Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Railengineer]

Well ATO is hardly anything new, Boris's Victoria line has been doing it since the 1960s.

I guess that was my point. About time the grown-up trains started to use it too.

 

[bramling]

I guess that was my point. About time the grown-up trains started to use it too.

There is a LONG way to go before ATO becomes suitable for mainline trains on the wider network.

It's one thing introducing ATO on tightly controlled metro-style routes (like the Glasgow Subway, LUL and Thameslink), but it's another introducing it on high-speed main lines.

Even modern systems do not cope well with differing rail adhesion conditions. There is always the option to vary brake rates to suit different conditions, but the cost of doing so is that all trains then brake lightly even when they don't need to, leading to excessively slow journey times.

In-cab signalling may be suited to high-speed lines where the train gets up to a constant speed and generally stays there unless something out-of-course has happened, but it's another matter elsewhere, where it can introduce inflexibility. The Cambrian Railway is not really a fair trial in this respect as this is a very simple layout. It would be interesting to see how ETCS performs on, for example, the approaches to London Bridge or Victoria!

 

[MK Tom]

The 700 mock up has been officially announced as open to the public at the end of the month.

https://www.facebook.com/WhistleStopTour/posts/681147605240968:0

Page not publicly available.

 

[Class377/5]

Page not publicly available.

It announced a tad early. There will be an announcement shortly.

 

[KX03HZY]

The 700 mock up has been officially announced as open to the public at the end of the month.

https://www.facebook.com/WhistleStopTour/posts/681147605240968:0

Whereabouts is this?

 

[Class377/5]

Whereabouts is this?

Might want to read my last post. Announcement will be very soon.

 

[KX03HZY]

Might want to read my last post. Announcement will be very soon.

I did, but the FB article was available at the time you found it out. Do you know where it is?

 

[user15681]

I did, but the FB article was available at the time you found it out. Do you know where it is?

Not sure if I'm allowed to say where it is or when, but keep looking for an announcement. It's towards the end of this month somewhere in London. It's only for one day, I believe, but is open until late-ish.

 

[Manchester77]

I thought it had all already been published (the where's and the when's)

I know where and when it is an I have no connection to the rail industry?

 

[transmanche]

I thought it had all already been published (the where's and the when's)

Just Googling "Desiro City Excel" reveals all...

 

[user15681]

I thought it had all already been published (the where's and the when's)

I know where and when it is an I have no connection to the rail industry?

Yes but from what I understand, I don't think public viewings were meant to be announced just yet, hence why it's been removed from that Facebook page for now.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Will the tentative proposal for large open areas near to the doors be incorporated into the final design ?

 

[asylumxl]

Could they not possibly put it somewhere near a Thameslink station, so that it;s future users can see it more easily?

 

[Class377/5]

Yes but from what I understand, I don't think public viewings were meant to be announced just yet, hence why it's been removed from that Facebook page for now.

Spot on.

Could they not possibly put it somewhere near a Thameslink station, so that it;s future users can see it more easily?

As I understand it there wont be another event. Especially as next year will see the first actual production train on UK rails. Its been based near a future Thameslink station.

Will the tentative proposal for large open areas near to the doors be incorporated into the final design ?

This is the final design. Its a life sized non moving version of the actual fleet now being built. User groups have already given feedback as they've seen it.

From what I've heard (not seen it yet myself) it does have large areas near the doors.

 

[159220]

The post said the following, I had it in my saved webpages:

""A life-size mock-up of the Desiro City train will be unveiled by Rail Minister Stephen Hammond at the ExCeL exhibition centre in London at the end of this month, with general public invited to come on board. Siemens was awarded the significant Thameslink rolling stock contract last year and the 1140 carriages are currently being manufactured, with a number of components from the UK. This event will give you the opportunity to be amongst the first to see and walk through the next generation of commuter train. If you are interested in attending, the general public viewing will be from 14:00 – 20:00 on 29 January. No booking is required. For more information, visit www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk . We hope to see some of you there!""

https://www.facebook.com/WhistleStop...147605240968:0

The comments on the thread confirmed it is a one off event, the mock up being there for two days, but open to the public only between 2 and 8 pm.

 

[Aictos]

I won't be attending, due to work commitments preventing me

 

[Hophead]

Thameslink programme website reveals all (including the events at actual Thameslink stations)

 

[WatcherZero]

Schedule is

Roadshow dates (3.30-8pm)* Station

Monday 3 February St Pancras International
Tuesday 4 February King's Cross
Wednesday 5 February Blackfriars
Thursday 6 February London Bridge

Monday 10 February City Thameslink
Tuesday 11 February Bedford
Wednesday 12 February St Albans
Thursday 13 February West Hampstead

(Half term)

Monday 24 February Peterborough
Tuesday 25 February Cambridge
Wednesday 26 February Stevenage
Thursday 27 February Hitchin

Monday 3 March Brighton
Tuesday 4 March East Croydon
Wednesday 5 March Wimbledon
Thursday 6 March Luton

Monday 10 March King's Cross
Tuesday 11 March City Thameslink
Wednesday 12 March Gatwick Airport

*all dates and locations subject to confirmation - please check this site closer to the Roadshow date for any updates

 

[Class377/5]

Of course that's just a model of the train not the mock up.

Something like this

 

[jon0844]

That's how they're made. You just pour water on them and they expand to full size.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Of course that's just a model of the train not the mock up.

Something like this

Looks to be a somewhat draughty travel experience envisaged with the open-sided bodyshell design as shown in the model.

Congratulations to Snapper on the image portrayed, which is to his usual very high standard.

 

[MK Tom]

That's how they're made. You just pour water on them and they expand to full size.

Where's the 'like' button when you need it?

Of course that's just a model of the train not the mock up.

Something like this

Looks like they have 2+2 seating judging by what I can make out there...

 

[TEW]

2+2 seating has always been the plan.

 

[asylumxl]

That's how they're made. You just pour water on them and they expand to full size.

I fear there will be gauge clearance issues when it rains, not to mention what will happen if someone was to wet themselves...

 

[Class377/5]

Where's the 'like' button when you need it?

Looks like they have 2+2 seating judging by what I can make out there...

The DfT specified 2+2 seating, 3+2 was barred from being offered.

I don't know, open top is great for tourism in the summer ??????

 

[B&W]

The DfT specified 2+2 seating, 3+2 was barred from being offered.

I don't know, open top is great for tourism in the summer ??????

Will the seats be any better than the 377s which are ok for short 15min journeys but totally unsuitable for journeys of up to 2hrs from the South Coast?

Brian

 

[transmanche]

I don't know, open top is great for tourism in the summer

And solves the problem of no aircon if a unit breaks down in the core and is stuck for 3-4 hours...

 

[Class377/5]

Will the seats be any better than the 377s which are ok for short 15min journeys but totally unsuitable for journeys of up to 2hrs from the South Coast?

Brian

I haven't been on one myself but know a few who have and told they aren't bad at all.

And solves the problem of no aircon if a unit breaks down in the core and is stuck for 3-4 hours...

 

[user15681]

Heads up if you're planning on going to see the mock up at the ExCeL, there's planned strike action on the DLR on that day, 29th January.

 

[Nym]

Heads up if you're planning on going to see the mock up at the ExCeL, there's planned strike action on the DLR on that day, 29th January.

Perhaps this is one of the days that we'll see high ridership on the Emerates Airline?