GwR HSTs to be stood down

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’m afraid it’s a bit difficult to provide the actual source often as lease hand-back paperwork is confidential.

Simply saying they’ve seen such a document is a suitable source in itself. Heck, even “Internal staff briefing/document” is enough

 

[43096]

Simply saying they’ve seen such a document is a suitable source in itself. Heck, even “Internal staff briefing/document” is enough

It's not that simple. Off leasing can take place some time after a vehicle has been stopped - for example 43041/171 were stopped last year, but were not formally off leased until Spring this year.

Staff briefings tend to be more generic about what is happening with fleets, rather than be issued every time a vehicle is stopped for handback. You might be lucky that someone has seen a depot stoplist or seen "on the system" that a vehicle is stopped for de-branding and/or handback repairs. But those with that access are unlikely to post it on here.

In short, the best you can do really is to develop a "BS detector" to see who is reliable and who isn't with the gen.

 

[Techniquest]

I can confirm TT's observation of the Castle set out today, I saw its late running inward working at Newport To be honest, I'd forgot they were no longer due out on Sundays, so now I'm even happier I saw it Let's not go there on the amount of cancellations today though!

 

[louis97]

I can confirm TT's observation of the Castle set out today, I saw its late running inward working at Newport To be honest, I'd forgot they were no longer due out on Sundays, so now I'm even happier I saw it Let's not go there on the amount of cancellations today though!

There was booked Castle work today, booked work on a Sunday won't be a regular thing.

 

[Techniquest]

Fair enough, I'm not often on GWR on Sundays so it's not a concern for me

 

[ST156]

Laira to Minehead path in for today, allocated as 43042 and 43162, with set GW03.

Realtime Trains | 5Z12 0958 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Minehead West Som Rwy | 11/09/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Z12 0958 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Minehead West Som Rwy on 11/09/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[irp]

I can confirm TT's observation of the Castle set out today, I saw its late running inward working at Newport To be honest, I'd forgot they were no longer due out on Sundays, so now I'm even happier I saw it Let's not go there on the amount of cancellations today though!

Can confirm 43154 and 43092 were working 2U14 on Sunday, I was onboard coach D. Managed to get pics of both when I left the service at Bristol Temple Meads. I got lucky at Exeter St Davids as it was running ~6 mins late, which meant I could pick up that Class 255 rather than a 80x/22[01]

Shame that will probably be one of, if not, the last mainline working I'll catch

 

[150249]

GWR Power Cars (as of 7th September)

43004
43005
43009
43010
43016
43022 (exported to Mexico)
43027
43029
43040
43041
43042
43088
43092
43093
43094
43097
43098
43122
43153
43154
43155
43156
43158 (exported to Mexico)
43160
43162
43170 (exported to Mexico)
43171
43172
43186
43187
43188
43189
43192
43194
43198

Bold indicates that the power car is still in service

Please tell me about any mistakes I have made

I've amended the list but surely some of the ones I have in bold aren't in service anymore.

 

[Trainguy34]

Laira to Minehead path in for today, allocated as 43042 and 43162, with set GW03.

Realtime Trains | 5Z12 0958 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Minehead West Som Rwy | 11/09/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Z12 0958 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Minehead West Som Rwy on 11/09/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Does anyone know how long they'll be there for?

 

[The_Train]

Does anyone know how long they'll be there for?

Presumably until GWR need them again? Seems a bit of a backwards way of doing things but I guess they want to run the leased sets until their mileage runs out and save their own for when they have all gone

 

[Trainguy34]

Presumably until GWR need them again? Seems a bit of a backwards way of doing things but I guess they want to run the leased sets until their mileage runs out and save their own for when they have all gone

Is it likely they'll be fully gone before August 24?

 

[The_Train]

Is it likely they'll be fully gone before August 24?

I'll be honest, I have no idea what the plan is for next year apart from the fact a few sets are going to enjoy a stay of execution beyond the originally planned end this year. I would guess the situation will be reviewed around timetable changes but I am no expert on this subject

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Is it likely they'll be fully gone before August 24?

They're meant to be staying until Dec 24.

 

[Trainguy34]

They're meant to be staying until Dec 24.

Perfect, I may have to change at Bristol on my way from Paddington to Taunton so I can get on one!

 

[43096]

Presumably until GWR need them again? Seems a bit of a backwards way of doing things but I guess they want to run the leased sets until their mileage runs out and save their own for when they have all gone

43162 isn’t far off needing a G exam, so not likely to return to service, even though it is a franchise asset.

 

[aem7ac]

Not sure if this was mentioned here (did a quick skim but didn't see it) but I believe an agreement was made with WSR that in exchange for storing the castle sets, one would run on the heritage railway on the 23rd and 24th of this month

 

[Anonymous10]

Not sure if this was mentioned here (did a quick skim but didn't see it) but I believe an agreement was made with WSR that in exchange for storing the castle sets, one would run on the heritage railway on the 23rd and 24th of this month

I'm surprised they don't agree to run them every few weeks. Presumably the type of tourist wouldn't make too much of a mess and would help keep everything functional.

 

[aem7ac]

I have the full info here, extracted from the HST Facebook group:
WSR press release (extract)

“In return for storing these two trains, Great Western have agreed that the WSR will be able to run one of the trains on the 23rd and 24th September, in normal WSR passenger service. On both days the train will make two return runs from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. The “yellow” time table will be in operation, which means that the HST will leave Minehead at 1000 and 1430, and Bishops Lydeard at 1230 and 1635. Passengers will therefore be able to undertake a return run in the train starting from either end of the line. Alternatively, it will be possible to travel one way on the HST and the other on a regular steam hauled train. Normal fares will apply”.

 

[Jrocks]

Perfect, I may have to change at Bristol on my way from Paddington to Taunton so I can get on one!

Just note, there is no booked work past Plymouth (apart from one Exeter terminator) from December this year, all diagrams are kept captive to Cornwall.

 

[Anonymous10]

Just note, there is no booked work past Plymouth (apart from one Exeter terminator) from December this year, all diagrams are kept captive to Cornwall.

So one presumes that the usual 158s on that diagram will be used elsewhere?.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

So one presumes that the usual 158s on that diagram will be used elsewhere?.

The 158 diagram that starts with the 06.25 EXD - PNZ and ends with the 21.00 PNZ - EXD is unchanged.

The Exeter terminator planned to be HST post December timetable change is the 18.15 PNZ - EXD (currently an IET).

 

[irish_rail]

Just note, there is no booked work past Plymouth (apart from one Exeter terminator) from December this year, all diagrams are kept captive to Cornwall.

If correct, I wander which depots will lose the work on them . Presume everywhere east of Exeter?

 

[Anonymous10]

Id go with all north of Exeter. But I'd say it'll be penance Plymouth and probably Exeter.

 

[150249]

43040 and 43172 went up together to St Phillips Marsh today.

Edit: Good day for moves.
43094 and 43122 went up for storage at Bishops Lydeard

 

[irish_rail]

Been confirmed that the Castles are due to run until May 2025 (though that date may yet change again). They will only run Plymouth to Penzance and only traincrew depots working them will be Penzance Par and Plymouth. Or that's the plan for now anyway!!!......

 

[The_Train]

Been confirmed that the Castles are due to run until May 2025 (though that date may yet change again). They will only run Plymouth to Penzance and only traincrew depots working them will be Penzance Par and Plymouth. Or that's the plan for now anyway!!!......

Better than nothing still gives me a reason to head down there for another 18 months or so - do we know roughly how many diagrams are planned?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Been confirmed that the Castles are due to run until May 2025 (though that date may yet change again). They will only run Plymouth to Penzance and only traincrew depots working them will be Penzance Par and Plymouth. Or that's the plan for now anyway!!!......

There’s also an evening working to Exeter planned - 18.15 PNZ - EXD and ECS back to Laira presumably worked by a Plymouth crew.

Better than nothing still gives me a reason to head down there for another 18 months or so - do we know roughly how many diagrams are planned?

It’s 3 diagrams

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Been confirmed that the Castles are due to run until May 2025 (though that date may yet change again). They will only run Plymouth to Penzance and only traincrew depots working them will be Penzance Par and Plymouth. Or that's the plan for now anyway!!!......

Will they train new drivers on HSTs do you think then as it seems to have extended?

 

[The_Train]

It’s 3 diagrams

Thank you

 

[Pete_uk]

A real retirement in the country side