Restarted on Monday. Should be charging both ends of the train on the charging rails at West Ealing for the first time today. Big moment in the project. Not that there'll be much to see or hear for it, apart from a flashing white light on the bodyside, and lots of Engineers looking nervous!Does anyone (maybe @Woods) know what the schedule is for the test runs to start, once the graffiti has been removed?
Thank you. Yes, what you definitely don't want is a big flash and a bang the first time the recharging is started (not least because it'll probably be all over YouTube and X within the hour!)Restarted on Monday. Should be charging both ends of the train on the charging rails at West Ealing for the first time today. Big moment in the project. Not that there'll be much to see or hear for it, apart from a flashing white light on the bodyside, and lots of Engineers looking nervous!
Yep that's the one! We don't want that, definitely....Thank you. Yes, what you definitely don't want is a big flash and a bang the first time the recharging is started (not least because it'll probably be all over YouTube and X within the hour!)
How did it go?Restarted on Monday. Should be charging both ends of the train on the charging rails at West Ealing for the first time today. Big moment in the project. Not that there'll be much to see or hear for it, apart from a flashing white light on the bodyside, and lots of Engineers looking nervous!
Very good thanks! There will be an announcement soon.How did it go?
Yep Monday: 5Q41, 5Q42, 5Q43, 5Q44, 5Q45, 5Q46, 5Q47, 5Q48, 5Q49, 5Q50, 5Q51, 5Q52, 5Q53, 5Q54.Can anyone tell me if 230001 will likely be working on Monday please and if so the timings or if not where will it be stabled?
That’s great. I will give it a go on MondayVery good thanks! There will be an announcement soon.
Yep Monday: 5Q41, 5Q42, 5Q43, 5Q44, 5Q45, 5Q46, 5Q47, 5Q48, 5Q49, 5Q50, 5Q51, 5Q52, 5Q53, 5Q54.
To be clear the train is not running in passenger service, you will not be able to board.That’s great. I will give it a go on Monday
Great photos and videos, particularly love the Central Line train running over the 230!Some photos, not mine, on Flickr:
That's right, only really an issue in this particular location (at West Ealing). There is a short-term operating workaround in place at the moment, but it was deemed to be better to move the charging rails as a long-term fix. In essence the minimum necessary gap between the two trains when they're both in the platform hadn't quite been factored into the equation when the position of the charge rails was originally determined! The train at the 'country' end also needs to be far enough back for the driver to see the platform-mounted lookback / despatch screens (or whatever their proper name is). Moving the charge rails will only take a day but getting the permissions and the possession takes a little longer.I guess the permissive working point is only relevant for the trial, where the unit needs to be squeezed up tight to the end of the line. For regular installations there won’t typically be an issue?
Yes; just like an electric train in fact.It sounds good
Seems like a press launch today, with a tweet from IanVisits at the launch, and this from GWR:-
POWER UP! Our industry-leading fast-charge battery train trial will officially start on Monday! The technology has been rigorously developed by specialist engineers leading the way in #GWRinnovation
Does that mean that the trains will now enter passenger service? Realtime Trains is not showing any ECS moves at Greenford on Monday.
No. Sadly there could be some considerable delay before driver training starts (for operational / political reasons), let alone passenger service. The unit is going back to Reading next week for a few weeks, to have some finishing work done on the interior.Does that mean that the trains will now enter passenger service? Realtime Trains is not showing any ECS moves at Greenford on Monday.
See post #403
No. Sadly there could be some considerable delay before driver training starts (for operational / political reasons), let alone passenger service. The unit is going back to Reading next week for a few weeks, to have some finishing work done on the interior.
I hope we’re not going to see months of delay whilst negotiations with ASLEF go on about the terms offered to drive them or the ergonomic qualities of the cab.No. Sadly there could be some considerable delay before driver training starts (for operational / political reasons)
I can definitely undertand the confusion! It all depends on the definition of 'trial start' (don't go there, it's a DfT thing), but you're quite right, physically the trials started two weeks ago.....And yes that's right, the train is now disappearing back to Reading whilst the charge rails are moved. It all makes sense to somebody!The message on twitter says that the trials will start on Monday, but they were running last week and this week! So what trials, and which Monday?! Also, it's reported on here that it's going back to Reading for finishing work while the conductor rails are moved along a bit, so it won't be running further trials for the next few weeks.
So am I the only one that's confused by the twitter announcement?!
Yes, we are......I hope we’re not going to see months of delay whilst negotiations with ASLEF go on about the terms offered to drive them or the ergonomic qualities of the cab.
There's another level of approvals to get through before passenger service is allowed.Thanks! I was under the impression that passenger service could begin while they iron out the problems with the position of the third rail and train the drivers.
That's all right then!It all makes sense to somebody!
Aargh!!!Yes, we are......
I'm not so sure about that. Discussions have begun regarding training duration etc. with no major disagreements so far, and the feedback from driver reps who have been on the unit has generally been quite positive. It will take a little time to get everything in place, but that's always the case with any new traction and the associated driver training, but that doesn't necessarily mean that there are major issues blocking the start of training. Having said that, driver training on 230s has to be seen in the context of the wider training programme, which includes a huge amount of route briefing/training relating to HS2.Yes, we are......
The ridiculous Sagas of the class 319-769, class 701s et al are costing the railways £millions, at taxpayers expense in a cost of living crisis.I hope we’re not going to see months of delay whilst negotiations with ASLEF go on about the terms offered to drive them or the ergonomic qualities of the cab.