That's the end of my Western miniseries - thanks for watching! What franchise would like me to cover next? Let me know below & do consider liking, subscribing and joining my patreon or UA-cam channel membership - thank you!! A huge thanks to those who have allowed me to use their footage for todays video - whom without this video would not be possible to make; Brian Tucker Railway Videos: www.youtube.com/@BrianTuckerRailvideos James Underwood: www.youtube.com/@james143611 Mark Appleby: www.youtube.com/@markappleby3282 Tony: www.youtube.com/@Tonysrailvideos Apologies to my Business Zone member Clive's travel and trains who I called Clive's trains and travel by mistake!
Great video on the GWR rebranding! Regarding the former TfW 175 units, the first units have been delivered to Laira and are currently awaiting the finalising of their lease - it's certain they will replace the venerable Castle Class shortened HST sets given they are on fairly strict preventative maintenance and most of their remaining fleet are seeing a string of high engine hours and operational faults. Their replacement has in itself has been delayed several times owing to pervasive rolling stock shortages, with the third (maybe fourth?) date for their final withdrawal likely to be the May 2025 timetable change. The 150's are still seeing active refits and C6 maintenance diagrams so are likely to remain with GWR for a good portion of this decade, and will likely stick around to be a part of the Cornish Metro plans between Newquay, St Austell and Falmouth.
An episode on the Isle of Wight railway could be interesting. Or maybe some of the leading freight operators as that is a focus for future rail useage?
Bacon rolls are now a distant memory with the new Hitachi trains and part of the train experience with the old HST’s was to meander your way through the carriages to the buffet car..seats too were a lot more comfortable back then and the current ones are like sitting on wet cardboard with a concrete slab underneath..I’d have the HST back tomorrow if the truth be told.
Thank you for the video - it was a very useful summary of the things post-privatisation. Looking back, there was a brief period when the GWR HST sets had decent coffee machines in their buffet cars (a minor obsession of mine). That now seems like a distant and lamented memory. Also it's almost impossible to eat anything off the current trolley service that is remotely healthy, and the trolley often does not make its way down through standard class anyway. Mind you, that's better then SWR services from Exeter to Waterloo that have no catering at all for a journey of over three and a half hours! Looking ahead, my concern is what is going to happen to local services in Devon and Cornwall with the need to withdraw the ageing diesel fleet. We need new trains in 4-carriage sets because overcrowding can be a major issue to places like Barnstaple. If Anglia passengers in rural spots can get decent new trains, so can passengers down in the south-west.
People seem to forget (or are unaware) that the TOC's own few trains. Most are provided by Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOs) so many, if not most of the issues highlighted are their or the government's responsibility. Re nationalisation will do little, if anything to alleviate things. People need to understand how the ownership / franchising system works in conjunction with the DFT before jumping on the "nationalisation will solve everything" bandwagon.
Thanks for an interesting video. I must object to the bit about the IETs being a good replacement for HSTs though, they are awful junk and I'd take the HSTs back tomorrow!
Thanks Danny I enjoyed that - a lot of information packed into a film so I split it over two sittings. When I saw the picture of Boris slip in I thought he'd become a First Class Channel Member! The comment about the salty air around Dawlish caused me to reflect on how hi-tech trains (and cars) have become, making them possibly more vulnerable to other-than-perfect conditions. Just a feeling I have, being of a generation where as lads we fixed our own cars on the front drive, with the bonnet up. Difficult to do that these days. In your summary you mention factors happening over ten years which have impacted upon GWR, some of which are outwith their control. There are always problems in life, and dealing with them shows how resiliant or otherwise managemnt are, in other words - what plans do they have for things that go wrong. I went to Okehampton 3 years ago and have some clips you could have used. My offer of using my clips still stands - maybe I'll message you privately about that.
If Boris is watching this and does want to become a first class member he's more than welcome to (although I can't guarantee that I would say his name at the end of videos 😅). Thanks for the offer too Clive - if I happen to need some more GWR footage I'll be sure to let you know!
The service on the Barnstaple line has always been affected flooding at Cowley bridge or bad weather. Which then often requires some bridges on the route to require checking. Plus the annual closure for tree trimming along the line. What annoys me the most about the service. Even with new trains. It takes longer to get to Exeter, than it did 20/30 years ago. Though I'm glad to see the back of the Pacers.
Great video as always. Despite their issues (and my absolute hatred of First Group) it has to be said that GWR are to be commended for their willingness to try things out and see what works. As with so many operators, more capacity is desperately needed but ultimately a lot of the issues are down to government failure and not GWR.
GWR made a massive cock up by not having additional units on standby on the launch date, especially at Bristol knowing VIPs would be there so they could not cancel the service. Covid did massively screw over their plans and I think the GWR franchise would have been in a much better place had the pandemic not happened.
How on earth can they provide a good service when non of their long distance trains have a buffet on board, just a push through trolley, a step backwards with no consideration for the passengers.
I remember briefly working for GWR between September 2022 - March 2024 2023 was not the best year for infrastructure... I remember the consistent signal faults and track defects between London and Reading, absolute pain lol And to this day, Chipping Sodbury is still prone to flooding 😅
@@Andrewjg_89 Of course, maybe to Bristol proper as well. Of course the cancellations came about thanks to the inept Grayling-run DfT, who saw bi-mode trains as an excude in their mind.
Our politicians now have a short time to get GBR right. There is a need to recognise that UK is in dire need of a transport system that serves its populatin well, by whatever mode. That will require that the product is well designed for comfort, conveniance and operation, and at a proper cost to the public purse. The whole GWR project did not meet that criteria. A hugely over engineered electrification, with the rolling stock designed, I suspect by political interferance, rather than railway engineers. The HST met the requrements set out above, save the time expired motive power. Why on earth, did they not simply build an electric / bymode version, buffet / restaurant in the correct train position et al?
One of my friends told me about this but I forgot to mention it in my original comment but the council did look into it and people seem to like the idea
I can tell you're kind of working your way around the franchises. I suspect SWR is next followed by C2C then maybe Scotland? I also think that TfL would be interesting
What I don't get slightly is how most route contracts last between 5 and 10 years, however GWR (or then First Great Western etc...) has not had its franchise challenged in over 25 years. Is this because they aren't a franchise, or just because they have won it all the time? Regardless, them staying in the south west for that amount of time must make them a successful operator, right?
I did a video on first great western which explained how they got such a long contract! They had it renewed in 2015 which linked to the GWR rebrand then had smaller extensions up until today. After 2019 the franchising process has basically stopped because of COVID. Do give the FGW video a watch though!
I see GWR get a lot of slander over high ticket prices (which, lets be honest, it you dont know how to play the system, they are) and reliability concerns, but in my experience using them to commute for college and travelling to London, theyre fine. They could be a lot worse
They mostly run 387/1s on that route. The next one at the time of writing is the 0:17 which will be worked by 165128, but earlier in the day, they had 387156, 387153, and 387166 working the route.
GWR are awful the last few times ive travelled back from London on them. Passengers have been asked to depart due to lack of staff. And they are very over crowded and I the 800s are nice but I prefered the 43s. Bristol should get more funding too.
Everyone slates the 800's and 802's, and granted I've only been on one once, but I didn't think they weren't THAT bad. Yes, seats weren't that comfortable, and the air-con froze me, but I was impressed with the acceleration and speed.
If GWR went ahead with their original advert the Advertising Standards Board would have taken GWR to court for misleading customers. Just a thought. That said The Dartmoor line is the stub of a former route to Plymouth via Bude and Padstow. Why Dr Beeching axed the route in it's entirety without the foresight that the only route to Plymouth being via Dawlish is vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and closures is anyone's guess given Dawlish station's down platform was destroyed in the winter storms of 1974.
Why Dr Beeching closed half the lines he did is anyone's guess! Especially now that they are slowly being reopened. He really should have mothballed them and not lifted the track immediately!
@ that was partly the reason why the original Derby Lightweight DMU’s ran only 15 years in service. That and their coupling type of Yellow Diamond was incompatible with other first generation DMU’s which had The Blue Square type.
@@Vanmanyo Because he only studied traffic for two weeks in April and he had some interests in Road as he was commissioned by Ernest Marple's. Ernest Marple's owned Ridgway Marple's a road-building company. Exeter to Okehampton wasn't planned to be shut by Dr Beeching, but BR shut it anyway as they had shut lines to more popular places under Beeching. Beeching also suggested the closure of London Kings Cross station and diverting all traffic to St Pancras according to the Book Beeching the Champion of the Railways.
GWr has been great on their mainline service but on their branch services they have been awful. Weymouth to bristol often has no functioning toilet on the trains, in the summer they ran 4 car trains were only the front 3 coaches were open to passengers until the train got to Westbury - the train had two toilets one in the front and the other in the rear which passenger couldn't access. the service has less trains as the 1st train in the morning runs from yeovil rather than weymouth and there is a gap in service after 1800 from temple meads the next service is at 2050. Sunday services are a joke.
It will be good to see the end of 'GWR' which is not the real Great Western Railway , only borrows its name. The dreary dark green colour of the trains, the unattractive train interiors, the lack of good catering and the uncomfortable seats means that wholesale ditching of 'GWR' for a return to something like BR Sectors will be welcome.
I really like the concept of GWR and I really like the dark green colour, it's a very elegant colour. I however do not like GWR much , the last train I took with them was horrendously overcrowded and the Class 800's have turned out to be such a poor budget driven substitute for the 43's, and I agree with everything else raised. It all feels as if it's driven to save as much money as possible.
The " unattractive train interiors, the lack of good catering and the uncomfortable seats" were not a provision of the train operator (GWR) but of the government's Intercity Express Programme.
No,South Western railway are the worst,our new class 701 trains are 5years late and we will be waiting another two years to get 80 percent of them into service, they would fail the quality inspection test for Ratners!😢
The 800s On The Great Western Main Line Have Been Very Unsuccessful Since They Arrived In 2018 They've Been Uncomfortable and In General Have a Interior That Looks Bland and Boring Also They've Got Bad Build Quality The Class 387s Are No Better Either FGW/GWR Should Know Better Then This
That's the end of my Western miniseries - thanks for watching! What franchise would like me to cover next? Let me know below & do consider liking, subscribing and joining my patreon or UA-cam channel membership - thank you!!
A huge thanks to those who have allowed me to use their footage for todays video - whom without this video would not be possible to make;
Brian Tucker Railway Videos: www.youtube.com/@BrianTuckerRailvideos
James Underwood: www.youtube.com/@james143611
Mark Appleby: www.youtube.com/@markappleby3282
Tony: www.youtube.com/@Tonysrailvideos
Apologies to my Business Zone member Clive's travel and trains who I called Clive's trains and travel by mistake!
I'm a very forgiving person Danny!
It would be cool if you did a failed franchises series on the South Western franchises.
@Ollie1660 don't worry it's in the works!
Do you think SWR failed but I would say it’s relatively cheaper
C2C could be a fun one to see, especially as its one of the first few to be brought back into public ownership.
C2C is an intresting little opperator that I allways forget exists. I'm kinda supprised they weren't included in the Greater Anglia Franchise
And Class 387/3s were being used on hire with c2c and GWR. Before they were cascaded to Great Northern.
Great video on the GWR rebranding!
Regarding the former TfW 175 units, the first units have been delivered to Laira and are currently awaiting the finalising of their lease - it's certain they will replace the venerable Castle Class shortened HST sets given they are on fairly strict preventative maintenance and most of their remaining fleet are seeing a string of high engine hours and operational faults. Their replacement has in itself has been delayed several times owing to pervasive rolling stock shortages, with the third (maybe fourth?) date for their final withdrawal likely to be the May 2025 timetable change. The 150's are still seeing active refits and C6 maintenance diagrams so are likely to remain with GWR for a good portion of this decade, and will likely stick around to be a part of the Cornish Metro plans between Newquay, St Austell and Falmouth.
@@fae_a thanks a lot for the information!
An episode on the Isle of Wight railway could be interesting. Or maybe some of the leading freight operators as that is a focus for future rail useage?
Wouldn't IOW be covered by SWT/SWR?
I watched this on my way home from Gloucester on a GWR service! Great video
Awesome! Thank you!
Bacon rolls are now a distant memory with the new Hitachi trains and part of the train experience with the old HST’s was to meander your way through the carriages to the buffet car..seats too were a lot more comfortable back then and the current ones are like sitting on wet cardboard with a concrete slab underneath..I’d have the HST back tomorrow if the truth be told.
Thank you for the video - it was a very useful summary of the things post-privatisation. Looking back, there was a brief period when the GWR HST sets had decent coffee machines in their buffet cars (a minor obsession of mine). That now seems like a distant and lamented memory. Also it's almost impossible to eat anything off the current trolley service that is remotely healthy, and the trolley often does not make its way down through standard class anyway. Mind you, that's better then SWR services from Exeter to Waterloo that have no catering at all for a journey of over three and a half hours! Looking ahead, my concern is what is going to happen to local services in Devon and Cornwall with the need to withdraw the ageing diesel fleet. We need new trains in 4-carriage sets because overcrowding can be a major issue to places like Barnstaple. If Anglia passengers in rural spots can get decent new trains, so can passengers down in the south-west.
People seem to forget (or are unaware) that the TOC's own few trains. Most are provided by Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOs) so many, if not most of the issues highlighted are their or the government's responsibility.
Re nationalisation will do little, if anything to alleviate things.
People need to understand how the ownership / franchising system works in conjunction with the DFT before jumping on the "nationalisation will solve everything" bandwagon.
Thanks for an interesting video. I must object to the bit about the IETs being a good replacement for HSTs though, they are awful junk and I'd take the HSTs back tomorrow!
the UA-cam algorithm must have known I was watching this because for the first time in ages I got a GWR advert, while watching a video on GWR
Same
Thanks Danny I enjoyed that - a lot of information packed into a film so I split it over two sittings. When I saw the picture of Boris slip in I thought he'd become a First Class Channel Member!
The comment about the salty air around Dawlish caused me to reflect on how hi-tech trains (and cars) have become, making them possibly more vulnerable to other-than-perfect conditions. Just a feeling I have, being of a generation where as lads we fixed our own cars on the front drive, with the bonnet up. Difficult to do that these days.
In your summary you mention factors happening over ten years which have impacted upon GWR, some of which are outwith their control. There are always problems in life, and dealing with them shows how resiliant or otherwise managemnt are, in other words - what plans do they have for things that go wrong.
I went to Okehampton 3 years ago and have some clips you could have used. My offer of using my clips still stands - maybe I'll message you privately about that.
If Boris is watching this and does want to become a first class member he's more than welcome to (although I can't guarantee that I would say his name at the end of videos 😅). Thanks for the offer too Clive - if I happen to need some more GWR footage I'll be sure to let you know!
The service on the Barnstaple line has always been affected flooding at Cowley bridge or bad weather. Which then often requires some bridges on the route to require checking. Plus the annual closure for tree trimming along the line.
What annoys me the most about the service. Even with new trains. It takes longer to get to Exeter, than it did 20/30 years ago. Though I'm glad to see the back of the Pacers.
Great video as always. Despite their issues (and my absolute hatred of First Group) it has to be said that GWR are to be commended for their willingness to try things out and see what works.
As with so many operators, more capacity is desperately needed but ultimately a lot of the issues are down to government failure and not GWR.
GWR made a massive cock up by not having additional units on standby on the launch date, especially at Bristol knowing VIPs would be there so they could not cancel the service. Covid did massively screw over their plans and I think the GWR franchise would have been in a much better place had the pandemic not happened.
How on earth can they provide a good service when non of their long distance trains have a buffet on board, just a push through trolley, a step backwards with no consideration for the passengers.
Onboard service on LNER is much better!
@@Vanmanyo Yes they ordered with buffet/kitchen car.
I remember briefly working for GWR between September 2022 - March 2024
2023 was not the best year for infrastructure... I remember the consistent signal faults and track defects between London and Reading, absolute pain lol
And to this day, Chipping Sodbury is still prone to flooding 😅
And that will be solved by nationalisation? Network Rail is already nationalised!
Oh I wish it was that easy to solve... everything in the railway scene is a mess 🫠
Firstly NR need to give us hundreds of more miles of electrification and we need more trains still. If we get those GWR would be great
Yep and the electrification to Swansea and Oxford.
@@Andrewjg_89 Of course, maybe to Bristol proper as well. Of course the cancellations came about thanks to the inept Grayling-run DfT, who saw bi-mode trains as an excude in their mind.
Up to the government!
@12crepello The west needs atleast 100 billion in infrastructure but as always London uses most of the money.
Awesome video as always ❤
Our politicians now have a short time to get GBR right.
There is a need to recognise that UK is in dire need of a transport system that serves its populatin well, by whatever mode.
That will require that the product is well designed for comfort, conveniance and operation, and at a proper cost to the public purse.
The whole GWR project did not meet that criteria.
A hugely over engineered electrification, with the rolling stock designed, I suspect by political interferance, rather than railway engineers.
The HST met the requrements set out above, save the time expired motive power.
Why on earth, did they not simply build an electric / bymode version, buffet / restaurant in the correct train position et al?
You think the 387 is a comfortable train ? Have you ever tried sitting on one ?
I personally want GWR to open a station in my hometown of Launceston as it would make my life much easier when visiting family
Where would it connect to?
Extend the gunnislake line and go all the way up to meldon and then a branch off to Launceston at Lydford we can dream
One of my friends told me about this but I forgot to mention it in my original comment but the council did look into it and people seem to like the idea
@@cornishalps9870 maybe that would be achievable by 2150😅 the speed that new railway projects move..
I can tell you're kind of working your way around the franchises. I suspect SWR is next followed by C2C then maybe Scotland? I also think that TfL would be interesting
No fun travelling from Cardiff to Portsmouth on the awful 166 turbo units with awful seating and no catering and seat reservations
What I don't get slightly is how most route contracts last between 5 and 10 years, however GWR (or then First Great Western etc...) has not had its franchise challenged in over 25 years. Is this because they aren't a franchise, or just because they have won it all the time? Regardless, them staying in the south west for that amount of time must make them a successful operator, right?
I did a video on first great western which explained how they got such a long contract! They had it renewed in 2015 which linked to the GWR rebrand then had smaller extensions up until today. After 2019 the franchising process has basically stopped because of COVID. Do give the FGW video a watch though!
I see GWR get a lot of slander over high ticket prices (which, lets be honest, it you dont know how to play the system, they are) and reliability concerns, but in my experience using them to commute for college and travelling to London, theyre fine. They could be a lot worse
I got a GWR advert in the middle of the video!
It's a sign!
Video great
Question of the day
Where will u fit the next business class member 😂
@ThatTransportGirl Thank you. Answer: we will find out if someone new joins I guess 😭
@Vanmanyo lol
Great Western Railway should have kept the Class 387/3s and to use them on the Reading-Newbury shuttle. And to work alongside with the Class 387/1s.
They mostly run 387/1s on that route. The next one at the time of writing is the 0:17 which will be worked by 165128, but earlier in the day, they had 387156, 387153, and 387166 working the route.
7:40 Yea that statement from the Dft didn’t age well up until this very day because they never rode trains before innit. Bloody jokers.
Yes, or they only sat in First Class, which I suppose would be tolerable at best, not great by any stretch of the imagination though.
given the title i'm suprised no-one in the comments has mentioned the class 701s
Class 800’s are crap.
A product of the government Intercity Express Programme, not GWR.
GWR are awful the last few times ive travelled back from London on them. Passengers have been asked to depart due to lack of staff. And they are very over crowded and I the 800s are nice but I prefered the 43s. Bristol should get more funding too.
I love class 800s they look so good as well.
Everyone slates the 800's and 802's, and granted I've only been on one once, but I didn't think they weren't THAT bad. Yes, seats weren't that comfortable, and the air-con froze me, but I was impressed with the acceleration and speed.
They are beyond bad and getting worse with age. With luck they will shake themselves to bits and disappear sooner than planned.
My favourite train class but call it recency bias. Struggled up dainton bank earlier on an 802 or stuck behind something.
@@cornishalps9870 I've only been on them between Didcot and Bristol, but the route down via Bath Spa is very scenic, and they fly along it nicely.
Have you never noticed the awful ride quality?
@@colinlambert882 I didn't at the time,,,but I guess they were new then, and I haven't been on one again since.
If GWR went ahead with their original advert the Advertising Standards Board would have taken GWR to court for misleading customers. Just a thought. That said The Dartmoor line is the stub of a former route to Plymouth via Bude and Padstow. Why Dr Beeching axed the route in it's entirety without the foresight that the only route to Plymouth being via Dawlish is vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and closures is anyone's guess given Dawlish station's down platform was destroyed in the winter storms of 1974.
Why Dr Beeching closed half the lines he did is anyone's guess! Especially now that they are slowly being reopened. He really should have mothballed them and not lifted the track immediately!
@ that was partly the reason why the original Derby Lightweight DMU’s ran only 15 years in service. That and their coupling type of Yellow Diamond was incompatible with other first generation DMU’s which had The Blue Square type.
@ but you are right about Beeching especially with The Waverley Route now that’s been partly reopened.
@@Vanmanyo Because he only studied traffic for two weeks in April and he had some interests in Road as he was commissioned by Ernest Marple's. Ernest Marple's owned Ridgway Marple's a road-building company. Exeter to Okehampton wasn't planned to be shut by Dr Beeching, but BR shut it anyway as they had shut lines to more popular places under Beeching. Beeching also suggested the closure of London Kings Cross station and diverting all traffic to St Pancras according to the Book Beeching the Champion of the Railways.
@@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire The book title is a tad misleading. It should have been called Beeching the Destroyer of the Railways.
2:34 B U B B L E S P R I N T E R [and the amount of likes at 22:24 BST]
GWr has been great on their mainline service but on their branch services they have been awful. Weymouth to bristol often has no functioning toilet on the trains, in the summer they ran 4 car trains were only the front 3 coaches were open to passengers until the train got to Westbury - the train had two toilets one in the front and the other in the rear which passenger couldn't access. the service has less trains as the 1st train in the morning runs from yeovil rather than weymouth and there is a gap in service after 1800 from temple meads the next service is at 2050. Sunday services are a joke.
It will be good to see the end of 'GWR' which is not the real Great Western Railway , only borrows its name. The dreary dark green colour of the trains, the unattractive train interiors, the lack of good catering and the uncomfortable seats means that wholesale ditching of 'GWR' for a return to something like BR Sectors will be welcome.
Well said that man
I really like the concept of GWR and I really like the dark green colour, it's a very elegant colour. I however do not like GWR much , the last train I took with them was horrendously overcrowded and the Class 800's have turned out to be such a poor budget driven substitute for the 43's, and I agree with everything else raised. It all feels as if it's driven to save as much money as possible.
The " unattractive train interiors, the lack of good catering and the uncomfortable seats" were not a provision of the train operator (GWR) but of the government's Intercity Express Programme.
No,South Western railway are the worst,our new class 701 trains are 5years late and we will be waiting another two years to get 80 percent of them into service, they would fail the quality inspection test for Ratners!😢
Cheese.
Scotrail
Shithatchi 800's are fucking awful!
A product of the government Intercity Express Programme, not GWR.
Not just awful, also awfully expensive. Rolling stock costs have gone through the roof foe the IET operators.
IET = Incredibly Expensive Train.
The 800s On The Great Western Main Line Have Been Very Unsuccessful Since They Arrived In 2018 They've Been Uncomfortable and In General Have a Interior That Looks Bland and Boring Also They've Got Bad Build Quality The Class 387s Are No Better Either FGW/GWR Should Know Better Then This
But at Least The Class 175s Are Good Along With The Class 158s 165s 166s and 150s Class 57s and Castle HSTs So I'll Give Them Credit For That 👍