No there is one other, 409?? Plenty of room on the MNR still. Aparently almost all the legacy fleet would fit there in the sidings & loop.
Not taking time. Everything possible is being done.
Heritage line, isn't it? So it'll be live railway on a bank holiday with probably lots of people looking out at the sidings and an enthusiastic security response if anyone is seen tresspassing. Also the live trains may well be huge heavy steam engines which don't stop as nicely as modern suburbans! Not the easiest place to reach except by heritage train or private motor and if it is where I think then the nearest access is off a dangerous staggered crossroads then across a farm field, barbed wire fence and tree-lined embankment. Surely they will prefer easier targets!
That thought did make me wonder if uploading the various photos and videos were such a good idea...
Riding on 418 at the moment between Cambridge and Ely - very impressed. Even sitting next to the motor bogie at the front it's very quiet (and in the power car corridor under acceleration it's 32 cylinder dieselhead heaven....). As others have said, sitting right next to the power car you can hear and feel a bit of diesel vibration, but it's minimal and not intrusive in any way.
24/7 security is provided at all locations they are stored.
Good to hear it's still in traffic. Fitters are riding with it no doubt & monitoring those troublesome screens & cameras.
As you say it all takes time. Around 50% of Norwich drivers are trained which is the only depot needed at the moment. This training started in earnest last year but delays in unit acceptance meant many had to be retrained as went over the six months. You will hopefully see an influx within the next month or so ready for the departure of the 170 fleet. Crew training will then move on to Ipswich, Colchester & Liverpool St the latter more so for the 745s.
A Stadler technician was riding on the train.
The ASDO needs to work before it can be used on stations with short platforms as the responsibility cannot be left on the driver. Routes out of Norwich trained first as it's the biggest crew depot using Stadlers & the home maintainence depot for the fleet makes sense. Unfortunately the plan is to cascade the 156 units onto Ipswich 170 diagrams for a short while as the transition takes place. There isn't an alternative I'm afraid.
Well they've been out & about lately. Passed 003 in Colchester up loop yesterday. Rumours of October but again everything is very fluid. Also rumours of up to five 90/DVTs being retained longer than planned.
Thanks for that. As they are so similar to the 755s, is it just one training course or do you have to do a separate course for 755 and 745? In the aviation world some aircraft are grouped into on "type rating" as controls and systems etc are so similar. Does this exist in railway land?
I would love to think we'd be getting extra 745s but feel we are lucky to get what we've got to be honest. It should all be covered in the training for 755s as apart from the number of doors, the only difference is the lack of the diesel power pack & the lack of multiple operation.
Oh bless you mate. I only feed through what I hear & it's annoying when those plans change. Will do my best to keep everyone posted.
It all comes down to the DfT & the 8 month long dispute. Humble pie for tea springs to mind.
