GN Class 717

[superalbs]

Yes they do,I’ve seen it on the powercars

It's on every vehicle except the power cars...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just to add to the above, basically, the test 717 running during the day is a class 5 ECS move, except on Fridays when it becomes a class 2. The reason for this is a contractual agreement to run the trains in service before a certain point

Are they actually in service, i.e. can one use them?

If not this is rather, er, fraudulent.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ridiculously uninspiring livery

The front looks particularly awful - really unfinished. Might as well have made it yellow to break up the monotonous white.

 

[700007]

The front looks particularly awful - really unfinished. Might as well have made it yellow to break up the monotonous white.

I just don't get why you would paint the front white when it works services to and from Moorgate....
It will go in to the tunnel white and emerge 30 minutes later all grey, black and grimy!

 

[Fred26]

Are they actually in service, i.e. can one use them?

If not this is rather, er, fraudulent.

Yes, you can. It wouldn't be a class 2 otherwise. That's the whole point, they need to run in passenger service, and a non-stop Moorgate to Gordon Hill fulfills that brief.

 

[bramling]

Yes, you can. It wouldn't be a class 2 otherwise. That's the whole point, they need to run in passenger service, and a non-stop Moorgate to Gordon Hill fulfills that brief.

I wonder if anyone's unwittingly found themselves at Gordon Hill yet? The Moorgate service is normally all-stations at least to Finsbury Park, so it's quite reasonable for people to jump on expecting this one to be likewise.

 

[387star]

I understand a minimum of three in service from Dec

 

[BowesRanger]

Yes, you can. It wouldn't be a class 2 otherwise. That's the whole point, they need to run in passenger service, and a non-stop Moorgate to Gordon Hill fulfills that brief.

Be absolutely class if that was where you needed to go, at that specific time every week. Basically Private non stop train.

 

[Fred26]

I wonder if anyone's unwittingly found themselves at Gordon Hill yet? The Moorgate service is normally all-stations at least to Finsbury Park, so it's quite reasonable for people to jump on expecting this one to be likewise.

I don't think so, Moorgate is fairly quiet at that time of day. It should appear on the CIS at Moorgate and be announced on the PA, but of course that doesn't mean people are actually looking and listening.

Be absolutely class if that was where you needed to go, at that specific time every week. Basically Private non stop train.

Pretty much.

 

[Aictos]

Don't forget it's also a good way for these who tick off unit numbers to cover the entire class

 

[Failed Unit]

Yes, you can. It wouldn't be a class 2 otherwise. That's the whole point, they need to run in passenger service, and a non-stop Moorgate to Gordon Hill fulfills that brief.

It is fairly typical of GTR management however - we have it in service tick - no good to the majority of our passengers but it is in service so we can say we have completed another franchise obligation.

I know they have other priorities such as trying to deliver the May 2018 timetable (which looks like it will be 2019 at least before we have a useable weekend service) but meaningless gestures like this don't help us passengers who have very little time for the current senior management.

 

[jon0844]

Yes, you can. It wouldn't be a class 2 otherwise. That's the whole point, they need to run in passenger service, and a non-stop Moorgate to Gordon Hill fulfills that brief.

Don't forget my thread about 2R00. That's a class 2 train that isn't advertised to the public.

 

[Aictos]

Don't forget my thread about 2R00. That's a class 2 train that isn't advertised to the public.

For the very good reason that it isn't a passenger service as such, it's simply there to act as a staff taxi to get drivers from Kings Cross to Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin and Letchworth not to mention that it's not advertised for the simple reason that due to engineering works it can be diverted and by not advertising it, there isn't any need to supply a rail replacement service as the only users are rail staff and they can be booked in taxis if need be.

By all rights, it ought to be operated as 3R00 as for example when it was diverted via Hertford it might have been booked to stop to pick up/drop off staff but if there weren't any staff then it's not likely to stop.

 

[Julia]

It is fairly typical of GTR management however - we have it in service tick - no good to the majority of our passengers but it is in service so we can say we have completed another franchise obligation.

But that's the nature of the franchises - doing the "right" thing (i.e. providing better service to the passengers but not carrying out the tick-box exercise on time) gets you heavily penalised. "What gets measured gets done" and all that.

 

[Fred26]

Don't forget my thread about 2R00. That's a class 2 train that isn't advertised to the public.

That's true, I'd forgotten that example. I've always thought that should be a class 3, or run it passenger service.

 

[Aictos]

That's true, I'd forgotten that example. I've always thought that should be a class 3, or run it passenger service.

Smart minds think alike as that's what I said above

 

[transmanche]

I just don't get why you would paint the front white when it works services to and from Moorgate....
It will go in to the tunnel white and emerge 30 minutes later all grey, black and grimy!

But exactly the same would happen if you painted it yellow - so why would you bother painting it yellow?

 

[Fred26]

I like the 717 livery. Graffiti magnet though.

 

[03_179]

This is what I have so far:
https://partimespotter.wordpress.com/new-trains-info/class-717/

If anyone knows for definite other units that have been in services can you let me know please.

Also heard that 018 and 020 are due in this Wednesday.

So far 003, 005, 006, 007 & 008 are on the GTR books.

 

[BowesRanger]

I like the 717 livery. Graffiti magnet though.

I thought that but the 700s have been OK so far on that front

 

[jon0844]

I thought that but the 700s have been OK so far on that front

Plenty of 700s have been done, but they've been cleaned quite quickly/easily. Sadly interior vandalism doesn't seem a high priority. There's one unit with loads of tagging in a toilet that has been there for months.

At least the 717s won't have that problem, having no toilets!

 

[Bungle965]

I thought that but the 700s have been OK so far on that front

Apart from this incident https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-44411024.
I would agree with you, I have heard relatively little in terms of graffiti on those units.
Sam

 

[urpert]

Plenty of 700s have been done, but they've been cleaned quite quickly/easily. Sadly interior vandalism doesn't seem a high priority. There's one unit with loads of tagging in a toilet that has been there for months.

At least the 717s won't have that problem, having no toilets!

There’s been a lot of window/mirror etching too (I thought the youth had got bored of that once they started fitting vinyls).

 

[03_179]

717006 is making it's first trip out on the GN today. These are testing runs not passenger runs.

HE091 5G82 10:35 MRGT GORDONH
HE091 5J83 11:51 GORDONH MRGT
HE091 5G84 12:35 MRGT GORDONH
HE091 5J85 13:55 GORDONH MRGT
HE091 5G86 14:35 MRGT GORDONH
HE091 5E87 15:17 GORDONH HRNSYMD

 

[jon0844]

There’s been a lot of window/mirror etching too (I thought the youth had got bored of that once they started fitting vinyls).

Probably not bored if the film isn't changed and they can see their handy work for months .

 

[Peter Sarf]

Probably not bored if the film isn't changed and they can see their handy work for months .

That is the problem. They won't bother etching or spraying paint if they think it won't last long. Not cleaning it up shows a lack of care I am afraid.

 

[JonathanH]

Yes, you can. It wouldn't be a class 2 otherwise. That's the whole point, they need to run in passenger service, and a non-stop Moorgate to Gordon Hill fulfills that brief.

So is what is actually happening with the Friday services that they run as a class 5 from Moorgate to Finsbury Park so passengers can't board, then at Finsbury Park the service passes non stop even though it is meant to change from class 5 to class 2.

Consequently these services can't actually be boarded.

 

[Fred26]

So is what is actually happening with the Friday services that they run as a class 5 from Moorgate to Finsbury Park so passengers can't board, then at Finsbury Park the service passes non stop even though it is meant to change from class 5 to class 2.

Consequently these services can't actually be boarded.

Yes, it is shown as you describe, however that is an error in the system and has to be changed manually. Probably a lack of willing keeps it with the error, since it runs virtually empty anyway.

 

[jon0844]

Yes, it is shown as you describe, however that is an error in the system and has to be changed manually. Probably a lack of willing keeps it with the error, since it runs virtually empty anyway.

1 member of the public on the first run I'm told. Surprised it wasn't full of spotters.

 

[sprunt]

I noticed this tonight at Hornsey - it might have been there for ages but tonight was the first time I noticed it. Don't know if t suggests anything imminent?