380s on the Ayr Line

[Lewis Acott]

In standard practice is it 380s or 380/1s designated to the Ayr to Glasgow Central line.

 

[Highlandspring]

A mix of both.

 

[hexagon789]

In standard practice is it 380s or 380/1s designated to the Ayr to Glasgow Central line.

Either/or, but the stoppers seem to be more frequently 4-car and semi-fasts 3-car.

Whether that's deliberate or pure coincidence I've no idea.

 

[156478]

Either/or, but the stoppers seem to be more frequently 4-car and semi-fasts 3-car.

Whether that's deliberate or pure coincidence I've no idea.

In the majority a fast train down to Ayr generally returns as an all stopper and vice versa. However It’s not concrete like any other diagramming however.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G89233/2019/05/13/advanced
1K21 fast becomes 2K80 all stops

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G85578/2019/05/13/advanced
2K71 all stops becomes 1K30 all stops

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G89231/2019/05/13/advanced
1K17 fast becomes 2K76 all stops

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G85592/2019/05/13/advanced
2K67 in as all stops and back all stops - just to show it’s not concrete.

They are also interworked with Other Ayrshire and Inverclyde services.

 

[Esker-pades]

Seen everything from 3 to 6 cars on every Ayshire Coast route.

 

[hexagon789]

In the majority a fast train down to Ayr generally returns as an all stopper and vice versa. However It’s not concrete like any other diagramming however.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G89233/2019/05/13/advanced
1K21 fast becomes 2K80 all stops

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G85578/2019/05/13/advanced
2K71 all stops becomes 1K30 all stops

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G89231/2019/05/13/advanced
1K17 fast becomes 2K76 all stops

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G85592/2019/05/13/advanced
2K67 in as all stops and back all stops - just to show it’s not concrete.

They are also interworked with Other Ayrshire and Inverclyde services.

Ah, that's interesting. I assumed that a fast to Ayr would return as a fast to Glasgow, though of course there's no operational reasons for that to be the case.

In which case it must be pure coincidence that Ayr fasts seem to be 3-car and stoppers 4-car.

 

[hexagon789]

Seen everything from 3 to 6 cars on every Ayshire Coast route.

Never seen a 7 either?

 

[DarloRich]

Never seen a 7 either?

They must have run in such a formation but i cant recall ever seeing one. It is the line to my mums house so while i use it on and off i am not a regular user.

 

[Highlandspring]

Never seen a 7 either?

1K01 0600 Glasgow Central - Ayr, 1K03 0630 Glasgow Central - Ayr, 2K60 Ayr - Glasgow Central, 1K11 0830 Ayr - Glasgow Central, 2K97 1716 Glasgow Central - Ayr and 1K25 1825 Ayr - Glasgow Central are all 7 cars today.

 

[hexagon789]

They must have run in such a formation but i cant recall ever seeing one. It is the line to my mums house so while i use it on and off i am not a regular user.

I've seen a six-car but never a seven.

1K01 0600 Glasgow Central - Ayr, 1K03 0630 Glasgow Central - Ayr, 2K60 Ayr - Glasgow Central, 1K11 0830 Ayr - Glasgow Central, 2K97 1716 Glasgow Central - Ayr and 1K25 1825 Ayr - Glasgow Central are all 7 cars today.

Are these regularly booked a seven-car?

 

[Fleetwood Boy]

Back when there were plenty of 380s available, I even saw a 8 car going to Ayr on one occasion, on a diagram which was usually 7 car - presumably a 4 car unit subbing for a 3 car one in the formation.

 

[Highlandspring]

8 cars are rarer due to the difficulty of docking them at the Central and the current restrictions at Ayr.

 

[hexagon789]

Back when there were plenty of 380s available, I even saw a 8 car going to Ayr on one occasion, on a diagram which was usually 7 car - presumably a 4 car unit subbing for a 3 car one in the formation.

I didn't realise they could run 8-car. I thought 7 was the maximum platforms lengths on the Ayrshire/Inverclyde lines could handle.

 

[adrock1976]

I didn't realise they could run 8-car. I thought 7 was the maximum platforms lengths on the Ayrshire/Inverclyde lines could handle.

I believe the 380s have Selective Door Opening (SDO).

I am going by this as I have heard the automated announcements onboard mentioning that "the doors in the rear coach will not open at the next station" or something like that.

 

[hexagon789]

I believe the 380s have Selective Door Opening (SDO).

I am going by this as I have heard the automated announcements onboard mentioning that "the doors in the rear coach will not open at the next station" or something like that.

I assumed they were just stock announcements as they are made regardless of train length on 380s.

 

[Highlandspring]

380s were built with SDO specifically so they could run on the Ayr line without needing expensive platform extension work.

 

[hexagon789]

380s were built with SDO specifically so they could run on the Ayr line without needing expensive platform extension work.

So they can run as 8-car then, but with at least one car locked out? I know most (all?) stations on the line to Ayr have 7-car markers, do any have 8?

 

[Highlandspring]

The coaches are available to passengers (so not ‘locked out’) but the doors don’t open.

 

[hexagon789]

The coaches are available to passengers (so not ‘locked out’) but the doors don’t open.

I meant doors locked out rather than the carriage, but I guess I've used the wrong term.

 

[Scotrail314209]

One of the really annoying things about Sunday services on the Ayrshire coast is that the hourly service from Largs is only 3 carriages most of the day, results in slight crowding as that is the only train to run between Largs & Kilwinning with the exception of the limited Ardrossan Harbour service.

 

[route101]

Wonder if any 385s will run on Ayr lines ? In the future

 

[hexagon789]

Wonder if any 385s will run on Ayr lines ? In the future

Possibly, though I'm not sure any drivers sign Ayr and 385s.

 

[NoxiLord]

Possibly, though I'm not sure any drivers sign Ayr and 385s.

I think we'll be stuck with the 380's for a long time and the 385's will almost definetly not operate

 

[hexagon789]

I think we'll be stuck with the 380's for a long time and the 385's will almost definetly not operate

Certainly stuck with 380s for now, but I've lost count of how many times we had - "385s are coming to Ayrshire, then no they aren't, then yes they are, no they aren't" etc etc...

 

[Scotrail314209]

I think 385s on Ayrshire is certainly plausible. (We’ve had 314s stand in before). Never say never.

 

[hexagon789]

I think 385s on Ayrshire is certainly plausible. (We’ve had 314s stand in before). Never say never.

I agree that's it's perfectly plausible at some point in the future but it's not happening anytime soon, put it that way

 

[Scotrail314209]

I agree that's it's perfectly plausible at some point in the future but it's not happening anytime soon, put it that way

Given the whole situation I highly doubt a full timetable will be restored within the next few months. Service levels are at the bare minimum

 

[hexagon789]

Given the whole situation I highly doubt a full timetable will be restored within the next few months. Service levels are at the bare minimum

Exactly, hence why it won't be happening anytime soon if it indeed ever does.

 

[156478]

380s will more than likely still monopolise Ayrshire for the time being. While nothing is ever perfect- they are a very close to perfect fit for these routes.

The only major sticking point is no Ayr drivers sign for 385s, but that's not a major problem a quick conversion course for Ayr drivers from 380 to 385 would not take too long- not even a week per driver.

Curiously Ayr based ticket examiners know them due to Ayr TEs working Gourock, Newton, Neilston and Cathcart services.

 

[hexagon789]

380s will more than likely still monopolise Ayrshire for the time being. While nothing is ever perfect- they are a very close to perfect fit for these routes.

The only major sticking point is no Ayr drivers sign for 385s, but that's not a major problem a quick conversion course for Ayr drivers from 380 to 385 would not take too long- not even a week per driver.

Curiously Ayr based ticket examiners know them due to Ayr TEs working Gourock, Newton, Neilston and Cathcart services.

So while it's obviously not going to happen now, there's still the potential for the future?

Interesting the ticket examiners are passed on them, I'd have assumed each location would have the same traction for all grades of staff