377/6

[swt_passenger]

Yes, it's mostly explained here, although many other threads discuss the same points:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=93996

They are a small (40 vehicles/8 units) dual voltage 'run on' order to the 377/6s, mainly to allow 6 x 377/2 to transfer to the Thameslink routes, and those then allow 6 x 319/? to go 'elsewhere'....

 

[JB25]

I didn't even know that!!! hock: Not necessarily a bad thing. Sounds a bit silly but from the 1, 2, 3 and 4 Series the 377/2s are definitely the worst ones. They seem to handle far worse than the others so I won't be too sad to see them move to FCC.

 

[TEW]

It's only temporary of course, once Thameslink gets new Class 700s they'll move back to Southern routes. It will all be one franchise by then anyway.

 

[Class377/5]

Indeed with the extra DV 377 required when the SN WCML going to 2tph 8 car services compared to the current 1tph 4 car service at some point in the near future.

 

[radamfi]

One good thing about these trains is that you can hold the open door button down before the light goes on and the door will still open, unlike the other 377s.

 

[Class377/5]

Another unit left Derby, assuming it's 603 as it was the only unit left.

 

[JB25]

One good thing about these trains is that you can hold the open door button down before the light goes on and the door will still open, unlike the other 377s.

Or you could just be patient and wait for it to light up like you are supposed to.

 

[DJL]

There was one SWT class I've been on - I think it may have been pre-refurb 455s, or possibly only on the odd carriage in the middle of some 455s. You had to hold the button down for a little while. If you let go the door shut again!


Or maybe it was just one dodgy door that I got a few times.

 

[jopsuk]

One good thing about these trains is that you can hold the open door button down before the light goes on and the door will still open, unlike the other 377s.

Ooh, saving you 0.5s

As for the buttons that you have to hold down- these are the old pneumatic ones, still found on Class 317 (and some others?). Cerainly a few that will let the doors shut again part way through opening if you stop pressing. Can be very confusing for thosethat haven't encountered them.

 

[Class377/5]

Confirmed its 603. Will arrive in London shortly.

 

[Peter Sarf]

:roll:

Or you could just be patient and wait for it to light up like you are supposed to.

Ooh, saving you 0.5s

As for the buttons that you have to hold down- these are the old pneumatic ones, still found on Class 317 (and some others?). Cerainly a few that will let the doors shut again part way through opening if you stop pressing. Can be very confusing for thosethat haven't encountered them.

Well actually I like that feature where you can hold down the illuminated button as "radamfi" describes on the 377/6s. It saves you having to watch and wait for the damn thing to light up BEFORE you can press the button. This usually takes ages at Victoria. It also means that people who happened to be pressing the button too early are not penalised. The delay in the buttons being usable at Victoria is a constant cause of confusion and frustration.

Its funny how passengers seem to be expected to have qualifications to be able to travel by train.

Be better if the doors released a lot quicker at Victoria though. All that faffing after having the train crawl slowly into the platform.

 

[jopsuk]

I really don't see why we can't have, especially at London terminals in rush hour, a door release option for the driver (DOO) or guard that simply opens all doors. A little selector by the door release button- "release" or "open".

 

[DJL]

I really don't see why we can't have, especially at London terminals in rush hour, a door release option for the driver (DOO) or guard that simply opens all doors. A little selector by the door release button- "release" or "open".

That's not a bad idea actually.

On the underground all doors open automatically anyway. Which always made me wonder where there is a button to open the doors!

 

[TEW]

There was one SWT class I've been on - I think it may have been pre-refurb 455s, or possibly only on the odd carriage in the middle of some 455s. You had to hold the button down for a little while. If you let go the door shut again!


Or maybe it was just one dodgy door that I got a few times.

That would be the ex-508 carriage. You still have to hold the button down for a while to open the doors, and the signs next to the doors reflect that.

 

[Peter Sarf]

That would be the ex-508 carriage. You still have to hold the button down for a while to open the doors, and the signs next to the doors reflect that.

Another example of needing experience and/or knowledge to use the train - oh er I mean different parts of the same train !. Hardly DDA compliant ?.

I think I will syphon this off-thread bit into another thread ?.

 

[DJL]

I'm glad I didn't dream that!

 

[JB25]

I really don't see why we can't have, especially at London terminals in rush hour, a door release option for the driver (DOO) or guard that simply opens all doors. A little selector by the door release button- "release" or "open".

Southern 377s have two door release buttons and one door open button on each side. We just don't press the open button, just the two release buttons.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

On the underground all doors open automatically anyway. Which always made me wonder where there is a button to open the doors!

Buttons are present on some stocks, the newer ones, but they serve only to re-open doors after the 30 second timer has closed them in the longer stops at termini. At intermediate stops, the doors will open without the need to touch the button.

 

[samuelmorris]

That would be the ex-508 carriage. You still have to hold the button down for a while to open the doors, and the signs next to the doors reflect that.

Haha, I remember this from the 315 days pre-refurb when they still had the rubber buttons to open the doors. 317s still have them as far as I can see. There was no sign back then! It took a lot of people 3 or 4 presses that opened the door all of an inch before it shut again for them to realise they were supposed to hold it down! Why 'press and hold' wasn't engraved on the door control panel like 'open' and 'close' were I have no idea.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Right, a load of sightings in diagram order :-
Units on following dates
Diag .17/12/13 . 20/12/13
No01 .609/618 . 606/607
No02 .618/609 . 607/606
No03 .6XX/6XX. 605/614
No04 .615/6?? . 619/620
No05 .???/???. . ___/___
No06 .???/???. . ___/___
No07 .619/6XX. 6XX/6XX
No08 .6XX/619. 6XX/6XX
No09 .6??/615 . 620/619
No10 .6XX/6XX. 614/605
No11 .625/___ . 610/___
No12 .608/623 . 609/617
No13 .617/622 . 611/621
No14 .621/624 . 622/624
No15 .611/620 . 604/6XX
No16 .620/611 . 6XX/604
No17 .610/612 . 6XX/6XX
No18 .612/610 . 6XX/6XX
No19 .???/???. . 608/618
No20 .???/???. . 618/608
No21 .624/621 . 624/622
No22 .622/617 . 621/611
No23 .623/608 . 617/609
No24 .605/___ . 612/___
XX01 .613+614
XX02 . . . . . . . 613+615
All these were seen between 17:17 and 20:26 unless otherwise stated.
___ means no unit as per diagrams.
6XX means no unit even though there should be.
6?? means I possibly missed it !.
??? means not observed.
XX01 was 18:21 West Croydon to Epsom.
XX02 was 17:12 West Croydon to down and 17:55 return to Victoria.
Diagrams 01+02, 05+06 & 19+20 are not expected to be 377/6s yet (20/12/2013 but note some appearances.
Diagrams 05+06 & 19+20 if observed was later at 22:15-22:45 approx.
Diagrams 05+06 were formed 456+455+456 on 20/12/13.
Diagrams 07+08 seem to be bad performers.

Totals/figures/summary :-
17/12/13 noted 18 377/6s in use, 604, 606 & 607 spare/not-seen, 601,602,603,616 & 626 untested.
20/12/13 noted 19 377/6s in use, 623 & 625 spare/not-seen, 601,602,603,616 & 626 untested.
I say 601,602,603,616 & 626 are untested but the arrival of 616 & 626 at Selhurst must be imminent and all are now delivered (as far as Stewarts Lane).

 

[TEW]

Buttons are present on some stocks, the newer ones, but they serve only to re-open doors after the 30 second timer has closed them in the longer stops at termini. At intermediate stops, the doors will open without the need to touch the button.

There is an option for the drivers on S Stock to just enable the door buttons rather than open them all but it isn't used.

 

[tsr]

Tramlink CR4000s are an interesting case. Drivers can elect to just release or alternatively open all doors. The latter is far more prevalent, so the former can catch people out (there is usually little need to use the door buttons in this way). This additionally demonstrates that just one or the other system is quite often best to use in a publicly-used capacity, if possible.

 

[swt_passenger]

A number of earlier LU stocks were delivered with normal mainline style door buttons which were subsequently disconnected or plated over, D78 stock for instance. I think 92, 95 and 96 stocks also all came with passenger operation built in...

Don't the S stock have an auto close feature for when they are at a stand at a terminus?

 

[tsr]

Don't the S stock have an auto close feature for when they are at a stand at a terminus?

Yes, but before departure, all doors should briefly open, if some (or all) have closed whilst the train has been at a stand. Door buttons should be illuminated whenever doors have been released but are closed (or, for the sake of pedantry, if they are starting to open).

 

[Peter Sarf]

Tramlink CR4000s are an interesting case. Drivers can elect to just release or alternatively open all doors. The latter is far more prevalent, so the former can catch people out (there is usually little need to use the door buttons in this way). This additionally demonstrates that just one or the other system is quite often best to use in a publicly-used capacity, if possible.

Also on Tramlink I recall seeing signs in the tram saying that a passenger should press the door button to request that the tram stops at the next stop. I think it is very unusual for the passenger to actually need to do that so real potential for missing your stop on a late night service if you don't know or forget.

 

[Chrisgr31]

Experienced my first 377/6 on the Wimbledon loop this morning (2E68) - the seats are bloody uncomfortable!

Whilst seated in the comfortable spacious seats of a Class 171 at London Bridge we get to look at look at one of the new 377/6s alongside us.

Invariably the comments are that the seats look to be very uncomfortable, upright with very little padding.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Invariably the comments are that the seats look to be very uncomfortable, upright with very little padding.

Bloke was examining a 377/6 seat with a little hammer. When asked what he was doing, he replied "I'm looking for fossils!"

 

[bicbasher]

I managed to get a 5 car formation on 2Y61 1936 London Bridge to Caterham service this evening, have to say the 1+1 with table by the toilet was the comfiest seating yet on those units.

 

[samj]

Any update on the entry into service of the final units? I shouldn't imagine they have much work on at present with the engineering works going on over the festive period.

 

[Class377/5]

Any update on the entry into service of the final units? I shouldn't imagine they have much work on at present with the engineering works going on over the festive period.

They are being used on the additional fast East Grinstead services. Today they pretty much did every Dorking train as well. Think there was something like 20 out today.