Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[mister-sparky]

1612 from London Bridge cancelled again due to a train fault. Arrived 10 minutes late and then sat in the platform for 20 minutes until telling the whole 12 coaches full of people that it was now cancelled. 107 yet again taken out of service due to a fault... Why is it happening so frequently to a brand new train?

 

[Bald Rick]

The ATO is rather forward in its moving. Literally. I got shown on the simulator on what it does with a red in front of it. It will move as far forward as it can.

It will go past the red if the line is clear to the next block marker (+ overlap).

Will be interesting to see how quickly drivers get used to that!

 

[physics34]

1612 from London Bridge cancelled again due to a train fault. Arrived 10 minutes late and then sat in the platform for 20 minutes until telling the whole 12 coaches full of people that it was now cancelled. 107 yet again taken out of service due to a fault... Why is it happening so frequently to a brand new train?

once they gather all the info about the faults from the first few units, hopefully they will be fixed on the remaining ones...especially software glitches.

All part of the process i guess.

 

[MCR247]

It will go past the red if the line is clear to the next block marker (+ overlap).

Will be interesting to see how quickly drivers get used to that!

I can just see it now:

@GTRTwitter: Hi I'm on the 0807 Thameslink service and the train has gone slightly past a red signal. I pay £xxxx per year and you cant even spend that on drivers that do their job!!!

 

[DerekC]

It will go past the red if the line is clear to the next block marker (+ overlap).

Will be interesting to see how quickly drivers get used to that!

Actually no it doesn't. The red will turn to yellow if the approaching train is ETCS fitted and communicating. The train runs past to the next block marker. Nevertheless it will take a bit of getting used to!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I know I'm asking the impossible but what are my chances of spotting some 700 workings tomorrow morning?

 

[b0b]

Actually no it doesn't. The red will turn to yellow if the approaching train is ETCS fitted and communicating.

Ah good. Never a good idea to "overload" the Red with a "its yellow if the computer is driving".

 

[gazthomas]

I know I'm asking the impossible but what are my chances of spotting some 700 workings tomorrow morning?

Well they're booked on the 7.38 departure from St. Albans to Three Bridges...

 

[Goldfish62]

I had my first trip on one today albeit a short trip from St Pancras to Blackfriars.

Overall, better than I feared. The general feel was bright and spacious, and ride quality was excellent.

Compared with my usual diet of 450s the leg room seemed fine and the aircon was much better, not the tropical stuffiness that I'm used to. The PIS was working fine, but no loadings info, and the doors released after about 2s at all stations. The flooring was the same textures finish as on the 458/5s, which SWT seem incapable of keeping clean.

On the negative side, although I found the posture of the seats fine, they were like concrete, not helped by the astroturf covers, and the lack of spacers between the seats and between the window seat and the side is an issue. As already mentioned, the heater ducting is intrusive, more so than on a 450, and the cantilever seating prevented me from stretching out, although it wasn't a big nuisance.

So, overall a fine train but better seats would have made all the difference.

 

[387star]

I had my first trip on one today albeit a short trip from St Pancras to Blackfriars.

Overall, better than I feared. The general feel was bright and spacious, and ride quality was excellent.

Compared with my usual diet of 450s the leg room seemed fine and the aircon was much better, not the tropical stuffiness that I'm used to. The PIS was working fine, but no loadings info, and the doors released after about 2s at all stations. The flooring was the same textures finish as on the 458/5s, which SWT seem incapable of keeping clean.

On the negative side, although I found the posture of the seats fine, they were like concrete, not helped by the astroturf covers, and the lack of spacers between the seats and between the window seat and the side is an issue. As already mentioned, the heater ducting is intrusive, more so than on a 450, and the cantilever seating prevented me from stretching out, although it wasn't a big nuisance.

So, overall a fine train but better seats would have made all the difference.

I had my first journey on one today as well....

The ride quality is on a par with 442s very impressed

Temperature was very pleasant minimal noise despite no internal doors

Seats seemed ok but then I am used to 387s maybe slightly more comfy as the covers have a different texture to them

The jutting out heater grills were a let down, however, as the only way to sit comfy is to have your feet at a slant

Also some customers were in danger of spilling red drinks on to their white tops due to the lack of tables

 

[bengley]

700114 Failed this evening at St Albans on the up fast - it's been there for a couple of hours now so it seems to be a more serious problem than the previous ones we've seen.

 

[sd0733]

700114 is back out and currently working delayed 2W91 02:40 Bedford-Brighton so whatever the fault was wasn't too much of a job to fix.

 

[Class2ldn]

There's an issue with neutral sections. If we brake or take any power whatsoever the train has a melt down. You may notice the drivers slowing down before the neutral section near St Albans as it's usually where we normally brake but they take a while to go through the motions meaning if you forget and you have to brake as normal the train will still be messing about and it loses all power.
Not ideal I must admit but nothings been published officially so those that don't know end up driving as normal and it seems when they try to leave St Albans they have no power.
Software issue apparently

 

[Julia]

Software issue apparently

All together now... have they tried turning it off and on again?

I'll get my coat.

 

[AM9]

There's an issue with neutral sections. If we brake or take any power whatsoever the train has a melt down. You may notice the drivers slowing down before the neutral section near St Albans as it's usually where we normally brake but they take a while to go through the motions meaning if you forget and you have to brake as normal the train will still be messing about and it loses all power.
Not ideal I must admit but nothings been published officially so those that don't know end up driving as normal and it seems when they try to leave St Albans they have no power.
Software issue apparently

Thanks for the informative post explaining the symptoms of a genuine problem that likely once identified will be permanently fixed with an in-service mod. Not so much a train defect, more a system compatibility issue.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

1W11 passed me on time, what happened to 07.22 off BTN?

 

[jon0844]

All together now... have they tried turning it off and on again?

I'll get my coat.

Reboot. Hammer. Send back to Derb.. Oh, wait, wrong company!

 

[Bungle965]

Reboot. Hammer. Send back to Krefeld

Fixed that for you.
Sam

 

[JonathanH]

1W11 passed me on time, what happened to 07.22 off BTN?

1W82 (0722 Brighton to Bedford cancelled after earlier cancellation of 1W01 (0416 Bedford to Brighton), presumably in response to 1W96 (1635 Brighton to Bedford) not running yesterday evening

According to RTT and Thameslink website, 1W23 1010 Bedford to Brighton has run using stock from another service.

10:10 Bedford to Brighton due 12:39

This train has been delayed at Luton Airport Parkway and is now 8 minutes late.
Will be formed of 8 coaches instead of 12. First class is declassified.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Later workings also scheduled to have 8-coach trains.

Others:

501 - worked until 1B10 08.27 Brighton to London Bridge, return working and later services cancelled. 5B15 left London Bridge for Brighton at 1103 http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O15841/2016/07/29/advanced so presumably will come out for afternoon workings

502 - working

503 - working

504 - 1W02 (0530 Brighton to Bedford) started at Three Bridges again, presumably because diagram 505 didn't complete yesterday - Yesterday's 1W69 2140 Bedford to Brighton didn't pass St Albans http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G73622/2016/07/28/advanced (as reported in message 4392 above).

 

[Class2ldn]

The 0416 this morning was cancelled because the driver booked on that job doesn't sign the stock

 

[JonathanH]

700113 on 2W41 1324 Bedford to Three Bridges today (terminated at Gatwick Airport due to late running)

 

[DelayRepay]

The 18.02 from st Pancras to Bedford couldn't open the doors. After a 20 minute delay it was taken out of service at Kentish Town. I imagine the poor people who wanted to get off at St Pancras were especially pleased to get an extra, free journey on the new train!

 

[asylumxl]

Just going to stir the pot a little. The Crossrail train interior has been unveiled and where there is 2+2 seating, there are arm rests...

 

[Class377/5]

Just going to stir the pot a little. The Crossrail train interior has been unveiled and where there is 2+2 seating, there are arm rests...

Its not 2+2 throughout however with the same seating as found on the 378s in some areas.

 

[asylumxl]

Its not 2+2 throughout however with the same seating as found on the 378s in some areas.

Yes. But even the longitudinal seats have arm rests.

It doesn't bother me, it's just interesting the different approaches taken for the two projects.

 

[Class377/5]

Yes. But even the longitudinal seats have arm rests.

It doesn't bother me, it's just interesting the different approaches taken for the two projects.

True. It will be very interesting next summer to be able to compare the two.

 

[asylumxl]

True. It will be very interesting next summer to be able to compare the two.

I'd like to add I rode 700104 (I think it was) from West Hampstead Thameslink on the 1611 to Bedford and had a smooth, uneventful journey. Just to balance out all the talk of cancellations.

 

[Chris125]

Just going to stir the pot a little. The Crossrail train interior has been unveiled and where there is 2+2 seating, there are arm rests...

Enjoy it while it lasts I suspect, when they inevitably need more capacity it's hard to imagine them buying more trains or increasing their length before they've removed at least some of the 2+2 especially if/when dwell times become an issue.

 

[Class377/5]

Enjoy it while it lasts I suspect, when they inevitably need more capacity it's hard to imagine them buying more trains or increasing their length before they've removed at least some of the 2+2 especially if/when dwell times become an issue.

There a video linked the 345 thread that shows no 2+2 in coach 1 and only 2+2 between the doors in coach 2.

 

[RobShipway]

Travelled on 700104 earlier today from Blackfriars to London St Pancras which had a smooth ride, but as previously mentioned the destination blinds within the train where not working.