Jump to content
 

CALEDONIAN SLEEPER - Class 67, Class 86, Class 87 and Class 92.


Recommended Posts

I thought the spec for this contract was that the loco's had to be less than 10 years old?

No such specification in the franchise contract, but it might have been in the ITT

The franchisee must have contracts in place for the procurement of the locomotives as specified

Class 92 locomotives

Electric locomotives with regenerative breaking (yes, that is how they have spelt it)

Diesel locomotives with new more efficient engines

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

I thought the spec for this contract was that the loco's had to be less than 10 years old?

The Class 67s were never intended to be used, they are an emergency stopgap. It was intended that the newly rebuilt class 73/9s would be used, but that program is many months behind schedule. GBRf then thought they'd hire in Class 47s as a stopgap until the 73/9s were ready, but they can't go up the WHL I think, or they couldn't get enough good locos. Something like that happened anyway so the Class 67s are being kept on for now. I'm surprised they're being repainted, First never bothered. Maybe this one will be used on launch night so needs to look the part.

 

Edit: I'd be interested to see it parked next to one of the Arrive Trains Wales locos. Compare the blue.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

I'm not aware of any suggestion the 47s were unsuitable, DBS simply undercut the price relatively late in the day - perhaps they had initially assumed they had GBRf over a barrel?

that's right, you've jogged my memory. DBS are desperate to find work for the 67s so went in with a very low price. Still got about half the fleet idle though.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Class 67s are being kept on for now. I'm surprised they're being repainted, First never bothered

The current ScotRail franchise does not require any of the locos to carry the ScotRail livery

 

However, the Caledonian Sleeper franchise requires dedicated locos to be used, all of which must carry the livery within 6 months, and at least 95% of the months operations to carry the livery (thus allowing for maintenance substitutes)

This also means GBRF have 6 months in which to ensure both locomotive types are in use

There is also a similar clause in the new ScotRail franchise, hence why the DRS Class 68 locos will carry the new livery

Link to post
Share on other sites

I can't really get my head around GB bidding and winning this without having the correct equipment for the job?

The equipment was specified by Transport Scotland, so any winner would have been in the same situation, they then had to make arrangements to provide it
Link to post
Share on other sites

The equipment was specified by Transport Scotland, so any winner would have been in the same situation, they then had to make arrangements to provide it

Which equipment was specified by TS?

 

The locos certainly weren't.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well DB already had 67s and 90s/92s and DRS have 68s. I would have thought GBs easiest option would have been to fit some 66s with ETH

When they bid this, GBRf was already short of 66s for its committed workload I believe. The 92s were a fortunate shoo-in, but the diesel bit was rather trickier!

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

When they bid this, GBRf was already short of 66s for its committed workload I believe. The 92s were a fortunate shoo-in, but the diesel bit was rather trickier!

 

Erm... the 66s HAVE NO ETH CAPABILITY which is kind of important for the sleeper. As things stand the ONLY recent new build diesels that have such a facility are the 67s and 68s.

 

The 73s being rebuilt are having enhanced ETH added during the rebuild process as they origionally lacked the ability to provide it when operating away from the 3rd rail when built.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Erm... the 66s HAVE NO ETH CAPABILITY which is kind of important for the sleeper. As things stand the ONLY recent new build diesels that have such a facility are the 67s and 68s.

 

The 73s being rebuilt are having enhanced ETH added during the rebuild process as they origionally lacked the ability to provide it when operating away from the 3rd rail when built.

 

The only modern diesel tract

I had no idea. I just thought every diesel built had an ETS index of 88.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

67004 was up in Inverness today, being unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon. It has been named Cairn Gorm.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/revamped-caledonian-sleeper-service-unveiled-1-3726247

 

She was given a OO gauge model, lucky woman. I want one!

 

The current ScotRail franchise does not require any of the locos to carry the ScotRail liveryHowever, the Caledonian Sleeper franchise requires dedicated locos to be used, all of which must carry the livery within 6 months, and at least 95% of the months operations to carry the livery (thus allowing for maintenance substitutes)This also means GBRF have 6 months in which to ensure both locomotive types are in useThere is also a similar clause in the new ScotRail franchise, hence why the DRS C lass 68 locos will carry the new livery

So that means we should get (by my reckoning) 5 92s, 1 87, 2 86s and for now 3 67s, eventually replaced by 5 (or is it 4?) 73/9s, all in this livery. Nice!

 

Edit: second article with a better picture of the engine. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/new-look-caledonian-sleeper-branding-unveiled-by-first-minister-as-serco-prepares-to-.121344942 I must say I'm a bit underwhelmed by the new logo. It's very stark, and even a touch on the small side. I think it'd look better the full height of the train. So far anyway the Class 68 in Scotrail saltire livery is winning in the livery contest.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Which equipment was specified by TS?

Specifies electric locommotives with regenerative breaking (as pointed out before, that is how they have spelt it)

Specifies diesel locomotives with new engines

There are also other lists of specifications, but not of the exact type of locomotive to be used

There are also specifications for the loco hauled rolling stock

Link to post
Share on other sites

So that means we should get (by my reckoning) 5 92s, 1 87, 2 86s and for now 3 67s, eventually replaced by 5 (or is it 4?) 73/9s, all in this livery. Nice

Only the locomotives hauling the sleeper between Euston and Scotland with passengers are required to carry the livery

There are two requirements, the first is that the dedicated locomotives must all have the livery by the end of September 2015

However, there is an allowance for maintenance and so at least 95% of the services must be hauled by a locomotive carrying the livery

There is no requirement for the ECS locos to carry the livery

 

There will be five Class 73/9 locos, with four Class 73/9 locos used each day, all of which will carry the livery

There is a penalty if the specified locos are not in use by the end of September 2015, so it looks like the franchisee will end up with at least one full months penalty

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

There is no requirement for the ECS locos to carry the livery.

Yes, but the locos belonging to the AC loco society which will be used have already been repainted.

 

Whilst googling the articles above I came across one about ASLEF saying the new sleeper service will be terribly unreliable as they are using 40 year old engines. Rather ignoring the fact that the 73/9s are being completely rebuilt and are effectively new engines. And also saying the class 92s are too slow and won't be able to make up lost time.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

Yes, but the locos belonging to the AC loco society which will be used have already been repainted.

 

Whilst googling the articles above I came across one about ASLEF saying the new sleeper service will be terribly unreliable as they are using 40 year old engines. Rather ignoring the fact that the 73/9s are being completely rebuilt and are effectively new engines. And also saying the class 92s are too slow and won't be able to make up lost time.

To say that about the Class 92 - or any other loco - is rather naive.  In reality it all depends on booked running times in relation to what they loco can achieve plus any extra time added for whatever reason.  You could for example work a train with a  350hp shunter (forget ETH of course, as well as maximum speed :O ) provided the train was timed to take account of it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

To say that about the Class 92 - or any other loco - is rather naive.  In reality it all depends on booked running times in relation to what they loco can achieve plus any extra time added for whatever reason.  You could for example work a train with a  350hp shunter (forget ETH of course, as well as maximum speed :O ) provided the train was timed to take account of it.

Having reread the article I think I am doing ASLEF a disservice. It seems the concerns were raised in a report that Atkins wrote for Transport Scotland, and ASLEF were then just commenting on it. Of course the way the report is headlined it makes it seem that ASLEF are the ones complaining.

Here's the link to the article if you're interested. It is back from September. http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/train-driver-doubts-over-caledonian-sleeper-plans-1-3536204

 

As a spokesman for Serco notes at the bottom of the article the sleepers are booked for 80mph running, so the 92s are plenty fast enough. Indeed if the sleepers ran to 110mph timings the Glasgow and Edinburgh passengers would be being turfed out at Euston at 4am, don't think they'd be happy with that.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...