Marston Vale line suspension over - FULL services start running 19/02/24

[DarloRich]

Are the services running with 150139 today test services or still training?

I hope not running in service as we have seen no publicity !

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I hope not running in service as we have seen no publicity !

In service... unadvertised... provided the data supplied by Network Rail is correct...




Picture translation: Screenshot of Real Time Trains showing the 13.45 Bletchley to Bedford, all stations, to be running as 2S17 with the description "unadvertised ordinary passenger".

 

[DarloRich]

LNWR have confirmed by twitter that the train is NOT in service.

 

[Ibex]

They're still test runs until November or so, I believe the reasoning for a class 2 headcode is because they releasing the doors at each station. Presumably you'd be stopped from boarding if you tried however.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They're still test runs until November or so, I believe the reasoning for a class 2 headcode is because they releasing the doors at each station. Presumably you'd be stopped from boarding if you tried however.

That's interesting - because I've seen door releases on tests of new stock on the South western previously which were running under the usual 5Qxx headcodes...

 

[DarloRich]

That's interesting - because I've seen door releases on tests of new stock on the South western previously which were running under the usual 5Qxx headcodes...

perhaps it is a mis coding

 

[Spartacus]

I know they're running with the regular headcodes but if they're not in service they should be changed to a 5 or 3, rather than just running unadvertised, which suggests passengers on board, even if just dignitaries or whatever. It's simple enough to do, one way or another.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I hope not running in service as we have seen no publicity !

So you would complain very audibly all year about the lack of service, and when trains finally arrived then say you hope it’s not running?

 

[DarloRich]

So you would complain very audibly all year about the lack of service, and when trains finally arrived then say you hope it’s not running?

More in that it would be another missed promotional opportunity and that after nearly a year with no service and at least 4 years of dog poop service they might, you know, TELL us that trains were back!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

More in that it would be another missed promotional opportunity and that after nearly a year with no service and at least 4 years of dog poop service they might, you know, TELL us that trains were back!

Yes, you might expect LNR to want to make rather a song and dance of it to make themselves look good, a sort of "Look at us heroes, we've brought back the service that Vivarail caused to be lost!" or something.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, you might expect LNR to want to make rather a song and dance of it to make themselves look good, a sort of "Look at us heroes, we've brought back the service that Vivarail caused to be lost!" or something.

I'm sure they will when the passenger service restarts. Can't be too long now!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm sure they will when the passenger service restarts. Can't be too long now!

They'll certainly be rather colourful trains, white and bright green externally and Northern's gaudy blue and yellow inside

 

[Bletchleyite]

They'll certainly be rather colourful trains, white and bright green externally and Northern's gaudy blue and yellow inside

Does anyone know if they've replaced the seat covers? They clearly won't repaint the dark blue, but to be fair that'll look fine against the grey covers, there's plenty of dark blue in 350s too.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Does anyone know if they've replaced the seat covers? They clearly won't repaint the dark blue, but to be fair that'll look fine against the grey covers, there's plenty of dark blue in 350s too.

I'd say there's more yellow inside than dark blue when you ignore the upholstery.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd say there's more yellow inside than dark blue when you ignore the upholstery.

If you mean grab poles, some 350s have or had yellow ones. /1s I think.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If you mean grab poles, some 350s have or had yellow ones. /1s I think.

Sorry I meant in Northern’s 150s.

 

[SargeNpton]

I know they're running with the regular headcodes but if they're not in service they should be changed to a 5 or 3, rather than just running unadvertised, which suggests passengers on board, even if just dignitaries or whatever. It's simple enough to do, one way or another.

Class 2 "Unadvertised passenger trains" run for a variety of reasons. Not using 3 or 5 does mean that the signallers and controls don't get tempted to hold them up.

 

[DarloRich]

Class 2 "Unadvertised passenger trains" run for a variety of reasons. Not using 3 or 5 does mean that the signallers and controls don't get tempted to hold them up.

Which is very important on a line with no trains

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sorry I meant in Northern’s 150s.

I realise that, what I'm saying is that there's similar amounts of blue and yellow in a 350/1 and they look OK with the grey seat covers.

 

[Jimini]

Just went through Reading and it looks like the old Vivarail stock in the sidings to the west of the station has been well decorated by the locals with various shades of spray paint..

 

[Spartacus]

Class 2 "Unadvertised passenger trains" run for a variety of reasons. Not using 3 or 5 does mean that the signallers and controls don't get tempted to hold them up.

3 could be used to give a certain amount of priority, but as is said, it's hardly a busy line, and probably more important to get the ECSs in and out of Bedford promptly anyway. Could I suppose be useful if there's a lot of staff on board. Just another curiosity I guess.

 

[Silverlinky]

Definitely running as training trains still for a few weeks yet, training underway for both drivers and guards. I'm told there is a public 'meet the train day' on 30th October Monday afternoon at Bletchley.
November 13th is target date for start of passenger service.

 

[DarloRich]

Hearing that yesterday (18/10) one of the training runs "interacted" with a car on a user worked crossing and was damaged. This damage could delay the return of service trains.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hearing that yesterday (18/10) one of the training runs "interacted" with a car on a user worked crossing and was damaged. This damage could delay the return of service trains.

I heard that. As they have three units I'm not quite sure why that at least prevents the return of one diagram (presuamably it would be too unreliable without a spare unit at all), and a well-timed one diagram service can actually be quite useful - the weekday COVID one diagram service was actually quite well timed for most likely users (Saturday was just two hourly). Probably to be expected when people think the line is closed as they haven't seen a train on it for ages, though of course not excusable and there have been odd freights.

 

[DarloRich]

There are training runs in the books for today so hopefully that wont be impacted by one unit needing repair

 

[Rail Quest]

Are any of the other units currently getting a new livery? If so, that could mean two units currently out of action with one damaged and one in works

 

[Boodiggy]

Hearing that yesterday (18/10) one of the training runs "interacted" with a car on a user worked crossing and was damaged. This damage could delay the return of service trains.

Incident happened on 12/10/23

 

[DarloRich]

Incident happened on 12/10/23

oh. thanks! I was told it was yesterday. My source needs a Tardis or perhaps a diary !

 

[Boodiggy]

oh. thanks! I was told it was yesterday. My source needs a Tardis!

Haha! Happened at Berry Lane (between Aspley Guise and Ridgmont) and not much damage to unit reported..

 

[DarloRich]

Haha! Happened at Berry Lane (between Aspley Guise and Ridgmont) and not much damage to unit reported..

thanks!