They don't accept the next arrival until the previous set has been scrapped, so there's only ever 1 set there (currently 3001/3002, been there a while though so probably mostly scrapped by now). They're actually stored on site, and security is supposedly quite tight, so you're unlikely to be able to get in and grab a seat
I will give it a good try!They don't accept the next arrival until the previous set has been scrapped, so there's only ever 1 set there (currently 3001/3002, been there a while though so probably mostly scrapped by now). They're actually stored on site, and security is supposedly quite tight, so you're unlikely to be able to get in and grab a seat
I’ve not seen the diagrams out that far (they are posted on another forum) but the 1331 is currently booked for an e320 (Class 374) and the 1456 is/was booked for e300 (Class 373), BUT whilst the issues with e320s at Ashford are resolved, this has been an e320 recently.
They're both showing as 374s (e320) for those dates. If you make a dummy booking on the trainline's EU website (not the UK website) it tells you whether the service is allocated a 373 (e300) or a 374 (e320). Unfortunately when a service is allocated a 373 there's no way of telling if it will be an unrefurbished set or not, and there's always the possibility of a set swap at the last minute (I think this is more common now with the 374 issues at Ashford)
Currently showing on the trainline's EU website as being booked for a 374 on July 3rd, possibly suggesting that it'll be a while before the 374 issues at Ashford are sorted out...
I hope you're not daft enough to post on a forum that you're planning to pinch something... as you well know, their contract doesn't allow them to sell on parts.
Hi all
as most of us know the class 373 is being scrapped.
Recently I have spoken to Eurostar and EMR Kingsbury about purchasing a used first class seat to turn into an office chair.
They have both said this cannot be done as the recycling contract does not allow spare parts to be sold.
The lady at kingsbury said that my best chance is contacting SNCF.
My knowledge of the French rail TOC is very limited and have no idea who to call.
Can anyone help?
Possibly related to the problems with the 374s at Ashford?
I believe the withdrawal schedule for the 373s was dependent on 374s taking over diagrams that call at Ashford, so with the 373s still being required for those diagrams for the forseeable future Eurostar probably need the extra 4 373s.
The unrefurbished and refurbished 373s share diagrams anyway, so I imagine that'll probably remain as it currently is.
I believe they are, but only as a source of spare parts for their TGV Reseau fleet (which in many ways are very similar to the 373s) and as such won't see service with Thalys.
Ah, but would that be a full length 373 or one of the still-stored shortened North of London sets?
Having had a look at another forum I get the impression that Izy are looking at taking the NoL sets, rather than the remaining unrefurbished 3 capitals sets. If this does happen then that's great news that the NoL sets have potentially found a new home. Not so great for the unrefurbished 3 capitals sets though...
Just the power cars from the previous set left when they accept the next one iirc.
I'm no technical expert here so may be completely wrong, but I think because of the nature of the 374 issues at Ashford (interference with the third rail) they may never be able to call there. I suspect that for the 374s to be able to call there the third rail would have to be removed, which obviously can't happen because the Southeastern EMUs require it! I could be completely wrong here though!
I suspect that as the Eurostar services are dedicatedly using P3 and P4, there's not much of a problem with the 3rd rail in those two specific platforms (IIRC it was removed as Eurostar trains no longer use shoegear). The problem may be that P3/4 has to be trimmed back a considerable amount to allow the tracks to then be slewed (realigned) to accept them, particularly near the Through Lines (between P2 & P3). This map here should help.
The third rail is still in situ in the Eurostar platforms: (presumably taken in April as the 374s were only calling at Ashford for about a week)
That makes sense. I knew it was something to do with an electrics card related to the French signaling systems (either KVB or TVM, not sure which), so that would probably explain why 374s can't currently stop at Ashford. Potentially this problem might be quite difficult to resolve?
