Scotrail Class 385 Discussion

[anthannan]

Yes both are outside on test.

Thanks for the info

 

[snookertam]

Doesn't moving 385s to the Paisley routes just leave 380s having to work on the Cathcart routes instead?

There are plenty of 321s ripe for conversion to 320s in the near future (noting these are also 100mph inter-urban units)

That's what I would have thought as well. There are 318/320s currenly on Inverclyde work and one Lanark circuit, so I'd have thought moving those units onto the Cathcart Circles would be the move, and replace those with 385s. Any Ayrshire workings would just displace 380s which means they end up on the Cathcart lines. There's already three 380 diagrams on the route for most of the day, with some others during the morning peak. Nothing against the units, but it is noticeable that the drivers seem to have an issue with handling them over short distances between the stations.

I don't think anything will compare to the 314s in terms of suitability for such a route. That's why the potential add on order of 385s may have been better specified as the AT100 which is a metro style unit. 10-20 of these could have been very useful for this route and Paisley Canal. However the issue with this (and with any potential further conversion of 321 units) is where do they put them?

 

[snookertam]

I think more than anything what shows how unsuitable the 385 is on the Cathcart route is how painfully slow it is. For a unit that has such good acceleration, and therefore you’d think could cope okay, the drivers on these things seem pretty nervous to get upto line spend. Similar problem to the 380s above but seems more pronounced on the 385s.

 

[jamieintercity]

Light engine appears to be cancelled, so either a VSTP is added soon for the LE, or delivery is cancelled

 

[JumpinTrainz]

That's what I would have thought as well. There are 318/320s currenly on Inverclyde work and one Lanark circuit, so I'd have thought moving those units onto the Cathcart Circles would be the move, and replace those with 385s. Any Ayrshire workings would just displace 380s which means they end up on the Cathcart lines. There's already three 380 diagrams on the route for most of the day, with some others during the morning peak. Nothing against the units, but it is noticeable that the drivers seem to have an issue with handling them over short distances between the stations.

I don't think anything will compare to the 314s in terms of suitability for such a route. That's why the potential add on order of 385s may have been better specified as the AT100 which is a metro style unit. 10-20 of these could have been very useful for this route and Paisley Canal. However the issue with this (and with any potential further conversion of 321 units) is where do they put them?

Think this has been mentioned before, however the AT100 units would have been perfect for Cathcart Circle/Newton/Neilston/Paisley Canal services. It would have been ideal if Scotrail could have cut back on the 385 order by around 16 and ordered these in exchange. They definitely have that more metro feel and more standing space for shorter journeys which the people of Glasgow tend to do more.

I doubt this would even be an option, however - therefore they should try and make best use of the 318s/320s to cover the majority of ex-314 work and allow the 385s to do Inverclyde and Lanark services instead.

Once it’s time for the 318s and 320s to go, I hope Scotrail really seriously consider a suitable replacement for more suburban routes. Something like the AT100 looks very practical.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Sorry if this is off topic, but further to my previous posting Scotrail Class 385 Discussion of a 7 coach 385 a GLQ p7, when there today I saw a different offering - a 6 coach 385 at platform 6, an HST at platform 5 and another 7 coach 385 on platform 4:



To the casual observer it looks like there’s nearly enough room for a 7th coach at p6.
There isn’t yet, of course, and the end of the p6/5 island is really too narrow to have two lots of rush hour passengers on it. All fixed after October [EDIT] when 4 and 5 are extended.

 

[mcmad]

Platform 6 and 7 aren't being extended, only platforms 2 to 5.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Platform 6 and 7 aren't being extended, only platforms 2 to 5.

Yes I know, sorry about that - a superfluous “yet” appeared in a rather confused sentence.
I hope that’s a bit clearer now.

Thanks for pointing that out .

 

[DaStripedCgull]

A bit of topic but I’m on a 320 to Lanark and while at bellshill 2Y51 from Edinburgh to Central via Shotts is formed by 385 122. Never seen a 4 car on shotts yet until today.

 

[Mulson]

Got on an 8-car 385 this morning, think that is the first I have seen them on the E&G line.

 

[AlistairCowell]

Got on an 8-car 385 this morning, think that is the first I have seen them on the E&G line.

E&G Line went eight-car from today.

 

[mcmad]

E&G Line went eight-car from today.

Not sure if it is full 8 car or just selected services until all units are delivered.

 

[route101]

A bit of topic but I’m on a 320 to Lanark and while at bellshill 2Y51 from Edinburgh to Central via Shotts is formed by 385 122. Never seen a 4 car on shotts yet until today.

Been cropping up now and then , id imagine as the E and G goes 8 car this will stop

 

[hexagon789]

Got on an 8-car 385 this morning, think that is the first I have seen them on the E&G line.

Yes, first day of 8-car workings.

E&G Line went eight-car from today.

Not sure if it is full 8 car or just selected services until all units are delivered.

Two sets, working the XX:00 departures from each end.

 

[Steven_G]

17:00 from Queen Street is an 8 car on platform 7.

So just 1&6 won’t be capable?

 

[gsnedders]

17:00 from Queen Street is an 8 car on platform 7.

So just 1&6 won’t be capable?

No, currently only 3 & 7 are; eventually 3, 4, 5, and 7 will be. (2 is 171m, so not even 7.5 x 23.)

 

[PaxVobiscum]

[shamelessplug] The 1100 GLQ-EDB 8 coacher is seen departing from 0’ 43” in the short video below EDIT: now at 1’ 37” in the longer version of the video now appended below [/shamelessplug]

 

[JLUK144]

Queen Street is certainly coming along now.

 

[SC318250]

Delivery paths in Wed to Fri

Suspect 102 Wed, followed by 101 followed by 001

 

[GLC]

Queen Street is certainly coming along now.

Couldn’t agree more. Lots of careful planning finally coming to fruition is so exiting to see.

 

[cosmo]

I had a chance to go on one of these when I did a day trip to Falkirk a while back. Very comfy, very quiet units that have good acceleration. Good to see they're rolling out nicely

 

[JumpinTrainz]

[shamelessplug] The 1100 GLQ-EDB 8 coacher is seen departing from 0’ 43” in the short video below: [/shamelessplug]

Nice to see the E&G getting the long awaited capacity upgrade it has needed!

 

[hexagon789]

[shamelessplug] The 1100 GLQ-EDB 8 coacher is seen departing from 0’ 43” in the short video below: [/shamelessplug]

Looking like they're getting along with it quite well. Even better when we've got all 8-car 385s on the E&G and a revamped Queen Street to match.

 

[GLC]

The 1806 Glasgow Central to Newton service was a 6 car 320 formation, which is the first time I’ve been aware of there being a 6 car service to Neilston that wasn’t made up of 314s. Is this a side effect of the 8 car 385 service having now started, or totally unrelated?

 

[NorthClyde320]

The 1806 Glasgow Central to Newton service was a 6 car 320 formation, which is the first time I’ve been aware of there being a 6 car service to Neilston that wasn’t made up of 314s. Is this a side effect of the 8 car 385 service having now started, or totally unrelated?

I take it you mean the 18.06 to Neilston? On Friday it was worked by 318267+320312 but the departures either side of the 18.06 were double 314's it was the same about a month ago with a double 318 doing the 18.06 working, one of the 18.06 units comes off Paisley Canal i think.

 

[route101]

I take it you mean the 18.06 to Neilston? On Friday it was worked by 318267+320312 but the departures either side of the 18.06 were double 314's it was the same about a month ago with a double 318 doing the 18.06 working, one of the 18.06 units comes off Paisley Canal i think.

Pretty sure i seen a double 320 last September , service after 1703 perhaps?

 

[NorthClyde320]

Pretty sure i seen a double 320 last September , service after 1703 perhaps?

If that's the 17.18 dep it is usually a double 314, but may change depending on each days circumstances.

Getting back to the class 385's, according to my sightings and notes all of the delivered and in service 4 cars have the enhanced First Class branding, can anyone confirm this?

 

[anthannan]

If that's the 17.18 dep it is usually a double 314, but may change depending on each days circumstances.

Getting back to the class 385's, according to my sightings and notes all of the delivered and in service 4 cars have the enhanced First Class branding, can anyone confirm this?

4 cars have enhanced First Class branding. Of the 64 delivered 62 are in service. The 2 yet to enter service are 041 & 042.

 

[hexagon789]

If that's the 17.18 dep it is usually a double 314, but may change depending on each days circumstances.

Getting back to the class 385's, according to my sightings and notes all of the delivered and in service 4 cars have the enhanced First Class branding, can anyone confirm this?

What is the 'enhanced' First Class branding?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

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