Hi everybody.
Many thanks glbotu for your well informed and positive input into this threads debate. However, many of us who regularly travel by rail out of North Somerset are basing our information on what has been passed on by First Great Western through their on-board train magazine and at times hand-outs given to passengers arriving at stations in Devon and North Somerset.
The above literature has been stating for some time that the reason for electrifying the great Western main line is to increase overall train speeds. In doing the foregoing the number of trains able to travel along the line per hour into London Paddington will increase and thereby reduce the high passenger overcrowding on each train.
The above train operator has also spoken about the new class 801s which as glbotu advises will run on dual power either electric or diesel. That stated, first great Western further advises that the top speed of these consists will be 125 mph even when running under electric power only, which is the same as the present class 125s used on the line.
The new electric only powered class 800 consists will have a top speed of 140 mph and will be scheduled to have an average top running speed of 120 mph. As at present 20 mph below any power units top running speed is always allowed for so that an extra 20 mph can be used to make up time following delays etc.
With all the above in mind, if the class 801s where allowed on the first great Western main line between Bristol and London following electrification they could only be allocated a top average running speed of 105 mph. The foregoing would be 15 mph below network rails demands for the minimum average of all HST services if capacity on the line is to be increased.
So, the above is the information that has been given to us as rail commuters travelling out of Somerset and Devon by first great Western. That said, there have been no updates in the last for the last three months at least. So, if forum members such as glbotu or anyone else can provide more pleasing and concrete information there would be many smiling faces on North Somerset railway stations in the coming days (including mine).
Sorry if all the above looks somewhat complicated, hope everyone can decipher what I am not too well trying to state.
Bill
Many thanks glbotu for your well informed and positive input into this threads debate. However, many of us who regularly travel by rail out of North Somerset are basing our information on what has been passed on by First Great Western through their on-board train magazine and at times hand-outs given to passengers arriving at stations in Devon and North Somerset.
The above literature has been stating for some time that the reason for electrifying the great Western main line is to increase overall train speeds. In doing the foregoing the number of trains able to travel along the line per hour into London Paddington will increase and thereby reduce the high passenger overcrowding on each train.
The above train operator has also spoken about the new class 801s which as glbotu advises will run on dual power either electric or diesel. That stated, first great Western further advises that the top speed of these consists will be 125 mph even when running under electric power only, which is the same as the present class 125s used on the line.
The new electric only powered class 800 consists will have a top speed of 140 mph and will be scheduled to have an average top running speed of 120 mph. As at present 20 mph below any power units top running speed is always allowed for so that an extra 20 mph can be used to make up time following delays etc.
With all the above in mind, if the class 801s where allowed on the first great Western main line between Bristol and London following electrification they could only be allocated a top average running speed of 105 mph. The foregoing would be 15 mph below network rails demands for the minimum average of all HST services if capacity on the line is to be increased.
So, the above is the information that has been given to us as rail commuters travelling out of Somerset and Devon by first great Western. That said, there have been no updates in the last for the last three months at least. So, if forum members such as glbotu or anyone else can provide more pleasing and concrete information there would be many smiling faces on North Somerset railway stations in the coming days (including mine).
Sorry if all the above looks somewhat complicated, hope everyone can decipher what I am not too well trying to state.
Bill
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