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GN Class 717

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Ethano92

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There are two brightness levels on a 700 and it does seem as if the 717s are on lower level by default.

I don't think the low level brightness on a 700 is intended for normal use and is called something like standby lighting or similar? At night it would be quite cool to drop the brightness, but I doubt anyone wants people to get too cosy and sleep - plus the obvious safety (even if just a perception of safety) issues.

Thanks, I thought so. I think a bright interior is good from a safety perspective although on a walk through train I'd say it's already pretty good. Does make me wonder why the dimming/brightening wasn't made automatic like on the 710s although I suppose 345s don't have any dimming either.

not much risk of people getting too comfortable and falling to sleep realistically, unless they bring their own cushions.

Many times I've fallen asleep on the 700s in the evening. Again, not everyone actually cares about hard seats and for the majority of the off peak, as you can spread out with nobody next to you the other 'issues' with the seats don't particularly matter.
 
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Hadders

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Thanks, I thought so. I think a bright interior is good from a safety perspective although on a walk through train I'd say it's already pretty good. Does make me wonder why the dimming/brightening wasn't made automatic like on the 710s although I suppose 345s don't have any dimming either.



Many times I've fallen asleep on the 700s in the evening. Again, not everyone actually cares about hard seats and for the majority of the off peak, as you can spread out with nobody next to you the other 'issues' with the seats don't particularly matter.

Hard seats aren't the issue. It's the spacing between them and the lack of leg room.
 

BJames

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Personally speaking I fell ALL trains should have toilets.

My wife suffers from IBS and issues where if she needs to go .. she REALLY needs to go. Most stations now don't have toilets. Yesterday I could not see one at Oakleigh Park, Harley Wood, Enfield Chase or any of the NCL. The only option was Finsbury Park.
Just to say that Enfield Chase does have toilets (that are actually not too bad at all) on the London-bound platform. It can make it difficult for some but as mentioned, with PRM requirements it would need to be an accessible toilet fitted on the 717s and that would take up quite a lot of space, something that GTR were keen to avoid.
 

jon0844

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717s have the ability to add an accessible toilet but let's be honest, they won't get one. If TfL took over then definitely not.
 

Failed Unit

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717s have the ability to add an accessible toilet but let's be honest, they won't get one. If TfL took over then definitely not.

i agree.

it is amazing how GTR justify the lack of toilets and seat back tables on the fact that they are used on journeys of a similar distance to TfL’s metropolitan line.

if they is the case why bother with power points (useful) and Wi-Fi (gimmick).

likewise. Why didn’t they specify comfortable seats. (Yes subjective - but the s-stock is so much better than the 7xx)

to me the distance without a toilet is fine. To others it isn’t. But when they break down as frequently as they do it isn’t. The other thing i would say against the toilet. I have done many journeys on the 700 with no serviceable toilets. At least you know the 717 doesn’t have one. But had they specified them it would be a big difference. At WGC you only have 1 sex per platform. You can’t easily get between platforms. So not the best station to go before you board.
 

andystock22

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Used the WiFi today to watch Soccer Saturday on the now TV mobile app from Drayton Park to New Barnet. It worked perfectly.

WiFi was working on all four 717s I got today.
 

jon0844

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Used the WiFi today to watch Soccer Saturday on the now TV mobile app from Drayton Park to New Barnet. It worked perfectly.

WiFi was working on all four 717s I got today.

I wouldn't advertise this, as they may now block it. I know they block specific streaming sites and probably missed that from their blacklist.

YouTube Kids was once missed and worked but is now blocked, and they've obviously done Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iPlayer and normal YouTube from the off.

I realise some VPNs will allow all to work, but that often reduces the speed markedly and reduces the picture quality.
 
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jellybaby

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GTR press release about the 717 introduction - http://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-thameslink-railway/pressreleases/gtr-completes-massive-investment-in-new-rolling-stock-2926157

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) this week completed a five-year £2bn programme to transform passenger journeys with more than 1,500 new carriages, turning one of the UK’s oldest fleets into one of the most modern.

On Tuesday, 1 October, Great Northern consigned to history the last of its 42-year-old Class 313 trains that operate on the Moorgate route. All are now modern Class 717s.
 

tofl

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Now they just need the drivers to drive them. Driver training apparently on track, so I am told.
 

swat

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And on the first day of exclusive 717 service I'm delayed by a broken down train at Highbury and islington... Reassuringly familiar!
 

Failed Unit

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And on the first day of exclusive 717 service I'm delayed by a broken down train at Highbury and islington... Reassuringly familiar!
Yep. The 717s have a higher failure rate than the 313s. Be interesting how the passengers react when the new trains don’t actually improve things.

2 failures I understand last night. 1725 Moorgate- Gordon hill failed at Finsbury Park. I understand the other was on the Hertford loop.

of course the reliability of the 717s will improve. The question is when will the get to a maintained 313 levels?
 

03_179

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What are the working for HE051. Many Thanks.
HE051
Train ID Departure Time Departure Location Arrival Time Arrival Location
5R00 03:52 Hornsey Depot 04:02 Kings Cross
2R99 04:12 Kings Cross 05:08 Letchworth Garden City
5J12 05:11 Letchworth Garden City 06:05 Stevenage
2J12 06:06 Stevenage 07:09 Moorgate (Great Northern)
2V15 07:15 Moorgate (Great Northern) 08:02 Welwyn Garden City
2K34 08:08 Welwyn Garden City 08:59 Moorgate (Great Northern)
5E15 09:05 Moorgate (Great Northern) 09:22 Hornsey Down Reversing Sidings
5E15 09:29 Hornsey Down Reversing Sidings 09:33 Harringay Up Reversing Sidings
5E15 09:39 Harringay Up Reversing Sidings 09:41 Hornsey Depot
 

SeaKing

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HE051
Train ID Departure Time Departure Location Arrival Time Arrival Location
5R00 03:52 Hornsey Depot 04:02 Kings Cross
2R99 04:12 Kings Cross 05:08 Letchworth Garden City
5J12 05:11 Letchworth Garden City 06:05 Stevenage
2J12 06:06 Stevenage 07:09 Moorgate (Great Northern)
2V15 07:15 Moorgate (Great Northern) 08:02 Welwyn Garden City
2K34 08:08 Welwyn Garden City 08:59 Moorgate (Great Northern)
5E15 09:05 Moorgate (Great Northern) 09:22 Hornsey Down Reversing Sidings
5E15 09:29 Hornsey Down Reversing Sidings 09:33 Harringay Up Reversing Sidings
5E15 09:39 Harringay Up Reversing Sidings 09:41 Hornsey Depot

possibly. Not loaded at the moment.
Many thanks am in London from midday and intending spending 4-5 hours in Finsbury Pk area.Hoping to get 19,22 & 25.
 

swat

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Yep. The 717s have a higher failure rate than the 313s. Be interesting how the passengers react when the new trains don’t actually improve things.

2 failures I understand last night. 1725 Moorgate- Gordon hill failed at Finsbury Park. I understand the other was on the Hertford loop.

of course the reliability of the 717s will improve. The question is when will the get to a maintained 313 levels?

This might be an already asked question but why are they failing? I guess you have the bellcurve of reliability problem but you'd have thought they would have ironed out the links with 700,707s?

Hopefully GTR are getting suitable compensation from the manufacturer
 

Failed Unit

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This might be an already asked question but why are they failing? I guess you have the bellcurve of reliability problem but you'd have thought they would have ironed out the links with 700,707s?

Hopefully GTR are getting suitable compensation from the manufacturer

I think it is mainly the bath tub and crews getting used to them. Still lots of software upgrades. I understand the incident which caused the ECML meltdown during the power outage was a bad software upgrade that removed the drivers ability to reset the train.

like you i am surprised they are so bad. I was expecting them to at least be similar to the 700s which still don’t have reliability levels we normally see from Siemens.
 

Roger B

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Many thanks am in London from midday and intending spending 4-5 hours in Finsbury Pk area.Hoping to get 19,22 & 25.
I saw all three you require at FPK between 16.30 and 18.15 on 26th Sept - saw 17 different 717s and 3 x 2 different 313s in this time. I suggest you go elsewhere until 16.00 - then take a trip past Hornsey to see what's stabled, and then sit on FPK to see whatever's working. Happy hunting.
 

jon0844

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Now they just need the drivers to drive them. Driver training apparently on track, so I am told.

Should be coming to an end now, and last Saturday there were no cancelled services due to lack of train crew - which was a first for some time!
 

tofl

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My understanding was that in order to provide the full service, especially on weekends, the operator needs drivers to volunteer for overtime - they do not have enough contracted hours to do it. So I presume the logic is that drivers are less likely to volunteer for overtime in good weather.
 

jellybaby

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My understanding was that in order to provide the full service, especially on weekends, the operator needs drivers to volunteer for overtime - they do not have enough contracted hours to do it. So I presume the logic is that drivers are less likely to volunteer for overtime in good weather.

That exactly. I don't blame the drivers if that is the case, I'd do exactly the same. Of course it is better for GTR and drivers this way (cheaper for GTR, more cash for drivers) but it's a PITA for passengers.
 

Mcq

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Precisely the point.
Meanwhile 15:40 from Watton just been cancelled 'Shortage of train crew'!
 

Dave W

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Amongst the other flapping tonight, the 1820 Moorgate to Watton was canned and put into the bay at Gordon Hill.

I was on the following last GH terminator of the night which was hence put into platform 2 to terminate.

Considering how ultra cautious GN have been about platform stopping points and using SDO where entire trains are well in platforms, I was rather amused that the front door was opened almost entirely off the end of the marked platform. The ramp on that platform at Gordon Hill is fortunately rather shallow...!

To be honest I was more excited about my first down train into the up platform... :rolleyes: but does seem a bit of an oversight!
 
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