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Post by MoEnviro on Jan 4, 2018 19:48:13 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. Oxford still retains a broadly 2tph 'fast' service to/from London calling at Reading/Slough only, meaning a journey time of around 60 mins is still possible.
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Post by LBOTG on Jan 5, 2018 7:05:47 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. The express Oxford trains still run, being a mix of 165s, 43s and 800s (in time). It's the stopping Thames Valley services (ones that call at Ealing, Southall etc) that have been curtailed to Didcot Parkway and are now 8-car 387s.
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 5, 2018 9:39:05 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. >>> So has Oxford lost its direct, fast trains to London? <<< No, it is the stopping services that have been split. The fast London Paddington - Slough - Reading - Oxford (and beyond) services still operate every 30 minutes and will be IEP-operated in due course. At the moment though they are seeing quite a lot of Turbos as the Adelantes (class 180?) have returned off-lease in readiness to be reallocated to Great Central.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jan 28, 2018 8:13:36 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. There are also 2 trains an hour from Oxford to London Marylebone, but yes the coaches are good too.
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Post by M1199 on Jan 29, 2018 22:53:26 GMT
Used Paddington for the first time in a few months earlier, all I saw was a host of 800's, 387's, a single 332 and only 2 HST's with not a Turbo in sight! Quite a surreal experience! Guess that's progress though.
Beginning to miss those Turbo's now, having lived a stones throw from West Drayton Stn for the last 6 years, I've become accustomed to hearing them rev up as they depart! Weird only hearing them every so often now! The poor things have had a hard life on the Thames Valley, they deserve their easier life out west!
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 25, 2018 0:08:15 GMT
Used Paddington for the first time in a few months earlier, all I saw was a host of 800's, 387's, a single 332 and only 2 HST's with not a Turbo in sight! Quite a surreal experience! Guess that's progress though. Beginning to miss those Turbo's now, having lived a stones throw from West Drayton Stn for the last 6 years, I've become accustomed to hearing them rev up as they depart! Weird only hearing them every so often now! The poor things have had a hard life on the Thames Valley, they deserve their easier life out west! As I'm travelling from Reading to London Paddington at Easter, timed so that I can ride a 387 without seeing any 345s yet, the replacement of Turbos is promising. (I want my first sight of 345s to be on a new section of the Elizabeth Line once it opens).
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Post by M1199 on Mar 5, 2018 23:03:20 GMT
Although not technically GWR, I saw a class 345 trundle through West Drayton Station this lunchtime, didn’t realise they had started testing them this far west yet!
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Post by T.R. on Mar 6, 2018 9:41:12 GMT
Although not technically GWR, I saw a class 345 trundle through West Drayton Station this lunchtime, didn’t realise they had started testing them this far west yet! Yes, since TfL Rail were take over Heathrow Connect services in May the plan was to use 345s in lieu of the 360s. Alas, testing in the Heathrow tunnels is proving difficult (signalling) so 345s may end up running on the Hayes & Harlington shuttles.
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Post by M1199 on Mar 7, 2018 0:00:53 GMT
Although not technically GWR, I saw a class 345 trundle through West Drayton Station this lunchtime, didn’t realise they had started testing them this far west yet! Yes, since TfL Rail were take over Heathrow Connect services in May the plan was to use 345s in lieu of the 360s. Alas, testing in the Heathrow tunnels is proving difficult (signalling) so 345s may end up running on the Hayes & Harlington shuttles. Didn't realise that. It was heading westbound, couldn't tell wether it was heading into the bay platform (5) so I assume it was heading onwards to Reading.
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Post by snoggle on Mar 7, 2018 0:11:17 GMT
Yes, since TfL Rail were take over Heathrow Connect services in May the plan was to use 345s in lieu of the 360s. Alas, testing in the Heathrow tunnels is proving difficult (signalling) so 345s may end up running on the Hayes & Harlington shuttles. Didn't realise that. It was heading westbound, couldn't tell wether it was heading into the bay platform (5) so I assume it was heading onwards to Reading. They are running Old Oak Common to Maidenhead Sidings during the daytime. There are test train slots in the timetable that can be seen in Realtime Trains.
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Post by snowman on Mar 28, 2018 10:21:36 GMT
It appears that First Group have been awarded a management contract to operate Heathrow Express for 10 years from August 2018 Initially will use existing HEx fleet, but will modify 12 of the class 387 to operate a dedicated service by December 2019 No idea what happens to current fleet No idea why First Great Western have 12 surplus trains that they can modify and use Heathrow Express needs to change depot anyway as Crossrail is taking over current site www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2018/28-03-18a.aspx
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Apr 1, 2018 9:12:39 GMT
I rode 387 138 from Reading to London Paddington yesterday. I enjoyed seeing electric trains there, but was disappointed how few 387s there were as only the Didcot trains were running, and not the Hayes & Harlington or Reading shorts. I deliberately timed my trip to ride a 387 there without seeing any 345s yet. I want the first ones I see to be on CrossRail once it is open.
I plan to ride an 800 to or from Bristol or Cardiff next year. These will be the first electric trains anywhere in Wales.
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Post by TNL33036 on Apr 19, 2018 19:05:39 GMT
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Post by snowman on Apr 20, 2018 13:53:16 GMT
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Post by MoEnviro on Feb 10, 2019 18:14:47 GMT
I believe this weekend marks the end of 3 more HST sets, reducing the total now required for 'long distance' services to 10. Following the introduction of the latest 802 units.
Some that are not moving to other operators, now get reformed into shorter sets for the May timetable change to operate the Cardiff to Taunton services.
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