co-tr-paul
Member
Please remember, these sets are replacing UNITS and not an alternative for mainline express services..... !
And exactly how many tables does a 150/1 have ?
Not enough!
2, one in each cab
Could somebody translate what GTi is please, as it is an acronym and I believe that acronyms are not meant to be used without first explaining what they mean?
Personally I find the term inappropriate. Is it actually GWR's intention to significantly accelerate the trains concerned? Presumably they could derate the engines to save on fuel consumption.
I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it..
So the same sh*tty cram them in, ruin the Mark 3 layout as now? Not really what is wanted for the market they will be serving.
Ok there will probably be a thousand good reasons why but have they ever looked at putting an extra, shortened & without cab HST power car on a set to improve acceleration. Similar to the common practice in the States of A & B units on early generation diesels. Or thinking about it like on the Long Thin Drag Hastings Diesel railtour
But for something destined primarily for commuter use enough. More tables than a 150/1, only 2 less tables than a 153. The main route - Cardiff / Taunton hardly dictates the need for plenty of tables vs airline seating, and to be honest after spending just over a week down in Cornwall last week and using the HSTs a fair bit, the present layout works out just fine. And when there was a group of 3 or more, they were only doing fairly short hops - St Erth to Truro for example. Yes it's half an hour, but hardly in my opinion enough to result in the HST requiring more tables.
I think this is something we're going to have to agree to disagree on, and I for one am looking forward to the HST GTI.
Quick question aimed more at Paul, with these HST GTIs coming - will they be maintained at Laira or Long Rock?
Could somebody translate what GTi is please, as it is an acronym and I believe that acronyms are not meant to be used without first explaining what they mean?
Maintained at Laira and the Marsh apparently. 6 sets a night to Laira, 3 to the Marsh and 2 to Long Rock.
They were known as challenger sets IIRC
4, if you count either side of the gangway as two separate tables.
What gangway? There isn't one on a 150/1...
Perhaps I'm thinking of the VXC 158s. I'm sure the GTi name was being thrown around back then to refer to shortened HST services.
GTi is from the motoring term used on the VW Golf. You have a normal Golf and the faster, sportier Golf GTi. The 2+4 and 2+5 HSTs will just be faster HSTs as less weight to lug around. I believe GTi actually stands for Grand Tourer injection. It's just a nickname the short sets have been given.
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Perhaps I'm thinking of the VXC 158s. I'm sure the GTi name was being thrown around back then to refer to shortened HST services.
Weren't the HSTs fuel injected from the beginning?
I think the shortest HSTs were two coach sets substituting for 158s. They were known as 'Hornbys.'
Much as 158s are OK, I can see this being a very popular move with passengers.
So am I.I for one am looking forward to the HST GTI.
Quick question aimed more at Paul, with these HST GTIs coming - will they be maintained at Laira or Long Rock?
It's worth remembering that the VXC "Challenger" idea was never taken forward- it was a proposal to shorten sets to 2+5 (as opposed the then ICXC norm of 2+7). The plan was to also uprate the PCs allowing them to get close or equal to Voyager performance. There was even a rumour at the time that the "Challenger" sets would be reclassified as class 255 DEMUs, similar to how HST sets were classified from new.
It's worth remembering that the VXC "Challenger" idea was never taken forward- it was a proposal to shorten sets to 2+5 (as opposed the then ICXC norm of 2+7). The plan was to also uprate the PCs allowing them to get close or equal to Voyager performance. There was even a rumour at the time that the "Challenger" sets would be reclassified as class 255 DEMUs, similar to how HST sets were classified from new.
The shortened sets that did run were, as mentioned above, a temporary fix to a shortage of 158s which were normally used on Manchester to Scotland services.
IIRC the 2+2 sets were unable to run at 125mph due to a lack of brake force, though as they were standing in for 158s they weren't required to do greater than 90mph anyway- not to mention the lack of any 125mph track between Manchester and Scotland back then. Even what there is now is EPS only in any case.
Not sure what the plans were to upgrade the power cars were (suspect it was similar to the Project Rio mods), but a 2+5 HST is comparable to a 22x without any upgrading.
And exactly how many tables does a 150/1 have ?
We're talking the West Country here. Not sure of the current situation but a decade or so back the local 150 fleet was refurbished with quite nice interiors including 2+2 seating and several tables.
We're talking the West Country here. Not sure of the current situation but a decade or so back the local 150 fleet was refurbished with quite nice interiors including 2+2 seating and several tables.
It's worth remembering that the VXC "Challenger" idea was never taken forward- it was a proposal to shorten sets to 2+5 (as opposed the then ICXC norm of 2+7). The plan was to also uprate the PCs allowing them to get close or equal to Voyager performance. There was even a rumour at the time that the "Challenger" sets would be reclassified as class 255 DEMUs, similar to how HST sets were classified from new.
The shortened sets that did run were, as mentioned above, a temporary fix to a shortage of 158s which were normally used on Manchester to Scotland services.
IIRC the 2+2 sets were unable to run at 125mph due to a lack of brake force, though as they were standing in for 158s they weren't required to do greater than 90mph anyway- not to mention the lack of any 125mph track between Manchester and Scotland back then. Even what there is now is EPS only in any case.
Worth noting that 5 class 150 units that currently have 3 +2 seats will be retained in the West fleet. 150001, 150002, 150202, 150216 and half of 150209 and 150212(?) which may be formed into a hybrid unit and retrofitted with a DDA toilet module.
It makes sense or the short HSTs to run between Cornwall/Devon/Bristol/Cardiff. Anyone aware which services they will run? Is one Taunton terminator being extended to Cornwall every 2 hours?
A while ago on Twitter one of their team hinted that they may be running to Portsmouth. I like the HSTs but am glad this seems unlikely as this route is already plagued with delays (though power doors should speed up station dwell times)
Shortened 2+5 sets did operate over the Virgin Crosscountry network during the last year of HST operation in order to match the timings of Voyagers which were coming into passenger service at the time. As mentioned, there was also no need to uprate the power cars in order to match Voyager performance.It's worth remembering that the VXC "Challenger" idea was never taken forward- it was a proposal to shorten sets to 2+5 (as opposed the then ICXC norm of 2+7). The plan was to also uprate the PCs allowing them to get close or equal to Voyager performance. There was even a rumour at the time that the "Challenger" sets would be reclassified as class 255 DEMUs, similar to how HST sets were classified from new.
The shortened sets that did run were, as mentioned above, a temporary fix to a shortage of 158s which were normally used on Manchester to Scotland services.