GWR Class 769 information. (Units no longer with GWR - Off Lease March 23)

[XCTurbostar]

Today's trips were scheduled to run from Oxford but didn't run in practice.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...-13/1100-1600?stp=S&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

Same in for Wednesday then earlier on Friday.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...-17/1000-1600?stp=S&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GW

Obviously, no guarantee they run.

Thanks. Hopefully, Wednesday is a runner!

 

[FGW_DID]

Friday will be the last day for MA this year (running from Oxford 08.52 > Gatwick > Reading 4/5/6 > Gatwick > Oxford.)

Other 769 movements for Friday 17/12:

Unit swap between Reading & Eastleigh (949 > ZG / 938 > RG)
1x unit to move from Oxford to Long Marston (930 or 946 TBC)

 

[Minstral25]

They'd be better sticking batteries under these as the NDL is ideal with its multiple sections of 3rd rail to both power the units and recharge the batteries.

Which is the correct answer.

Solve all the problems with the Diesels overheating by removing them and replacing with Battery Rafts - although that's the easy bit as it may take a while to design the software!

 

[XCTurbostar]

Looks like another MA cancelled today.

 

[AM9]

Which is the correct answer.

Solve all the problems with the Diesels overheating by removing them and replacing with Battery Rafts - although that's the easy bit as it may take a while to design the software!

I would have thought that fitting sufficient batteries with their charging electronics and fire safwety systems within an acceptable track loading profile would take longer than designing or adapting software to charge them en route.

 

[3973EXL]

Other 769 movements for Friday 17/12:

Unit swap between Reading & Eastleigh (949 > ZG / 938 > RG)
1x unit to move from Oxford to Long Marston (930 or 946 TBC)

Realtime Trains - FRGT 1133 Reading Traincare Depot to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg)
Realtime Trains - 503K 1351 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Oxford Down Carriage Sdg

Realtime Trains - FRGT 0902 Oxford Down Carriage Sdg to Long Marston Caped

STP Q Path has also been input. Not used

Realtime Trains - FRGT 1042 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot

 

[Class319&373]

Are there any 769 moves today, as they are all (even the ZZ moves) starting to show up as cancelled.

 

[DownFast]

Are there any 769 moves today, as they are all (even the ZZ moves) starting to show up as cancelled.

Cancelled today, no driver instructor available.

Edit: on the Gatwick runs at least, not sure about the moves to Eastleigh etc.

 

[Class319&373]

Cancelled today, no driver instructor available.

Edit: on the Gatwick runs at least, not sure about the moves to Eastleigh etc.

Thanks for the info, I'll probably not be able to make it to catch the Eastleigh moves unfortunately.

 

[fgwrich]

Thanks for the info, I'll probably not be able to make it to catch the Eastleigh moves unfortunately.

The Eastleigh moves should be running - the 142 parked in the way this morning has been moved to allow the 769 to depart.

 

[YSTrains]

Hi. Looks like the 769s have been delayed again. So I'm guessing they will enter service in May 2022. Also I would like to confirm where these units will be operating. Thanks.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Hi. Looks like the 769s have been delayed again. So I'm guessing they will enter service in May 2022. Also I would like to confirm where these units will be operating. Thanks.

Reading - Redhill & Gatwick Airport
Reading - Basingstoke
Twyford - Henley-on-Thames

 

[_toommm_]

Hi. Looks like the 769s have been delayed again. So I'm guessing they will enter service in May 2022. Also I would like to confirm where these units will be operating. Thanks.

I noticed on Twitter yesterday GWR saying they’ve been in public service since June - it did make me chuckle

 

[JonathanH]

Hi. Looks like the 769s have been delayed again. So I'm guessing they will enter service in May 2022. Also I would like to confirm where these units will be operating. Thanks.

It doesn't have to be a timetable change - the schedules already allow for them in timing terms and there are plenty of out and back workings from Reading Traincare Depot. However, cancelling training trips isn't a good sign.

 

[swt_passenger]

Hi. Looks like the 769s have been delayed again. So I'm guessing they will enter service in May 2022. Also I would like to confirm where these units will be operating. Thanks.

The last authoritative statement was North Downs, Basingstoke, Henley, and Bourne End in peaks only. I don’t think that’s changed at all?

 

[YSTrains]

Well that's just great. The great western network will be neglected even more. Crossrail delays, IET shortages and covid. What about all this environmental rhetoric?

 

[JonathanH]

Well that's just great. The great western network will be neglected even more. Crossrail delays, IET shortages and covid. What about all this environmental rhetoric?

In what way is it being neglected more? The 769s can't operate until a) they work and b) crew are trained.

 

[YSTrains]

Why did GWR say they will introduce them this year? The GWML is a very demanding network. There is so much more to say about fleet and route reorganisation. Sorry if I sound a bit condescending. I'm just a bit surprised.

 

[JonathanH]

Why did GWR say they will introduce them this year?

They said they would introduce them in February 2019 and September 2020 as well. There have been delays in getting them to work properly, not exactly in their hands.

 

[3973EXL]

Realtime Trains - FRGT 1133 Reading Traincare Depot to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg)
Realtime Trains - 503K 1351 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Oxford Down Carriage Sdg

Reading - Eastleigh dep 1334 121 late. Dep Basin 153 late, held outside waiting Eastleigh - Oxford running RT.

EH - Oxford stopped at Reading West routed via West Curve. Then rerouted to depot via the Reading station.

 

[Kez]

Reading - Redhill & Gatwick Airport
Reading - Basingstoke
Twyford - Henley-on-Thames

Does anyone know what makes Twyford-Henley preferable to Slough-Windsor ? Seems a bit arbitrary.

 

[AM9]

Does anyone know what makes Twyford-Henley preferable to Slough-Windsor ? Seems a bit arbitrary.

Will they fit in Windsor's platform?

 

[JonathanH]

Does anyone know what makes Twyford-Henley preferable to Slough-Windsor ? Seems a bit arbitrary.

It was pointed out in this thread some time ago that the unit 'earmarked' for Slough to Windsor was 'reallocated' to extra services between Reading and Basingstoke. The platform at Windsor is technically too short for a 769 but enabling work could have been done if needed.

 

[JN114]

Does anyone know what makes Twyford-Henley preferable to Slough-Windsor ? Seems a bit arbitrary.

Windsors are partly covered by Paddington drivers, whereas the intention had been only to train Reading drivers on 769s.

 

[Horizon22]

Well that's just great. The great western network will be neglected even more. Crossrail delays, IET shortages and covid. What about all this environmental rhetoric?

Neglected? The whole route has only just been electrified as far as Cardiff / Newbury! Yes it could have gone further but over the last 10 years much of the route has benefited from a multi-billion pound upgrade. "Covid" is not just unique to the GWML. Dec '21 timetable just started and GWR have actually brought back a higher % of the original Dec '19 service than many operators (train crew dependent of course).

You state your location is Hayes - you've got 7/8/9 car trains throughout the day instead of Turbos.

769s seem to be a bit of a curse at all operators.

 

[FGW_DID]

Just to confirm todays moves:

769949 RG > ZG
769925 ZG > RG

 

[Mollman]

Why did GWR say they will introduce them this year?

Northern and TfW also kept having to change their dates given for 769 introduction.

 

[Bob Price]

One of the TfW units is still not in service. If they can get enough cascades from the 197 introductions, it probably won't.

 

[DelW]

Well that's just great. The great western network will be neglected even more. Crossrail delays, IET shortages and covid. What about all this environmental rhetoric?

I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to get them introduced - they're older than the 165s they're replacing, and evidence from Northern and TfW doesn't bode well for their reliability.
Environmentally the benefits aren't that great - they're likely to turn the diesels off only between Reading and Wokingham, and between Reigate and Redhill or Gatwick. (Ash to Guildford is possible but uncertain afaik).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to get them introduced - they're older than the 165s they're replacing, and evidence from Northern and TfW doesn't bode well for their reliability.
Environmentally the benefits aren't that great - they're likely to turn the diesels off only between Reading and Wokingham, and between Reigate and Redhill or Gatwick. (Ash to Guildford is possible but uncertain afaik).

Surely Ash to Guildford is too short to be worth the effort?