The plan is to have a regular diagram to Cardiff to keep up route knowledge for Drivers and traction knowledge for Guards. The original purpose was to use 12 car formations to swallow up crowds at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium on match days. This project was then accelerated due to the cracks in IETs. I was proud to be part of this, I wrote the Guard's training package for these trains :-)
I find it interesting that 387s are running services to and from Bristol Parkway, making excellent use of their max speed of 110mph. If Bedwyn had electrification extended from Newbury a 387 would be a more suitable train and so would fast and semi fast terminating services to Oxford. To me the 800s and 802s are more for longer distance routes.
Looks like a bit of a rough ride, didn’t realise that class could do that speed for extended time… certainly gives the 387’s a chance to stretch their legs lol
It was a bit of a rough ride over some stretches, but by no means a bad one. Yes, they didn't seem to have any issue operating at 110. Apparently they are being cleared for Cardiff, so this may become a common thing!
Looked a bit like an empty stock movement! Maybe they ride better with a decent load on board. You might be aware that many of them are stored at Cockleberry, Swindon, so quite a few empty stock moves between there and Didcot, much of the time. Before the panic, there were plans to use them to/from Cardiff for major events there, up to 12 car.
Excellent 👍👍👍💖💖💖😇😇😇👊👊👊😍😍😍
thank you
The plan is to have a regular diagram to Cardiff to keep up route knowledge for Drivers and traction knowledge for Guards. The original purpose was to use 12 car formations to swallow up crowds at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium on match days. This project was then accelerated due to the cracks in IETs. I was proud to be part of this, I wrote the Guard's training package for these trains :-)
I find it interesting that 387s are running services to and from Bristol Parkway, making excellent use of their max speed of 110mph. If Bedwyn had electrification extended from Newbury a 387 would be a more suitable train and so would fast and semi fast terminating services to Oxford. To me the 800s and 802s are more for longer distance routes.
I couldn't agree more with what you're saying there!
Completely agree. We shouldn't be wasting time with HS2 we should extend the electrification to Bedwyn and Oxford.
@@devon896 I'd happily extend electrification all the way to Hereford and Penzance but being realistic, Plymouth is a decent cutoff line.
@@alexpeak16 I doubt Plymouth will get electrification. Exeter maybe but Bedwyn and Oxford should so 387s can displace IET's/165/166s
I had no idea the GWML had already been electrified as far as Bristol Parkway!
It’s electrified to Cardiff 🤦🏽♂️
Indeed as Benjamin stated, it goes to Cardiff. The 387s are apparently intended to reach Cardiff at some point
@@benjibatch yo neega no need for that vim
@@benjibatch Not only that (roughly) Cardiff is one of the few feeder points for the power supply; a shame it doesn't feed the other way as well!
Will it eventually run as a normal service? Because I found out that there are plans for the 387s to run to Bristol Parkway, Newport and Swindon
Looks like a bit of a rough ride, didn’t realise that class could do that speed for extended time… certainly gives the 387’s a chance to stretch their legs lol
It was a bit of a rough ride over some stretches, but by no means a bad one. Yes, they didn't seem to have any issue operating at 110. Apparently they are being cleared for Cardiff, so this may become a common thing!
They are cleared to run to cardiff in 12 car fomations
Looked a bit like an empty stock movement! Maybe they ride better with a decent load on board. You might be aware that many of them are stored at Cockleberry, Swindon, so quite a few empty stock moves between there and Didcot, much of the time. Before the panic, there were plans to use them to/from Cardiff for major events there, up to 12 car.
Is this for permanent use or will these be replacing IET 800s until GWR gets replacement units for the cracked ones?
I believe it's temporary, but I have heard that they will run between Cardiff and Bristol Parkway soon. Although it's all subject to change.
The intension once the line is electrified to Swansea to run Swansea Bristol Temple Meads services with them , no buffet or trolley and no 1st Class