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

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DelW

DelW

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PeterWeir said:
hello
Can someone explain what the 319s will be used for?
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In the first few posts on this thread, it was suggested that 319s would be used for staff training, before the first 769s were available. However that was over three years ago.
I don't think GWR have ever had any intention of running unconverted 319s, though there will be others on here with more definite knowledge. Their 769s are supposed to be replacing Turbos on the Thames Valley and North Downs routes, though whether it will ever actually happen remains to be seen.
 
FGW_DID

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The few 319s we had didn’t stay very long and all went off to Wolverton for conversion. All the 319s allocated for GWR 769s have now been converted and delivered to GWR.
 
FGW_DID

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Seeing as the few Class 319s have long gone from Reading and all those designated for conversion to the GWR 769 have now been converted and delivered to GWR, to save any confusion I’ve changed the title of the thread so it’s solely about the ongoing GWR Class 769 saga!
 
Tw99

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There are some unusual Maidenhead to Swindon and back runs scheduled today, e.g. this one.

Realtime Trains | 523Y 0751 Maidenhead to Swindon | 27/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 523Y 0751 departure from Maidenhead to Swindon on 27/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I was surprised to see a 769 go past…
 
FGW_DID

FGW_DID

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Tw99 said:
There are some unusual Maidenhead to Swindon and back runs scheduled today, e.g. this one.

Realtime Trains | 523Y 0751 Maidenhead to Swindon | 27/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 523Y 0751 departure from Maidenhead to Swindon on 27/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I was surprised to see a 769 go past…
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769943 out with the COLAS drivers. 5Q10* / 5Q11 / 5Q12 / 5Q13 / 5Q14 / 5Q15*. Its the standard mileage runs but just on the AC so no need to bother the North Downs. *Q10 & Q15 are the moves from / to Reading TCD.
 
XCTurbostar

XCTurbostar

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It appears that 769949 ran two Reading TCD to Reading TCD movements via Gatwick Airport today. I'm surprised GWR haven't given up with the 769s yet..
 
J

JonathanH

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XCTurbostar said:
I'm surprised GWR haven't given up with the 769s yet..
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It isn't exactly GWR's decision to make. The DfT are likely to be decision makers on whether to give up with 769s, and that either needs service cuts or alternative stock to be sourced for west services.
 
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Bikeman78

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JonathanH said:
It isn't exactly GWR's decision to make. The DfT are likely to be decision makers on whether to give up with 769s, and that either needs service cuts or alternative stock to be sourced for west services.
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Or simply keep the HSTs. That may well be cheaper than wasting any more time or money on the 769s.
 
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JN114

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Bikeman78 said:
Or simply keep the HSTs. That may well be cheaper than wasting any more time or money on the 769s.
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I think it’s more future west enhancements currently rely on Turbos being released from the Thames Valley, than Turbos seeing off the HSTs; but the two are related.

Keeping the HSTs and staving off the Turbo cascade doesn’t fix that - the West ultimately needs a larger fleet on the whole to achieve its ambitions.

A (much) enlarged 158 fleet may trigger enough of an internal cascade of 158s relegating Turbos off Portsmouth duties in equivalent 4/5/6 car formations, Turbos released then doing Bristol/Exeter Metro enhancements freeing up 150s for Cornish branch line enhancements - but those 158s would need to come from somewhere and would likely come at a £££££ price tag as they’re in demand from several operators. Thames Valley could then soldier on for a few years more with Turbos until minds are made up on Oxford/Basing/Redhill/Branches electrification and all of that would dispense with the need for 769s. It’s a fair wedge of cash into the bin if the 769s are abandoned though with an expensive replacement and would only be done if there was definitely something else available.

I suspect the saga will drag on but the internal dissenting voices are coming in unison from many sides now.
 
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Bikeman78

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JN114 said:
I think it’s more future west enhancements currently rely on Turbos being released from the Thames Valley, than Turbos seeing off the HSTs; but the two are related.

Keeping the HSTs and staving off the Turbo cascade doesn’t fix that - the West ultimately needs a larger fleet on the whole to achieve its ambitions.

A (much) enlarged 158 fleet may trigger enough of an internal cascade of 158s relegating Turbos off Portsmouth duties in equivalent 4/5/6 car formations, Turbos released then doing Bristol/Exeter Metro enhancements freeing up 150s for Cornish branch line enhancements - but those 158s would need to come from somewhere and would likely come at a £££££ price tag as they’re in demand from several operators. Thames Valley could then soldier on for a few years more with Turbos until minds are made up on Oxford/Basing/Redhill/Branches electrification and all of that would dispense with the need for 769s. It’s a fair wedge of cash into the bin if the 769s are abandoned though with an expensive replacement and would only be done if there was definitely something else available.

I suspect the saga will drag on but the internal dissenting voices are coming in unison from many sides now.
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Thanks for your detailed reply. The 442s were binned after £45 million was wasted on them so it wouldn't be a first. Given the problems with the other 769 fleets, I cannot see that putting them on the Gatwick line will be anything other than a PR disaster. TfW has diverted the 231s off the main line to the Rhymney line to bin off the 769s ASAP.

How soon are the extra units required in the west for enhancements? TfW will have 150/158/175s coming off lease in the next 12 months or so.
 
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Nicholas Lewis

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Bikeman78 said:
How soon are the extra units required in the west for enhancements? TfW will have 150/158/175s coming off lease in the next 12 months or so.
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Thats how GWR will solve its capacity problems imo not with the 769's unless ASLEF are going to agree to operate them. Given the IR issues that look inevitable across the industry this year I doubt they will be in collaborative mood for a while yet.
 
Bob Price

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To underline the point made about the TfW 769's there is a gradient out if Penarth which the 769's struggle to get up and have been know to stall on. A 231 flew up there. Getting them up the Rhymney will get rid of the 769's free up some 150/2's and 153's.
 
7

73128

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JN114 said:
I think it’s more future west enhancements currently rely on Turbos being released from the Thames Valley, than Turbos seeing off the HSTs; but the two are related.

Keeping the HSTs and staving off the Turbo cascade doesn’t fix that - the West ultimately needs a larger fleet on the whole to achieve its ambitions.

A (much) enlarged 158 fleet may trigger enough of an internal cascade of 158s relegating Turbos off Portsmouth duties in equivalent 4/5/6 car formations, Turbos released then doing Bristol/Exeter Metro enhancements freeing up 150s for Cornish branch line enhancements - but those 158s would need to come from somewhere and would likely come at a £££££ price tag as they’re in demand from several operators. Thames Valley could then soldier on for a few years more with Turbos until minds are made up on Oxford/Basing/Redhill/Branches electrification and all of that would dispense with the need for 769s. It’s a fair wedge of cash into the bin if the 769s are abandoned though with an expensive replacement and would only be done if there was definitely something else available.

I suspect the saga will drag on but the internal dissenting voices are coming in unison from many sides now.
Click to expand...
Basingstoke and the branches are flatter and probably more suitable shorter term. And if wired, along with Didcot to Oxford, they could spend most of their lives on ac electric until more class 387sbeccome available. Whilst conductor rails along the Wokingham to Reigate stretch should sort that too!!
 
XCTurbostar

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Appears to be another 769 out today

3O10 0915 Reading Traincare Depot to Gatwick Airport

Realtime Trains | 3O10 0915 Reading Traincare Depot to Gatwick Airport | 06/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 3O10 0915 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Gatwick Airport on 06/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

3V71 1359 Gatwick Airport to Reading Traincare Depot

Realtime Trains | 3V71 1413 Redhill to Reading Traincare Depot | 06/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 3V71 1413 departure from Redhill to Reading Traincare Depot on 06/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This is a GWR operated run as well.
 
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