Progress on Avanti West Coast's 805/807s Hitachi AT300 sets

[td97]

Yes, it's so that if the rear one causes minor damage or is itself damaged, e.g. by a piece of plastic on the OHLE, there's the possibility the front one and front section of wire remains undamaged and so can be raised and get the train out of trouble, I believe. The other way round and there's more likely to be damage to the rear one (or section of wires) that would prevent that.

I thought it was aerodynamics, since having the pointier bit facing the wind will reduce air resistance
Although that makes sense too.

The Pendo instruction is just AWC operating preference. If there is a pan fault you still see the odd unit running front pan.

I understand AWC use rear so that if the driver spots damaged OLE ahead (e.g. damaged dropper), the pan can be dropped hopefully in enough time to avoid a further damage or worse a dewirement. There are stories of this successfully occurring.
Of course the factors you have all mentioned are relevant too.

 

[reecestrains]

I saw an Avanti West Coast IET at York this morning...

Realtime Trains | 5Q32 0821 Merchant Park Sidings to Oxley Car. M.D. | 11/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q32 0821 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Oxley Car. M.D. on 11/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Very unusual to see Avanti West Coast on the East Coast Mainline although most likely for testing.

 

[anthony263]

Changing trains at New Street is not an attractive proposition for anyone. I wonder if this is why there is talk of an Open Access provider from Shropshire which has been mentioned somewhere?

Think this is why the dft supported it. Gets them out of a mess plus if it fails they can turn around and blame it on the customers.

Personally I think.it will prove well so much I could see it requiring a much improved timetable down the line if paths are freed up f by HS2

 

[800001]

I saw an Avanti West Coast IET at York this morning...

Realtime Trains | 5Q32 0821 Merchant Park Sidings to Oxley Car. M.D. | 11/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q32 0821 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Oxley Car. M.D. on 11/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Very unusual to see Avanti West Coast on the East Coast Mainline although most likely for testing.

Every Avanti unit from Aycliffe goes on test on the ECML.
Although this path above is 805010 on delivery move to Oxley depot.

 

[DaveyJones]

I saw an Avanti West Coast IET at York this morning...

Realtime Trains | 5Q32 0821 Merchant Park Sidings to Oxley Car. M.D. | 11/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q32 0821 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Oxley Car. M.D. on 11/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Very unusual to see Avanti West Coast on the East Coast Mainline although most likely for testing.

Looks like a Delivery

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looks like a Delivery

I'm sure there are more direct routes which don't require two reversals...

 

[DaveyJones]

I'm sure there are more direct routes which don't require two reversals...

The 807 went via Edinburgh!

I guess this keeps it on the existing 80x Routes for the longest?

 

[800001]

I'm sure there are more direct routes which don't require two reversals...

Routes which maybe are not cleared for the unit, or the drivers do not have route knowledge.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Routes which maybe are not cleared for the unit, or the drivers do not have route knowledge.

You'd have thought a routeing for a bi-mode via the Calder Valley and Warrington BQ would work (all used by 80x).

 

[reecestrains]

I thought the IET's were not cleared to go via Calder Valley?

They do go via the TransPennine Route through Dewsbury and Huddersfield towards Manchester and Liverpool.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I thought the IET's were not cleared to go via Calder Valley?

They do go via the TransPennine Route through Dewsbury and Huddersfield towards Manchester and Liverpool.

IETs probably aren't cleared since they're GWR's 80Xs

However TPE's 802s ("Nova 1" since you seem to like using TOC's nicknames) do, such as here, and plenty of other times yesterday.

Realtime Trains | 1P19 0854 Liverpool Lime Street to York | 10/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P19 0854 departure from Liverpool Lime Street to York on 10/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[92002]

IETs probably aren't cleared since they're GWR's 80Xs

However TPE's 802s ("Nova 1" since you seem to like using TOC's nicknames) do, such as here, and plenty of other times yesterday.

Realtime Trains | 1P19 0854 Liverpool Lime Street to York | 10/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P19 0854 departure from Liverpool Lime Street to York on 10/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

No doubt the scenic way to Oxley all counts towards the units mileage accumulation.

When an 807 is despatched it goes via Edinburgh and the ECML then the WCML On electric. They even put in an odd trip to Glasgow for mileage. All of which is cleated to use.

 

[MickeyN]

No doubt the scenic way to Oxley all counts towards the units mileage accumulation.

When an 807 is despatched it goes via Edinburgh and the ECML then the WCML On electric. They even put in an odd trip to Glasgow for mileage. All of which is cleated to use.

Just seen 805004 at Preston

 

[800001]

Just seen 805004 at Preston

5Q15 from London Euston and working back south as 5Q94 to London Euston. It the does 5Q96 to Wembley.

Is this a place they will normally stable?

 

[Whistler40145]

Every test train I’ve seen a picture or video, they are using the front pan.
Only seems to be LNER use rear pan.

Is that something relating to the ECML wires?

 

[danbarjon]

Is that something relating to the ECML wires?

Avanti 390s use rear pans.

 

[reecestrains]

IETs probably aren't cleared since they're GWR's 80Xs

However TPE's 802s ("Nova 1" since you seem to like using TOC's nicknames) do, such as here, and plenty of other times yesterday.

Realtime Trains | 1P19 0854 Liverpool Lime Street to York | 10/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P19 0854 departure from Liverpool Lime Street to York on 10/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Oh wow! How amazing that I honestly never knew! Thanks for sharing!

*sarcasm intended.

 

[Railperf]

Due to be commissioned from week 01 (April) through to week 10. It will be staged with Kilburn - Rugby done first.

390s have had a vehicle change so can operate at MU once the speed profile is introduced.

The SoC for 805s shows they can run on test at EPS between Rugby and Crewe although both GBRF and AWC have only been running at PS.

So when do both Avanti and LNWR drivers start being trained on the new speed limits? I guess a bit easier for LNWR as not so many changes, having seen the profile now. Looks like Linslade remains at 90mph up and down.

 

[Danfilm007]

So when do both Avanti and LNWR drivers start being trained on the new speed limits? I guess a bit easier for LNWR as not so many changes, having seen the profile now. Looks like Linslade remains at 90mph up and down.

Where has the profile been published?

 

[Railperf]

Where has the profile been published?

hasn't been publicly published yet AFAIK

 

[Danfilm007]

hasn't been publicly published yet AFAIK

Ah no problem, thank you!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So when do both Avanti and LNWR drivers start being trained on the new speed limits? I guess a bit easier for LNWR as not so many changes, having seen the profile now. Looks like Linslade remains at 90mph up and down.

There won't be much change for LNWR though, will there, as there are very few places on the WCML fast lines which currently have a PS limit lower than 110mph, and which will be faster under MU?
Maybe at Atherstone, or Queensville approaching Stafford?
I imagine everything will still do 110mph through Kilsby Tunnel.

 

[Railperf]

There won't be much change for LNWR though, will there, as there are very few places on the WCML fast lines which currently have a PS limit lower than 110mph, and which will be faster under MU?
Maybe at Atherstone, or Queensville approaching Stafford?
I imagine everything will still do 110mph through Kilsby Tunnel.

Yes as above Kilsby and Atherstone remain the same for 110mph stock PS and MU in both directions. For LNWR specifically it looks like MU speeds will increase on the down main earlier from Queens Park to Wembley closer to EPS speeds and then there's around 6 miles North of Rugby of 110mph vice 100mph and that's it. On the Up main, a higher limit of 95mph vice 90mph is available for a few miles south of Stafford - Queensville area - followed by a few miles of 110mph vice 105 and 100mph just north of Rugby in roughly the same place as the down line increases. But the step down approaching Euston seems to be the same for MU as PS

 

[Welshguy1048]

12/03/24 - Avanti West Coast Class 805 - 805008 & 805009 - Holyhead to Oxley Car M.D. - Test Run

 

[danbarjon]

12/03/24 - Avanti West Coast Class 805 - 805008 & 805009 - Holyhead to Oxley Car M.D. - Test Run

Double liveried 805s look great! Thanks for sharing the video.

 

[DaveyJones]

Double liveried 805s look great! Thanks for sharing the video.

Apart from a brief move on Friday, the first 10 car fully liveried 805

 

[DJH1971]

Any more progress with the 807's?

 

[800001]

Any more progress with the 807's?

807001 at Aycliffe on static testing unliveried.
807002 has returned back to Aycliffe unliveried.
807003 at Aycliffe static testing in Avanti livery.

No other units seen as yet.

 

[Boodiggy]

So when do both Avanti and LNWR drivers start being trained on the new speed limits? I guess a bit easier for LNWR as not so many changes, having seen the profile now. Looks like Linslade remains at 90mph up and down.

Linslade is 90 PS on Up with no MU and 125ESP with no differential after the new speeds are introduced.

The Down will be 90 PS 100 MU and 125EPS with no differential.

Not sure when the drivers will be briefed / trained. Not all the boards are up yet!….

 

[HST125Scorton]

Saw 805004 still in white this morning at Wigan NW heading back to Euston following a late 1M10, although RTT seems to suggest it was swapped with 805002 at Crewe. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S13630/2024-03-12/detailed
Video: