Bi-modes offered to solve Waterloo-Exeter constraints
BI-MODE trains should be ordered as part of a scheme to improve the service offered on the West of England route from London Waterloo-Exeter St Davids, according to Network Rail.
In its West of England Study Continuous Strategic Planning report, NR explains that additional capacity could be achieved on the route not only through infrastructure improvements, but also through lengthening some services.
However, the report states:
“This cannot be achieved using the rolling stock fleet currently in operation, which is coming to end of life. Therefore, in the medium term, the opportunity to introduce new, potentially bi-mode, rolling stock capable of achieving faster journey times and providing more capacity should be considered.”
Electric, battery and hydrogen are all mentioned as possible power. Currently, 121.6 miles from Exeter St Davids-Worting Junction (near Basingstoke) are not electrified, while the remaining 50.8 miles are electrified using third rail.
The NR report added that the new stock should be linked to potential investment in additional or upgraded depot and stabling facilities at Salisbury, Yeovil and Exeter. The awkward manoeuvres needed to access the former could be resolved by opening a new depot in the city, according to NR.
South Western Railway operates the route using a fleet of diesel multiple units - ten two-car Class 158s and 30 Class 159s.
The 22 Class 159/0s have worked the route exclusively since their introduction in 1993, replacing locomotive-hauled trains, while the eight ‘159/1s’ transferred south from First Trans-Pennine Express in 2006-07 having been converted from Class 158s.
NR points out that in the past 20 years, the number of passengers travelling on the route has doubled. However, when
SWR replaced South West Trains in 2017, there were no plans to replace the DMUs.
The report contends that the need to change rolling stock, combined with infrastructure upgrades in Control Period 7 (CP7, 2024-29), means the plans could be taken forward into development in CP6, which ends in 2024.
There is currently an hourly London Waterloo-Exeter St
Davids service, with an additional Waterloo-Salisbury service each hour. Peak time has additional trains in the Exeter area, while the Salisbury trains are extended to Yeovil Junction.
The report also suggests that poor performance (the Moving Annual Average for the Public Performance Measure is 74.9% against a target of 84.3%) is causing localised passenger loadings to decline. NR attributes this not only to performance, but also to the Waterloo blockade, industrial action on SWR and poor car parking capacity.
Bi-mode trains do run on the West of England route, with Great Western Railway Class 800/802s running between Yeovil and Exeter during diversions.