Short-formed HSTs being lined up for the South West
GREAT Western Railway is to start testing a short-formed High Speed Train that will be used to boost capacity in the far South West.
The HSTs will be formed of two Class 43 power cars and four Mk 3 coaches. Maintenance will be carried out at Long Rock (Penzance), with servicing also undertaken at Laira (Plymouth) and the new depot at Exeter ( RAIL 822).
A rake of Angel Trains-owned Mk 3 HST coaches is being modified at Wabtec Rail’s’ Doncaster facility, to enable them to be used beyond December 31 2019 - the deadline for when coaches that do not meet disability access requirements must be withdrawn from traffic. Modifications include fitting plug doors and new passenger information systems.
HST Class 43 power cars are also being modified, with 43016 the first AT-owned ‘43’ to be treated at Doncaster. GWR confirmed that 43005/041, 43187/188 will also remain with the company for the long-term, and will not either be sent off-lease or cascaded to Scotland.
GWR could not comment on how many short-formed HSTs would be in use, but RAIL understands that 11 will be retained by the company.
The shorter HSTs are needed because the planned cascade of various diesel multiple unit fleets has been delayed by Network Rail’s failure to complete the Great Western Electrification Programme on time.
Under its 2015 franchise plans, GWR aims to increase capacity on routes west of Exeter by as much as 52%. That was under threat as a result of delays in electrification affecting the planned cascade of Thames Valley Turbos (Class 165/166) to the Bristol area, which would release Class 150/2 and ‘158’ DMUs to head further west, and in turn release GWR Class 143, ‘150/1’ and ‘153s.
The HSTs are expected to be used on routes including Penzance-Plymouth, Cardiff-Taunton, Bristol-Weymouth and other longer-distance routes currently employing diesel multiple units. Even when the cascade created by electrification is complete, GWR plans to retain the 2+4 HSTs.