GWR class 769 Flex tri-mode units

[wirewiper]

Great Western Railway has taken delivery of is first class 769 Flex units. These are converted class 319 dual-voltage electric units that formerly operated Thameslink service, and have had diesel engines added so they can operate on non-electrified lines. 

The units are leased from Porterbrook, and there will be 19 4-car units in total. They will displace class 165/166 Turbo units which will be used to increase capacity on services based on Bristol. 

The units will be used on the North Downs line, and will run on third-rail over the sections of line that have it (Reading-Wokingham, Ash-Guildford/Shalford Junction and Reigate-Gatwick Airport). GWR is aiming to increase frequencies on the route, with 2tph between Reading and Gatwick Airport and an additional hourly service between reading and Redhill. Other planned uses for the trains are on the Reading-Basingstoke route (also planned for a frequency increase to 3tph) and the Twyford-Henley and Maidenhead-Bourne End branch lines. The first units are expected in service early next year. 

Source: www.focustransport.org/2020/09/initial-class-769-tri-mode-delivered-to.html

[VPL630]

Sept 2, 2020 15:56:04 GMT wirewiper said:

Great Western Railway has taken delivery of is first class 769 Flex units. These are converted class 319 dual-voltage electric units that formerly operated Thameslink service, and have had diesel engines added so they can operate on non-electrified lines. 

The units are leased from Porterbrook, and there will be 19 4-car units in total. They will displace class 165/166 Turbo units which will be used to increase capacity on services based on Bristol. 

The units will be used on the North Downs line, and will run on third-rail over the sections of line that have it (Reading-Wokingham, Ash-Guildford/Shalford Junction and Reigate-Gatwick Airport). GWR is aiming to increase frequencies on the route, with 2tph between Reading and Gatwick Airport and an additional hourly service between reading and Redhill. Other planned uses for the trains are on the Reading-Basingstoke route (also planned for a frequency increase to 3tph) and the Twyford-Henley and Maidenhead-Bourne End branch lines. The first units are expected in service early next year. 

Source: www.focustransport.org/2020/09/initial-class-769-tri-mode-delivered-to.html

These units are now being returned off lease without being used in service, meaning the West will have to put up with the ever ageing and strained fleet of 150’s 158’s and 16x’s for longer, the original plan was these would displace some turbos down to the west to strengthen services.

There is no current plan to replace the 769’s or the new DMU’s for the west either yet.

While I know it can’t happen I’d just replace all the DMU fleet with a load of Class 755’s and just be creative with SDO, but all down to the DfT as to what happens fleet wise