FGW to receive 180s (again!), 150s, extra Mk3 coaches

[JamieLei]

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/ ... first.html

The extra 150s are what interests me the most and getting people out of their cars for daily journeys so that the railway has much more relevance for every day life. The point about the Falmouth Docks line becoming overcrowded following the doubling of frequency is interesting - does anyone have any more information about that? As with the Uxfield Line, increasing the frequency and having a better service really does make a difference to attracting passenger numbers.

Edit: Turns out that they doubled the frequency but now use 1-coach 153s instead of a 2-coach 150. That would explain it

[audigex]

Just goes to show that if the service is better, people will use it. We go the wrong way by reducing already bad service because it's underused.

[Jacko]

Just goes to show that if the service is better, people will use it. We go the wrong way by reducing already bad service because it's underused.

I would agree.
Oh well. nevermind

[61653]

Those 3-car 150s for FGW are the prototypes, 150001 & 150002. Northern has apparently rejected them as they're 'non-standard'...


Unlike Northern's current 150, 158 and 142 fleets, which of course are all uniform standard, with no visible signs of their previous use with a variety of TOCs [/sarcasm]

[EXTspotter]

I am sure that FGW would like to get all the units they can get their hands on. The overcrowding issues on some parts of the network have been circumvented to some point through increased train lengths but especially around Bristol it is still very bad. With the extra 3 carriage 150s, some of the borrowed Arriva 150s could be returned. On the other hand if these units are planned to be used on the lines around Reading and Turbos are being displaced from the Oxford and Cotsworld routes, you could see redeployment of 166s to Bristol to augment the 158s on Cardiff/Gloucester - Southampton/Portsmouth services. Hopefully this may also mean reformation of a few 2 carriage 158s for the other long distance local routes, e.g. Penzance - Cardiff or Paignton - Cardiff which are currently being run by 150s...

[Dave]

Those 3-car 150s for FGW are the prototypes, 150001 & 150002. Northern has apparently rejected them as they're 'non-standard'...


Unlike Northern's current 150, 158 and 142 fleets, which of course are all uniform standard, with no visible signs of their previous use with a variety of TOCs [/sarcasm]

I think more to do with the fact the maintenance is different and they'd have to employ specialists. We all know that northern have no dollar so they probably can't afford to employ them.

At least the fleets have the same builds. The prototypes are radically different from the rest, as I recall. 150001 had all sorts fitted to it when it was the testbed for the 158. Don't think it was all removed.

[EXTspotter]

I understand that it has non-standard components, but surely if they were (basically) 158 components, the maintainance shouldn't be THAT much different (to a combination of normal 150 and 158 maintainance)...

According to local news at home, the Exeter routes - Tarka (Barnstaple), Riviera (Paignton) and Avocet (Exmouth) are getting an extra carriage in some form. Whether that means an extra 153, swapping a 153 for a 150 or even a 143/150 (2 car) for a 150 (3 car) is unclear.

[61653]

I think more to do with the fact the maintenance is different and they'd have to employ specialists. We all know that northern have no dollar so they probably can't afford to employ them.

At least the fleets have the same builds. The prototypes are radically different from the rest, as I recall. 150002 had all sorts fitted to it when it was the testbed for the 158. Don't think it was all removed.

Of course, the sensible thing to do would have been to retrofit the prototypes with standard components at the end of the production run, which I think BR did with some fleets.

[Ameecher]

150001 & 2 are destined for Reading to Basingstoke based at Reading, that way a non-standard fleet is seperate from the rest of the standard fleet with Reading having to learn new types anyway. Simple solution. Allows 165/6s to be strengthened into Paddington.

On the weekends the 150s are meant to head towards Brizzle.

[teccuk]

150001 & 2 are destined for Reading to Basingstoke based at Reading, that way a non-standard fleet is seperate from the rest of the standard fleet with Reading having to learn new types anyway. Simple solution. Allows 165/6s to be strengthened into Paddington.

On the weekends the 150s are meant to head towards Brizzle.

Aye, that's what i heard too.

FGW are pretty desperate. Whilst i know most consider the west country a rural back water, Bristol is an economic powerhouse and experiencing rapid growth. The overcrowding on local trains is despicable, more so because its only caused of train lengths, not platform length or any other more difficult problem. My train on Friday was 40 mins late because it was taking 5 minutes at each station to load and unload.

One morning recently, the guard suggested to some school kids they should sit in the toilet it was so crowded... I think it was a joke but no-one thought it was funny.

I'm told 150001/2 are three car, but don't have toilets?! True?

[JamieLei]

FGW are pretty desperate. Whilst i know most consider the west country a rural back water, Bristol is an economic powerhouse and experiencing rapid growth. The overcrowding on local trains is despicable, more so because its only caused of train lengths, not platform length or any other more difficult problem. My train on Friday was 40 mins late because it was taking 5 minutes at each station to load and unload.

Haha I wouldn't say that Bristol is an economic powerhouse! But the point about Bristol being ignored in terms of rail transport and development is certainly correct. The overcrowding around the region is often not realised and there certainly needs to be more units send to Bristol than what's already been announced.

[teccuk]

Highest GDP per head outside of London. http://www.citymayors.com/business/eurocities_gdp.html

That might be why its always been overlooked for investment, it's 'doing just fine on it's own'.

[Kevo00]

Glasgow and Edinburgh are both above it on that list, although I take the point re England. Highest GDP level does not nessescarily mean highest growth level though.

Fact is, if it's so rich, why can't it finance it's own investment, as London effectively has to? Of course I suspect this has more to do with the DfT's control over stock allocation rather than leaving it to the market.

[teccuk]

Unless your Dubai or something, no local government can possibly be expected to pay for its own infrastructure investment. If income tax went locally, that might be different.

Bristol is a pharmaceutical, aeronautical, technological, financial, food, and creative industries powerhouse. Its the national HQ of some serious companies. Yet is is constantly overlooked for investment. Yes, I meant England of course.

[JamieLei]

Unless your Dubai or something, no local government can possibly be expected to pay for its own infrastructure investment. If income tax went locally, that might be different.

Bristol is a pharmaceutical, aeronautical, technological, financial, food, and creative industries powerhouse. Its the national HQ of some serious companies. Yet is is constantly overlooked for investment. Yes, I meant England of course.

Many of those things are not located in Bristol though. They're along the M4 corridor and concequently would not benefit highly from better commuter trains around the Bristol city area.

[Kevo00]

Unless your Dubai or something, no local government can possibly be expected to pay for its own infrastructure investment. If income tax went locally, that might be different.

Bristol is a pharmaceutical, aeronautical, technological, financial, food, and creative industries powerhouse. Its the national HQ of some serious companies. Yet is is constantly overlooked for investment. Yes, I meant England of course.

Just shows how things have changed really. In the 19th century these firms would have worked together through a chamber of commerce and raised the money themselves. That's how we built the electricity and sewerage networks, and indeed large chunks of the rail network (indeed, GWR was originally financed by Bristol merchants). IMHO, we need to get back to that sort of ideal. And indeed, in London, Boris is trying to get the City to cough up for CrossRail (admittedly, he probably won't have much luck).

[teccuk]

Unless your Dubai or something, no local government can possibly be expected to pay for its own infrastructure investment. If income tax went locally, that might be different.

Bristol is a pharmaceutical, aeronautical, technological, financial, food, and creative industries powerhouse. Its the national HQ of some serious companies. Yet is is constantly overlooked for investment. Yes, I meant England of course.

Just shows how things have changed really. In the 19th century these firms would have worked together through a chamber of commerce and raised the money themselves. That's how we built the electricity and sewerage networks, and indeed large chunks of the rail network (indeed, GWR was originally financed by Bristol merchants). IMHO, we need to get back to that sort of ideal. And indeed, in London, Boris is trying to get the City to cough up for CrossRail (admittedly, he probably won't have much luck).

That's a really interesting point! Back then the council was a 'corporation' of course. Almost a profit making company!

Bristol City Council is planning on introducing a work place parking charge to fund bus rapid transport and a new ring road. Which is kind of similar.

[Ameecher]

And in other news, Peterborough is going to be less like a hellhole. Woohoo!

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... _1_3331516

[61653]

And in other news, Peterborough is going to be less like a hellhole. Woohoo!

Why, are they moving the whole place 150 miles up the ECML?

[Chris]

And in other news, Peterborough is going to be less like a hellhole. Woohoo!

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... _1_3331516

“The new destinations that will come with the upgrade will mean Peterborough becomes a one-stop connection into Paris, Brussels and Lille.”

But it already is! Its not much further from Kings Cross than the St. Pancras Thameslink platforms.