.11.2019
68022 plus TP13
04:31 Crewe CS-Carlisle
08:12 Carlisle-Crewe CS

Friday 15.11.2019
68022 plus TP13
04:31 Crewe CS-Carlisle
08:12 Carlisle-Crewe CS

 

[sjpowermac]

Yorkshire Locos
68020 York P SD
68029 York P SD
68030 plus TP12 Scarborough TMD

There have been practical handling training trips for Scarborough crews three days this week.

Route learning trips to Redcar have continued as have driver refresher runs on the Class 68s.

Monday 11.11.2019
68029
0A90/91/92/93

68020
0B60/61/62/63

Tuesday 12.11.2019
68028
5B81/82/83/86/87/88

Wednesday 13.11.2019
68029
0A90/91/92/93/94

68020
0B60/61

68028
5B83/84/85/86/87/88

Thursday 14.11.2019
68029
0A90/91/92/93/94
(0A94 ran to York fuelling point)

68020
0B60/61
0S00 to York P SD

68028 plus TP06
5B81/82

68030 plus TP12
5B85/86/87/88

 

[sjpowermac]

A few pictures below of a Nova 3 set. Some very nice interior (and exterior!) design.

The pictures won’t be to all tastes but I’ve tried to show both general and detailed views.

I hope for those who haven’t had the opportunity to ride one of the trains it whets your appetite.

As always, I’m happy to mention that I don’t work for TPE or any company connected with the trains.

 

[Clansman]

Shame they never specified wood vinyles on the walls like CS did, to cover the most ghastly domination of plastic I've ever experienced on a train in Britain.

 

[LOL The Irony]

A few pictures below of a Nova 3 set. Some very nice interior (and exterior!) design.

The pictures won’t be to all tastes but I’ve tried to show both general and detailed views.

I hope for those who haven’t had the opportunity to ride one of the trains it whets your appetite.

As always, I’m happy to mention that I don’t work for TPE or any company connected with the trains.
View attachment 70532 View attachment 70533 View attachment 70534 View attachment 70535 View attachment 70537 View attachment 70538

Once again knocking out the park with your photos.

 

[sjpowermac]

Once again knocking out the park with your photos.

Thank you very much, greatly appreciated

 

[sjpowermac]

There is some nice wood panelling on the ends around the vestibule, as seen in the image below.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is some nice wood panelling on the ends around the vestibule, as seen in the image below.
View attachment 70540

I'm not sure there's any more areas of plastic than a Pendolino or Voyager, anyway? The plastic is beige in that case, but it's still plastic.

 

[sjpowermac]

I'm not sure there's any more areas of plastic than a Pendolino or Voyager, anyway? The plastic is beige in that case, but it's still plastic.

To be honest, I didn’t fully understand the post about the panelling. I fully agree with you, I find it hard to see the difference between the panelling here and that used on many other designs. To be fair, I’ve not traveled on a CS train so I can’t compare first hand with that.

 

[sjpowermac]

Transpennine are doing all they can to avoid putting these trains into service, to avoid paying for them and avoid the complexity of having various train types.

They will never make it to Middlesbrough.

What makes you think TPE are avoiding putting the Nova 3 trains into service?

I think it has been known since August that the Nova 3 would be taking a backseat due to needing to get Nova 1 in service (due to timetable commitments extending Liverpool Newcastle trains through to Edinburgh) and Nova 2 (due to Class 350s going off lease).

I think the plan has been to operate two daily diagrams, subject to sufficient trained staff being available. That’s exactly what has happened.

It was reported in the railway press in September that there would be four daily diagrams from the December timetable change, something confirmed earlier this week in an interview with (I think!) the engineering director for TPE:

https://www.yorkshirecoastradio.com...boroughs-new-train-depot-to-open-in-december/

Regarding Middlesborough, I’ve not heard any announcements on that. On one of the other threads there has been chatter about Mk5a being used on other routes but I think at this stage that’s speculation.

If you have any sources to back up your claims, please do share with us. I don’t have any inside knowledge, just a nosey loco spotter

 

[yorkie]

I've split some recent posts into this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/experiences-of-tpe-journeys-on-their-new-nova-trains.195468/

 

[AndrewE]

Big puff on BBC NW news tonight announcing the launch of the trains and online: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50517126

A new £500m fleet of trains promising to increase capacity by 80% on routes in the north of England and Scotland has been launched.

The investment over two years will see 44 new trains run between Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Leo Goodwin of TransPennine Express said the launch was "the brightest future for rail in the north".

The Nova fleet also offers more luggage storage, extra plug sockets, free wi-fi and an on-board entertainment system.

Image copyright TransPennine Express
Image caption New trains have more luggage space and plug sockets, free wi-fi and an entertainment system featuring TV shows, news and films
Mr Goodwin added: : "The name Nova reflects the positive changes that will truly transform rail travel for our customers, with an enhancement to customers experience on board and an increase in capacity of 80% on all routes.

"Our vision at TPE is to take the north further and these new trains offer more seats, improved connectivity and a higher standard of comfort."

Bruce Williamson from passenger group Railfuture said he "welcomed" the investment.

Late trains
He said: "Overcrowding has been a problem across the network and we welcome any new investment and increased capacity."

In September

a report by Transport for the North found an increase in both late and cancelled services on TransPennine Express and Northern rail services compared with 2018.

TPE blamed much of its worsening performance on "weather events such as flooding and extreme heat".

The new Nova fleet will serve the North TransPennine network including Newcastle to Manchester Airport, Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport and Scarborough to Liverpool.

Extra seats
Nova 1 will operate between Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh and will see 161 extra seats available to passengers almost doubling the current total to 342. The 19, five-carriage trains are bi-mode meaning they can be run using diesel or electric power.

Nova 2 is a fleet of 12 five-carriage electric trains with 105 extra seats compared to current trains. It will travel between Manchester Airport and Liverpool to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Preston.

Nova 3 will operate between Liverpool, Manchester Airport, Scarborough and Middlesbrough. Thirteen five-car carriages will see 106 extra seats and will be pulled by locomotives.

Last year TransPennine Express doubled the number of express services between Liverpool and Manchester and introduced two "fast services" between Newcastle and Manchester.

No mention of how few are actually running daily of course, or of how many people are tipped off the ones that do start journeys due to "staff shortage."
I have yet to experience one, although I have seen one whizzing past in the opposite direction in the course of about half a dozen trans-Pennine journeys in the last month. They might even have been carrying passengers...
p.s. slightly better report on ITV which pointed out that only 4(?) are in service and highlighted a disabled traveller whose reservations hadn't happened and a couple of other grouses. "Commuters" were delighted by the additional capacity from the 5-coach train - but of course these end-door trains are really for long-distance inter-city journeys aren't they? (Something that could/should have happened 2 years ago had TPE not chosen to ignore their franchise commitment to use Mk3 sets. I wish that all the contracts that I have signed could have been so easily abandoned, in fact only one employer chose to tear one up - for his own benefit of course!)

 

[sjpowermac]

Interesting workings in for Monday:

04:43 Crewe C.S.-Scarborough (08:59)
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80631/2019-11-23/detailed

11:15 Scarborough-Longsight
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K05447/2019-11-25/detailed

Both trains are Freightliner operated.

 

[EE Andy b1]

Interesting workings in for Monday:

04:43 Crewe C.S.-Scarborough (08:59)
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80631/2019-11-23/detailed

11:15 Scarborough-Longsight
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K05447/2019-11-25/detailed

Both trains are Freightliner operated.

Ups... I think you meant this... 0443 Crewe CS - Scarborough.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K05446/2019-11-25/detailed


Is it in connection with the new depot at all? Is that open yet?

 

[sjpowermac]

Ups... I think you meant this... 0443 Crewe CS - Scarborough.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K05446/2019-11-25/detailed


Is it in connection with the new depot at all? Is that open yet?

Oops! Yes, thank you for the correction, that’s the one.

There have been various sets at Scarborough TMD since 04.10.2019 that have been used for practical handling trips.

Previously sets at Scarborough have been swapped using service trains. I guess we shall see on Monday

 

[tpjm]

p.s. slightly better report on ITV which pointed out that only 4(?) are in service and highlighted a disabled traveller whose reservations hadn't happened and a couple of other grouses.

An interesting report because there were actually 6 trains in service yesterday.

I also don’t understand regarding the couple talking about the reservations... there’s no such thing as “disabled seats” that he “wasn't able to reserve”. The priority seats are reservable by contacting the assisted booking line, so they obviously hadn’t done that either. The electronic reservation system was working on the train they were on AND paper labels were in as a backup (and I know, because I bloody well put them there before it left LIV).

I guess some people are just looking for something to complain about!

 

[Ih8earlies]

A bit of progress news: The first York based Conductors training on 68/Mark 5's begins next week.

 

[sjpowermac]

A bit of progress news: The first York based Conductors training on 68/Mark 5's begins next week.

That’s really good news.

 

[JonathanH]

That’s really good news.

Presumably for operation of the additional diagrams in February.

Do York based conductors end up just signing 185s and Mark 5s for Scarborough and Middlesbrough or do some get trained to do 802 work as well?