IMHO that new cab is hideous.. I can understanding trying to trick passengers into thinking it's a new train, but don't use that design! May also want to replace the windows, as they may get a bit suspicious when none of them open!
Even more bizzare that some are still in Southern livery (albeit with FCC branding) even though they transferred to FCC nearly four years ago.
Makes more sense to show them in a current livery than one they would never wear in the future surely.
IMHO that new cab is hideous.. I can understanding trying to trick passengers into thinking it's a new train, but don't use that design! May also want to replace the windows, as they may get a bit suspicious when none of them open!
New cab looks really ugly in my opinion, even worse than what they did to the 365s.
Almost certainly not considering they are getting brand new stock. Why would they want a handful of old stock which is almost certainly incompatible with whatever they decide on.
The Mk3 coach, be it in Locomotive Hauled
Coaching Stock (LHCS) or High Speed Train
(HST) configuration, remains the standard
by which others are judged when it comes to
passenger comfort
The absence of any under-floor power equipment
allows the air conditioning system to be well insulated
from the passenger area, providing a very quiet
passenger environment, typically 5 dB quieter than
under-floor engined stock. Noise has been proven
to be a major factor in passenger fatigue over longer
distances so reducing it makes a significant difference
to the passenger’s perception of the journey.
Many modern vehicles have adopted a “tilt profile” even
though they do not actually tilt, but the Mk3 exploits the
full loading gauge. For the passenger this means larger
luggage racks, more available space and a generally
better ambience than is available on newer trains.
A lot depends on how the Thameslink stock gets cascaded (eg whether GW gets 319s or new stock).
But I wouldn't say it was a given that ME will get new trains if there is a viable dual-voltage alternative lying spare.
The new EMUs Southern are going to order also complicate the picture.
I found this one even more interesting:
http://www.porterbrook.com/downloads/brochures/Mk3 Brochure.pdf
Good to see some in the industry still do appreciate and value passenger comfort.
I don't think shortening them or a new cab moulding is worth it.
The latter especially is just a pointless waste of money.
It has no operational benefits, it is form over function, the essence of today's railway.
It doesn't depend on the cascade at all. The cascade is to Northern.
Only around half of the 319s are 'confirmed' for Northern at present. Nothing official has been said about 319s being used on North TPE routes or replacing 32xs currently at Northern. At present the other half are due to go to FGW unless it's confirmed that they'll get new trains instead.
Well I think the new traction packages and the LED light units are a good idea....
I don't think shortening them or a new cab moulding is worth it.
The latter especially is just a pointless waste of money.
It has no operational benefits, it is form over function, the essence of today's railway.
One thing to note is the 319s have expensive track access costs, so a 3 car option being doubled up to a 6 car option on busy services could save quite a bit in track access costs.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Only around half of the 319s are 'confirmed' for Northern at present. Nothing official has been said about 319s being used on North TPE routes or replacing 32xs currently at Northern. At present the other half are due to go to FGW unless it's confirmed that they'll get new trains instead.
Idly speculating - 'Half the 319s for Northern' so @ 43 4 car units.
The other half possibly/probably to GW, presumably for Newbury/Oxford - Paddington, thats 38 4 car (or up to 18 8 car units in the peaks - is that figure excessive?
If the 319's go to either Northern or the GW line, they will be lighter than they are now as they will not require the 3rd rail DC equipment to be kept as they will then purely be working overhead AC, other than any that may end up in Merseyside.
One thing to note is the 319s have expensive track access costs, so a 3 car option being doubled up to a 6 car option on busy services could save quite a bit in track access costs....
It actually does. The current cabs are known to be draughty and occasionally leak...
Can't say I ever noticed they were draughty, but then I didn't get to drive them for that long.
Of course, a 3-car 319 would be a big reduction in capacity at peak times and 6-car trains would be too long for many platforms (only fitting SDO or lengthening would resolve that, though with SDO you might end up with two coaches carting around thin air pretty much all the time).
At some point, Leeds will be wanting some 3-car units for the Airedale line services as platforms 1 & 2 at Shipley cannot be extended beyond 6 cars without it becoming stupidly expensive. Whether 3-car 319s will end up on here is anyone's guess- it could just as likely mean losing the 4th car from some or all the 333s/321s/322s, or some of the 323s coming 'home'...
Of course, a 3-car 319 would be a big reduction in capacity at peak times and 6-car trains would be too long for many platforms