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Post by snoggle on Aug 10, 2017 9:56:35 GMT
Interesting. Let's hope Abellio haven't overstretched themselves. They now have three large franchises - Greater Anglia, Scotrail and West Midlands - with ambitious plans in each for new services, trains and other innovations. They've had plenty of issues in Scotland since they took over and have been heavily criticised by the Scottish government as a result.
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Post by TNL33036 on Aug 10, 2017 10:18:16 GMT
Interesting. Let's hope Abellio haven't overstretched themselves. They now have three large franchises - Greater Anglia, Scotrail and West Midlands - with ambitious plans in each for new services, trains and other innovations. They've had plenty of issues in Scotland since they took over and have been heavily criticised by the Scottish government as a result. It appears to obviously have created a reverse trend for Govia in a way, honestly though, I'm not surprised. Maybe their confidence of potentially winning the Southeastern franchise has increased? Who knows?
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Aug 10, 2017 10:43:49 GMT
Well done to Abellio in all fairness, I notice that they will be ordering some new trains. I wonder if these will be more Aventras
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Post by TNL33036 on Aug 10, 2017 10:59:56 GMT
Well done to Abellio in all fairness, I notice that they will be ordering some new trains. I wonder if these will be more Aventras I would hope they are able to go 110mph if they're working the faster Birmingham to London services.
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Post by Gellico on Aug 10, 2017 16:39:51 GMT
Wasn't expecting Go Ahead to retain this given they're abysmal service with other TOCs, namely GTR. Given Pendos are being refurbed in a much plainer black/grey livery and general discord against Virgin at the moment it wouldn't surprise me if the face of the West Coast changes completely over the next few years.
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Post by snoggle on Aug 10, 2017 19:21:01 GMT
Wasn't expecting Go Ahead to retain this given they're abysmal service with other TOCs, namely GTR. Given Pendos are being refurbed in a much plainer black/grey livery and general discord against Virgin at the moment it wouldn't surprise me if the face of the West Coast changes completely over the next few years. I think it is worth saying that the DfT's sentiment towards GTR on other franchises cannot be a factor in determining who wins or loses the West Midlands franchise. It is all on the bid and nothing else. I know we all love a good conspiracy theory about likes, dislikes, good / bad service etc as the reasons for any company winning or losing or retaining work but it's all down to what's promised, the cost and the viability of the overall package. Clearly Abellio have found a knack in putting together winning bids recently but once they've signed on the line they have to deliver. I understand Trenitalia have pulled out from bidding for the South Eastern franchise so that reduces the scope of the battle for that franchise.
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Post by ServerKing on Aug 10, 2017 21:39:55 GMT
Wasn't expecting Go Ahead to retain this given they're abysmal service with other TOCs, namely GTR. Given Pendos are being refurbed in a much plainer black/grey livery and general discord against Virgin at the moment it wouldn't surprise me if the face of the West Coast changes completely over the next few years. I'm surprised the government has done so little to resolve the Southern fiasco... so no surprise they lost out. If they had won, that would be such a large chunk of the network on strike over opening train doors etc. Every few weeks I think a TfL style system with a set national livery with operators running each franchise would be better, with 5 year contracts. Also, simplify the fares and tickets too
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Post by snoggle on Oct 16, 2017 23:22:47 GMT
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Post by routew15 on Oct 17, 2017 8:27:16 GMT
Does this mean there will be displaced Class350 units ?
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Post by snoggle on Oct 17, 2017 11:40:26 GMT
Does this mean there will be displaced Class350 units ? I think so but not 100% certain. Siemens units seem to be being made surplus on a number of franchises. I think it's because they're pretty heavy so heavier on tracks and electricity use which makes them more expensive to run. One other aspect is how the Siemens train service contracts are structured which tend to restrict mileage meaning trains are shorter than necessary on Sundays. This has been a problem on London Midland and SWT where Sundays trains are short and packed to overflowing. I assume Abellio and First / MTR have got better deals with Bombardier plus Adventras are lighter trains so easier on the tracks and juice.
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Post by 700101 on Oct 17, 2017 11:50:18 GMT
Does this mean there will be displaced Class350 units ? All 350’s and 172’s are staying also I’ve heard the 350/4’s from TPE should be moving over. The units leaving are 150, 153, 319 & 323’s The new Aventures that are to operates to/from London are to bolster the services i.e 8 car services to Crewe etc with the CAF & Aventures for Birmingham Cross City services replacing all existing Trains bar the 172’s
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Post by snowman on Oct 17, 2017 12:32:24 GMT
Does this mean there will be displaced Class350 units ? All 350’s and 172’s are staying also I’ve heard the 350/4’s from TPE should be moving over. The units leaving are 150, 153, 319 & 323’s The new Aventures that are to operates to/from London are to bolster the services i.e 8 car services to Crewe etc with the CAF & Aventures for Birmingham Cross City services replacing all existing Trains bar the 172’s There are 5 batches out train totalling 413 vehicles 29 x 5 car = 145 aventura for London-Birmingham outer suburban 110mph 16 x 5 car = 80 aventura for London-Birmingham long distance 110mph 36 x 3 car = 108 aventura for Birmingham metro high density 90mph 12 x 2 car = 24 CAF diesel units 14 x 4 car = 56 CAF diesel units I am guessing that outer surburban is 2+3 seating, but long distance is 2+2 seating Presumably the 5 car units are 23m (or longer coaches) so 10 car unit is same length as old 12 car unit This will be the 4th set of electric trains for Euston outer suburban services, started with the AM10s (later 310) slam door 75mph units, then had the Network SouthEast 321 units, then the 350s and now new trains. All change from when I was at University in Coventry and many of the West Midlands local trains were still formed of the 1960 era class 304, alongside the 310s (and 4 312s which had been built as a top up in mid 1970s), first generation diesel units were everywhere, the cross City line was still diesel (the new 150s were then on long cross country services as the 156 and 158s hadn't been delivered). Back in 1980s Cross country inter City services changed locos at Coventry (unless they reversed at Birmingham), class 85s and 86s with class 47s going south, spent many a journey on the class 47 hauled mark 2Bs to South Coast. From memory until the 321s arrived there were some class 85 hauled mark1 commuter sets out of Euston in peak hours.
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Post by ServerKing on Oct 22, 2017 18:36:22 GMT
All 350’s and 172’s are staying also I’ve heard the 350/4’s from TPE should be moving over. The units leaving are 150, 153, 319 & 323’s The new Aventures that are to operates to/from London are to bolster the services i.e 8 car services to Crewe etc with the CAF & Aventures for Birmingham Cross City services replacing all existing Trains bar the 172’s There are 5 batches out train totalling 413 vehicles 29 x 5 car = 145 aventura for London-Birmingham outer suburban 110mph 16 x 5 car = 80 aventura for London-Birmingham long distance 110mph 36 x 3 car = 108 aventura for Birmingham metro high density 90mph 12 x 2 car = 24 CAF diesel units 14 x 4 car = 56 CAF diesel units I am guessing that outer surburban is 2+3 seating, but long distance is 2+2 seating Presumably the 5 car units are 23m (or longer coaches) so 10 car unit is same length as old 12 car unit This will be the 4th set of electric trains for Euston outer suburban services, started with the AM10s (later 310) slam door 75mph units, then had the Network SouthEast 321 units, then the 350s and now new trains. All change from when I was at University in Coventry and many of the West Midlands local trains were still formed of the 1960 era class 304, alongside the 310s (and 4 312s which had been built as a top up in mid 1970s), first generation diesel units were everywhere, the cross City line was still diesel (the new 150s were then on long cross country services as the 156 and 158s hadn't been delivered). Back in 1980s Cross country inter City services changed locos at Coventry (unless they reversed at Birmingham), class 85s and 86s with class 47s going south, spent many a journey on the class 47 hauled mark 2Bs to South Coast. From memory until the 321s arrived there were some class 85 hauled mark1 commuter sets out of Euston in peak hours. I miss trains like the 304's which had character youtu.be/qYASA8-8FAIThough we had the faster 312s and 309's We'll have to see how Abellio perform once they get the franchise - I thoght SWR would be as good as SWT but they've had a lot of coincidental infrastructure problems Customers may see just different colours but same pants service
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Post by snoggle on Oct 22, 2017 18:54:58 GMT
Though we had the faster 312s and 309's We'll have to see how Abellio perform once they get the franchise - I thoght SWR would be as good as SWT but they've had a lot of coincidental infrastructure problems Customers may see just different colours but same pants service Class 310 memory jerker 310 053 Birmingham International by plcd1, on Flickr Even 317s made it to the West Midlands 317 332 Birmingham International by plcd1, on Flickr And even NSE liveried Class 50s Class 50 Birmingham International by plcd1, on Flickr I rather liked the 310s even if they were a bit bouncy on the cushions. I actually think Govia have done a half decent job with London Midland and I think Abellio may struggle to get to grips with it. They have years of disruption in and around Euston to cope with and introducing new rolling stock is always a fraught issue but they should have gained some experience on Greater Anglia where similar Adventras will be brought into use. I just hope they haven't overbid in terms of the premiums they've promised to pay.
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Post by ServerKing on Oct 22, 2017 19:06:12 GMT
Though we had the faster 312s and 309's We'll have to see how Abellio perform once they get the franchise - I thoght SWR would be as good as SWT but they've had a lot of coincidental infrastructure problems Customers may see just different colours but same pants service Class 310 memory jerker 310 053 Birmingham International by plcd1, on Flickr Even 317s made it to the West Midlands 317 332 Birmingham International by plcd1, on Flickr And even NSE liveried Class 50s Class 50 Birmingham International by plcd1, on Flickr I rather liked the 310s even if they were a bit bouncy on the cushions. I actually think Govia have done a half decent job with London Midland and I think Abellio may struggle to get to grips with it. They have years of disruption in and around Euston to cope with and introducing new rolling stock is always a fraught issue but they should have gained some experience on Greater Anglia where similar Adventras will be brought into use. I just hope they haven't overbid in terms of the premiums they've promised to pay. I just hope Abellio isn't overstretched, not too sure how ScotRail is working out for them, plus as you mention the HS2 and other goings on at Euston may mess them up... still something for the ex-235 Darts to do - Rail Replacement Buses if required
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