Railperf
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- 30 Oct 2017
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Have you sat in the real one yet?
Not yet. GA still do not own any so only the chosen ones that went across Europe are allowed to go near them with Stadler's blessing of course.Have you sat in the real one yet?
Thanks for the detailed info. There is another problem, both bay platforms are used by the Southminster branch trains. To allow easy cross-platform interchange the up bay is used in the AM & the down bay in the PM. A widened embankment & new single track bridge over Wickford High Street would only allow access to a lengthened down bay.......
With the current rush-hour schedules the branch only needs one 10 car 720 duty (replacing the current 12-car 321), it would need SDO on all the branch stations except South Woodham & probably a 2nd crew member for despatching duties.
On ASDO Front, that is only permitted if the front of the train is not beyond signal, and signal is at end of platform at Elsenham, Enfield Lock, Ware, St Margarets and Hertford East. Relatively simple job to move signal in some cases, but they need to get a move on
I'm no rolling stock expert but I'm sure Bombardier could come up with a 8 car length equivalent subvariant of the 720, or even Stadler could make an 8 car long version flirt. Personally however I reckon for Wickford it'll be 4 car bimodes, and for the Hertford Branch will be 5 car 720's, after all apparently there is supposed to be an additional Hertford per hour in September which might go some way to counteract the loss of coaches until such time when the infrastructure works can be completed.
The stations mentioned above with crossings etc will use ASDO Front, like on the Braintree Branch where the front of the train stops beyond the platform so as not to block the crossings in rear.
GA is not ordering any new stock beyond the 745/755/720 orders, its haemorrhaging money at the moment as it is. A handy go-everywhere (electrified) unit like the 379s are better kept and make sense to clear and train drivers to fill extra Liverpool St - Norwich, Liverpool St - Stansted, Liv St - Hertford East and Shenfield/Wickford Southminster routes that the Aventras are too long for and the Stadlers are too far away to diagram easily. For a while I've been suggesting this and its beginning to make more and more sense. Cheapest option out there.
Have you sat in the real one yet?
4-car/8-car vs 5-car/10-car? Unless you suggest getting additional 4-car 720s?Also, why keep the 379s when it's actually cheaper to lease a 720.
Any pictures of the 12 car trains? I'm not sure if I have seen any pictures of them.
apparently, another 12 car is arriving either today or tomorrow
Update: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/tra...HIugBQ-Y-rPZS22lqHM1soNW-ZHvGy7Ae4dHidcLF9wFg
745003 IC unit.Yes. Just passed through Colchester. Appeared to be an Inter City unit as I couldn't see Stansted Express branding.
Also, why keep the 379s when it's actually cheaper to lease a 720.
I agree, there's a good reason why the 379s weren't kept in the first place. If they thought that was an option they'd probably have done so to begin with.Apparently the leasing costs for 379s are astronomial, I'd wager a different fleet staying, or a new (old) one coming
Nice idea but they'll be waiting until at least 2023 as there are a number of other operators waiting for their Aventras. So they have to keep Renatus 321 or 379s. Having bleated on about fleet renewal, GA will have a tough time explaining why 30 year old trains are staying. The 379s could be maintained by Bombardier at Ilford and they're cleared for WA and many GA routes too. Unless there's a plan C, the 379s are most likely to be the "legacy" fleet for GA for some time to come.
That was an emergency temporary arrangement though. Such may be necessary to mitigate the delays to NR work on the West Anglia side but for Southminster it'd probably need to be permanent.I suppose it wouldn’t be possible to remove a carriage from one or two five carriage 720s and keep them for the Southminster? Ala Gospel Oak 378s.
The 379s were ordered in mid 2010 for late 2010, early 2011 service when we were just recovering from a devastating recession, where lease costs were high, a la 350/2. NX only ordered them to meet a DfT obligation to replace StanEx 317s and so that 12 car peak services could be introduced, NX knew they were losing the franchise and acted like it, and only ordered what they had to. Still, 21 360s isn’t enough and they aren’t even cleared for WAML and can’t run north of Stowmarket unlike 379s. 321 renatus units are the realistic but less favoured option.Apparently the leasing costs for 379s are astronomial, I'd wager a different fleet staying, or a new (old) one coming
321 renatus units are the realistic but less favoured option.
I can't wait to try one out, Pete!Thanks for the video Grumbler, looks like a good long train!
Still undergoing tests or retrofitting in Europe I would imagine.does anyone know what happened to 745001, 745101-103 and 755401-404? since 745002-03, 745104 and 755005-018(?) are here
Still undergoing tests or retrofitting in Europe I would imagine.
745001 is at Velim. Saw it on Wednesday!
I think they were putting sandbags on it, or taking them off, but there were some forklifts around it.
It seems fairly standard practice for the first few units to stay with the manufacturer longer than the rest, I assume usually because they're fitted with extra test gear that has to be removed before they can be delivered to the operator.Still find it odd how they started sending XXX X04 first