Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Abpj17]

Enjoy the comfort of the 319s while they last.

They're not clapped out either - they're reliable units.

lol. They might have been comfortable once. But the number of broken and sunken seats means that ceased ages ago.

The 377's are better.

 

[physics34]

lol. They might have been comfortable once. But the number of broken and sunken seats means that ceased ages ago.

The 377's are better.

Should be a relatively cheap fix to renew the seat cushions

 

[phil281]

the cynic in me suggests that i wouldn't be surprised if a solitary 4 car 319 is the first unit to go through the reopened tl side of london bridge in 2018, with chewing gum stuck to the seats and some smelly oaf sleeping with their feet sprawled over first class, at 0400 at the end of an overnight run...

:d :d :d :d

 

[spark001uk]

lol. They might have been comfortable once. But the number of broken and sunken seats means that ceased ages ago.

The 377's are better.

Indeed. The 150/1 and 317 are another couple of classes that spring to mind also.

 

[Deepgreen]

Indeed. The 150/1 and 317 are another couple of classes that spring to mind also.

Nicely done!

 

[spark001uk]

Nicely done!

I wondered who'd spot it!

I remember when seats were comfortably sprung - mk1 stock, thumpers, EPBs, etc etc. And being on your line I'm sure you remember the old bone shakers back in the 80s!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Should be a relatively cheap fix to renew the seat cushions

There is a simple mod - the LM 321's had it done to stop the bases collapsing. I did mention it over 2 years to FCC , but as ever .......

Bit like my comment on repainting the faded yellow ends of the 313's to give a better forward presentation to the public.

 

[urpert]

They're not that reliable, and they are certainly not comfortable! (For me, at least).

Agreed, I can't wait to see the back of them. Yet they soldier on here on the Catford Loop.

 

[Deepgreen]

I wondered who'd spot it!

I remember when seats were comfortably sprung - mk1 stock, thumpers, EPBs, etc etc. And being on your line I'm sure you remember the old bone shakers back in the 80s!

Indeed - I'm just old enough to have a vague recollection of the 4CORs (!) with their amazingly deep seat cushions, which masked their seemingly solid iron springs! The Underground's 1938 stock also had (and has, on the IoW) very deep cushions.

 

[fusionblue]

Agreed, I can't wait to see the back of them. Yet they soldier on here on the Catford Loop.

I've only ever been "nearly able" a 700 once on the catford loop; the day of the derailment at lewisham. I say nearly because everyone from the hayes line went to the loop and packed every single train solid.

 

[Deepgreen]

2W49 (1524 Bedford to Three Bridges, 12 car 700) has failed AGAIN at Flitwick! The station and this train seem to be jinxed!

 

[tsr]

2W49 (1524 Bedford to Three Bridges, 12 car 700) has failed AGAIN at Flitwick! The station and this train seem to be jinxed!

Two trains failed at Flitwick, pretty much one after the other. That one had a passcom fault; 1W45 (700109) then came to a stand with two brake faults (dragging brake indication and brakes hard on). It was resolved with a reboot but the time taken caused some delay.

 

[Deepgreen]

Two trains failed at Flitwick, pretty much one after the other. That one had a passcom fault; 1W45 (700109) then came to a stand with two brake faults (dragging brake indication and brakes hard on). It was resolved with a reboot but the time taken caused some delay.

Thanks for the information. Some say that the 700s are getting better - I'm certainly not seeing it. Two missed hourly connections to Betchworth in four working days owing to 700 failures!

 

[MatthewRead]

lol. They might have been comfortable once. But the number of broken and sunken seats means that ceased ages ago.

The 377's are better.

Oh no those astro seats are terrible!

 

[spark001uk]

The Underground's 1938 stock also had (and has, on the IoW) very deep cushions.

Oh yes, the IoW stock, I can remember back in the early 90s (and the 4VEC and 3TIS units before them) the very rocky ride on them, I used to take my feet off the floor to see how high I could take off! Probably still could!

 

[urpert]

I've only ever been "nearly able" a 700 once on the catford loop; the day of the derailment at lewisham. I say nearly because everyone from the hayes line went to the loop and packed every single train solid.

I reckon about 50% of the weekday workings are now 700s, but evenings and weekends are still solid 319.

 

[urpert]

Oh yes, the IoW stock, I can remember back in the early 90s (and the 4VEC and 3TIS units before them) the very rocky ride on them, I used to take my feet off the floor to see how high I could take off! Probably still could!

I was on one last Saturday. There's a bit of track between Smallbrook and Brading where I swear the trains leave the rails for a second if the driver's really giving it some...

 

[Deepgreen]

Anyway, back to the 700s - does anyone know what, if anything, is being done to address their continuing performance problems - or should they just not call at Flitwick?!

 

[spark001uk]

Don't know if anyone's noticed this, but when the 700s accelerate, more so at low speed, there's occasionally a few soft thuds, just briefly, that sound as though coming from the roof. The only way I can explain it is it sounds like someone gently dropping a rubber ball on the roof. Any ideas what it is? Been bugging me!

 

[Deepgreen]

Don't know if anyone's noticed this, but when the 700s accelerate, more so at low speed, there's occasionally a few soft thuds, just briefly, that sound as though coming from the roof. The only way I can explain it is it sounds like someone gently dropping a rubber ball on the roof. Any ideas what it is? Been bugging me!

I have noticed this, and assumed it was a door shutting with the movement, but can't imagine which one! I have only travelled in the end cars - does it happen in others?

 

[AM9]

I have noticed this, and assumed it was a door shutting with the movement, but can't imagine which one! I have only travelled in the end cars - does it happen in others?

Could it be something in the air conditioning, maybe a load takeup/dump when the traction demand is high?

 

[tsr]

Perhaps to do with the door locking system. Some trains have an audible "clunk" when they exceed a certain speed, at which point a secondary locking and/or detection system kicks in. Some Bombardier stock certainly takes different actions when it passes each side of 5km/h. Not sure about Siemens!

 

[Deepgreen]

Perhaps to do with the door locking system. Some trains have an audible "clunk" when they exceed a certain speed, at which point a secondary locking and/or detection system kicks in. Some Bombardier stock certainly takes different actions when it passes each side of 5km/h. Not sure about Siemens!

I'm trying to recall if they happen at such a low speed, but it's possible.

 

[TEW]

Perhaps to do with the door locking system. Some trains have an audible "clunk" when they exceed a certain speed, at which point a secondary locking and/or detection system kicks in. Some Bombardier stock certainly takes different actions when it passes each side of 5km/h. Not sure about Siemens!

Original Desiros have a very distinctive clunk when they go above/below a certain speed, 5km/h sounds familiar. As you say, it's related to the door locking system.

 

[AM9]

Original Desiros have a very distinctive clunk when they go above/below a certain speed, 5km/h sounds familiar. As you say, it's related to the door locking system.

All other UK Desiros have plug doors that presumably have secondary closure mechanisms. It's unlikely in my view that a sliding door would have a secondary locking system that much like those on a plug door design.

 

[spark001uk]

Pretty sure it's from the roof, I think it's also audible in intermediate cars, I'm sure I've still heard it there. Def not the pan, cos when that comes down you know about it.!

As for the desiro locks yes I hear that, sounds like an air operated deadlock bolt to me? On the 450 it does anyhow.

 

[Bornin1980s]

A ludicrously basic question, but why don't the 700s or 345s require end evacuation doors, when the 319s did?

 

[causton]

A ludicrously basic question, but why don't the 700s or 345s require end evacuation doors, when the 319s did?

319s went to Moorgate. All the tunnels that the 700s/345s are planned to go through are wide enough to allow safe egress from the normal doors on the side.

(AFAIK!)

 

[AM9]

319s went to Moorgate. All the tunnels that the 700s/345s are planned to go through are wide enough to allow safe egress from the normal doors on the side.

(AFAIK!)

That's even more efficient that 319s for de-training as with 8 or 12 cars through gangwayed there's less chance of them being stopped in a cutting or under a bridge where it all passenger exits were blocked.

 

[Deepgreen]

I noticed the 'thudding' sound on my 700 yesterday (in Crystal Palace tunnel at about 15-20km/h). I'm still none the wiser! Mind you, I was still reeling from having a ticket check - my first ever on TL! I only ever travel in the end cars, usually next to the cab, and I wonder if it could be something as basic as the driver's seat folding under acceleration or similar (i.e. a piece of internal kit that is designed to be loose, rather than a fault).