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TPE Class 397 ('Nova 2') construction and updates

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LNW-GW Joint

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There was significant 8/6 car 350/185 (respectively) working at weekends in the old timetable. It was almost all Edinburgh services on Fridays and Sundays if I remember correctly. I don't have a clue about the new timetable. The 8 car that used to do the 1800 from Manchester Airport would often be full and standing.

I think one of the tactics was to use 185s on the Glasgow services on a Friday/Sunday, with the 350s switching to Edinburgh as 8-car services.
That won't be possible in the new 397 timetable.
It's also not clear how much Liverpool services will double up with Manchester north of Preston (not that that helps Preston-Manchester).
West Coast services via Birmingham face the same problem of Glasgow v Edinburgh, and might change with WCP.
DfT/NR told Virgin that they could send more trains to Edinburgh but only by cutting Glasgow, which was not acceptable (ie no new trains/paths on the WCML).
The Euston-Birmingham-Scotland through service with some 390s was a partial answer to that.
 
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Bayum

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The 397s in that livery remind me of the Acela a little.
 

Starmill

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I note that on Saturdays the 0910 from Manchester Ariport and 1300 from Glasgow Central are timed for DMU 100 rather than EMU 110. Similarly on Sundays the 1310, 1510 and 1710 services from Manchester Airport are also timed for DMU 100.
 

BMIFlyer

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I note that on Saturdays the 0910 from Manchester Ariport and 1300 from Glasgow Central are timed for DMU 100 rather than EMU 110. Similarly on Sundays the 1310, 1510 and 1710 services from Manchester Airport are also timed for DMU 100.

Because they usually are class 185 operated.

For example today's (Sat 7th July) 0907 from MIA and 1300 from GLC will be worked by 185115.
 
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InOban

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Because they usually are class 185 operated.

For example today's (Sat 7th July) 0907 from MIA and 1300 from GLC will be worked by 185112.
I remember this question - why are a few angloscottish services operated by 185s - being discussed before. I can't remember whether it was to maintain route knowledge by drivers who don't sign the 350, or traction knowledge by drivers who usually only drive the 185. I may be quite wrong.
 

route101

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I remember this question - why are a few angloscottish services operated by 185s - being discussed before. I can't remember whether it was to maintain route knowledge by drivers who don't sign the 350, or traction knowledge by drivers who usually only drive the 185. I may be quite wrong.
Maybe theres not enough or i think its because Edinburgh services get double sets.
 

route101

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Use the TPE quite frequently . Services from Manchester are nearly always busy , ive used the 1500 to 1900 services Scotland bound. Id be interested to hear how busy the 2100 service to Glasgow is ? The problem is the trains are too short and lack of trains somewhat to Preston and Wigan by northern . I do like the convenience of direct service especially northbound to Glasgow .Though changing at Preston onto Virgin may result in a quieter train.

Edinburgh services are busier throughout ive noticed whereas Glasgow will be quieter in the northern half of the route .
 

hibtastic

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I’m sure it was mentioned a while back that there were proposals to lengthen these trains to 6 car fairly quickly.
 

driver9000

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I remember this question - why are a few angloscottish services operated by 185s - being discussed before. I can't remember whether it was to maintain route knowledge by drivers who don't sign the 350, or traction knowledge by drivers who usually only drive the 185. I may be quite wrong.

All crew working the Anglo-Scottish services sign 185s and 350s. They spend the bulk of their time on 350s these days but the reason 185s appear at weekends is to release 350s to allow more 8 car trains to run to Edinburgh. Traction or route knowledge doesn't come into it at all.
 

Tam

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I was back at Velim today, just moments too late to see the set go around the circuit. We saw it running between coaches of some German train and then it got pulled in to a siding before doing any more circuits. So no video (this time), but a few more photos.

See also the NR Class 331 thread for some overlap photos from today which include this set. Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates
P1500429.JPG P1500442.JPG P1500454.JPG P1500471.JPG P1500474.JPG P1500475.JPG
 

NeilNX

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Handsome looking units the 397s are, livery works very well, nice and sharp. Look forward to their arrival into service.
 

NeilNX

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Very lightweight looking at them, i agree with the generous windows, a nice product from CAF.
Would say they are lower cost class 800. Ehats they in service date?
 

Spartacus

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Very lightweight looking at them, i agree with the generous windows, a nice product from CAF.
Would say they are lower cost class 800. Ehats they in service date?

‘Spring 2019’ according to info I’ve seen, so probably the May 2019 timetable if all does well with testing and training.
 
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NeilNX

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So no long to go then subject to staying on schedule, tpe certainly have an interesting fleet now for passengers
 

EE Andy b1

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So not long to go then subject to staying on schedule, tpe certainly have an interesting fleet now for passengers

Probably the nicest looking fleet we've seen for a while on the exterior, hopefully the ride and interior comfort will match and beat all other new stock to date.
As said though could do with being longer sets.
 

TBSchenker

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The new trains are 5-carriages, which means that should make the Manchester-Leeds, Manxhester-Hull and at least Manchester-Sheffield all 6-cars. Quite an uplift in Pennine seats per hour (if you equate a 5-car replacing a 3-car) where services aren’t currently 6-car?

The only issue being, and we haven’t heard any plans, the Manchester to Scotland route. Whilst Glasgow will have an extra coach compare to a Class 350, some Edinburgh services are 8-carriages long. Manchester Airport can’t accommodate 10-coaches, so it’s interestong to see how capacity is balanced on the Scottish route. Whether that is because a new service from Liverpool to Edinburgh via York is being introduced, so it creates a new demand route.
 

BMIFlyer

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The new trains are 5-carriages, which means that should make the Manchester-Leeds, Manxhester-Hull and at least Manchester-Sheffield all 6-cars. Quite an uplift in Pennine seats per hour (if you equate a 5-car replacing a 3-car) where services aren’t currently 6-car?

The only issue being, and we haven’t heard any plans, the Manchester to Scotland route. Whilst Glasgow will have an extra coach compare to a Class 350, some Edinburgh services are 8-carriages long. Manchester Airport can’t accommodate 10-coaches, so it’s interestong to see how capacity is balanced on the Scottish route. Whether that is because a new service from Liverpool to Edinburgh via York is being introduced, so it creates a new demand route.

Doubtful that any trains will be 10 car, despite rumours.

Solutions for the EDB route?

Ditch stops at Penrith and Bolton. Less advance ticket sales. Make sure luggage is all stored correctly, make sure the guards enforce the bike rules.
 

Starmill

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What a joke. The franchise agreement sets out the minimum number of calls at Penrith and Bolton. Not that many people use Penrith and it is unlikely there will be large numbers of people travelling north from Bolton, so it will hardly make a difference anyway. Forget Advance tickets, more people are probably using TransPennine Only walk up tickets which have been introduced en masse all over the TPE network recently. These are proliferating which strongly suggests that as a commercial strategy they work. And how, exactly, can the guards enforce the rules about reserved cycles (a policy that wasn't publicised in advance and that a lot of guards don't seem to be aware of)? Delay the train? Manhandle customers with bikes off the train?
 

Clansman

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Bantamzen

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Great pictures! Not sure if this is just me, but I can only see the pictures when I click reply!

Its not just you! But they are great pictures anyway, it looks very nice in the full livery. But there is one problem as far as I can see, the seats seem to line up with the windows. Surely this can't be allowed in this day and age, I'm not happy about well aligned seat / window configurations I can tell thee........ ;)
 
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