New fleets crisis
TRAIN operators, rolling stock owners, train builders and Network Rail must work together to ensure new trains are compatible with the UK’s infrastructure and operational systems.
So says the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), following delays to a number of new train fleets (see stories below). The latest involves the suspension of testing of Northern’s CAF Class 195 diesel and ‘331’ electric multiple units, due to issues with the inter-car couplings coming into contact with the bodies on tight bends. Northern believes the problem will be rectified in time for the ‘331s’ to enter traffic from May (see
Network News, page 30). An ORR spokesman told
RAIL: “Authorisation of new trains into service, in essence, covers compliance with the relevant Technical Standards for Interoperability (TSI).
“While these TSIs include safety, they are not intended to provide complete coverage of all of the health and safety. Their primary purpose is to enable interoperable train operation across Europe and remove barriers to trade.
“The TOCs/ROSCOs/train builders/Network Rail need to work together to ensure that the new trains are compatible with the UK’s infrastructure and operational systems. We have seen examples of builders providing trains that are compliant with the TSI but have serious issues when presented to the TOCs. TOCs need to take the lead, by ensuring that they have effective systems in place to manage the change brought by new trains.”
The delays to CAF’s Northern units is the latest in a series of delays to new fleets, with Caledonian Sleeper Mk 5s, TransPennine Express Mk 5As, LNER Azumas, London Overground Class 710s and Govia Thameslink Railway Class 717s all
yet to enter traffic having been planned for introduction last year. Northern had also hoped to put three Class 195 DMUs in traffic by the end of December, but was forced to scrap that plan.
These problems follow the delayed introduction of Class 385 EMUs with ScotRail, and the year-long saga surrounding the delayed introduction of the LO ‘710s’. The latter are now on their 31st adaptation of the train management system, which is delaying their introduction and forcing the operator to run a vastly reduced frequency.
Transport for London spokesman David Edwards told RAIL on March 19: “Initial driver familiarisation on the new trains has begun. Arriva Rail London is currently reviewing the reliability of the train’s software during this initial stage of training before progressing further.
“Once software issues are resolved, driving training will start in earnest. Once substantially progressed, there will be more certainty on when the new trains may enter passenger service.”
Sources have confirmed that the technical files for the ‘710s’ have been delivered to the ORR and that authorisation for the trains could happen within days. Once this is in place, driver training can increase - at which point a date for their introduction can be agreed.
Greater Anglia spokesman Jonathan Denby said that the operator was watching the LO situation carefully, as it has similar Class 720s on order from Bombardier - none have yet been delivered despite its franchise agreement stating that the first should have been released to GA by January 31. He explained that the plan remained for GA to put them into traffic from the autumn.
The ORR spokesman told RAIL: “We have led workshops with TOCs to highlight what we expect them to do. Ultimately, they are going to be held responsible for identifying the remaining hazards posed by new trains (that have not been designed out), and they must have effective control measures in place to manage the risks.”