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Post by SILENCED on Nov 8, 2016 14:51:24 GMT
Indeed it does ... the Electrostars wold come to a sudden halt when the wires run out. Seeing as their 150s have been leased by Northern ... they had better start looking at what DMU fleets are available. Extra Bi-modes were ordered for the Oxford routes from Hitachi few weeks ago (might have been conversion from all electric). Will leave extra electrostars, and a shortage of diesel or bi-mode trains Believe they are just for the fasts. Semi fast and slows were meant to be EMU ... so options now, DMUs all way to Oxford, or stop the EMUs at Didcot, with a DMU shuttle Didcot-Oxford ... sure those losing their direct trains will love that.
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Post by TNL33036 on Jan 4, 2017 16:37:09 GMT
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Post by M1199 on Jan 6, 2017 10:08:53 GMT
I caught a Greenford branch turbo (first time I'd done the branch) and as we were pulling into West Ealing, there was already a Paddington bound Electrostar picking up passengers waiting, however, as you can probably imagine, as soon as the Turbo's doors released, everyone jumped out to hop across onto the Electrostar, only for it pull off on its merry way, leaving us with a 15min wait for the Heathrow Connect service. Now i realise the Electrostar driver would of had no way of seeing the turbo arriving but surely GWR could of pathed it so there was a guaranteed connection from the Greenford branch onto the mainline. I would imagine Greenford branch commuters are already cheesed off at losing their direct link, having regular occurrences like what happened to me would probably leave them up in arms! I hope the lady I was talking to made it for her hospital in time for her appointment that she said she'd probably now be late for!
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Post by snoggle on Jan 6, 2017 13:54:36 GMT
I caught a Greenford branch turbo (first time I'd done the branch) and as we were pulling into West Ealing, there was already a Paddington bound Electrostar picking up passengers waiting, however, as you can probably imagine, as soon as the Turbo's doors released, everyone jumped out to hop across onto the Electrostar, only for it pull off on its merry way, leaving us with a 15min wait for the Heathrow Connect service. Now i realise the Electrostar driver would of had no way of seeing the turbo arriving but surely GWR could of pathed it so there was a guaranteed connection from the Greenford branch onto the mainline. I would imagine Greenford branch commuters are already cheesed off at losing their direct link, having regular occurrences like what happened to me would probably leave them up in arms! I hope the lady I was talking to made it for her hospital in time for her appointment that she said she'd probably now be late for! I looked at the timetable the other day. It is designed that the Turbo arrives as the EMU leaves for a number of departures. The times move throughout the day meaning some trains connect going east to Paddington while the w/b looks dreadful all day long. Connections are as low as 1-3 minutes and passengers have to get to the e/b end of the platform, up stairs, across, down and along. Some trains don't stop so rear doors align with the stairs so there is further walking distance. Even if you were Mr H Bolt I doubt you could get between the platforms in the connecting time allowed. Unfortunately the run times are pretty tight as are the turnrounds meaning it's not easy to get an optimal position and I don't know what other factors like freights or ECS workings do. On the face of it, though, the timetable for the shuttle does need to be reviewed even if the result was a longer but achieveable connecting time at West Ealing.
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Post by TNL33036 on Apr 22, 2017 10:12:04 GMT
The newly electrified section between Hayes & Harlington-Maidenhead has been tested by Network Rail and GWR utilising 387s, passenger service between Maidenhead and Paddington are expected to commence next month: youtu.be/b4BkpBZPRa0
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Post by M1199 on Apr 23, 2017 3:26:34 GMT
Just seen and heard a Class 387 arrive westbound at West Drayton and it leave eastbound a few minutes later. First time I've seen one of these past Hayes & Hatlington.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on May 13, 2017 14:46:52 GMT
Just seen and heard a Class 387 arrive westbound at West Drayton and it leave eastbound a few minutes later. First time I've seen one of these past Hayes & Hatlington. I understand they will work a Mon-Fri peak hour service to Maidenhead from later this month.
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Post by M1199 on May 16, 2017 4:10:14 GMT
Just seen and heard a Class 387 arrive westbound at West Drayton and it leave eastbound a few minutes later. First time I've seen one of these past Hayes & Hatlington. I understand they will work a Mon-Fri peak hour service to Maidenhead from later this month. I believe that's the plan. The Turbo's are/were due to start cascading down to Bristol in May, however, I dunno where they are on that front though. Incidentally, I've just seen another one at West Drayton, one things for sure though, at 5 in the morning, those 387's sound just as loud as a Turbo! www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V39295/2017/05/16/advanced
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Post by TNL33036 on Jul 8, 2017 23:18:09 GMT
So it appears that some of the 166s are now in service around the Bristol area, with them starting on the 3rd July on the Severn Branch.
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Post by T.R. on Jul 20, 2017 9:07:23 GMT
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Post by snoggle on Jul 20, 2017 9:42:33 GMT
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Post by TNL33036 on Sept 1, 2017 23:20:49 GMT
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Post by snowman on Jan 4, 2018 9:18:48 GMT
Network rail have now (Jan 2) energised the section beyond Maidenhead
Line is now electrified Paddington - Didcot
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 4, 2018 19:21:56 GMT
Yes, since 2nd January 2018 virtually all stopping services between London Paddington, Reading and Didcot Parkway are now Electrostar (class 387) operated. Class 165 Turbo diesels operate a shuttle between Didcot Parkway and Oxford with some journeys extended to and from Banbury. Some Turbos work between Oxford and Reading, although this is more for operational convenience (getting units to and from Reading Depot) than providing a service for passengers.
Newbury is due to be electrified by December 2018 so some 387s will be deployed on London Paddington/Reading - Newbury workings. There is no news on when Oxford will be electrified but I understand it is awaiting a decision on whether Didcot Parkway-Oxford gets quadrupled or not.
There are no longer any through Henley-on-Thames - London Paddington peak services.
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Post by snoggle on Jan 4, 2018 19:32:18 GMT
Yes, since 2nd January 2018 virtually all stopping services between London Paddington, Reading and Didcot Parkway are now Electrostar (class 387) operated. Class 165 Turbo diesels operate a shuttle between Didcot Parkway and Oxford with some journeys extended to and from Banbury. Some Turbos work between Oxford and Reading, although this is more for operational convenience (getting units to and from Reading Depot) than providing a service for passengers. Newbury is due to be electrified by December 2018 so some 387s will be deployed on London Paddington/Reading - Newbury workings. There is no news on when Oxford will be electrified but I understand it is awaiting a decision on whether Didcot Parkway-Oxford gets quadrupled or not. There are no longer any through Henley-on-Thames - London Paddington peak services. So has Oxford lost its direct, fast trains to London? If it has then that's a gift to Stagecoach and Go Ahead. I thought the major issue in Oxford was the design of the replacement station and whether it can actually be built without completely screwing the traffic flows just to the south of the station where the bridge would need replacement.
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