Electrifying the GWR

[Roadkill]

Slightly off subject - coming back from Dorking in 1980 on an ancient slam door unit - we wondered why there was a gentle mist of water - on a cloudless day.

Scrote in next compartment having a mobile slash out of the window...

I hate to admit to having done that, on one of the old Thumper units on the way to Uckfield. It was non-corridor, there was no bog in the bit I was in, and I'd had a couple of pints before I got on. Needs must when the devil drives! I think there's a photo somewhere.

 

[Roadkill]

I like to stand by the open window sometimes.

Same here. When I was commuting between Hull and London I always liked standing by the window on the down HST service in the evening as it came along the north bank of the Humber, watching the bridge get closer and enjoying the feeling of being nearly home, and in pole position for the front of the taxi queue at Paragon. I also spent a recent journey between Norwich and Yarmouth leaning out of the window right at the front of the train: it was one of the class 37-hauled sets, so I was enjoying being smothered with diesel fumes and deafened when the driver opened up.

 

[davesgcr]

Same here. When I was commuting between Hull and London I always liked standing by the window on the down HST service in the evening as it came along the north bank of the Humber, watching the bridge get closer and enjoying the feeling of being nearly home, and in pole position for the front of the taxi queue at Paragon. I also spent a recent journey between Norwich and Yarmouth leaning out of the window right at the front of the train: it was one of the class 37-hauled sets, so I was enjoying being smothered with diesel fumes and deafened when the driver opened up.

There was a lady of a certain age - who used to frequent the leading drop light on West Coast diversions via Nuneaton and Coventry back in BR days - she (it) wore goggles and resembled a reverse Panda after about 7 trips - black face / white eyes - kept her out of social services I suppose. Must have loved her 47 towing 86 /87 dragged haulage.

 

[teccuk]

Saw new uniforms today. Very nice. No pink!

Of course they were still trying to fine kids for not having been able to use one of their shitty machines...

 

[editor]

First service starts today:

GWR said four Bombardier Electrostar sets running as two eight-car formations launched the service between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington today, with the first train leaving Paddington at 07.15. The inaugural up service left Hayes three minutes later.

The launch marks a notable landmark in the often controversial project to electrify the Great Western Main Line, although the first electric trains are relying on overhead equipment which was installed almost 20 years ago for Heathrow Express. There are hopes that the new electric services can be extended to Maidenhead and then on to Reading by 2017, which is also set to become the western terminus of the Elizabeth line the following year.

The section from Reading to Didcot has already been energised for testing new Hitachi Intercity Expresses, and installation of an overhead 'conductor rail' through the Severn Tunnel is due to start next week. Trains between London and South Wales will then be diverted via Gloucester until late October while the tunnel is closed.

GWR said the first Class 387 Electrostars, which have been built at Derby, will provide an additional 1,400 seats between Hayes and Paddington at the busiest times. Another 41 four-car sets will join them over time, gradually displacing the three-car Class 365 diesel units which have been running on Thames Valley routes since the early 1990s.

 

[bi0boy]

First service starts today:

To Hayes and Harlington

I am certainly looking forward to see the first one arrive at Temple Meads, that'll be quite a significant moment.

 

[teuchter]

It'll be sad to see the HSTs displaced though.

 

[bi0boy]

It'll be sad to see the HSTs displaced though.

It was sad when they ripped out the comfy seating and tables. They are dead to me now.

 

[teuchter]

It was sad when they ripped out the comfy seating and tables. They are dead to me now.

Well, yes, and when they replaced the engines too.

 

[existentialist]

Well, yes, and when they replaced the engines too.

I remember an enormous BANG in Paddington station, looked over, and there was an HST power car with flames shooting 20 feet out of the exhaust vents. You won't get any of that kind of action once they electrify.

Apparently it wasn't unusual - not sure if it was new engines or the old ones, though.

 

[davesgcr]

It'll be sad to see the HSTs displaced though.

Looks like they are going to keep a sub-fleet for Bristol - Plymouth - Penzance , 2+4 formations - they should be proverbially good with that power to weight ratio...

 

[teuchter]

Looks like they are going to keep a sub-fleet for Bristol - Plymouth - Penzance , 2+4 formations - they should be proverbially good with that power to weight ratio...

Scotrail doing something similar I think?

 

[davesgcr]

Scotrail doing something similar I think?

The Jocks are getting some of the GW sets for Glasgow - Aberdeen fast trains - again a good move , as they will no doubt refurb them to the usual high Scottish standards !

 

[teuchter]

Currently on my first trip on an IET.

Meh.

 

[davesgcr]

Currently on my first trip on an IET.

Meh.

Tell us more please ?

 

[teuchter]

Tell us more please ?

I thought it was OK, just OK. I don't feel it really matches up to the HST, for which it was supposed to be a replacement. The HST is an astoundingly good train and hard to live up to. I may be biased in my affection for them as they are what I've grown up with.

The seats seem a bit mean in terms of padding, although it would be fair to do a long journey on them before passing final judgement. Yesterday I just did Didcot to Paddington.

The lighting is not as horrible as what they did in their HST refurb - not the deathly blue - but I felt it was a little too bright. Harsher than in a Pendolino or Mk4.

The general finish feels just slightly on the cheap side. My suspicion is that in 5 years time they'll look a bit bashed up and everything will be a bit rattly like in a Voyager.

It does feel *a bit* more spacious than a Pendolino.

Not exactly quiet. I sat in a carriage with motor bogie deliberately. The diesel turned off just after we left Didcot so I only heard it in idling mode. It did seem less noisy than in, say a Voyager, but dunno about when it's under full power. On the electric there was quite audible motor noise. I felt more so than in a Pendolino. In non motorised coaches there was still a fair bit of noise coming from the AC etc.

On the electric it certainly can move, with acceleration notably greater than in an HST. Good for timekeeping of course although I felt there was a bit of a lurching ride, also during deceleration. In general I felt the suspension was a bit harsher than an HST/mk3.

I don't like that there's no buffet car. It doesn't feel like a long-distance train. That was my feeling overall; doesn't feel like a long-distance train which is what it was supposed to be. I think I'd rather do a long journey in an Electrostar than one of these. However - I'm not up to date whether the variants serving Penzance etc will be different (this was a Bristol service).

I don't like that a 10-car train is two 5-cars coupled together with no access between them. I just don't like it conceptually. And it seems to waste a load of space in the middle that's taken up with drivers' cabs that aren't used.

Constant automated announcements are as unwelcome as on any modern train.

For me the loss of droplights is a big deal; however, I guess it's inevitable and for most people a non-issue.

So I will continue to seek out HST services for as long as they remain. Will be interesting to see if the East Coast 800s are much different.

 

[Crispy]

I don't like that a 10-car train is two 5-cars coupled together with no access between them.

Proper 9-car sets for the main cardiff/bristol line are forthcoming. Doesn't get the buffet car back, mind

 

[teuchter]

What's the point of the 5-car sets - is the idea that they can split en route or something?

 

[Crispy]

What's the point of the 5-car sets - is the idea that they can split en route or something?

Flexibility. Some non-London routes only need 5 cars and some 10 car trains will split en route (eg. those to Devon & Cornwall).

 

[agricola]

What's the point of the 5-car sets - is the idea that they can split en route or something?

I think its standard now - the Voyagers between Chester and London are five-car sets as well, with two of the horrible things fixed together for busier services.

 

[editor]

Flexibility. Some non-London routes only need 5 cars and some 10 car trains will split en route (eg. those to Devon & Cornwall).

And thus halving the chance of getting a cup of tea :/

 

[teuchter]

I think its standard now - the Voyagers between Chester and London are five-car sets as well, with two of the horrible things fixed together for busier services.

There are various trains out there which couple together without gangways between them... I don't really approve of any of them. It's not exactly "standard"... there are plenty of multiple-unit type trains that can join but with a gangway, including those in the south-east which split/join en route.

On high-density routes, eg. Thameslink, the approach with recent stock (in contrast with earlier designs) has been to have fixed formations of different lengths, so as to avoid wasting space with unused cabs in the middle.

TGVs and other continental high speed trains join nose-to-nose but they are usually in longer segments than 5 carriages, and mostly have proper facilities like buffet/bar cars etc.