Class 373 Eurostar withdrawals

[Harbornite]

Which EMR site is that. Didn't know they scrapped trains.

They scrapped quite a few at Kingsbury a few years ago.

Until quite recently, EMR Kingsbury could be seen from passing trains. Among other things, they have had class 08s and a DB red Class 37, 37419 I believe, and a coach from a heritage DMU.

 

[sprinterguy]

Which EMR site is that. Didn't know they scrapped trains.

During EWS' big clearout of redundant locomotives a few years ago, EMR scrapped a large number of class 37, 47 and 56 locomotives at their Kingsbury site.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Among other things, they have had class 08s and a DB red Class 37, 37419 I believe, and a coach from a heritage DMU.

The DB red 37 at Kingsbury was 37670.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A tunnel in France? Seems a bit secret. Why not just use a train scrapyard?! If they don't have any then I'm sure Booths will help out!

Presumably to keep the scrapping of fairly high profile and relatively modern trains out of the public eye.

As such, it surprises me that scrapping of the redundant Three Capitals Eurostar sets is to take place at Booths: The last time such modern, high speed stock was cut up there must have been when the APT-P sets were disposed of.

With that in mind I suppose that they have previous experience of cutting up technically advanced fixed-formation trainsets, although it'll be interesting to see how Booth's manage to accommodate such lengthy trains: I assume there's a chance that they'll be split down into 200 metre half sets for transit and scrapping, rather than winding their way up the country as complete 400 metre trains (plus brake force runners and coupling translators)?

 

[route:oxford]

Presumably to keep the scrapping of fairly high profile and relatively modern trains out of the public eye.

As such, it surprises me that scrapping of the redundant Three Capitals Eurostar sets is to take place at Booths: The last time such modern, high speed stock was cut up there must have been when the APT-P sets were disposed of.

The APT-P sets were lightly used and 6 years old when they were scrapped. The 373s are coming up to having a quarter century of pretty intensive work under their belts.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The 373s have very likely clocked up a few million miles between them

 

[sprinterguy]

The APT-P sets were lightly used and 6 years old when they were scrapped. The 373s are coming up to having a quarter century of pretty intensive work under their belts.

Oh aye, I've got no qualms with the reasons for the 373s being scrapped, they have been intensively used, as you say. My surprise is that they are being scrapped in a comparatively (though not necessarily easily) visible location.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Oh aye, I've got no qualms with the reasons for the 373s being scrapped, they have been intensively used, as you say. My surprise is that they are being scrapped in a comparatively (though not necessarily easily) visible location.

The technology behind them is probably well out of date by now, even the TGVs that they're a derivative of have been superseded

 

[physics34]

im actually really shocked the 373s are being scrapped. ..... didnt realise they are 25 years old. They still look pretty modern. Barring the motors etc, are the coaches really that "worn out"?!

 

[Harbornite]

Today's railways also reported that 374 deliveries will temporarily stop for a reason I cannot recall, which could affect 373 withdrawal dates.

Anyway, this topic is also being discussed on WNXX and this was posted...

The first move was supposed to be one of the stored sets off the link at Fawkham Jn bound for Booths via the ECML.
Europorte and GB are supposed to be moving up to 19 sets between now and Sept 2018.

I didn't know that Booths had been chosen so I think it's best to say "watch this space". Here's hoping that some are sent to EMR.

 

[The Planner]

According to todays railways, europorte will move the units to Calais Frethun yard and GBRF will be responsible for taking them to booths and EMR. It would be interesting to see these workings as 373s aren't common in Warwickshire to say the least.

Would be amazed if they ended up there. They wont be gauge cleared even if dragged I would bet.

 

[captainbigun]

They are going to EMR who can dispose undercover if needs be. Gauge clearance will be resolved. There are other details yet to be confirmed, I'd say the press version is not quite there.

 

[Chris125]

I too thought that 373 numbers were being reduced but that some were remaining for the foreseeable. If a deal has been signed for refurbishment then that'll still need paying for even if they've decided not to bother doing the work.

They are just using 'recycling' as a euphemism for scrapping.

 

[The Planner]

They will probably end up like S stock and having to do some wacky moves through loops and stations.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Would be amazed if they ended up there. They wont be gauge cleared even if dragged I would bet.

The UK-built ones did get towed from Washwood Heath to North Pole via Reading on their delivery run.
Rather embarrassingly one hit a bridge somewhere north of Oxford, early on in the process.
Here's one parked at Reading over Christmas 1994.

 

[Harbornite]

Good shot there.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I too thought that 373 numbers were being reduced but that some were remaining for the foreseeable. If a deal has been signed for refurbishment then that'll still need paying for even if they've decided not to bother doing the work.

Eight 373s will be retained, according to TR EU 249 as mentioned above.

Those are listed as being the below seven with no identity given for the 8th:

3007/8
3015/6
3205/6
3209/10
3219/20
3221/2
3229/30

 

[D365]

Good to finally have some numbers. Cheers for posting that.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I have previously been given to understand that the spare power car 3999 is currently at Hellemes for refurbishment; but I don't think this would count as the 8th set so there is still one to identify.

My guess is it will be 3211/2 as that is currently repainted but not refurbished.

I stress that's a guess, and of course the list may change anyway according to the condition of each train.

 

[Mordac]

Eight 373s will be retained, according to TR EU 249 as mentioned above.

Those are listed as being the below seven with no identity given for the 8th:

3007/8
3015/6
3205/6
3209/10
3219/20
3221/2
3229/30

Massive thanks for posting that, as DAB_Move says it's nice to finally have some hard numbers! Do you (or anyone else) know which sets have been decomissioned already?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Are they half sets of complete trains?

 

[cjmillsnun]

Are they half sets of complete trains?

Each line has two half sets.

So for example 3007/8 are half sets 3007 and 3008.

 

[hwl]

Most of the units on the list are from the original SNCF allocation and I think includes the 5x complete sets of quad voltage sets modified to run on 1.5kVDC lines in the south of France e.g. the Ski trains, hence the 8th set could be almost any unit/pairing.

 

[43096]

Most of the units on the list are from the original SNCF allocation and I think includes the 5x complete sets of quad voltage sets modified to run on 1.5kVDC lines in the south of France e.g. the Ski trains, hence the 8th set could be almost any unit/pairing.

All of the sets that are being refurbished get the 1.5kV DC capability.

 

[hwl]

All of the sets that are being refurbished get the 1.5kV DC capability.

cheers - that sounds incredibly sensible so the 5 existing + 3 more

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Massive thanks for posting that, as DAB_Move says it's nice to finally have some hard numbers! Do you (or anyone else) know which sets have been decomissioned already?

The same issue of TR EU states that the following have already been withdrawn:

3101/2

3203/4
3225/6
3227/8

Plus obviously all the NoL rakes.

It further adds that the following are thought to have been withdrawn:

3013/4
3017/8
3019/20

3207/8

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will them half sets likely stay in them pairings for the rest of their working lives?

 

[Techniquest]

Eight 373s will be retained, according to TR EU 249 as mentioned above.

Those are listed as being the below seven with no identity given for the 8th:

3007/8
3015/6
3205/6
3209/10
3219/20
3221/2
3229/30

Thanks to Kite159 pointing out this thread has deviated onto 373s and withdrawal of them, I'm now reading this thread and I'm shocked at just how few 373s are to be retained!

Can I seek clarification, before I update my NREA with a LOT of straight lines through the class, that these are the sets due to stay, and that the others will be going? That 8 pairs of half-sets are all that Eurostar plan to keep of the 373s?

I believe, without checking, 3209/3210 are dud for me, having had them from Marne-la-Ville Chessy to London Waterloo.

Very much behind on my Eurostar happenings, but I really need to get down there and enjoy a 373 again. It's the best part of 4 years since I last went on one!

 

[43096]

Thanks to Kite159 pointing out this thread has deviated onto 373s and withdrawal of them, I'm now reading this thread and I'm shocked at just how few 373s are to be retained!



Can I seek clarification, before I update my NREA with a LOT of straight lines through the class, that these are the sets due to stay, and that the others will be going? That 8 pairs of half-sets are all that Eurostar plan to keep of the 373s?

That is correct. I would await final confirmation before putting a line through them - it is the plan now, but always the chance they'll find something when they go through works for refurb that will see sets substituted.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I wonder if and how long it'll be till Eurostar stick in an order with Siemens for 8 more class 374s

 

[fredk]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but is there a reason why the 373s are being sent for scrap whilst far more elderly HSTs continue to remain in frontline service? I remember GNER using a 373 instead of a HST on some routes.

 

[D365]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but is there a reason why the 373s are being sent for scrap whilst far more elderly HSTs continue to remain in frontline service? I remember GNER using a 373 instead of a HST on some routes.

Have you not noticed the Class 800s in testing?

GNER then proceeded to replace the NoL sets with HSTs as they became available. I think that says it all.