Speculation Increases Over Use Of HSTs
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Magazine
This is the second paragraph.
GWR and ScotRail are both introducing modified four and five-coach HSTs on various duties, with GWR’s operating regional services and ScotRail’s Inter7City sets to be used on its core inter-city routes.
I’ve yet to take a ride in either of the GWR oe Scotrail version of the trains and I shall be looking forward to riding both, later in the year.
I’ve only seem one close-up once at Dundee.
But they seem to be very slow in coming in to service.
Abellio Scotrail’s Proposed Fleet
Abellio Scotrail seem to have 54 Class 43 locomotives and 121 Mark 3 coaches, which according to Wikipedia, will be formed into 26 sets: 17 five-car and 9 four-car trains.
Routes include connecting Scotland’s seven cities.
GWR’s Proposed Fleet
Great Western Railway seem to have retained 24 Class 43 locomotives and 48 Mark 3 coaches, which will be formed into 11 four-car trains.
Routes include between Cardiff and Penzance.
Will These Short HSTs Be Successful?
A number of factors will come into play.
- The trains are liked by passengers and drivers.
- They are an ideal size for a lot of routes.
- They have an excellent ride.
- They have a lot of capacity for oversized baggage, like bicycles, surf boards, sporting equipment and even some urgent or perishable freight.
Only time will tell, but it is my view, they have a good chance of being a success.
Do Short HSTs Have Any Problems?
The two big problems are their age and that they are diesel-powered I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the new franchises in the next few years, deciding to go all electric, with only a small number of diesel or hybrid trains.
Would Short HSTs be able to get an exception on heritage grounds?
The technology now is at a level, that by 2030, the UK railways could be diesel-free, with all trains electric, battery or zero-carbon hybrid.
Are There Any Other Routes Where Short HSTs Could Be Used?
I will break them down by franchis, in this incomplete list.
East Midlands Railway – Norwich And Derby
This new route for East Midlands Railway will be created by splitting the current service between Norwich and Liverpool Lime Street stations.
- The route is 152 miles long.
- I estimate that current trains will take three hours.
- The service needs four-car trains at certain times.
Would it be possible for Short HSTs to do a Norwich and Derby round trip in six hours?
GWR – Cardiff And Portsmouth
If the Castles can work Cardiff and Penzance, could they work Cardiff and Portsmouth?
Scotrail – Far North Line
What has surprised me is that Abellio Scotrail are not going to use their Inter7City trains between Inverness and Wick stations on the Far North Line.
- The distance is 174 miles
- The current trip takes four and a quarter hours
- The round trip is nine hours.
So could a short HST do the round trip in eight hours?
A single train could then run to the following schedule.
- Leave Inverness at 0600.
- Return from Wick at 1000.
- Leave Inverness at 1400
- Return from Wick at 1800
The train would arrive back in Inverness at 2200.
In Is This The Most Unusual Idea For A New Railway Service in The UK?, I wrote about a proposal to introduce Class 230 trains between Wick and Thurso at the far north of Scotland.
This Far North Metro, would sit well with a two train per day service to Inverness.
- Mark 3 carriages have large windows for sightseeing.
- A buffet and small bar could be provided.
- The trains have space for parcels, urgent and perishable freight.
- The service could link with the ferries to the Orkneys.
A subsidiary objective would be to bring some prosperity to a remote region.
Scotrail – Kyle Of Lochalsh Line
If Short HSTs can work their magic on the Far North Line, I just wonder if they could provide services on the Kyle Of Lochalsh Line.
- The distance is 83 miles
- The current trip takes two hours and forty minutes.
So could a short HST do the round trip in six hours?
As with the Far North Line, there would be a much improved service for both those that live along the line and the many visitors.
Transport for Wales – Cardiff And Holyhead
Transport for Wales run a two-hourly service between Cardiff and Holyhead stations. The rolling stock for some services will be a rake of four Mark 4 carriages, a Class 67 locomotive and a driving van trailer.
Isn’t this in effect a train with a similar purpose to a Short HST?
Obviously, Transport for Wales have got good reasons for not running Short HSTs on this route, but the choice of rolling stock does show similar thinking that led to the creation of the Short HST.
Transport for Wales – Heart Of Wales Line
The Heart Of Wales Line runs between Llanelli in West Wales and Craven Arms in England.
- It is around 150 miles long.
- Trains take a few minutes over four hours between Swansea and Shrewsbury stations.
It is one of those rail lines, that could be a serious tourism asset.
Would Short HSTs add to the experience?
Transport for Wales -North Wales Main Line
The North Wales Main Line is another line, where iconic Short HSTs might attract passengers.
Conclusion On Routes
There are certainly several places where Short HSTs could be gainfully employed.
Could Any Other Trains Be Used?
The specification could be something like this.
- Four or five carriages.
- Diesel, diesel bi-mode or hydrogen bi-mode.
- Quality interior
- 100, 110 or 125 mph top-speed.
Trains could be either new build or a rebuilt and/or refurbished older train.
Class 802 Train
Hitachi’s Class 802 train is in service.
- It meets the specification.
- It can seat somewhere between 326-342 passengers.
- It can use electrification if it exists.
It would do a good job.
Class 755 Train
Stadler’s Class 755 train will soon be in service.
- It meets the specification.
- It is only a 100 mph train, but I suspect it can be uprated to 125 mph, as the electric version can handle this speed.
- A four-car train can seat 227 passengers.
- It can use electrification if it exists.
It should do a good job.
Could HSTs Have Any Parcel Or Freight Applications?
This is always being suggested, but anything concerning freight or parcels must have the following characteristics.
- They must be reliable.
- They must be able to stick to a timetable.
- They must have a hard-wearing interior, as they will have a hard life.
- The small single doors would need to be replaced.
- They must be able to accept standard freight pallets.
- They must be quick and easy to load.
My biggest worry would be over the last two points. Would the trains just need three much modification to make them suitable for freight and parcels.
Could HSTs Have Heritage Applications?
Already a rake of Mark 3 coaches is going to be used with the 60163 steam locomotive.
But could HSTs in their own right find use in the heritage sector?
I think, that there could be space in the market for a few HSTs, which may have the sort of appeal to the younger generation, that steam trains had to my generation.
After all, I’ve had some of the best meals in my life in an HST.
Conclusion
They may be applications, but each will only use small numbers of trains.
So I’m afraid that some of these trains will go to scrap.
But then no-one can say, that they haven’t done well!
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