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Post by fish7373 on Dec 20, 2017 17:29:21 GMT
 Tommrow is the last day for the RAT train to run this season on Piccadilly line last call for photos on the network i will have to take apart next year mmmmm Times for The RAT It leaves depot around 9.27am and runs down to Hatton x before retuning to Acton. Leaving just after 10.30 to Ruislip. It will also be out in the afternoon at 14.14 going straight to Acton for a run to Ruislip. |
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Post by superteacher on Dec 20, 2017 17:38:59 GMT
Well at least that means the trains can run at full line speed again.
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Post by John Tuthill on Dec 20, 2017 18:04:03 GMT
Tommrow is the last day for the RAT train to run this season on Piccadilly line last call for photos on the network i will have to take apart next year mmmmm Times for The RAT It leaves depot around 9.27am and runs down to Hatton x before retuning to Acton. Leaving just after 10.30 to Ruislip. It will also be out in the afternoon at 14.14 going straight to Acton for a run to Ruislip. Nice photo! |
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Post by alpinejohn on Mar 1, 2018 12:13:16 GMT
Nice photo which prompted a left field suggestion regarding the Piccadilly RAT operation.
It seems that each year the current plan entails reducing the regular fleet available for passenger use by one full train for several weeks to first equip it with portable RAT kit and then operate it as needed and then once the leaf fall season is passed spending even more time and money removing all that kit and converting the train back so that it is available for normal passenger service.
So rather than messing with a train from the passenger carrying fleet why not put those portable kit into the AIT which has recently been suggested as of no further use and possibly destined for Booths?
AIT is a 6 car unit with a pair of 72 units at each end with a pair of 67DMs in the middle - so plenty of powered axles and GRIP which should make it a great choice for greasy rail locations.
If wiki is correct then the AIT units are all smaller in every dimensions than current Piccadilly 73 stock. So they should definitely fit down any tunnel which Piccadilly stock operates on.
Earlier photos of the extra kit inside the RAT suggest that it should be a relatively easy task to transfer it over and install it permanently on one of the AIT cars. AIT apparently already has a kitchen installed somewhere so should have ample electrical power supply available to meet the needs of the portable RAT kit. Indeed once installed the RAT can be pretty much left in-situ between RAT seasons.
So apart from training up a few existing Piccadilly line crew to operate the AIT (72) units this would avoid the need to reduce passenger services during the RAT season.
There are bound to be some other costs but as 72 stock is still in use on the Bakerloo presumably there is a maintenance team and parts inventory somewhere which would be able to keep at least the basic unit operational.
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Post by Dstock7080 on Mar 1, 2018 12:23:12 GMT
a great idea ! apart from training up a few existing Piccadilly line crew to operate the AIT (72) units this would avoid the need to reduce passenger services during the RAT season. The AIT and RATs are crewed by Test Train (TransPlant) so not necessary to retrain any Piccadilly drivers. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Mar 1, 2018 17:05:34 GMT
There is a west end and east end RAT so there would still be a train short. Is the East end RAT really needed?
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