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Chances of getting a 442 on GatEx?

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antharro

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I'm planning a run down to Gatwick and back either tomorrow or Wednesday evenings this week. With half of them now in storage, what are my chances of getting one on both the out and return journeys? (I'm planning a break at Gatwick for some dinner!)
 
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RichardKing

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I'm planning a run down to Gatwick and back either tomorrow or Wednesday evenings this week. With half of them now in storage, what are my chances of getting one on both the out and return journeys? (I'm planning a break at Gatwick for some dinner!)

Well, there are two pairs of 442s that run out of London Bridge (one at 17:57 and the other at 18:23). However, neither call at Gatwick Airport. They do, on the other hand, both call at Three Bridges, meaning that you could change there and catch a train heading back up to Gatwick (taking about 5 minutes). You'd get around 30-40 minutes worth of travel on both of the above services (maybe more if there is disruption!).

On a side note, I would keep looking at the Southern website regarding the sink-hole at Forest Hill. If the disruption carries on over to tomorrow's evening peak, those two services may be diverted to start from Victoria/started from East Croydon.

I'm unsure of the current diagrams of 442s on GX services.
 
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antharro

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Dang, only one pair? I hadn't realised deliveries of their replacements were proceeding at such a pace.

Thanks for the info. I'll put a post in the TOPS thread and cross my fingers.
 

JonathanH

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Dang, only one pair? I hadn't realised deliveries of their replacements were proceeding at such a pace.

Thanks for the info. I'll put a post in the TOPS thread and cross my fingers.

All 27 387/2s are now in service but 6 (201-3/6/22/3) are unbranded and in use on Thameslink services for the time being.

Last night, a pair of 442s worked the 2130 Gatwick to Victoria, then one of those went out on the 2215 Victoria to Gatwick / 2305 Gatwick to Victoria but that doesn't seem to tie up with what has been posted in the TOPS request thread.

A triplet of 387/2s worked the 2050 London Victoria to Brighton / return (which is a Southern service interworked with Gatwick Express), ie stops at Clapham Junction / East Croydon).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Seemingly still plenty of opportunity for a 442 on a Saturday. Workings this morning.

Five workings on Brighton cycles:
0818BTN-VIC 442410
0848BTN-VIC 442404+442417
0918BTN-VIC 442421+442424
0948BTN-VIC 387207+387210
1018BTN-VIC 387214+387221

Three workings on Gatwick cycles
0915VIC-GTW 442408
0945VIC-GTW 387212
1015VIC-GTW 442406
 

Bishopstone

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Given the very poor performance of class 442 air conditioning; the heat today, and busy times for Gatwick (and Brighton) at the start of the school holidays, the unnecessary use of 442s on the majority of GatEx diagrams is disappointing.*

Surprised to see a single 387 reported on one of the 'airport only' cycles, too. This is one day of the year when four coaches could get quite cosy.

*Disappointing for regular passengers, that is. Obviously a bonus if your intention is to ride 442s.
 

JonathanH

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Looks to me as if single 387/2s on Victoria to Gatwick shuttles and paired 387/2s on Victoria to Brighton services at the weekend is the intention once there is full introduction of the units is complete.

The Sunday service (when it only goes to Gatwick without the Brighton extensions) certainly seems to involve single 387/2s whenever I have seen it - still a few 442s however.

Seems quite strange that more 442s are booked out at the weekend than during the week now.
 

JonathanH

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Still lots of opportunities to get a 442 on a Saturday:

Today there are no Gatwick shuttles due to engineering work at London Bridge sending London Bridge to Horsham services to Victoria.

0930VIC-BTN 442424+442410
1000VIC-BTN 442408+442417
1030VIC-BTN 442421+442406
1100VIC-BTN 387208+387226
1130VIC-BTN 387212+387218

Much better chance of a 387 on a weekday when they run 12-coach and on more services.
 
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