TPE Class 397 ('Nova 2') construction and updates

kc_ · 4 Feb 2020

Once all the NOVA fleet is rolled out, is it likely we'll see NOVA 1 or NOVA 3 filling in on this route when they haven't got enough 397s running, or will the 185s keep that job?

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bengley · 4 Feb 2020

Definitely won't be seeing 802s or Mk5a sets on this route for the foreseeable - Preston and Manchester NW crews only sign 350/185/397 and Glasgow only sign 350/185/397/802, but Glasgow don't sign south of Preston

XC90 · 4 Feb 2020

Why would Glasgow crew sign 802?

bengley · 4 Feb 2020

XC90 said:
Why would Glasgow crew sign 802?

They work them down the East Coast to Newcastle

XC90 · 4 Feb 2020

I see. I never knew that If only the Preston crews could sign them then the 802s could work a full circle up the ECML and down the WCML or for diversions.

JonathanH · 4 Feb 2020

XC90 said:
I see. I never knew that If only the Preston crews could sign them then the 802s could work a full circle up the ECML and down the WCML or for diversions.

What would be the point? The primary purpose of the 802s is to get people between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York and Newcastle not Liverpool to Edinburgh.

Zooty · 4 Feb 2020

bengley said:
I may be wrong, but I think it's 11 including the Liverpool to Glasgow services and 9 without.

I think it's 8 for the Manchesters. 5x 350, 2x 397, 1x 185, although 185s also stand in for the electrics when needed.

yrreb · 4 Feb 2020

Eight diagrams in place for MIA - GLC/EDB and two for LIV - GLC. I believe the intention is that all Manchester diagrams will become 397s first with the Liverpools to follow as tickets on the LIV - GLCs are being sold as 185s anyway

route101 · 5 Feb 2020

XC90 said:
Why would Glasgow crew sign 802?

Do they?

I think at some point you may see 802 extended to Glasgow when theres works .

route101 · 5 Feb 2020

Well had my first 397 try today on the 1108 from Glasgow.

Seats were pretty uncomfortable , you need to sit upright , no slouchy . Ride fairly stiff , was a humming noise from air con, are these running at 125mph?
Trolley service came through but was not the usual trolley , one of them smaller ones you cant see any products.
Service was quiet from Glasgow.

tpjm · 5 Feb 2020

DannyMich2018 said:
Well it's been 15 months since the first Class 397 delivery and at least two since the last was delivered and a pathetic one or two in daily service so this is for sure the slowest introduction of any brand new train sadly.

15 months since the first was ‘delivered’ to who? Certainly not TPE!

The first Cl 397 wasn’t accepted by TPE until last summer, and actually when you compare the date accepted vs the date in traffic, it was a considerably shorter period than that of Cl 802.

Delivered to the UK means delivered to the manufacturer. Before it gets handed over to the TOC, it needs to undergo the required amount of Fault Free Running, receive any modifications that have arisen from the introductory period and be examined and have any other snags rectified.

BeHereNow · 5 Feb 2020

Have all the faults and safety issues now been sorted on the CAF fleets?

bengley · 5 Feb 2020

route101 said:
Do they?

I think at some point you may see 802 extended to Glasgow when theres works .

yes they do

route101 · 5 Feb 2020

bengley said:
yes they do

Is there any drivers based at Edinburgh?

bengley · 5 Feb 2020

route101 said:
Is there any drivers based at Edinburgh?

Not for TPE

Bletchleyite · 7 Feb 2020

Going to be out on the north WCML later on, are any out?

kc_ · 7 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Going to be out on the north WCML later on, are any out?

Was on 1M90 this morning, saw a 397 going the other direction towards Preston, probably 1S35.

MDB1images · 7 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Going to be out on the north WCML later on, are any out?

397003: 1S71/ 1M94
397007: 1S75/ 1M95

CHAPS2034 · 7 Feb 2020

driver9000 said:
397001 - Preston Croft Street for training.
397002 - Longsight.
397003 - In service.
397004 - Longsight.
397005 - In service/Polmadie training.
397006 - Available for service.
397007 - Available for service.
397008 - Polmadie for training.
397009 - Kingmoor.
397010 - Not been seen for a while. At Crewe LNWR on Weds 5th Feb
397011 - Available for service.
397012 - Fault free running.

As far as I know 009, 010 and 012 are still to be accepted. The 9 accepted sets have all seen use by TPE in some capacity either in passenger service or crew training.

Updated to report a sighting of 010

MDB1images · 8 Feb 2020

397002 out today(currently on 1M96(11:08 ex Glasgow)but 27 late.
Other diagram is 003.

geoffk · 13 Feb 2020

This has probably been answered already, but why did TPE order 397s rather than 801s for the MIA - Scotland services? Was it delivery times, or some other reason?

Bletchleyite · 13 Feb 2020

geoffk said:
This has probably been answered already, but why did TPE order 397s rather than 801s for the MIA - Scotland services? Was it delivery times, or some other reason?

I think delivery times were relevant, though they may also have been cheaper.

OT, but I believe delivery times (which turned out not to be as good as planned) were the reason for the Mk5as.

59CosG95 · 13 Feb 2020

geoffk said:
This has probably been answered already, but why did TPE order 397s rather than 801s for the MIA - Scotland services? Was it delivery times, or some other reason?

Delivery times. CAF stated that their product could be delivered quicker and cheaper than 802s for TPE on the northern WCML. Hindsight, however, is always twenty-twenty... :oops:

(TPE would most likely have gone for 802s over 801s to have a common fleet).

As @Bletchleyite said, it's the same reasoning behind the Mk5as being picked. The sole advantages of the Mk5as, as I see it, are the potential to add extra coaches (slight, but possible), and the potential to replace Class 68s with an electric locomotive (say, an 88 or similar) if the entire TransPennine corridor gets wired, or if there's a stock reshuffle.

route101 · 13 Feb 2020

I wonder if we will see 802s ever doing a run up the WCML? More likely is one of the Liverpool to Edinburgh services extended to Glasgow for whatever reason.

JonathanH · 13 Feb 2020

59CosG95 said:
(TPE would most likely have gone for 802s over 801s to have a common fleet).

Why? The entire line from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh and Glasgow is electrified. Why on earth would you carry unnecessary diesel engines around?

LNER happily operate electric 801s alongside the bi-mode 800s.

route101 said:
I wonder if we will see 802s ever doing a run up the WCML? More likely is one of the Liverpool to Edinburgh services extended to Glasgow for whatever reason.

As noted back in the thread the traincrew knowledge probably precludes any idea of them using the WCML and there is no point.

Luke McDonnell · 14 Feb 2020

When is the full 397 fleet due to be in service will they all be in service by the summer?

Regards,

Luke

kc_ · 14 Feb 2020

Luke McDonnell said:
When is the full 397 fleet due to be in service will they all be in service by the summer?

Regards,

Luke

Mentioned further up thread that we should have 8 diagrams 397 operated by 30 MCH.

kc_ · 14 Feb 2020

bengley said:
Unless the plan changes before the 30th March, the two diagrams per day will remain until then, when it will increase to 8 per day.

Here we go.

yrreb · 15 Feb 2020

kc_ said:
Mentioned further up thread that we should have 8 diagrams 397 operated by 30 MCH.

I've heard something different from this Monday coming.

SuperNova · 15 Feb 2020

kc_ said:
Here we go.

Not here we go at all. Bengley is mistaken.

TPE Class 397 ('Nova 2') construction and updates

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