TPE Mk5/68 sets.

[JonathanH]

That is interesting that the depot at Scarborough is being run by Arriva. Transpennine Express by Arriva anyone

No. TPE don't maintain their own trains. It is all contracted out to third parties.

Using Arriva Traincare to provide maintenance at Scarborough is just a case of finding a suitable supplier.

 

[johnnychips]

There is a set working on the South TPE route today. Currently on the 0709 from Sheffield to Cleethorpes. Rather a pleasant surprise!

 

[Jamesrob637]

There is a set working on the South TPE route today. Currently on the 0709 from Sheffield to Cleethorpes. Rather a pleasant surprise!

You mean the driver has actually turned up today?! Woohoo!

 

[class397tpe]

You mean the driver has actually turned up today?! Woohoo!

Surprisingly enough, that diagram has started to run fairly consistently (by that I mean more than 50% of the time with a 68+Mk5)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

They don't have a stock shortage. There are enough 185s to run all the Mk5 services. They have a bigger stock surplus than any TOC in privatisation history.

I read somewhere that Siemens has been awarded a contract to maintain the whole 185 fleet for TPE for another 5 years.
The original plan was to give up half the 185 fleet when the new stock came in.

Huw Merriman said yesterday the DfT is still working on how to manage the TPE and Northern estate, separately or together.
There was a hint of some TPE services going to Northern, as a minimum.

 

[Some guy]

It makes sense Scarborough moving over to northern and Middlesbrough and TPE should still remain but as an intercity operator as they was originally planning to be

 

[RHolmes]

You mean the driver has actually turned up today?! Woohoo!

The problem isn’t drivers ‘turning up’. The problem is the lack of competent drivers and guards, neither of which is the fault of traincrew.

 

[Geeves]

At Victoria we still seem to have one singular 68 powered journey from Scarborough which seems to be fairly nailed on to the correct traction.

 

[RHolmes]

At Victoria we still seem to have one singular 68 powered journey from Scarborough which seems to be fairly nailed on to the correct traction.

That’s because it’s the diagram used to get the set back to Longsight for servicing

 

[CAF397]

I read somewhere that Siemens has been awarded a contract to maintain the whole 185 fleet for TPE for another 5 years.
The original plan was to give up half the 185 fleet when the new stock came in.

The plan was to keep 29 185s when the Nova 1/2/3 order was made.

Siemens Mobility extends Transpennine contract to service Class 185 fleet

Transport solutions provider Siemens Mobility has secured a €530m contract to continue servicing Class 185 trains for Transpennine Express.

www.railway-technology.com

 

[brad465]

Richard Clinnick reporting these sets are being taken off the TPE South route at the end of this month, and that cracks have been found in two rakes of Mk5s:

https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1675429570361606144

Cl.68s and Mk.5As are being removed from @TPExpressTrains South Route at the end of July. TPE also says that cracks have been discovered on two rakes of Mk.5As.

 

[Iskra]

Richard Clinnick reporting these sets are being taken off the TPE South route at the end of this month, and that cracks have been found in two rakes of Mk5s:

https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1675429570361606144

That’s a bit of a kick in the teeth after all the disruption on TPE South due to training on the 68 sets. Although, all may be forgiven if we end up with a consistent and reliable 6-car 185 service as a result…

 

[rick pike]

Richard Clinnick reporting these sets are being taken off the TPE South route at the end of this month, and that cracks have been found in two rakes of Mk5s:

https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1675429570361606144

Has been talked about on TPE Facebook groups for a good month now. What an absolute kick in the nuts to the south route crews that has been through it all. The only upside is that two of the missing services have been reinstated from September. July 27 is quoted as the last day.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Why when we are constantly being told to the industry has no money are these decisions being made, clearly costing lots of time and resources.

Did the previous TPE management think this was a good idea but the new management has decided not and so reversed it? With the issues at Scarborough where on earth are they going to work?

 

[Geeves]

Am I remembering correctly that 68s and carriage stock were ordered as the lead in time on the 800s was so long and TPE were in dire need ASAP?

Funny how things turn out.

 

[DanNCL]

If it wasn’t for the 125mph paths I’d be suggesting putting them on the Newcastle route and cascading the 802s. Crews would need to be trained but it would solve the Scarborough noise issue and it would mean that stock released by TPE would actually have a reasonable prospect of finding a home elsewhere.

Am I remembering correctly that 68s and carriage stock were ordered as the lead in time on the 800s was so long and TPE were in dire need ASAP?

Funny how things turn out.

Yes they were. I seem to recall in the end the Mark 5As entered service only a few weeks before the 802s.

 

[D365]

If it wasn’t for the 125mph paths I’d be suggesting putting them on the Newcastle route and cascading the 802s. Crews would need to be trained...

and 125mph electric/bi-mode locomotives would be required!

 

[BHXDMT]

Why when we are constantly being told to the industry has no money are these decisions being made, clearly costing lots of time and resources.

Did the previous TPE management think this was a good idea but the new management has decided not and so reversed it? With the issues at Scarborough where on earth are they going to work?

New MD wants to "simplify" the operation. Full review of 68/MK5A operation by the end of the year supposedly.

And the 68 diagrams on South will be replaced by 3 car 185s.

 

[Iskra]

New MD wants to "simplify" the operation. Full review of 68/MK5A operation by the end of the year supposedly.

And the 68 diagrams on South will be replaced by 3 car 185s.

Shambolic

 

[SuperNova]

Am I remembering correctly that 68s and carriage stock were ordered as the lead in time on the 800s was so long and TPE were in dire need ASAP?

Funny how things turn out.

They were ordered as loco hauled rolling stock was part of the franchise requirements for additional capacity

 

[sjpowermac]

New MD wants to "simplify" the operation. Full review of 68/MK5A operation by the end of the year supposedly.

And the 68 diagrams on South will be replaced by 3 car 185s.

Many thanks for the info, greatly appreciated.

3-Car trains are a poor result for the customers.

A kick in the teeth too for all those who have worked so hard training drivers and conductors on the Class 68/Mk5A sets.

 

[GardenRail]

Back to 3 cars on the South. Absolute disgrace. Only benefit, they can be shunted in station limits without going 4 miles out to change ends off the ballast

 

[class397tpe]

Back to 3 cars on the South. Absolute disgrace. Only benefit, they can be shunted in station limits without going 4 miles out to change ends off the ballast

The promise was that with the introduction of the new Nova fleets on other routes, south Transpennine would get doubled up 185s on all services. This is shambolic and unacceptable.

 

[Iskra]

The promise was that with the introduction of the new Nova fleets on other routes, south Transpennine would get doubled up 185s on all services. This is shambolic and unacceptable.

Can we strip the OLR of the franchise?

 

[Failed Unit]

The promise was that with the introduction of the new Nova fleets on other routes, south Transpennine would get doubled up 185s on all services. This is shambolic and unacceptable.

I thought some of the 185s would also go? It is just no-one wants them either.

 

[modernrail]

Am I remembering correctly that 68s and carriage stock were ordered as the lead in time on the 800s was so long and TPE were in dire need ASAP?

Funny how things turn out.

Classic nonsense. They were trying to be seen to invest quickly after years of underinvestment and instead of saying, actually let’s show a little patience and have a uniform fleet the DfT opted for a stupid mixed fleet that rivals northern for operational inefficiency.

 

[Class 170101]

More expensive stock to permanent storage?

 

[Neptune]

Classic nonsense. They were trying to be seen to invest quickly after years of underinvestment and instead of saying, actually let’s show a little patience and have a uniform fleet the DfT opted for a stupid mixed fleet

As has been shown they should have waited and ordered an additional 25 x 802’s instead of the mk5’s and 397’s.

that rivals northern for operational inefficiency.

That’s Northern who are planning to reduce the different traction types by 3 in the next few years and by who knows more beyond that.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

More expensive stock to permanent storage?

It all depends on the leasing arrangements.
Nobody will say who is bearing the cost of Nova 3s stuck in sidings for several years, or most likely indefinitely.
And nobody else wants them.
Equally, 185s were leased at the "high" point of leasing costs (like other Desiros, 350s etc), but remain the backbone of TPE's operation.

 

[modernrail]

As has been shown they should have waited and ordered an additional 25 x 802’s instead of the mk5’s and 397’s.

That’s Northern who are planning to reduce the different traction types by 3 in the next few years and by who knows more beyond that.

How many typed would a reduction by 3 types leave as a matter of interest? I don’t blame Northern. The position with their mixed fleet has been in place for years due to underinvestment and a lack of strategic thinking from the powers that be.

I do however blame Northern for sub-par refurbishments and sending out dirty trains all the time.