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| Interesting Ministerial answer 07/06/2015 at 18:57 #73064 | |
Peter Bennet
5363 posts |
Parliamentary written question and reply! Q Asked by Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) [N] Asked on: 28 May 2015 Department for Transport Rolling Stock: Procurement 395 To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the maximum speed of bi-modal IEP trains in regular service will be when they are running on diesel power. A Answered by: Claire Perry Answered on: 02 June 2015 The maximum speed of the bi-modal IEP train in regular service, when they are running on diesel, will be the maximum permitted line speed. I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 07/06/2015 at 20:02 #73065 | |
Steamer
3928 posts |
I believe the actual answer is 110mph. This is obviously much superior to the current 125mph diesel trains already in use. It really is, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Least of all those nasty people who actually know what a train looks like. "Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q) Last edited: 07/06/2015 at 20:04 by Steamer Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 07/06/2015 at 20:46 #73066 | |
jc92
3631 posts |
" said:I believe the actual answer is 110mph.Does that apply to diesel mode only? In which case most of the ECML is wired so there shouldnt be too much of an issue. I didnt realise the 43's were still rated for 125mph with their new engines. The MML sets are downrated to 110mph. "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 07/06/2015 at 20:53 #73067 | |
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Steamer
3928 posts |
The 110 is in diesel mode, they can do 125 on electric. FGW and East Coast HSTs do 125mph. On FGW, it rules out any linespeed improvements on the Berks & Hants, or Bristol- Taunton lines, which aren't due to be electrified. Perhaps it'll not be a major problem, but it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the shambles that is IEP. "Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q) Last edited: 07/06/2015 at 20:55 by Steamer Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 08/06/2015 at 21:08 #73079 | |
Stephen Fulcher
2029 posts |
Ironically, this Minister trying to be cleaver, is actually guilty of misleading the House. More than likely not got a clue what she is trying to answer than a deliberate deception though. If a unit in Diesel mode runs on either the GWML or the ECML then it will not be at the maximum permitted linespeed if it is at 110mph. Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 08:10 #73091 | |
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kbarber
1712 posts |
" said:Ironically, this Minister trying to be cleaver, is actually guilty of misleading the House. More than likely not got a clue what she is trying to answer than a deliberate deception though. No more than any other politician using language cleverly is... note she carefully says the maximum speed in diesel mode will be linespeed but says nothing of what is the case if linespeed is higher. Standard political weasel, I'm afraid, just like every other statement ever made in respect of this ******* camel of a train! Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 08:17 #73092 | |
Meld
1098 posts |
I thought Sir Humphrey was long gone  (Yes Minister/Prime Minister) 
Passed the age to be doing 'Spoon Feeding' !!! Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 08:56 #73093 | |
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Peter Bennet
5363 posts |
Second attempt: answer awaited. http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-06-04/1261/ Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 09:21 #73094 | |
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Steamer
3928 posts |
" said:Second attempt: answer awaited.That's still unlikely to get the correct answer: they'll almost certainly be allowed to reach 125mph if the speed limit permits, but there's considerable doubt as to whether the train will actually be able to reach it on diesel power. "Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q) Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 09:21 #73095 | |
northroad
870 posts |
" said:Second attempt: answer awaited. What a waste of tax payers money and also taking up parliamentary time asking questions like this. God help us all. I see the MP who raised the question is Labour....that probably explains it. Last edited: 09/06/2015 at 09:26 by northroad Reason: Further invstigation. Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 09:35 #73096 | |
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Steamer
3928 posts |
" said:" said:The reason it's being asked is because there's serious doubt as to whether IEP will match the HSTs when running on diesel. DfT will do everything they can to avoid admitting that IEP is a farce, hence why they're giving everyone the run around and necessitating questions like this.Second attempt: answer awaited. "Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q) Last edited: 09/06/2015 at 09:35 by Steamer Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 09:57 #73097 | |
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northroad
870 posts |
Hardly think the answer is giving anyone the run around. What sort of a response do you honestly expect anyone who is an MP, part of the civil service or even working for local government to give. A bit like asking when a new Sim will be ready and getting the answer it will be ready when it's ready. All pretty logical really when we are told it will be ready when it's ready. You really don't want anything running around by electric or diesel at more than the allowable line speed do you?
Last edited: 09/06/2015 at 10:00 by northroad Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 09/06/2015 at 10:22 #73098 | |
andyb0607
260 posts |
Looks like a standard non committal ministerial response to me!!
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| Interesting Ministerial answer 10/06/2015 at 07:54 #73112 | |
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kbarber
1712 posts |
" said:Hardly think the answer is giving anyone the run around. What sort of a response do you honestly expect anyone who is an MP, part of the civil service or even working for local government to give. A bit like asking when a new Sim will be ready and getting the answer it will be ready when it's ready. All pretty logical really when we are told it will be ready when it's ready. You really don't want anything running around by electric or diesel at more than the allowable line speed do you? ...but you most certainly do want a train touted as HST replacement to be capable of at least matching HST performance. Anyone who reads Modern Railways will have been able to follow Roger Ford (a trained engineer not to be messed with) as he tried to get DfT to admit the facts of the case; most entertaining, as he usually had access to information that allowed him to work out whether their weasel stacked up with reality (and I don't recall that it ever did). (Either that, or DfT had been given authority to repeal various laws of physics.) So GWML and ECML are still going to be saddled with this dratted camel (a horse designed by a committee) that won't be capable of doing the job its heading-for-50 years older predecessor is still doing on a daily basis yet will cost an absolute fortune. Moral: never let Sir Humphrey within a country mile of a train set! Log in to reply |
| Interesting Ministerial answer 10/06/2015 at 10:05 #73116 | |
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northroad
870 posts |
" said:Hardly think the answer is giving anyone the run around. What sort of a response do you honestly expect anyone who is an MP, part of the civil service or even working for local government to give.Looking this morning I see the result is in and the answer to the reworked question has been given. Not surprisingly it states "The current maximum permitted line speed of a bi-modal IEP train in regular service when running on (a) diesel and (b) electric power is 125 miles per hour" Must admit I am agreeing with your argument and the whole saga is something of a farce but I still insist that you are never going to get someone in the various offices of Whitehall to put their neck on the block. The word CURRENT in the new response answers the question as far as the minister is concerned but does not answer the question for those seeking an answer to the question that they thought they were asking. Will there be a third question? Who knows? Stay tuned.....but there comes a time when you give up on a dead horse and accept what you have got. Life on the railway has always been littered with all mighty bloopers (awarding of the West Coast franchise procedure being one) but the great British tax payer will always be there to pick up the bill. Log in to reply |