Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[jon0844]

Maybe there's a draught caused by the open flooring that is uncomfortable?

 

[HowardGWR]

A case of the PIS controllers taking the PIS by giving us loads of unnecessary messages which then interfere with the messages we do want to here. Such as where is the train stopping and what's the next stop.

I just wonder if the designers ever took a ride on a Dutch Sprinter. Crystal clear visual and audible information giving precisely that information, plus change of train possibilities on a square screen (and no extraneous info either!).

 

[samuelmorris]

On the aubject of 700’s but a little different from the norm of these posts. I have a dog that happily travels by Train, I live and use the line that serves St.Neots Station. Prior to the introduction of 700’s Barney (a Golden Retriever) was very happy to travel on 317, 319, 365 types of Unit and indeed any other type. Then came the 700’s, now Barney trembles a little, tries to sit on me constantly putting a paw up prior to trying the sit on me routine. What is it about the 700’s? I have found him to be a little better in the Trailer Cars but not 100%. I am wondering if there is some kind of electrical sound coupled with the i side bearings that he can hear that I do not notice, Dogs can hear and smell tbings that we can not percieve. He is also fine on the other new units on the line Bombadier ones cant remember the class so it is up to now only 700’s, but I am dreading Azumas and IEP’s, perhaps my long distance trips out by Train with Barney will be curtailed.

Lots of electrical noise on 700s that isn't present on any of the other unit types you have listed by name. It's entirely possible they also emit a large amount of noise above the human hearing range.

 

[387star]

The tennis ball thud noise is quite irritating perhaps it's that

 

[urpert]

The tennis ball thud noise is quite irritating perhaps it's that

Has anyone managed to explain that yet?

 

[bionic]

Has anyone managed to explain that yet?

Neutral sections. Only happens north of the river and only ever in the same places. The tennis ball sound is the vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) associated with the pantograph opening.

 

[387star]

No it's not the VCB that's a much louder bang

Usually happens when the train brakes think it's pressure related

Still crackling pa issues on some 700s and announcements cutting out or not in sync in different coaches

 

[Aictos]

No it's not the VCB that's a much louder bang

Usually happens when the train brakes think it's pressure related

Still crackling pa issues on some 700s and announcements cutting out or not in sync in different coaches

So close but no biscuit, sorry!

The VCB operates when the electric train be it locomotive or multiple unit passes though a neutral section and it's simply to prevent the driver from taking power from two different electric sections which is why the driver must shut off power and coast though the neutral section.

There is more information on this here, I hope that explains it better as it's got nothing at all to do with the brakes.

 

[theironroad]

I'd imagine it the same pretty loud bang you get at regular intervals on desiros out of Liverpool Street. Extremely annoying.

 

[westcoaster]

The tennis ball thud noise is quite irritating perhaps it's that

100% something aircon/preasure related. We get a tremendous preasure whistling in the cabs, ive even had it where the preasure is so great you realy have to force open the cab door into the salon area.

 

[xotGD]

My first experience of the 700 yesterday. Bright and airy, but passenger comfort was definitely not a priority.

Some young numpty holding the doors open for his mates caused a 5 minute delay. From the driver's tone, this sounds like a regular problem.

At one point the display screens went blank, but then came back on a couple of minutes later.

 

[387star]

So close but no biscuit, sorry!

The VCB operates when the electric train be it locomotive or multiple unit passes though a neutral section and it's simply to prevent the driver from taking power from two different electric sections which is why the driver must shut off power and coast though the neutral section.

There is more information on this here, I hope that explains it better as it's got nothing at all to do with the brakes.

You misread my post which wasn't clear

I meant the tennis ball sound seems to occur under braking

 

[urpert]

Neutral sections. Only happens north of the river and only ever in the same places. The tennis ball sound is the vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) associated with the pantograph opening.

We must be thinking about a different sound as I rarely travel north of Blackfriars but have heard the tennis ball noise numerous times.

 

[AlexNL]

Maybe that sound is made by air valves opening and closing?

 

[MML]

At one point the display screens went blank, but then came back on a couple of minutes later.

I experienced the same. The well loved 'See it, say it, sorted' graphic appeared accompanied by the crackling Dalek audio. After the first sentence, the Dalek appeared to exterminate with all PIS screens within the entire 12-car unit turning blank immediately followed by a re-boot with a twirling circle. So the size of the graphic not only causes the break-up of the audio but now triggers a re-boot.

The processor in these things must be incapable of loading a simple jpg.

Personally, I like the enhancement. It means I don't have to listen to that god awful 'See it, say it, sorted' anymore.

 

[Mordac]

I experienced the same. The well loved 'See it, say it, sorted' graphic appeared accompanied by the crackling Dalek audio. After the first sentence, the Dalek appeared to exterminate with all PIS screens within the entire 12-car unit turning blank immediately followed by a re-boot with a twirling circle. So the size of the graphic not only causes the break-up of the audio but now triggers a re-boot.

The processor in these things must be incapable of loading a simple jpg.

Personally, I like the enhancement. It means I don't have to listen to that god awful 'See it, say it, sorted' anymore.

That's how I felt when I learned BA are removing the video screens from their short-haul aircraft, taking with them the awful "Comic Relief" safety video.

 

[Dunnyrail]

Lots of electrical noise on 700s that isn't present on any of the other unit types you have listed by name. It's entirely possible they also emit a large amount of noise above the human hearing range.

Many thanks, I had suspected as much. Over this weekend busses excepted between St.Neots. and Biggleswade I travelled in the Coach with the Accesibility Loo, there appears to be less Traction noise in this coach so next time I take Barney on the Train will aim for this one. Appears to be the 5th or 6th coach counting back from the North if anyone has a similar issue with a Hound.

 

[GEcommuter]

Is there any news on whether the trains are now driven through the core automatically?

 

[jon0844]

Is there any news on whether the trains are now driven through the core automatically?

Pretty sure that's a no. Route learning takes precedent over everything at the moment. Then there's 387 and 700 training, 717 conversion courses etc.

 

[Aictos]

Pretty sure that's a no. Route learning takes precedent over everything at the moment. Then there's 387 and 700 training, 717 conversion courses etc.

I believe it doesn't start until there's a set number of trains per hour though the Core, not too sure on the number though but I don't think we're close to it but we will from May next year if not certainly Dec next year.

 

[jellybaby]

I believe it doesn't start until there's a set number of trains per hour though the Core

Do you know what the logic behind that is? If you have fancy signalling and fancy trains why wouldn't you use it?

 

[WeGoAgain]

Do you know what the logic behind that is? If you have fancy signalling and fancy trains why wouldn't you use it?

It's not needed as there are not 24 tph needing to go through the core at the moment.

 

[Aictos]

It's not needed as there are not 24 tph needing to go through the core at the moment.

Plus you need to train the drivers on the operation of it and also the signallers? All of which takes time considering how many drivers now sign the Core

 

[bionic]

Do you know what the logic behind that is? If you have fancy signalling and fancy trains why wouldn't you use it?

I think GTR have got enough problems running a train service without giving themselves more. They need to train the drivers in it first, and considering the backlog at their school it won't be any time soon.

Getting 24tph through the core isn't expected to be a major issue... getting 24tph INTO the core ON TIME and IN THE RIGHT ORDER is the challenge!

 

[hwl]

I believe it doesn't start until there's a set number of trains per hour though the Core, not too sure on the number though but I don't think we're close to it but we will from May next year if not certainly Dec next year.

It is needed above 20tph so expect a massive ATO training push before the December '19 TT change. thankfully the ATO training is shorter than everything else, just lots need to do it!
Route and Stock training more important for GTR in the short term though.

 

[Aictos]

It is needed above 20tph so expect a massive ATO training push before the December '19 TT change. thankfully the ATO training is shorter than everything else, just lots need to do it!
Route and Stock training more important for GTR in the short term though.

Exactly what I said above, I wasn't sure on the tph requirement other then it had to be a set figure before ATO is needed.

 

[ComUtoR]

What happens when you have half the trains using ATO and the other half driven manually ?

 

[hwl]

Exactly what I said above, I wasn't sure on the tph requirement other then it had to be a set figure before ATO is needed.

Big difference between this and next year

 

[hwl]

What happens when you have half the trains using ATO and the other half driven manually ?

You just don't get the full performance benefits nothing complex or disastrous!
The trains on ATO will tend to run closer to the train in front than the non ATO ones (and responds "quicker"/more sensibly as it look at more than just the next signal) creating a bit more capacity. If ATO isn't engaged or working driving remains as now.
ATO will enable 30tph in recovery mode.

 

[ComUtoR]

Not all trains will be running through with ATO. Seems kinda stupid tbh.