The MkII fleet at Barrow Hill continues to be reactivated. Vehicles FO 3232, TSOs 5919 and 5995 and BSO 9506 are now complete. This currently allows Cargo-D to offer 9 vehicles (FOs 3232, 3374, RFO 1254, TSOs 5919, 5971, 5995, 6122 and 6173). The RFO has recently been recarpeted, re-seated and the interior trim replaced to generally refresh the vehicle. Next to be outshopped will be TSOs 5810, 5901, 5941 and 6001. FO 3366 will complete the rake. This will be available for spot hire, short term lease and is ideal for 'people-mover' trains and charter work.
With our partners Nemesis Rail at Barrow Hill, it also shows how such vehicles can be cost-effectively returned to traffic to fulfil roles such as FGW's Cardiff - Taunton operation. The 5 MkII vehicles allocated by Cargo-D to this route have given very little trouble since being introduced 6 months ago. The flexibility of such vehicles also sees their use on Bristol - Weymouth summer services on Saturdays.
The Virgin MkIII push-pull set is also now operating 7 days a week for the next 5 weekends. In addition to it's Monday to Friday diagram, it also operates a similar diagram on Saturday, with a standby role on Sunday, should it need to be stepped up. The value of using assets at weekends to carry out this work was shown in the number of charters and provate hire-outs the MkIII set undertook at weekends. The set has shown it's worth with football traffic and general charter work.
Again, this set has operated with very few problems.
WSMR has begun using Cargo-D MkIII vehicles to strengthen sets at peak periods or when large numbers of people are expected to be using WSMR services. Again, this shows the flexibility of adding additional vehicles easily and cost effectively to such trains. Cargo-D has fitted it's MkIII fleet with AAR through multiple working to allow Class 66/67 both under-power-top and tail working, or with a suitably equipped DVT.
Further information about sporadic and charter/leisure work for the fleet can be found at sister site www.rail-bluecharters.co.uk
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