Trains hit by more problems after move

Jan 2 2008 by Rhodri Clark, Western Mail

TRAINS operated by First Great Western are suffering more breakdowns since their maintenance was switched from Wales to England.

New figures show a 28% reduction in the “miles per casualty” for FGW’s Pacer trains, which operate local services around Bristol.

Until late 2006 they were maintained in Canton, Cardiff, under a contract with Arriva Trains Wales. When FGW transferred the work to Bristol, ATW reduced staff numbers at its Canton depot.

Since then, ATW’s own Pacer trains have seen become more reliable. For years they were Britain’s least reliable trains, partly because steep gradients and frequent station stops in the Valleys punish door controls and other mechanisms.

ATW’s main fleet of Pacers saw a 34% improvement in miles per casualty in the 12 months to October 13, according to industry data published in Modern Railways magazine.

In the latest period for which figures were available, the four weeks to October 13, ATW’s Pacers managed almost 6,000 miles on average between faults.

FGW’s identical trains ran less than half that distance between faults, making them Britain’s least reliable trains.

An FGW spokesman said, “The rolling stock maintenance depot changes resulted in some problems last year, but we are now seeing the benefits of our considerable investment in a major reliability improvement programme. A programme of technical modifications began in September and will be completed by autumn.”

Reliability of Sprinter trains used by ATW in the Valleys improved by 40% over the year, beating 22 other fleets to win a “Silver Spanner” award for the most improved fleet of their type.

FGW’s identical Sprinters saw a 12% decline in reliability over the same period. Its long-distance regional trains, used on the Cardiff to Portsmouth service, saw a 6% decline.

However, both of these FGW fleets are higher in the league table than ATW’s Sprinters, second from bottom.

“It certainly looks as though ATW has gripped its train maintenance,” said Roger Ford, technology editor of Modern Railways.

Jon Veitch, ATW’s fleet director, said, “Achieving the Silver Spanner accolade is a result of the hard work from all our people.”

ATW’s main long-distance trains, which are eight years old, saw a 53% improvement in reliability.