From our Swindon Correspondent:
Rail industry figures show the breakdown rate for the company’s £500m 101-strong fleet is higher than for the 1980s-built rail-buses.
Northern passengers have long been plagued by delays and overcrowding.
The failing rail operator, which is being taken over by the government next month, said it was “working hard to improve performance of the new trains.”
CAF were selected by Arriva, as they were the only manufacturer able to produce both new diesel and electric (Class 331) multiple units from the same platform, the Civity, thus increasing familiarity for drivers and reducing maintenance costs once in operation.Bombardier made a bid to produce electric Aventra units but was unable to offer a sister diesel unit which Arriva required Furthermore, Bombardier already had a long order book for Aventra units and Arriva believed CAF were in a stronger position to guarantee on-time delivery of the units
Construction of the bodyshells of the 195s began in Zaragoza in July 2017. The wheelsets were constructed in Beasain and final assembly of the units took place in Irun. The first completed Class 195 began undergoing tests at the Velim test track in May 2018. The first arrived in England in June 2018 and testing on the main line began in September.
The only people making money from the UK rail system are the train leasing companies – usually arms of banks – because they have an effective oligopoly. Any additional money entering the system ends up in their pockets.
Northern. Is. Not. Being. Taken. Over.
It is having its franchise taken off it.
I’m guessing you’ve never ridden a Pacer. They would embarrass the railway of a country like Bangladesh.
I’m pretty sure that the train from Swindon to Trowbridge is a Pacer. And yes, it’s not as nice as a modern train. Perhaps doesn’t have the same ride. But the primary function of a train is getting there reliably and preferably on time. That it’s not as shiny is a secondary function.
Nope. Pathed as a 90mph DMU, pacers are 75. You’ll probably get a 158.
Aside from the lack of disabled access (solved more cheaply with taxis), the big issue with pacers is that because they have four fixed wheels per carriage instead of eight mounted on bogies their cornering is crap and they slow everything else down on bends.
Also, in fairness to CAF it’s common for new trains to have issues in the first couple of years of service and then improve. Mostly because people are working out what the maintenance regime should be.
OK, but do you want to be doing 90mph and regularly breaking down, or 75mph and not? What’s the real difference in time on a service that takes 40 minutes and has 4 stops between 90mph and 75? I make it about 7 minutes. Would people rather arrive 7 minutes later or whatever gets added for a breakdown? Regarding the trains, my criticism isn’t of CAF or the operator. It’s about the change period imposed by the state. New technology has problems to iron out. That’s why you roll out slowly. Replace a couple of trains first, sort things out,… Read more »
@Tim W
Good piece. You need to get this in MSM so public realise how Nationalised Rail still is
The reverse: hard, uncomfortable seats to pass Fire Regs. How many train seat fires were there in past?
Wheelchair Disabled: surely a fold/roll out ramp could easily be retrofitted to Pacers – lots of space under floor. I suspect 2020 regs demanded lots of crap to force new-build
Isn’t it strange how public schools don’t demolish & rebuild every ~30yrs, but state do?