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Post by Dstock7080 on Jul 23, 2009 11:56:28 GMT
Great Western electrification to Swansea, Newbury, Oxford: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8164070.stmThe DfT report also says: " Electrification will enable the current suburban services into London Paddington to be operated by electric trains instead of diesel trains.
The Thameslink Project is a major investment in additional capacity linking areas to the north and south of London. In order to operate a high-frequency service of 24 trains per hour in the peak period, a new fleet of around 1,200 vehicles is being procured. These new trains will replace the existing electric trains on the current Thameslink routes from 2013 to 2015.
It will then be possible to transfer the current Thameslink four-carriage electric trains onto the Great Western Main Line, replacing the current three-carriage diesel trains. These 100 mph vehicles will be completely modernised, including the installation of air-conditioning, and will offer quieter journeys and additional capacity. It is planned that suburban services between Oxford, Reading and London will be operated with such vehicles from the end of 2016.
Electrification west of Maidenhead also makes it possible to extend Crossrail services through to Reading. " |
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metman
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Post by metman on Jul 23, 2009 13:02:09 GMT
The Class 165s and 166s can then go to Chiltern and boost their fleet, especially if their extensions to Oxford and the like are realised.
The 319s will be quite old by 2015 however.
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Post by johnb on Jul 23, 2009 13:04:09 GMT
Only 25 years old: that's another 15 years of life for a suburban EMU. Or another 25 years of life for an A-stock!
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Post by Dstock7080 on Jul 23, 2009 14:49:50 GMT
The Class 165s and 166s can then go to Chiltern and boost their fleet, especially if their extensions to Oxford and the like are realised. Hate to dash your ideas, but the DfT Report also says: " Existing modern diesel trains that operate the suburban services into London Paddington can then be transferred to provide additional capacity on services in the Bristol area and the South West as well as releasing vehicles that can then be deployed to deliver additional capacity in key Northern cities. " |
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Jul 23, 2009 14:52:57 GMT
I though the 165 and 166 units were out of gauge for the Bristol area?
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Post by johnb on Jul 23, 2009 15:43:17 GMT
They used to operate Oxford-Bristol. They weren't allowed on various other lines in that area, but apparently that was based on very conservative modelling, and real-life experience (including getting some 'home' after Ufton Nervet via routes that they weren't cleared for) has shown that they'll actually be fine.
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metman
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Post by metman on Jul 23, 2009 16:00:39 GMT
They can get rid of those pacers!
The 319 are still young at 20ish years so it will be good to get another 15odd years out of them.
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Post by upfast on Jul 23, 2009 16:24:59 GMT
I'd like to know whether the massive Govt. order for "next gen" diesel HSTs is being scrapped because of this. Or if they will be delivered, run around for a few years then vanish. They can get rid of those pacers! The 319 are still young at 20ish years so it will be good to get another 15odd years out of them. I had a journey on one of the "Pacers" and before I had a negative idea about them. Following in though they are rather comfortable and fit the work that they run for. I understand that they were worse pre refurbishment. The 319s on the other hand, even the refurbished ones are ghastly, especially at speed! Though if they are going to have air con fitted that should solve a lot of the noise, as at present the only draught comes from the windows being open. The only other issue is the doors when another train is passing, they make a helluva racket. The 319s have to go from the Thameslink route as the new trains will run with ATO through the central London (core route). |
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Post by Chris M on Jul 23, 2009 16:36:24 GMT
The 143 pacers certainly have more comfortable seating than they did pre refurb, but the travelling experience still leaves a lot to be desired, particularly on anything less than highly maintained track.
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Ben
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Post by Ben on Jul 23, 2009 16:57:45 GMT
Surely its because of the 4 wheels that the Pacers are poor riders. Their crash-worthyness is bad aswell, isnt it?
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Post by Chris M on Jul 23, 2009 17:47:28 GMT
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Post by Tomcakes on Jul 23, 2009 18:07:22 GMT
Pacers are surely a key priority for replacement - alright you traveled on one and it was alright, but if you have to use them on a regular basis it very quickly becomes very irritating to have to travel on a vehicles of such poor quality.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2009 20:23:16 GMT
The strange thing is that preparations have been made for electrificatin of the GWR main line for some time. When the stretch between Wantage Road and Challow was four-tracked for the Avonmouth coal traffic some years ago, the signals were of the type that allow for overhead electrification. Strange then that the new signals that were put up for the south Marston Freight terminal some years later were of the older type and will have to be replaced.
There is no mention of the Bristol line in all of this so that is probably the saviour of the new stock. Not only that, it would cause too much of a headache for the traditionalists to have to modify all of those wonderful Brunel structures! I cannot imagine those lovely pointed stone arches on the Bath road succumbing to the bulldozer for the sake of wires.....
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Post by ducatisti on Jul 23, 2009 21:56:59 GMT
I should imagine they can get a fair bit in by dipping the track bed - presumably the broad-guage formation will give some additional leeway to play with (eg that they can dig lower without disturbing the foundations. Aren't there rumours of some Brunel experiments like timber baulks in embankments with iron ties to stabilise stuff.
The reports I've seen seem to suggest the all-singing all-dancing HST2 will be electric and diesel (and probably solar too...), so I don't think they've really worked it out fully.
On an enthusiast level it'll be a shame, Paddington is the last proper "Temple of motive power" in London, but modern kit is so silenced as to lose the soundtrack anyway.
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Post by cetacean on Jul 23, 2009 23:03:20 GMT
The DfT report has a map, and the plans include both routes to Bristol - via Parkway and via Bath. Most services will use electric-only versions of the Hitachi Super Expess (aka IEP/HST2), with services beyond the wires being run by the diesel+electric version. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2009 23:43:35 GMT
The line east of Reading is in the process of being resignalled. The Didcot area is next. To then electrify and risk obscuring the signalling equipment with catenery has a ring of familiarity about it on this particular main line. It was one of the promary causes of the number of SPAD incidents involving signal SN109 at Ladbroke Grove which culminated in the tragedy there in 1999.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2009 4:23:56 GMT
I live just a few metres from the great western mainline at langley so i'd appreciate a bit of quite! Somehow i have a feeling the heavy frieght (diesel) trains will still be around which are the worst offenders for noise and vibration
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