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Class 345 progress

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Search 'TFL rail' on twitter. The ex-GWR punters aren't impressed *AT ALL*. Not surprised in the slightest really. The trains will be adequate for off-peak users like myself, but I used to commute to London in the Thames Trains era. I know how utterly miserable commuting can be at times.

Wait until all those apartments being built in West London are occupied by commuters. Standing from East Berkshire to Canary Wharf every day will be a proper daily grind!
 
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reddragon

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Search 'TFL rail' on twitter. The ex-GWR punters aren't impressed *AT ALL*. Not surprised in the slightest really. The trains will be adequate for off-peak users like myself, but I used to commute to London in the Thames Trains era. I know how utterly miserable commuting can be at times.

Wait until all those apartments being built in West London are occupied by commuters. Standing from East Berkshire to Canary Wharf every day will be a proper daily grind!

There is still the increase from 7 to 9 cars; then eventually a more frequent service when Xrail opens.

My son has not been happy, standing from Reading, rammed after Maidenhead, late running due to overcrowding and tube layout!
 

reddragon

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Looking at RTT all trains were running but crossrail services were loosing time after Maidenhead due to overcrowding so I am told.

Perhaps everyone has gone mad due to the tube reaching Reading?
 

Goldfish62

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Looking at RTT all trains were running but crossrail services were loosing time after Maidenhead due to overcrowding so I am told.

Perhaps everyone has gone mad due to the tube reaching Reading?
Fewer seats and shorter trains currently.
 

matt_world2004

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There should be no loss of capacity between the switch from 345s to 387s and actually a small increase . Unless there were regularly 600 people standing on the 387s which is difficult to imagine given the narrow gap isle
 

cactustwirly

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There should be no loss of capacity between the switch from 345s to 387s and actually a small increase . Unless there were regularly 600 people standing on the 387s which is difficult to imagine given the narrow gap isle

Yes, but the services between Maidenhead and Paddington were more spread out before the timetable change
 

matt_world2004

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Yes, but the services between Maidenhead and Paddington were more spread out before the timetable change
Yelp ,maybe the Hayes Terminators should be extended to Maidenhead or reading instead of Heathrow , thanks to the core not being open there is probably the rolling stock and drivers to make it happen.
 

cactustwirly

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Yelp ,maybe the Hayes Terminators should be extended to Maidenhead or reading instead of Heathrow , thanks to the core not being open there is probably the rolling stock and drivers to make it happen.

They're already being extended to Heathrow very soon
 

matt_world2004

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They're already being extended to Heathrow very soon
They don't need to be there is spare capacity between Hayes and Heathrow there doesn't sound like there is spare capacity between Hayes and reading.

They should put off the additional Heathrow services until the core opens.
 

pacenotes

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If anything extend them to West Drayton with the new platform now open.

It was the same today, Full and standing on the way into work and home. Always got a seat on GWR.
 

matt_world2004

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If anything extend them to West Drayton with the new platform now open.

It was the same today, Full and standing on the way into work and home. Always got a seat on GWR.
There is the capacity to run them to reading/Maidenhead as when the core opens they will run to reading and Maidenhead. There are a lot less passengers on the Heathrow trains, so it shouldn't be a priority to increase the frequency of these.
 

hwl

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There is the capacity to run them to reading/Maidenhead as when the core opens they will run to reading and Maidenhead. There are a lot less passengers on the Heathrow trains, so it shouldn't be a priority to increase the frequency of these.
The problem is when the trains are as regards Paddington platforming hence the Hayes shuttles soon to Heathrow (4tph should see an uplift in usage) rather than Reading etc.
9car in a few months should solve many of the capacity issues.
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the original plan for Crossrail to terminate at Maidenhead (in which case the metro layout with no toilets would have been fine), and for GWR to continue to be the operator of local trains from Reading into London?
I thought the only reason Crossrail was extended to Reading was that the Mayor of Reading (?) kicked up a fuss about Reading not being included in London investment, and so Crossrail was extended there to keep them happy?

In which case, in a sense, they only have themselves to blame regarding the current issues (e.g. overcrowding)?
 

Chris125

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Annoyingly on Sunday, a 345 suffered a partial headlight failure at Reading. Apparently because of the lack of yellow front it meant it had to go at 20 mph back to OOC. Left Reading at 19:00, back on OOC at 21:45 after being regulated along the route.... Let's hope this doesn't happen too often.......

Presumably they can't use Reading West etc as a triangle to turn it round?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the original plan for Crossrail to terminate at Maidenhead (in which case the metro layout with no toilets would have been fine), and for GWR to continue to be the operator of local trains from Reading into London?

That needed a separate shuttle service, IIRC from Slough to Reading? With electrification and a new station confirmed extending Crossrail services instead was straightforward and rather inevitable - besides faster GWR services still make more sense for those going the whole way.
 

samuelmorris

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I can foresee several complaints on the replacement of 387s with 345s , even when they are extended to 9 cars. The 345s may be good metro trains but they’re still metro trains, with high standing ratios, nowhere to store bags or umbrellas, no toilets and large door apertures - which may not be such an issue on the underground sections, but you would certainly feel it in a windy December day at Taplow.

My OH regularly travels from Reading to Ealing Broadway. She will now be taking the GWR into Paddington and travelling back to Ealing, which is about the same time-wise but more expensive. (There are no GWRs stopping at Ealing during rush hours, despite what has been said elsewhere on this forum)

Estate agents in Reading are always citing the ‘Crossrail ‘connection as a positive selling point, but I don’t think it will offer any advantages to Reading residents, even when it is fully operational.
That's quite a fundamental point I wasn't aware of. Not stopping any GWR services at Ealing Broadway during the peaks does cause quite a few issues for those from the likes of Reading / Twyford etc who connect there rather than at Paddington and may continue to do so after Crossrail's completion.

Today I notice 'this is a TfL rail service' has been added to the DVA, but however it was done has not considered whatever fix was implemented to prevent messages stuttering / repeating, so that old issue has once again returned...
It's also been positioned really badly so even when the message does play correctly, it's obvious it's been shoehorned in and to be honest, only people who regularly use the line are likely to understand what it says. That really needs re-doing.
 

matt_world2004

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The problem is when the trains are as regards Paddington platforming hence the Hayes shuttles soon to Heathrow (4tph should see an uplift in usage) rather than Reading etc.
9car in a few months should solve many of the capacity issues.
Why would paddington platforming cause issues with the Hayes shuttles running to reading , there would be no increase in frequency of trains leaving paddington.
 

cactustwirly

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Why would paddington platforming cause issues with the Hayes shuttles running to reading , there would be no increase in frequency of trains leaving paddington.

Because aren't there specific platforms that 345s have to use because of gauging issues?
 

matt_world2004

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Because aren't there specific platforms that 345s have to use because of gauging issues?
Yes and if the haye terminators extended to reading . There would be no increase in services leaving paddington or change on time of services leaving paddington.still 6tph at paddington
 

cactustwirly

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Yes and if the haye terminators extended to reading . There would be no increase in services leaving paddington or change on time of services leaving paddington.still 6tph at paddington

Tbh I don't think extending the Hayes Terminator is the best solution.
Actually GWR should operate a few more fast/semi fast services so that the commuters from Twyford and Maidenhead are less bunched up, there's quite large gaps between key peak services leading to overcrowding.
 
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JonathanH

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Because aren't there specific platforms that 345s have to use because of gauging issues?

The use of platforms 11 and 12 by TfL Rail services (and restricted length platform 14) is dictated by the fact that they arrive on the relief lines and the number of platforms needed for the main line services.

The centre doors don't open on some carriages but not sure guaging issues are otherwise a problem.

Platforms 9 and 10 are now typically used by longer distance trains.
 

D365

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Annoyingly on Sunday, a 345 suffered a partial headlight failure at Reading. Apparently because of the lack of yellow front it meant it had to go at 20 mph back to OOC. Left Reading at 19:00, back on OOC at 21:45 after being regulated along the route.... Let's hope this doesn't happen too often.......

OT but this says a lot about the decision to relax the rules...
 

EssexGonzo

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the original plan for Crossrail to terminate at Maidenhead (in which case the metro layout with no toilets would have been fine), and for GWR to continue to be the operator of local trains from Reading into London?
I thought the only reason Crossrail was extended to Reading was that the Mayor of Reading (?) kicked up a fuss about Reading not being included in London investment, and so Crossrail was extended there to keep them happy?

In which case, in a sense, they only have themselves to blame regarding the current issues (e.g. overcrowding)?

I didn't know that but it sort of coincides with my (very un-nuanced) views on Crossrail. It's as much about Reading in the west as it is about Shenfield in the east. Which is not very much at all.

I live in Shenfield. We're now on the tube map. I commute into Liverpool St. Crossrail makes not one jot of difference to me as it's not designed for me. it's designed (I think) to take 30-40% of people off the Central Line in the central core section. It's not designed for the people of Shenfield. Therefore, my unsupported hypothesis would be that it's also not really designed for the people of Reading.

However, the new trains are an upgrade from the old 315 stoppers from Shenfield so everyone from Bentwood to Liverpool St has actually benefitted. And we in Shenfield still have the same old "fast" 321s - not great stock but a good service that's not got worse as a result of Crossrail.

Not sure if that's the case for Reading and intermediate stations into Paddington? Has the fast service been degraded and is the stopper service actually worse?
 

samuelmorris

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Can this discussion be moved to a Crossrail thread?

OT, first time on one of the 'newer batch' units at last today in 049. The traction kit sounds slightly different to me but that could be me imagining things. One other thing I notice is the displays going completely blank (white) between stops rather than cycling through the destination and TfL service status. Is that just a bug with this unit or is it affecting the whole fleet at the moment? I didn't notice the blank screens on 009 this morning but I don't recall seeing the TfL info either...
 

700007

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Can this discussion be moved to a Crossrail thread?

OT, first time on one of the 'newer batch' units at last today in 049. The traction kit sounds slightly different to me but that could be me imagining things. One other thing I notice is the displays going completely blank (white) between stops rather than cycling through the destination and TfL service status. Is that just a bug with this unit or is it affecting the whole fleet at the moment? I didn't notice the blank screens on 009 this morning but I don't recall seeing the TfL info either...
Seems to be an all fleet thing since they redid the DVA with the poor splicing.
 

transmanche

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That's quite a fundamental point I wasn't aware of. Not stopping any GWR services at Ealing Broadway during the peaks does cause quite a few issues for those from the likes of Reading / Twyford etc who connect there rather than at Paddington and may continue to do so after Crossrail's completion.
Once the 'core' is open, I assume that for most people there will be no advantage in changing at Ealing Broadway - especially to the Central line.
 

cactustwirly

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Can this discussion be moved to a Crossrail thread?

OT, first time on one of the 'newer batch' units at last today in 049. The traction kit sounds slightly different to me but that could be me imagining things. One other thing I notice is the displays going completely blank (white) between stops rather than cycling through the destination and TfL service status. Is that just a bug with this unit or is it affecting the whole fleet at the moment? I didn't notice the blank screens on 009 this morning but I don't recall seeing the TfL info either...

008 and 012 did the same yesterday.
 

Ethano92

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Slight glitch in the PIS showing a solid line rather than dotted between the last two stations shown on the screen (this example between Hayes and H and Reading).

Ive travelled on both TFL rail West and East, I must say I didn't like 345 ride quality at first, thought it was a bit rough and rattled a lot but crusing above 70mph it feels as though we are floating like a desiro. Even at lower speeds it's much smoother than I ever remembered it to be. Ride quality doesn't really bother me much but the smoothness is noticeable.
 

cactustwirly

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Slight glitch in the PIS showing a solid line rather than dotted between the last two stations shown on the screen (this example between Hayes and H and Reading).

Ive travelled on both TFL rail West and East, I must say I didn't like 345 ride quality at first, thought it was a bit rough and rattled a lot but crusing above 70mph it feels as though we are floating like a desiro. Even at lower speeds it's much smoother than I ever remembered it to be. Ride quality doesn't really bother me much but the smoothness is noticeable.

I haven't noticed that, all the units I've used have had the dotted line.

The 345s ride is ok, but is a bit harsh when going over junctions, it's definitely not as good as a turbo
 
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