TransPennine Express

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express

(23/07/2017 22:53)markydh Wrote:  The plan was to order 125mph capable EMUs when Transpennine electrification was complete. Only then would bi-modes replace the mark 5s on non-Newcastle services. They have only been ordered as Hitachi don't have the capacity to build enough bi-modes to meet the terms of the franchise award. They're not seen as anything other than a stop gap.

The mk5s were ordered because they could be delivered quicker. Hitachi won't deliver any bi-modes to TPE until 2019, the mk5s should be in service next May. If First had ordered more bi-modes it would probably have taken Hitachi until 2020 to deliver them all, so the mk5s allow extra capacity to be delivered 2 years sooner.

There's various options for new EMUs listed in the franchise agreement and nothing to rule out 397s being replaced by longer EMUs with 397s then cascaded across to North TPE. The lease end date for the mk5s is the same as the franchise end date with no option for early return mentioned but an option for replacing 68s with electric locos mentioned. There is the option of 185s being returned early, so if new EMUs arrived it would have been more 185s that left not the mk5s.

However, the question is if the bi-modes remain on the services operating to and via Newcastle due to sections of Manchester to Leeds not being electrified, will the mk5s remain hauled by 68s on Scarborough and Middlesbrough services or will they be replaced by more bi-modes and then maybe the mk5s get transferred to South TPE with 185s being returned? I suppose the option of mk5s being returned can't be ruled out, despite not being included in the franchise agreement, given the possible change in circumstances but DfT will need to find an alternative use for them or will have to compensate the ROSCO for the early lease termination. (Well technically First will compensate the ROSCO but DfT will have to compensate First, who will then have to compensate the ROSCO.)

With regards to mk5s being a stop-gap that what was said about HSTs in the South West in the 1970s and yet they are still being used there!

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express
The first refurbished refurbished 185 is now in passenger service (unit 185101.) Some photos of it have been posted on Twitter

https://twitter.com/baz2756/status/889379638941810688

[boby32]

RE: TransPennine Express

(27/07/2017 10:42)knutstransport Wrote:  The first refurbished refurbished 185 is now in passenger service (unit 185101.) Some photos of it have been posted on Twitter

https://twitter.com/baz2756/status/889379638941810688

nice

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express
Meanwhile 04:22 Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport, 16:12 Liverpool Lime St to Newcastle and 16:00 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh appear on DfT's latest most overcrowded trains list: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...n-2016.pdf

[wirralbus]

RE: TransPennine Express

(27/07/2017 17:01)knutstransport Wrote:  Meanwhile 04:22 Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport, 16:12 Liverpool Lime St to Newcastle and 16:00 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh appear on DfT's latest most overcrowded trains list: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...n-2016.pdf

You do wonder what Trans Pennine can do alleviate some of these issues , maybe to remove the Wigan North Western stop and run non stop to Manchester from Preston with the 04.22 service from Glasgow Central. The same could be said of the 16.00 from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh running non stop Manchester Oxford Road to Preston , both of these services are to be honest inter regional expresses and not commuters services .

[boby32]

RE: TransPennine Express

(27/07/2017 10:42)knutstransport Wrote:  The first refurbished refurbished 185 is now in passenger service (unit 185101.) Some photos of it have been posted on Twitter

https://twitter.com/baz2756/status/889379638941810688

Walk through of 185101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va3Y7JPfuHs

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express

(28/07/2017 08:15)wirralbus Wrote:  You do wonder what Trans Pennine can do alleviate some of these issues , maybe to remove the Wigan North Western stop and run non stop to Manchester from Preston with the 04.22 service from Glasgow Central. The same could be said of the 16.00 from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh running non stop Manchester Oxford Road to Preston , both of these services are to be honest inter regional expresses and not commuters services .

Which would then require Northern to run additional services between Manchester and Wigan - which needs extra paths and rolling stock.

DfT sold in re-routing TPE Scottish services via Wigan instead of via Bolton as offering faster services between Wigan and Manchester and consequently freeing up space for Bolton commuters on Southport-Manchester Airport services.

[childwallblues]

RE: TransPennine Express
Wigan is a big problem for the TPE Scottish services with commuting in and out of Manchester.
Having worked on both the services mentioned the southbound is pretty empty until Lancaster and full from Preston. At Wigan customers are prepared to stand for a 20 minute trip on a fast train. The northbound train is the same in reverse.
The problem with the 1612 LIV-NCL is between LDS and YRK again short distance commuters.
The answer to these problems is to introduce a TPE season ticket with say a 20% premium on the normal price in an attempt to discourage using TPE services.

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express
Northern already offer cheap Route:Hebden Bridge tickets which undercut TPE but few people buy them. TPE also offer cheap Earlybird season tickets which attempt to get passengers to travel earlier but again few people buy them.

TPE will soon be running local express services alongside Intercity style services on North TPE and they'll be no Northern alternative for many commuters.

For Leeds to York a TPE service is more of a local service than a XC service from the South West to Scotland!

[wirralbus]

RE: TransPennine Express
Wigan North Western - Manchester Oxford Road , really only started life as a route to utilise the capability of the 350/4's and then came into its own when they did Farnworth Tunnel.

There will never be an easy away around the Leeds - York as there is a depot for TransPennine at York , the problem area every time i have travelled on Transpennine always seems to be between Huddersfield and Leeds .