GWR Class 165/166 Turbo Diagrams

[JN114]

It’s an emergency timetable on the Bedwyn route related to the small pandemic we have going on out there.

It see Reading to Newbury shuttles and Paddington to Bedwyns merged into a Reading to Bedwyn shuttle, as the service doesn’t reach London where the 80x are based using Reading based turbos is more logical.

Also means they don’t have to run with a guard which reduces staffing demand at a time where rail companies are suffering significantly higher sickness rates

 

[ValleyLines142]

It was 166211 and it was sent back this morning on 2U06 from Exeter St Davids to Cardiff Central.

The declassified section of 166211 was closed off last week. Which is a shame seeing as the declassified First Class seating is the most comfortable seating on the entire train.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Also means they don’t have to run with a guard which reduces staffing demand at a time where rail companies are suffering significantly higher sickness rates

The 80x to Bedwyn run DOO anyway so no change to staffing levels.

 

[cactustwirly]

The 80x to Bedwyn run DOO anyway so no change to staffing levels.

I thought they couldn't because the cameras don't work correctly?

 

[KT530]

The 80x to Bedwyn run DOO anyway so no change to staffing levels.

Class 80x operate with a Guard between Reading and Bedwyn, as they have since introduction on this route.

This is a temporary arrangement due to no union agreement yet to use the cameras in DOO use.

 

[JN114]

The 80x to Bedwyn run DOO anyway so no change to staffing levels.

I’m afraid you’re incorrect there. It was the intention, but not yet a reality.

 

[timatheronwood]

I’m afraid you’re incorrect there. It was the intention, but not yet a reality.

Thank you all for the replies. I now understand the combination of factors.

 

[JonathanH]

It’s an emergency timetable on the Bedwyn route related to the small pandemic we have going on out there.

It see Reading to Newbury shuttles and Paddington to Bedwyns merged into a Reading to Bedwyn shuttle, as the service doesn’t reach London where the 80x are based using Reading based turbos is more logical.

Is this partly to blame for the reduced service on the North Downs Line (along obviously with demand)?

 

[JN114]

Is this partly to blame for the reduced service on the North Downs Line (along obviously with demand)?

Same reasoning yes - reduced demand + expected reduced staffing levels - N Downs is particularly susceptible as it’s a relatively limited pool of drivers that work the services

 

[infobleep]

Same reasoning yes - reduced demand + expected reduced staffing levels - N Downs is particularly susceptible as it’s a relatively limited pool of drivers that work the services

Is the reduced staff levels dud to staff being off work due COVID-19? Understandable if so. Some TOCs seem to be hit worse by this than others.

 

[JN114]

Is the reduced staff levels dud to staff being off work due COVID-19? Understandable if so. Some TOCs seem to be hit worse by this than others.

Due to expected levels of sickness - with 20/20 hindsight staff availability has been higher than projected, but a consistent reliable timetable was the overarching theme drawn from the Emergency Measures Agreements.

 

[infobleep]

Due to expected levels of sickness - with 20/20 hindsight staff availability has been higher than projected, but a consistent reliable timetable was the overarching theme drawn from the Emergency Measures Agreements.

Thanks. That's interesting. I guess it means GTR had a lower expected level of sickness and/or a higher ability to work with similar expected levels of sickness, seeing as they have been running a Saturday service.

Hopefully by mid July, when they hope to further increase the timetable, they will be able to run a consistent reliable timetable to Gatwick Airport.

I see that there are two Sunday evening turbo services to Gatwick Airport and one returning to Reading but services like the Monday to Friday 9:03 Reading to Redhill are terminating at Redhill at 10:08 and not departing again to Reading until 10:44, rather than running to Gatwick Airport in between.

 

[trolleyman]

Also, the trains are much much quieter than before COVID so it’s not cost effective to run a full service either.
On a train that’s normally full and standing yesterday my guard said we had 11 people on.
When you look at fuel costs and add in staff wages your just burning money

 

[spark001uk]

...When you look at fuel costs and add in staff wages your just burning money

Indeed. Well, technically the government is, at the moment.

 

[Apedlar12]

From what I saw on WNXX a couple of weeks ago, from today one of the BNP <> SJP diagrams is now booked for a 166 however that didn't happen today as 143620 + 150246 operated the 166 booked diagram instead...

The diagrams for the weekend are as follows:

Sat:
3B72 (SPM > EXD)
2B72 (EXD > BNP)
2J82 (BNP > SJP)
2B75 (SJP > BNP)
2J85 (BNP > SJP)
2B78 (SJP > BNP)
2J88 (BNP > SJP)
2B81 (SJP > BNP)
2J91 (BNP > SJP)
2B84 (SJP > BNP)
2E94 (BNP > EXD)

Sun:
5B73 (EXD > SJP)
2B73 (SJP > BNP)
2J22 (BNP > SJP)
2B76 (SJP > BNP)
2J29 (BNP > SJP)
2B79 (SJP > BNP)
2J35 (BNP > SJP)
2B82 (SJP > BNP)
2E41 (BNP > EXD)
3M75 (EXD > TAU)
2M75 (TAU > BRI)
5M75 (BRI > SPM)

 

[geoffk]

I thought the 166s might be out of gauge on former LSWR lines ( except for Cowley Bridge - Crediton, which was originally broad gauge, of course!)

 

[Apedlar12]

I thought the 166s might be out of gauge on former LSWR lines ( except for Cowley Bridge - Crediton, which was originally broad gauge, of course!)

They did a test run in June 2019 overnight and I heard that they were cleared for Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton and Plymouth several months after the tests were done and since then there has been one occasion where a 166 has gone down to Plymouth in service covering to a Castle Set...

 

[Jim]

From what I saw on WNXX a couple of weeks ago, from today one of the BNP <> SJP diagrams is now booked for a 166 however that didn't happen today as 143620 + 150246 operated the 166 booked diagram instead...

The diagrams for the weekend are as follows:


Sun:
5B73 (EXD > SJP)
2B73 (SJP > BNP)
2J22 (BNP > SJP)
2B76 (SJP > BNP)
2J29 (BNP > SJP)
2B79 (SJP > BNP)
2J35 (BNP > SJP)
2B82 (SJP > BNP)
2E41 (BNP > EXD)
3M75 (EXD > TAU)
2M75 (TAU > BRI)
5M75 (BRI > SPM)

246+620 again today

 

[pompeyfan]

Bare with me a second, I’m going to play trains for the sake of playing trains, but how easy (read financially viable) would it be to take some centre cars out and insert them into other 3 car sets making a small subfleet of 4 car unit? Would it just be the case of unscrewing the bar coupling and marshalling in the other coach? The

 

[Jim]

They did a test run in June 2019 overnight and I heard that they were cleared for Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton and Plymouth several months after the tests were done and since then there has been one occasion where a 166 has gone down to Plymouth in service covering to a Castle Set...

Correct regarding the overnight runs, all routes were done.
That's total rubbish about it covering a Castle, it was 16th Jan 2020, 166219 covering a Class 802 on 2P51 0725 Exeter to Plymouth

 

[cactustwirly]

Bare with me a second, I’m going to play trains for the sake of playing trains, but how easy (read financially viable) would it be to take some centre cars out and insert them into other 3 car sets making a small subfleet of 4 car unit? Would it just be the case of unscrewing the bar coupling and marshalling in the other coach? The

I don't see the point, you'd just have an inflexible mess of 2 and 4 car units.

 

[Clarence Yard]

They did a test run in June 2019 overnight and I heard that they were cleared for Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton and Plymouth several months after the tests were done and since then there has been one occasion where a 166 has gone down to Plymouth in service covering to a Castle Set...

They were actually route cleared by NR quite a time before the GWR test runs. Formal route clearance by NR does not involve physical test runs.

The TOC, however, does need to do physical test runs to satisfy itself that (for example) the stop boards, lighting and stepping distances are all correct for safe operation.

 

[JN114]

Bare with me a second, I’m going to play trains for the sake of playing trains, but how easy (read financially viable) would it be to take some centre cars out and insert them into other 3 car sets making a small subfleet of 4 car unit? Would it just be the case of unscrewing the bar coupling and marshalling in the other coach? The

In practice, it’s not difficult. Turbos are last of the breed of “dumb” DMUs - it doesn’t care what length it is. As to viability I’m less convinced there’s any point to it. There’s not enough work for 4 car sets outside the work that isn’t already 5 car (2+3) to justify the loss of the 3 cars.

 

[Clarence Yard]

The issue is you would lose 3 car units and create more 2 car units, which is not what you want to do. The real problem is that there are not enough intermediate cars in the total fleet, a problem that will only be resolved if any 465 trailers become available.

 

[pompeyfan]

The issue is you would lose 3 car units and create more 2 car units, which is not what you want to do. The real problem is that there are not enough intermediate cars in the total fleet, a problem that will only be resolved if any 465 trailers become available.

wouldn’t they be underpowered though if they took 465 trailers? We’re well into the world of fantasy

 

[JonathanH]

wouldn’t they be underpowered though if they took 465 trailers? We’re well into the world of fantasy

Any extension of the units would be associated with a repowering of the units although that needs to be proved first. It is a credible proposal as indicated by 'Clarence Yard' in previous postings eg this one.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/could-gwr-cascade-result-in-displaced-158s-freeing-up-165-166s-to-other-routes.207960/#post-4724219

 

[Apedlar12]

Correct regarding the overnight runs, all routes were done.
That's total rubbish about it covering a Castle, it was 16th Jan 2020, 166219 covering a Class 802 on 2P51 0725 Exeter to Plymouth

Sorry about that, it was quite a while ago and most of the Bristol to Plymouth/Penzance services are operated by castle sets so assumed it was one of them but yes it makes sense now, thanks for the clarification on that one

Also does anyone know if the plan is still to have two 16x diagrams on EXM <> PGN from December/January time as from what I last heard that was the plan but due to the 769s being delayed I wasn't sure if that has affected this??

 

[cactustwirly]

Also does anyone know if the plan is still to have two 16x diagrams on EXM <> PGN from December/January time as from what I last heard that was the plan but due to the 769s being delayed I wasn't sure if that has affected this??

Depends if there are enough turbos in the West.
There are no spare turbos in the east until the 769s are in service.

 

[Apedlar12]

Depends if there are enough turbos in the West.
There are no spare turbos in the east until the 769s are in service.

Thanks, I did think that was the plan that no more 16x could move West until the 769s begin operation.

 

[Jim]

Sorry about that, it was quite a while ago and most of the Bristol to Plymouth/Penzance services are operated by castle sets so assumed it was one of them but yes it makes sense now, thanks for the clarification on that one

Also does anyone know if the plan is still to have two 16x diagrams on EXM <> PGN from December/January time as from what I last heard that was the plan but due to the 769s being delayed I wasn't sure if that has affected this??

It'll certainly be interesting to see if all this causes a 143 extension again