The_Train
Established Member
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- 2 Jun 2018
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These are definitely the best looking of all the new units we have seen in recent times. Got that sleek but menacing look to them
397005 at Liverpool Lime Street right now
And here's a photo of it.
I think it was in Preston around an hour later
Yes it was, same trip again. Should be out all week.
These are definitely the best looking of all the new units we have seen in recent times. Got that sleek but menacing look to them
It has been to Glasgow today, then returned to Liverpool and then uses part of the 5S74 empty stock to Corkerhill to return the train to Preston where it stables at overnight at Croft Street sidings.Supposed to be going to Glasgow but not making it past Preston
What an incredibly ignorant point of view!Really? The average passenger wouldn't know the difference between a Pacer and a Sprinter, so I doubt they'd notice the quite subtle (to the uninitiated) differences between two trains in the same colour scheme!
Yes! I always drool when I go past them parked at the depot just outside Manchester
Hope the interiors are just as nice as the exterior! Guessing they'll probably have a similar fitout to the MK5A's and 802's, so should be a pretty solid upgrade on the 350's.
Plenty of tables, massive windows, 100% window alignment or very near to it. Almost certain to be the best of the fleet, and likely to nick a LOT of custom from the WCML operator unless their Pendolino tart-up improves these matters substantially.
Quite often price comes into choice - and Virgin are sometimes more competitive with TPE on price northbound and even Northern for that matter.Yeah, those early 2000 era interiors seem to not leave much room for the actual passengers lol. Made even worse when considering the Pendolino has to remain in gauge for tilting.
Passengers only really have the choice between the two from Preston onwards, not that the Manchester crowd will be missing out on much... (at least when the 397's arrive!)
Quite often price comes into choice - and Virgin are sometimes more competitive with TPE on price northbound and even Northern for that matter.
The only train I groan about being on is a Voyager. Otherwise the 350s are my weapon of choice - bigger windows - less cramped, and only a few minutes slower! Unless Virgin's price is ridiculously ow of course.
Yes, TPE 185's particularly bad for overcrowding with only 3-coaches. TPE WCML services are also well used, and I was very lucky to get a seat. I fear 5-coach trains will only fill up very quickly too. Is there a reason they don't go for 8 or 9 coaches minimum?I often choose 350s on the south WCML over Pendolinos, but not on TPE because they are invariably seriously overcrowded. Hopefully the new units will solve this, but I fear they are not long enough.
Cost against known passenger loadings for current services. 8 x 23 metre carriages is also the maximum that the platforms at Manchester Airport can handle.I fear 5-coach trains will only fill up very quickly too. Is there a reason they don't go for 8 or 9 coaches minimum?
As noted previously in this thread, the class 397s will have around 80 additional seats compared to the 350s, but I am concerned at how well they will cope with the loadings of services currently worked by a pair of 350s, and how quickly latent demand will fill the additional seats.
Ah right, thanks for the correction. I wonder how 4 car 350s are coping in that case.There have been no booked 8 car 350 workings since November 2018. The only existing workings are transit moves between Glasgow Central and Carstairs on 1M90 04:22 to Manchester Airport. An empty portion is detached to form 06:12 from Edinburgh. An empty set also travels with 1S30 05:00 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central which detaches at Preston to continue empty to Lancaster.
Ah right, thanks for the correction. I wonder how 4 car 350s are coping in that case.
Yep, agreed. It wouldn't be cost effective from TPE's perspective. At least, for the time being, there's the potential to lengthen these units in the future if required.However a permanent 8-car 397 would just cart fresh air on many services.
Not brilliantly! However a permanent 8-car 397 would just cart fresh air on many services.
Was in Carlisle last Wednesday and two 350s arrived.one detached and returned to Manc Airport.The front one carried on to Gla or Edinburgh,There have been no booked 8 car 350 workings since November 2018. The only existing workings are transit moves between Glasgow Central and Carstairs on 1M90 04:22 to Manchester Airport. An empty portion is detached to form 06:12 from Edinburgh. An empty set also travels with 1S30 05:00 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central which detaches at Preston to continue empty to Lancaster.
The 397 software is already futureproof to allow extra vehicles to be added on a "plug and play" basis up to 8 coaches if an option for more is taken up.
Was in Carlisle last Wednesday and two 350s arrived.one detached and returned to Manc Airport.The front one carried on to Gla or Edinburgh,
a 397 just passed at huyton going to Liverpool anyone got any idea's what it could be thanks
What an incredibly ignorant point of view!
Cost against known passenger loadings for current services. 8 x 23 metre carriages is also the maximum that the platforms at Manchester Airport can handle.
As noted previously in this thread, the class 397s will have around 80 additional seats compared to the 350s, but I am concerned at how well they will cope with the loadings of services currently worked by a pair of 350s, and how quickly latent demand will fill the additional seats.
There was an option in the TPE franchise agreement to order additional class 397s in 5, 6 or 8 car formations, I assume at least some of which would have been intended for North West - Scotland services.
The unit back to mia was unliveried,did not get number.That's not a booked move.
Right. O.K.It’s an incredibly accurate point of view. The vast majority of the public will get no further than ‘new train’ compared to ‘old train’.
The unit back to mia was unliveried,did not get number.
It's 397005 on crew training duties.
Test runs for mileage accumulation ramping up this week. Yesterday seen 397005 having a trip to Glasgow. Thursday sees two runs. One from Manchester to Glasgow via Crewe and another 30mins later from Liverpool to Glasgow. So a push on to get the units accepted for a December introduction into service.thank u for the reply it didn't half shift through huyton it looked amazing
Test runs for mileage accumulation ramping up this week. Yesterday seen 397005 having a trip to Glasgow. Thursday sees two runs. One from Manchester to Glasgow via Crewe and another 30mins later from Liverpool to Glasgow. So a push on to get the units accepted for a December introduction into service.