Slough to Windsor shuttle

[jonny777]

Having become a bit of a railway webcam groupie recently (especially when faced with my father's routine of Baragain Hunt, Dickinson's Real Deal etc.), I notice that on the past few days that the Slough to Windsor & Eton Central shuttle train has been formed of a 3-car dmu.

 

Is this normal?

 

I would have thought even a  2-car unit would have been more than ample for the number of passengers on each journey, or has there been an upsurge in patronage recently?

 

I only ask because having seen some of the crowds trying to get aboard a 3-car stopping service to various destinations on the GWML, I would have thought this particular unit could have been better used elsewhere on the network. 

 

 

[Guest]

I would guess a 3-car unit is just substituting for the usual 2-car due to unserviceability. In a fleet of both 2-car and 3-car units it would make sense for the depot spare cover to be a 3-car unit so that it could substitue in any diagram.

[jonny777]

I would guess a 3-car unit is just substituting for the usual 2-car due to unserviceability. In a fleet of both 2-car and 3-car units it would make sense for the depot spare cover to be a 3-car unit so that it could substitue in any diagram.

 

But doesn't a 3-car unit have two power cars, and therefore use more fuel?

 

 

Surely a sensible TOC would use an extremely low powered single unit for this service?

 

They could even use a solar powered battery unit? - after all the single battery unit was only implemented on BR 50 years ago.

[Zomboid]

They wouldn't want a one off, the costs of uniqueness would outweigh the benefits, unless the traffic is low enough for a 139 or similar.

[royaloak]

But doesn't a 3-car unit have two power cars, and therefore use more fuel?

 

 

Surely a sensible TOC would use an extremely low powered single unit for this service?

 

They could even use a solar powered battery unit? - after all the single battery unit was only implemented on BR 50 years ago.

Every coach is powered on a modern DMU.

 

Spare units dont really exist, can you imagine the uproar from the crushed loaded commuters if the TOCs were keeping units spare instead of having them out carrying passengers?

 

Why would anyone want an extremely low powered unit, how would it keep to time?

 

What about the costs of all the crew training for a one off unit?

 

Standardisation is the way!

[Banger Blue]

Having become a bit of a railway webcam groupie recently (especially when faced with my father's routine of Baragain Hunt, Dickinson's Real Deal etc.), I notice that on the past few days that the Slough to Windsor & Eton Central shuttle train has been formed of a 3-car dmu.

 

Is this normal?

 

I would have thought even a 2-car unit would have been more than ample for the number of passengers on each journey, or has there been an upsurge in patronage recently?

 

I only ask because having seen some of the crowds trying to get aboard a 3-car stopping service to various destinations on the GWML, I would have thought this particular unit could have been better used elsewhere on the network.

 

 

I would guess a 3-car unit is just substituting for the usual 2-car due to unserviceability. In a fleet of both 2-car and 3-car units it would make sense for the depot spare cover to be a 3-car unit so that it could substitue in any diagram.

34017 has it spot on, the 3 car is covering due to unavailability of a 2 car unit. The Windsor shuttle is our first choice diagram in such cases as it keeps the longformed unit out of the way and avoids complications elsewhere on the network.

 

Mon-Fri, the GWR London & Thames Valley Reading TCD diagrams allow for 6x units (5x 3 car + 1x 2 car) to be stopped for scheduled maintenance / repair. Currently 165124 is away for repair after its little escapade at Paddington recently, this means should we need to stop another 2 car unit for B Exam or engine change for example then that will be covered by means of a 3 car vice the 2 car.