It appears a 769 run along the North Downs was aborted this morning:-
Realtime Trains | 3O10 0915 Reading Traincare Depot to Reading | 30/05/2022
Real-time train running information for 3O10 0915 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Reading on 30/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Engine management system problems.
It's a GWR manager instructing other GWR managers. All the Reading - Redhill/Gatwick runs are crewed by GWR at present.
thanks for clarity and good hear that GWR are moving forward might get them for Dec22 TT change yet.
Nothing yet. The plan is to get 769s on Gatwicks first, then Basingstoke, then the Thames branches, so a little way off yet.
On the way to Long Marston for temporary storage.
It's still possible!
I’m surprised in a way that Basingstoke isn’t first, purely as that could / would keep them to 1, if not 2, power modes all day saving any technical issues with the changeovers.
Presumably critically dependent on how long the industrial action extends into the summer and autumn, the extent to which that prevents crew training, and more importantly whether the union accepts them.
The implications for other traffic are greater if a failure causes disruption on the Reading to Basingstoke route than on the North Downs Line. Northbound between Shalford and Guildford is about the only place a failure would cause significant inconvenience to other operators. Clearly there are other places where the tracks are shared but by fairly inconsequential services in the grand scheme of things.
I'm not entirely up to speed with the 769s so forgive me if this has been covered already, but will the electric capabilities of these trains allow for through trains from the Thames branches into Reading/London. Obviously at the moment, it's less than desirable to run diesels under the wires.
No.
Thanks
Does anyone know which units are currently stored and which ones are at Reading?
See this post. Those 6 are at either Oxford or Reading, with the rest either at or on the way to Long Marston.
There are no 769 runs next week, due to the industrial action.
Never say never. Projects at GWR have a habit of creeping beyond their original scope.
While I can see what you are saying, with the Elizabeth Line service filling the relief line in a way never seen before and trains with better acceleration on the main line, there really isn't a sensible scenario in which through trains from Paddington to Bourne End or Henley would return, and certainly not with 769s.
769923 EH
they haven't been running down to Gatwick on the recent training runs
I hate to disappoint you but those power changeover signs aren't new. Nothing appears to have changed about the expectation of them running between Redhill and Reading.
Ah right.. Perhaps I never noticed them, I'm sure there were different ones a week ago. Might delete then haha feel a bit silly now.
No need to feel silly; whether it’s recent or not it’s still interesting to see the project in progress
I don't think progress could be frustrated much more than has already been the case! If they come, great, but I have long since given up hope.
Having had the opportunity for a quick peer through the windows they look reasonably ok internally. The trips last week all ran to time and it feels like FGW haven't given up yet.
