S stock delivery & introduction - discussion

From what I've been told, WTT 330 is a bit of a re-write of 329, to take account of our current "planned cancellations" and ease congestion at Farringdon and on the Uxbridge branch. It has been said that the bulk of timetable is the same, and it has already been mooted that the same "paths" (maybe with different numbers) will be used for the S-stock.

Ironic that I've had a few drafts of 331 for weeks/months now, but not been sent anything much than an outline for 330.

My money (based on what I was asked to look at recently) is on another 1 maybe 2 extra stocks running daily by then. It's all gathering pace now ;D

Your train ended up at Amersham. It's how to dominate the Met within 30 minutes. Get just 2 S-stocks to pretend they are each going to all the northern termini. The Uxbridge at Baker Street had Quainton Road showing on it at one point ;D ;D

So this is the first time an S8 stock has been to Amersham in passenger service then


By the way, how many S-Stocks has been built so far?

A Bombardier person told me today that they are building 6.5 cars a week and that the yard at Derby is full of them. I'd say there's 4 or 5 trains built but not in London yet. No one will say why they haven't been sent to London but, when I pressed on with a suggestion, I was told, "No, there isn't a contractual dispute". So I offer the following old French railway saying, "Never believe a rumour until it's officially denied".

You'll be very lucky to find one on a saturday

I have heard there are a few more than 4 or 5 trains ready and waiting.

The delay on bringing them in rests with having somewhere to keep them, and also ensuring everything is properly ironed out before they arrived. The current performance of the trains is now much better than it was in the beginning.

Could some of the A stock not be outstabled at Ruislip Depot then? As was the case not so long ago when Uxbridge sidings was out of commission? It only occurred to me because it happened not too long ago, but I suppose crewing/stabling/timetabling have all changed massively since then.

So, let's imagine a scenario where LU can't take delivery of more S Stock because the depot works at Neasden have sterilised several stabling roads but, at the same time, they weren't too happy with the performance of the new cars (equipment fixings, shoegear and ACMs come to mind as some possible culprits).

Musing on this over a pint of ale in a quiet hostelry, one might imagine that, in order that they don't have to pay any penalties to Bombardier for refusing delivery, LU kick up a fuss about the quality of the product and use that as the excuse to refuse to take delivery. Meanwhile Bombardier, who must know all about Neasden, keep on building trains to keep to their contractual programme but the yard is filling up in Derby and they ain't being paid for delivery. In one's imaginings, one could see in that, the distinct outline of a significant contractual dispute.

OK, I'm just speculating - you know, the old rule about filling a vacuum....

Erm...



Perhaps that was where LR got their news from

Does anyone know how T/Op training is going for the S stock on the Met?

Chiltern Railways have engineering work many late evenings now. Its not exactly clear from their web site what parts of the line are actually closed for the work, but services after 10/11 in the evening seem to be affected around Aylesbury / Princess Risborough and towards Banbury. I understand the previous deliveries of S stock have come down via Princess Risborough and Aylesbury, so would any further deliveries be affected by this work causing changes to delivery time (day instead of night) or dates?

Aynho Junction (near Kings Sutton), Bicester, Princes Risborough, Gerrards Cross, Northolt Junction, Neasden Junction have/will see major works till September

An S8 was due down this week, but problems with the Class 20s have meant that won't now happen. Another S7 is due next week, but may in the end be cancelled in favour of delivering the next S8. All depends on what the project people want more, but that is the state of play at present.

To be honest I don't knowfor certain, but given the other pre-production S8 is still with us (and the first S7 is just a pre-production S8 shortened) my money is on it being a "proper with seats" S7.