Thatcher's cheapo third rails

[JamieLei]

To Weymouth. Complaints that it was - in the words of the video - done on the cheap, mean that they can't run additional services to Weymouth. I too was surprised that the main mode of getting to Weymouth is park and ride.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-18891782
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-18874000

The justification is pretty fair: "Trains that length are never required west of Wareham, apart from something like the Olympics, which let's face it, is something like three weeks every 150 years - it's the equivalent of suddenly building a motorway to Weymouth, just for the three weeks."

[EXTspotter]

I am supporting Maggie on this point. If there is demand for a service of that length to points west of the Bournemouth/Poole conurbation, the line would have been upgraded along with everything else when the Desiros came in. There isn't, so why invest the money?

The roads in Weymouth have been shocking for decades. With improvements such as the redoing of the Weymouth - Dorchester roundabout on the A35 (where queues would be an hour plus going towards Bournemouth most weekdays and even worse in the summer), I think that the money has been spent in the wisest way.

It is not the same as the ECML which did need higher quality infrastructure than it was given, however in terms of the introduction on Plastic Pigs and the electrification in the 80s, the residents of Weymouth had no reason to complain then and still don't now.

[Ameecher]

Barry Doe got it bang on. SWT are planning to use 158s or 159s on relief duties, that is at least a better idea than running one to Lymington. There is little point in bumping up the power for a couple of weeks really.
Secondly, the road improves were needed anyway, the olympics allowed them to happen, the railway doesn't need improving much, the trains to Weymouth all gain extra units at Bournemouth or similar.

[Dezeero]

Given the lack of spare units on a weekday it may just be a single 158 doing the relief runs CrossCountry are chipping in too though.
Also couldn't help but notice the HST stop marks on the Pen Mill line a few months back...

I suggested that we might get a bit more out of the juice rail if we took out all the aircon equipment yes, I'm aware of the lack of opening windows on modern stock

[JamieLei]

Can the 444s be towed by anything? Although using 158s/9s does seem the most sensible option.

[EXTspotter]

I think that SWT's 1 thunderbird 73 can haul them. I don't know whether it would be useful though as there is only one and it would jeopardise the company in terms of not having anything to recover broken down trains.

[Ameecher]

Nope, 73s aren't dellner fitted. Best bet would be the NR57s which have had their Dellners remounted.

[Nawdic]

Or 171s.

[JamieLei]

Or 171s.

The people of Uckfield wouldn't be too happy with that.

[EXTspotter]

Is there no spare stock hanging around somewhere which could be used to serve Weymouth - Bournemouth, e.g. 37/47/57/67 + Mk2 or 3s?

[andel]

No but there are a number of options with 159 stock.

[Nawdic]

If I remember correctly, some 58s had a Dellner attachment on them...

Or Eurostar's modded 73s

[Ameecher]

If southern stopped running through to London or to Brighton with their 171s they'd be alright for use but crew granularity becomes an issue and well, might as well just use 159s.