Eurostar e320 / Class 374 "Velaro"

[STEVIEBOY1]

100% agree. I had a chance to travel on it a second time recently and my opinion didn't change. Much worse than the 373 which I travel on regularly.

When they build new rolling stock, either in the UK or overseas, do they have consultations with passenger user groups,? if not, it may be useful if they did.

 

[Clansman]

When they build new rolling stock, either in the UK or overseas, do they have consultations with passenger user groups,? if not, it may be useful if they did.

Whether they do or not, I think it's clear that none are taken seriously enough to be implemented to enhance the passenger experience.

Unless of course, these passenger groups have specifically asked for less seat space, less legroom, fewer tables, and no window alignment.

New rolling stock spanning the length and breadth of the country, from Scotrail's 385s to Eurostar's 374s, are symbolisation that passengers aren't prioritised in this day in age.

 

[D365]

I thought that passengers were always asking for more seats?

 

[Hadders]

I thought that passengers were always asking for more seats?

They might well do but the trend in GTR-land is to have fewer seats so more people can stand.

In all seriousness we're talking about a flagship international service, not an inner suburban metro service. There's more leg room on Ryanair than on a class 374.

 

[jon0844]

I'm sure that Ryanair will reduce leg room in due course, and assume one reason it doesn't pack in more seats is down to the ratio of passengers to crew?

 

[najaB]

I'm sure that Ryanair will reduce leg room in due course, and assume one reason it doesn't pack in more seats is down to the ratio of passengers to crew?

I think they're already pretty close to or at the maximum capacity for the 738.

 

[aiden_g1]

I'm sure that Ryanair will reduce leg room in due course, and assume one reason it doesn't pack in more seats is down to the ratio of passengers to crew?

I think they're already pretty close to or at the maximum capacity for the 738.
Today 09:29

Yes. It's to do with the maximum certified for the aircraft. 189Y is the max config for all 738s which gives a 30" seat pitch for the majority. This certification is to do with the ability to evacuate all passengers and crew in a certain time through only half the available exits.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I'm going on a 374 in a few weeks - let's hope I have a more positive experience than the person did a few days ago!

 

[jon0844]

They're okay. Look a bit plain (a refurbished 373 is cosier, but probably because it is smaller!) but otherwise fine.

The Wi-Fi is damn near useless though, but also on the 373s where fitted, because phone coverage is very poor - especially on the French side. The train itself has a map showing where it is poor and it's quite a lot of the route!

 

[Mikey C]

Yes. It's to do with the maximum certified for the aircraft. 189Y is the max config for all 738s which gives a 30" seat pitch for the majority. This certification is to do with the ability to evacuate all passengers and crew in a certain time through only half the available exits.

The next generation of 737-8s, the Max 8, has a special variant (designed for Ryanair), the 737 MAX 200 that seats up to 200...

 

[aiden_g1]

The next generation of 737-8s, the Max 8, has a special variant (designed for Ryanair), the 737 MAX 200 that seats up to 200...

Check out the additional emergency exit door on this planned aircraft type though. Similar to the longer 737-900ER and 737-9MAX. This additional plug door is the only way the -800 sized aircraft could be certified to carry more than the current 189Y...

 

[railmaster3]

hello,

970 tons which is your source or reference where did you got this weight ?

Erwin

 

[najaB]

hello,

970 tons which is your source or reference where did you got this weight ?

Erwin

Hi Erwin.

Could you expand on this question a bit?

 

[railmaster3]

hello,

someone mentioned 970 ton for an E320 just wandering what his source was to be 100% sure because could not find anything on the internet

 

[Peter Mugridge]

hello,

someone mentioned 970 ton for an E320 just wandering what his source was to be 100% sure because could not find anything on the internet

I make it 910 tonnes by adding up all the weights listed in the Combined Volume. Page 375... pity they couldn't get it a page sooner!

 

[flash]

994 tons.... although where this info came from it could still be wrong.
Source, Class 374 Driving Manual.

 

[ChilternTurbo]

I gather the 374s are now operating to Brussels. I was thinking of a weekend in Bruges via Eurostar and I'd really like a ride on the 373 on at least one leg of the journey. Am I still correct that the Velaro is still not cleared to call at Ashford International? Aside from that is there any other way of telling which stock will be used on my service? I've had a look at the Eurostar timetable pdf but there's no indication there...

 

[AlexNL]

As far as I know the 374's can't call at Ashford because the units don't have AWS/TPWS, while that's all there currently is at Ashford. The plan is to install KVB, which I think should be operational early 2018.

You can get an indication of what kind of train you will be on when you select a seat - you can only do this after booking though. Maybe you can ask the Eurostar team on Twitter or Facebook?

 

[ChilternTurbo]

As far as I know the 374's can't call at Ashford because the units don't have AWS/TPWS, while that's all there currently is at Ashford. The plan is to install KVB, which I think should be operational early 2018.

You can get an indication of what kind of train you will be on when you select a seat - you can only do this after booking though. Maybe you can ask the Eurostar team on Twitter or Facebook?

Good call with the social media idea. I'll tweet Eurostar and see what they say. Ideally, I'd like an unrefurbished 373 to get some interior shots before they all end up at as scrap metal in Kingsbury!

 

[urpert]

Good call with the social media idea. I'll tweet Eurostar and see what they say. Ideally, I'd like an unrefurbished 373 to get some interior shots before they all end up at as scrap metal in Kingsbury!

I had a day trip to Brussels today: 374 on the way (0804 from St
Pancras), unrefurbished 373 on the way back (1654 from Midi). Some very spirited running from the rusty 373 to make up time as we were held for 15 minutes at Lille waiting for some late passengers!

 

[superalbs]

As far as I know the 374's can't call at Ashford because the units don't have AWS/TPWS, while that's all there currently is at Ashford. The plan is to install KVB, which I think should be operational early 2018.

You can get an indication of what kind of train you will be on when you select a seat - you can only do this after booking though. Maybe you can ask the Eurostar team on Twitter or Facebook?

Well there's certainly no sunflower, and I didn't hear any AWS chimes, so I guess they don't have AWS.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132090711@N02/31075410786

 

[railmaster3]

I gather the 374s are now operating to Brussels. I was thinking of a weekend in Bruges via Eurostar and I'd really like a ride on the 373 on at least one leg of the journey. Am I still correct that the Velaro is still not cleared to call at Ashford International? Aside from that is there any other way of telling which stock will be used on my service? I've had a look at the Eurostar timetable pdf but there's no indication there...

Velaro can't call at Ashford however in june/july these are the services normally with E320 Velaro Class 374 rolling stock

on weekdays 5 roundtrips

London to Brussels the 08h04 08h54 10h58 15h04 19h34

Brussels to London the 08h52 12h52 14h56 18h56 19h34

Erwin

 

[absolutelymilk]

Have deliveries of the second order (of a further 7 trains) started yet?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yes. Only 374031-374034 left to deliver apparently.

I have seen all except two up to 374028 inclusive at StPancras presumably in service (I just cannot be 100% sure as I did not check). The two I have not seen in service are the elusive 374013 & 374014 which apparently are testing in Holland for the new service to Holland they have run through to StPancras I believe.

 

[InOban]

Is there a confirmed date for the signalling upgrade which will allow them to access Ashford?

 

[Lknowles78]

Just came back from Brussels on the 1658 to London on a 374 Velaro. We were scheduled to stop at Ashford but didn't due to "technical difficulties".

Do these units do 320km/h or are they restricted to 300km/h? It felt faster than a 373.

 

[Mordac]

Just came back from Brussels on the 1658 to London on a 374 Velaro. We were scheduled to stop at Ashford but didn't due to "technical difficulties".

Do these units do 320km/h or are they restricted to 300km/h? It felt faster than a 373.

They're capable of 320,but IIRC can't do that anywhere they regularly go to. Certainly not on the LGV Nord in France, nor HS1; less sure about Belgium, but believe that to be the case as well.

 

[317666]

I gather the 374s are now operating to Brussels. I was thinking of a weekend in Bruges via Eurostar and I'd really like a ride on the 373 on at least one leg of the journey. Am I still correct that the Velaro is still not cleared to call at Ashford International? Aside from that is there any other way of telling which stock will be used on my service? I've had a look at the Eurostar timetable pdf but there's no indication there...

If you use http://www.trainline.eu, when you select a service it shows either 'e300' or 'e320', for a 373 or 374 respectively. I'd still suggest actually booking on Eurostar's own site though, as that lets you select a seat after you've booked

 

[ChilternTurbo]

If you use http://www.trainline.eu, when you select a service it shows either 'e300' or 'e320', for a 373 or 374 respectively. I'd still suggest actually booking on Eurostar's own site though, as that lets you select a seat after you've booked

Thanks, that's helpful to know. Due to work commitments I haven't yet booked this but was on the Eurostar website yesterday and dealt with a rather baffled member of staff on their web chat who couldn't under why I would want to travel on the old trains!

 

[AlexNL]

Just came back from Brussels on the 1658 to London on a 374 Velaro. We were scheduled to stop at Ashford but didn't due to "technical difficulties".

Those difficulties being that the 374's do not have the train protection systems fitted which are in use at Ashford (AWS/TPWS). In the future the French KVB system will be fitted at Ashford (already in use at StP), which resolves the problem.

Do these units do 320km/h or are they restricted to 300km/h? It felt faster than a 373.

The 374's do not currently run on routes which are cleared for 320 km/h running. If the 374's are used on services to Marseille they'll be able to hit 320 on the LGV Med.