Scotrail Class 385 Discussion

[Ben Conlin]

Does anyone know if any of the remaining sets to be delivered will replace the remaining 318/320 combinations that still run on the Lanark service - bit of a mixed bag on that route right now.

I’d hope they do I think 3 out of the 4 are 385s there’s two 3 car 385s, 1 6 car 385 and 1 6 car 318/320 combo so hopefully replace that with a 6 car

 

[route101]

I’d hope they do I think 3 out of the 4 are 385s there’s two 3 car 385s, 1 6 car 385 and 1 6 car 318/320 combo so hopefully replace that with a 6 car

Couple of Saturdays ago , was at least 3 320/318s sets on the Lanarks , maybe different at weekends .

 

[SouthSub]

On a side note, back in 1994 I seem to remember seeing a drop down banner on either Platforms 3 and 4, or 5 and 6 advertising that the Edinburgh shuttle departs from those platforms. This was when the Edinburgh via Falkirk High was every 30 minutes and was operated with Class 158s.

A couple of years later than that, when I began travelling regularly between Queen Street and Edinburgh, there was a banner on platform 6 advertising the shuttle. Likewise there was one on platform 14 at Edinburgh.

 

[hexagon789]

I’d hope they do I think 3 out of the 4 are 385s there’s two 3 car 385s, 1 6 car 385 and 1 6 car 318/320 combo so hopefully replace that with a 6 car

The 385s are replacing 314s only.

A couple of years later than that, when I began travelling regularly between Queen Street and Edinburgh, there was a banner on platform 6 advertising the shuttle. Likewise there was one on platform 14 at Edinburgh.

6 and 14 were certainly the dedicated platforms in the late-1980s.

 

[adrock1976]

When the E&G is fully 8 car operated it will require 16 4 car units with say 1 or 2 as a spare set, this will leave 6 or 7 units for other routes. Would it be worth ScotRail's while using these from Central on the Shotts line & introducing a First Class option on that line so that both Glasgow stations have Edinburgh services with First Class facilities. This would also help some of the peak services that reduced from 4 car dmu's to 3 car emu's in May

The route between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley already has First Class accommodation, but it is the Intercity Crosscountry and the daily Intercity East Coast to and from London Kings Cross.

 

[NorthClyde320]

The logical assumption would be that the remaining 318/320 working on the Lanark service will be replaced by a 385 which would allow the 318/320 to replace a 314 working be that on Inverclyde/Cathcart/Newton which would leave 3 x 314 units to be replaced. I don't think any more 314's will be withdrawn until after August though.

 

[GrimShady]

The 385s are replacing 314s only.



6 and 14 were certainly the dedicated platforms in the late-1980s.

They should go back to something similar, for example, QS PL 3 and ED PL 12. Platform 10 is unsuitable for E&G services. You could go one stage further and have boards advertising ScotRail Express. How original would that be?

Any word of how the 8 Car sets will be marshalled? FC on the outer ends or joining in the middle?

 

[hexagon789]

They should go back to something similar, for example, QS PL 3 and ED PL 12. Platform 10 is unsuitable for E&G services. You could go one stage further and have boards advertising ScotRail Express. How original would that be?

Any word of how the 8 Car sets will be marshalled? FC on the outer ends or joining in the middle?

I think the issue with dedicated platforms is service frequencies are often to great now for that to be viable, it's easier to use platforms more flexibly as required.

Probably First Class each end, mirroring the previous 170 arrangement.

 

[InOban]

Delivery paths on Tuesday in RTT

 

[DaStripedCgull]

The logical assumption would be that the remaining 318/320 working on the Lanark service will be replaced by a 385 which would allow the 318/320 to replace a 314 working be that on Inverclyde/Cathcart/Newton which would leave 3 x 314 units to be replaced. I don't think any more 314's will be withdrawn until after August though.

Today its Saturday and there is a 3 car 320, 3 car 318 and a 3 and 6 car 385 on Lanark services. Last Saturday its was two 3 car 320s, a 3 car 318 and a 6 car 385.

 

[Ben Conlin]

Today its Saturday and there is a 3 car 320, 3 car 318 and a 3 and 6 car 385 on Lanark services. Last Saturday its was two 3 car 320s, a 3 car 318 and a 6 car 385.

That’s surprising I’m sure a few weeks ago there was 3 385s and a 318/320 I wonder why they’ve reduced it

 

[DaStripedCgull]

That’s surprising I’m sure a few weeks ago there was 3 385s and a 318/320 I wonder why they’ve reduced it

Weekdays its 3 385s and a 318/320. Weekends are a bit different i think.

 

[anthannan]

Would it be correct that the 4 test vehicles (001,002,101,102) won't have to do mileage accumulation when they're delivered back?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

On a 6 coach Lanark 385 (1350 ex GLC) today. I’m not allowed to be in anorak mode when my wife is with me*, so unit numbers not noted. However on sitting down “This looks like a nice new train” followed less than 3 seconds later by “Wouldn’t like to travel any distance on it, these seats are a bit hard” .
Verdict given.

*Couldn’t fail to notice punters kept on platform for quite a while, lights going off at least once, reboot required?

 

[GrimShady]

On a 6 coach Lanark 385 (1350 ex GLC) today. I’m not allowed to be in anorak mode when my wife is with me*, so unit numbers not noted. However on sitting down “This looks like a nice new train” followed less than 3 seconds later by “Wouldn’t like to travel any distance on it, these seats are a bit hard” .
Verdict given.

*Couldn’t fail to notice punters kept on platform for quite a while, lights going off at least once, reboot required?

A year after introduction, it doesn't seem like the seats have "softened up" after use as we were told, the endless spin from TOCs!

They really, really need to do something with the PIS. It literally did not stop for a breath after leaving Lenzie to Queen Street.

 

[Highlandspring]

*Couldn’t fail to notice punters kept on platform for quite a while, lights going off at least once, reboot required?

Yes... 385010 and 013 for your records.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Yes... 385010 and 013 for your records.

Thank you, Highlandspring.

 

[380101]

Heard from a couple of reliable sources that they are going to be doing overnight testing of the 385 on the Ayrshire routes soon. Apparently the aircon is suffering in units whilst working the Cathcart Circle due to the constant opening of the doors every 2-3 minutes so the plan is to shift them onto longer routes with less frequent door opening. Always said putting 100mph inter urban EMUs on a 40mph inner city metro route was crazy!

 

[samuelmorris]

Heard from a couple of reliable sources that they are going to be doing overnight testing of the 385 on the Ayrshire routes soon. Apparently the aircon is suffering in units whilst working the Cathcart Circle due to the constant opening of the doors every 2-3 minutes so the plan is to shift them onto longer routes with less frequent door opening. Always said putting 100mph inter urban EMUs on a 40mph inner city metro route was crazy!

Nonetheless, the A/C on the S-stock in London copes with worse...

 

[380101]

Nonetheless, the A/C on the S-stock in London copes with worse...

Can only go on what I'm hearing from guys in Op standards and the training dept, so there must be some truth in it.

 

[samuelmorris]

Can only go on what I'm hearing from guys in Op standards and the training dept, so there must be some truth in it.

I'm not doubting what you've heard, but assuming it's true, it means the A/C on the units is presumably a cut-down spec on the assumption it wouldn't need to work as hard.

 

[380101]

I'm not doubting what you've heard, but assuming it's true, it means the A/C on the units is presumably a cut-down spec on the assumption it wouldn't need to work as hard.

more than likely...it is afterall a Hitachi product!

 

[anthannan]

more than likely...it is afterall a Hitachi product!

Good product imo!

 

[380101]

Good product imo!

Could and should have been much better though!

 

[anthannan]

Could and should have been much better though!

Perhaps, could of been better specified by Abellio. Air Con can be upgraded fairly easily but perhaps dedicated Urban stock should be used here?

 

[hwl]

The average humidity in the the UK is higher than the vast majority of countries in the World / Europe and average UK RH has increased 4% points (not by 4%) over the last 50 years due to climate change (warmer = wetter when you are surrounded by water!) hence you have to comparatively over spec Air Con to work in the UK. (Ditto Air source heat pumps)

 

[hexagon789]

Heard from a couple of reliable sources that they are going to be doing overnight testing of the 385 on the Ayrshire routes soon. Apparently the aircon is suffering in units whilst working the Cathcart Circle due to the constant opening of the doors every 2-3 minutes so the plan is to shift them onto longer routes with less frequent door opening. Always said putting 100mph inter urban EMUs on a 40mph inner city metro route was crazy!

So 385s of Ayrshire after all then, interesting. Presumably the Cathcarts will get more 318/320s instead. I can see the logic in switching 385s over to Ayrshire being pretty much a match for 380s in most respects.

 

[InOban]

Today's delivery seems to be off.

 

[anthannan]

The average humidity in the the UK is higher than the vast majority of countries in the World / Europe and average UK RH has increased 4% points (not by 4%) over the last 50 years due to climate change (warmer = wetter when you are surrounded by water!) hence you have to comparatively over spec Air Con to work in the UK. (Ditto Air source heat pumps)

The Air Con is always very good in Japanese cars, especially in the grey imports. Should of been specified as per a domestic urban train. Because the humidity is even worse there?

 

[hwl]

The Air Con is always very good in Japanese cars, especially in the grey imports. Should of been specified as per a domestic urban train. Because the humidity is even worse there?

Rolling stock manufacturers are infamous for getting their early UK rolling stock under spec'd air con wise!