Glasgow Subway new stock

[londonboi198o5]

Curved platforms might be an issue.

There are not many sharp curves that would be an issue.

Westminster on the Jubilee line is pretty curved and the platform edge doors are not a problem there.

from looking at videos on Twitter, it looks like there’s no opening cab window and that the station staff have to dispatch them?

Opening the cab window is not required; it’s not a requirement to do this on the current stock.

Drivers have mirrors and monitors they can use, instead of the drop light and sticking their heads out.

 

[computerSaysNo]

forced ventilation

What does this mean? The same type of thing you get in cars i.e. a variable-speed fan and an assortment of vents in various places?

 

[Rick1984]

They look fantastic but the "livery" is a big disappointment. They could have kept it simple but made use of the very smart orange, dark grey and white scheme used by the Subway.

 

[H&I]

The new trains have quite a lot of hunting oscillation. It certainly rides like the DLR or a tram. The acceleration and braking are also very quick, which is good, but I had to hold onto the handrails to avoid falling over! I like the ventilation system and the open gangway design. The SPT are at least two years ahead of TfL with their New Tube for London.

I am surprised that the train has no automated announcements, and the onboard LCD screens do not show the next station. Maybe the SPT still needed to set them up, but if it was deliberate, I suppose the SPT would think that it is unnecessary because of the simplicity of their system.

I was also questioned by SPT management, who were there on the first journey, about why I was there and how I knew that it was going to enter service. They really wanted to keep the launch a secret, and the presence of a train enthusiast with a GoPro who had travelled all the way from London was unexpected.

All in all, this is a good week. Starting with TfL’s SL1 bus route on Saturday and Brent Cross West on Sunday, I travelled up to Glasgow with Avanti on a Superfare ticket on Sunday evening. I did the Barrhead electrification on Monday morning. I was fortunate to have asked the right member of station staff and to have received help from fellow forum member Buzby to know about the launch in the afternoon and to be able to ride on the very first journey of the new Subway train. I still have yet to do East Linton on Wednesday.

 

[Russel]

Looking at some of the photos on Twitter, was there no way of making the front coupler a little less intrusive, it must protrude from the front of the train by a foot.

 

[jagardner1984]

Looking at some of the photos on Twitter, was there no way of making the front coupler a little less intrusive, it must protrude from the front of the train by a foot.

This is particularly interesting because on the old stock, the formations were regularly changed so driving cars could go in the middle of the formation in any orientation - whilst I am sure there is a way of phyiscally moving around end and middle cars for maintenance etc, broadly these are fixed formation trains, with the couplers only used for either rescue purposes by either another unit or one of the Locomotives.

 

[Buzby]

I was also questioned by SPT management, who were there on the first journey, about why I was there and how I knew that it was going to enter service.

Funny that - so was I. But by staff, not management - I queried 8 staff members from St Enoch to Govan and was variously blanked or misled. I doubt whether it was wilful, but like you I made good use of the time to visit Barrhead in the morning since the public running had slipped somewhat. The video on their site had been pre-shot and uploaded around the same time as their Press Release, but I didn’t see the usual media faces I would have expected at such an event - no local TV crews, so clearly no invites had gone out either.

As to the reasoning, perhaps it was to avoid a palm-hitting-face incident should something have gone pear-shaped. I wasn’t around for the Gen1 opening, but I was caught out by the early closure of this due to cracks in the tunnel walls. I managed a trip on the Gen2 reopening, and now the Gen3 so that’s about the limit - I doubt I’ll be around for the full automation!

The in-coach display screens seemed totally passive just a random circle of graphics, interrupted by a ’Please listen to the announcemen’ when the driver verbally stated the next station, I would have anticipated greater flexibility (like the new 777 sets on Merseyrail). Perhaps I’m just being picky?

The first public train through was 306, followed by 302 (for completists!).

 

[cakefiend]

Any word on what they’re doing today?

 

[LT02 NVV]

I have a feeling that these new trains will be perfect for football games at Ibrox, as they seem to have a lot more standing and sitting room when compared to the older trains.

 

[Buzby]

Any word on what they’re doing today?

You’ll just need to turn up and ask! (St Enoch was the most helpful) I’d expect they’ll get tired of enthusiasts questions and might just add a PS on the SPT website to when the Gen 3’s are running. I heard the acid test will be the Inner Circle (tighter radii anti-clockwise).

Govan was only important for the ‘first’ as it was the first station on the Outer from the Broomloan Sheds ramp - but once in they have to run the circuit anyway. Good luck!

 

[hexagon789]

Would anyone know if two new sets were out again today?

And if they are likely to be out tomorrow and from roughly what time or is it complete random.

I appreciate any information really, many thanks.

 

[jagardner1984]

You’ll just need to turn up and ask! (St Enoch was the most helpful) I’d expect they’ll get tired of enthusiasts questions and might just add a PS on the SPT website to when the Gen 3’s are running. I heard the acid test will be the Inner Circle (tighter radii anti-clockwise).

Govan was only important for the ‘first’ as it was the first station on the Outer from the Broomloan Sheds ramp - but once in they have to run the circuit anyway. Good luck!

Technically speaking - as is seen in disruption - Ibrox to Partick is Bidirectional signalling on both circles so it is possible to run as far as Partick on the Outer and then back to either Ibrox or Broomloan (depending on whether you wish to turn the set). Though in most normal running it must complete the circle.

At my local station, there are only the new Door closing monitors on the Outer, and this was displaying a very large Windows logo this evening, rather than any cameras, so this would suggest to me given the lack of droplights, Inner Circle running may be a little way off - at least without staff support on the platform. Given many of the stations are single staffed - that isn’t realistic day to day.

 

[Buzby]

As a side note - whilst I had a morning to kill, I thought it would be a good idea to scope out the depot in case I could see any new formations preparing to run in.

They’ve certainly extended the size of the site since my last visit (before the Gen2 trains arrived) and it took me almost 40 minutes to circumnavigate it. There were only two vantage points of any use but not only were no trains visible, SPT are erecting new CCTV poles around the perimeter which is probably going to be part of the new Control Centre.

Hopefully the Windows logo you saw wasn’t for XP?

 

[snookertam]

Funny that - so was I. But by staff, not management - I queried 8 staff members from St Enoch to Govan and was variously blanked or misled. I doubt whether it was wilful, but like you I made good use of the time to visit Barrhead in the morning since the public running had slipped somewhat. The video on their site had been pre-shot and uploaded around the same time as their Press Release, but I didn’t see the usual media faces I would have expected at such an event - no local TV crews, so clearly no invites had gone out either.

This doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Good old West of Scotland Service with a smile. Seems to affect a lot of ScotRail staff as well.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Are any of the new stock out today?

 

[hexagon789]

Are any of the new stock out today?

Waiting at Buchanan Street for one. Nearly done a full circuit of units, as soon as Diagram 5 appears again then I can say none are out at the moment.

I had thought they were 0900-1400 Mon-Fri, unless they only appear at 1350 as on Monday.

I'm going to try Govan at 1350 as well.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Waiting at Buchanan Street for one. Nearly done a full circuit of units, as soon as Diagram 5 appears again then I can say none are out at the moment.

I had thought they were 0900-1400 Mon-Fri, unless they only appear at 1350 as on Monday.

I'm going to try Govan at 1350 as well.

thanks!

 

[Kendo109@hotma]

Waiting at Buchanan Street for one. Nearly done a full circuit of units, as soon as Diagram 5 appears again then I can say none are out at the moment.

I had thought they were 0900-1400 Mon-Fri, unless they only appear at 1350 as on Monday.

I'm going to try Govan at 1350 as well.

I'm also kicking about hoping to get one, haven't seen any as of yet, I'm at Ibrox. Keep us updated if you get a sec

 

[hexagon789]

thanks!

None out currently

thanks!

None out currently

 

[LT02 NVV]

I have a feeling more new units will enter service on Sunday, since there’s a Rangers V Aberdeen FC game at Ibrox on that day.

 

[hexagon789]

I have a feeling more new units will enter service on Sunday, since there’s a Rangers V Aberdeen FC game at Ibrox on that day.

SPT tweeted Mon-Fri only at present, but I guess we'll see

Update: may be Diagrams 3 & 4, 1430-1730 Mon-Fri only.

 

[Buzby]

Update: may be Diagrams 3 & 4, 1430-1730 Mon-Fri only

Do they modify the diagrams during daytime running, or are they set in stone for the day once service commences?

 

[hexagon789]

Do they modify the diagrams during daytime running, or are they set in stone for the day once service commences?

No idea, someone posted the info on Twitter and said they received it from a member of staff on Monday.

My mate and I are just about to go and try our luck again.

 

[Buzby]

Fingers Crossed for you - it’s a draughty platform! I did notice staff at Govan would come down to the platform and hand the driver a sheet Making me wonder if the modifications were done on the fly.

 

[hexagon789]

Fingers Crossed for you - it’s a draughty platform! I did notice staff at Govan would come down to the platform and hand the driver a sheet Making me wonder if the modifications were done on the fly.

Thanks.

It is that, but it's not too cold today at least.

Possibly, I've no idea of how they do the diagramming.

Update: still nothing unfortunately

Further update: confirmed, no new trains in service today. C'est la vie

 

[cammyeaston]

This is a major anorak moment, but a few posts in here have suggested that you can ask the staff at the stations about the diagrams/units. Do they have access to a 'trust' like system? I require just one of the older cars (111) and would be great if I could ask the staff if it were out before touching in.

 

[hexagon789]

This is a major anorak moment, but a few posts in here have suggested that you can ask the staff at the stations about the diagrams/units. Do they have access to a 'trust' like system? I require just one of the older cars (111) and would be great if I could ask the staff if it were out before touching in.

The drivers seem more amenable (or knowledgeable) than ticket office staff I have to say, but I don't see any harm in asking either of them - nothing ventured, nothing gained...

 

[cakefiend]

I have a feeling more new units will enter service on Sunday, since there’s a Rangers V Aberdeen FC game at Ibrox on that day.

I think that’s very unlikely as that would be the worst possible time for anything to go wrong.

 

[greyman42]

I have a feeling that these new trains will be perfect for football games at Ibrox, as they seem to have a lot more standing and sitting room when compared to the older trains.

I wonder how they will stand up to the "bouncy"?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wonder how long it will be until they put a couple out and see if they last the full day in traffic