Thank you, that is interesting, but i was really wondering about the update to the train software by Alstom (was Bombardier) which is also due to be done for ETCS rather than the Siemens CBTC software. Hopefully the test of the West Portal transition is because the ETCS software has been updated.
Some appear to go to Acton Main Line and some to and from the depot
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
The down fast seems to be blocked with all main line services on the relief lines.
Yes it will be.
I'm guessing that these are the sort of tests they really need a few more months to perfect which are considerations in delaying the opening from 6 March to a date in May. You would hope that they find some sort of opportunity to run 24tph one Sunday before it opens rather than trying to do it live. Opening and then having to close for a few weekends to do 24tph testing would result in bad publicity.
Good to see confirmation of 345003 out as a 9-car unit on the testing diagram. Apart from 345009 being converted which was taken out of service around the end of December, I think all the remaining 11 7-car units have been 'seen' in service this year.
As I understand it they do not think the current ELR110 software can mange 24tph and that the upgrade to ELR200 will be needed for 24ph. I don't know the details of why.
Just for information, this didn’t happen today due to a set of points west of SRA platform 5 being plain-lined, meaning it was impossible to use both platforms. A much reduced service operated with trains operating to both ABW and SRA platform 8 using ATO.
Didn't the planners of to his test know that the infrastructure in Stratford wouldn't support this?
Presumably it was a late notice change. I think the point is that services can terminate from the West in both platforms 5 and 8 under normal circumstances.
I had noticed the points as being plain lined back in November when I was learning the route. Seems like they’ve been forgotten about.
Possibly not too vital as most trains would continue to / from the Great Eastern lines once the whole route opens. Stratford is usually busy enough without disgorging train loads of passengers there.
345007 was the first 345 to ever work in passenger service back in 2017! 345006 has also definitely ran as I’ve had it. Unless you mean first time as nine cars?
Not as 9 cars I don't think, but I'm sure they've both been in use as 7 cars and I have them both for haulage. I can check when I get home; I'm at work at the moment.
Absolutely, the OP is referring to first time passenger usage as nine cars. A very helpful post to record that fact.
Yes, and for it to be on one of the changeover diagrams this morning it would have had to be at Maidenhead overnight last night as well.