In message <u6sepl$2ffih$5@dont-email.me>, at 14:57:57 on Tue, 20 Jun
2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>> In message <1n439ihqla6vimea3faf6edk4mka3vlu4d@4ax.com>, at 12:52:34 on
>> Tue, 20 Jun 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>> On Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:20:39 +0100, Scott
>>> <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:03:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
>>>> <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> [snip]
>>>>
>>>> From what I hear, ASLEF may be pushing at an open door as apparently
>>>> fuel economy is very bad.
>>>
>>> Yes, that's also the main stated reason for GWR to stand the Castles down.
>>
>> Plus not having First Class, and for some reason the inability to even
>> reserve seats for paying First Class passengers who have been downgraded
>> to Standard for that leg of their journey.
>
>That's obviously not a reason to stand them down. The Castles were created
>to replace/supplement standard class DMUs, which is why they are standard
>class only. They weren't intended for services offering first class, even
>though, like DMUs, they may sometimes have to stand in for an IET.

The difficult is that services are a mixture of IETs and Castles,
and the ticketing price is the same. So from the passenger's point
of view it's a lottery (unless they specifically adjust their
itinerary to get an IET). It's a pity they can't be bothered to at
least issue reservations, even if the seating is 100% standard class.

>Conversely, the ScotRail Inter7City sets were intended to offer an
>intercity-type experience, and do have a proper first class section.

Today's 13:15 Penzance to Plymouth (and return) is being operated by an
IET.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
> In message <u6sepl$2ffih$5@dont-email.me>, at 14:57:57 on Tue, 20 Jun
> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <1n439ihqla6vimea3faf6edk4mka3vlu4d@4ax.com>, at 12:52:34 on
>>> Tue, 20 Jun 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>> On Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:20:39 +0100, Scott
>>>> <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:03:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
>>>>> <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> [snip]
>>>>>
>>>>> From what I hear, ASLEF may be pushing at an open door as apparently
>>>>> fuel economy is very bad.
>>>>
>>>> Yes, that's also the main stated reason for GWR to stand the Castles down.
>>>
>>> Plus not having First Class, and for some reason the inability to even
>>> reserve seats for paying First Class passengers who have been downgraded
>>> to Standard for that leg of their journey.
>>
>> That's obviously not a reason to stand them down. The Castles were created
>> to replace/supplement standard class DMUs, which is why they are standard
>> class only. They weren't intended for services offering first class, even
>> though, like DMUs, they may sometimes have to stand in for an IET.
>
> The difficult is that services are a mixture of IETs and Castles,
> and the ticketing price is the same. So from the passenger's point
> of view it's a lottery (unless they specifically adjust their
> itinerary to get an IET). It's a pity they can't be bothered to at
> least issue reservations, even if the seating is 100% standard class.
>
>> Conversely, the ScotRail Inter7City sets were intended to offer an
>> intercity-type experience, and do have a proper first class section.
>
> Today's 13:15 Penzance to Plymouth (and return) is being operated by an
> IET.

That's obviously not a reason to retire the Castles.

On 26/06/2023 07:40, Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <u6sepl$2ffih$5@dont-email.me>, at 14:57:57 on Tue, 20 Jun
> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <1n439ihqla6vimea3faf6edk4mka3vlu4d@4ax.com>, at 12:52:34 on
>>> Tue, 20 Jun 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>> On Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:20:39 +0100, Scott
>>>> <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:03:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
>>>>> <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> [snip]
>>>>>
>>>>> From what I hear, ASLEF may be pushing at an open door as apparently
>>>>> fuel economy is very bad.
>>>>
>>>> Yes, that's also the main stated reason for GWR to stand the Castles
>>>> down.
>>>
>>> Plus not having First Class, and for some reason the inability to even
>>> reserve seats for paying First Class passengers who have been downgraded
>>> to Standard for that leg of their journey.
>>
>> That's obviously not a reason to stand them down. The Castles were
>> c
>> to replace/supplement standard class DMUs, which is why they are standard
>> class only. They weren't intended for services offering first class, even
>> though, like DMUs, they may sometimes have to stand in for an IET.
>
> The difficult is that services are a mixture of IETs and Castles,
> and the ticketing price is the same. So from the passenger's point
> of view it's a lottery (unless they specifically adjust their
> itinerary to get an IET). It's a pity they can't be bothered to at
> least issue reservations, even if the seating is 100% standard class.
>
>> Conversely, the ScotRail Inter7City sets were intended to offer an
>> intercity-type experience, and do have a proper first class section.
>
> Today's 13:15 Penzance to Plymouth (and return) is being operated by an
> IET.

The services provided by the Castles are class 2 and cover those which
has been second class only without reservations since at least the mid
seventies west of Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Some train
reservations with advance fares are available.