Class 350 on testing for TPE

[Class377/5]

Looks like TPE could be getting a 350 for testing today.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N16414/2013/07/28/advanced

Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) 1533 1533
Crewe 1538 1540
Winsford pass 1546½ pass 1546
Hartford pass 1549
Acton Bridge pass 1553
Warrington Bank Quay pass 1557½
Wigan North Western pass 1607½
Euxton Balshaw Lane pass 1615
Leyland pass 1618
Preston 1623 1625
Preston C.S. 1634

 

[elarchibaldo]

Going up to Wigan for that. Also seems it will be tested over the coming days between.Carlisle and Preston

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I'll be watching this on webcam, anyone else? Perhaps we could start a live chat

 

[Class377/5]

Going up to Wigan for that. Also seems it will be tested over the coming days between.Carlisle and Preston

Should be a 350/2 and over the next the months they are expected to rotate the units. Fairly rare occurrence, a 350 up there.

EDIT:

Been reported to been cancelled on Yahoo Groups.

The poster did state however that we can the following on 6th August.

• 5Nxx 07xx Crewe LNWR - Preston
• 5C94 1216 Preston - Carlisle
• 5N95 14xx Carlisle - Preston

 

[westcoaster]

Should be a 350/2 and over the next the months they are expected to rotate the units. Fairly rare occurrence, a 350 up there.

EDIT:

Been reported to been cancelled on Yahoo Groups.

The poster did state however that we can the following on 6th August.

• 5Nxx 07xx Crewe LNWR - Preston
• 5C94 1216 Preston - Carlisle
• 5N95 14xx Carlisle - Preston

didn't the 350's run a daily new street-preston in the evening under the central trains banner.

 

[driver9000]

didn't the 350's run a daily new street-preston in the evening under the central trains banner.

I seem to remember it being Friday only during the Summer timetable. It used to arrive early evening into platform 1 at Preston and return south ECS. The service ended when London Midland took over.

 

[D1009]

It acted as a relief train to the 1720 New St to Glasgow, and was of use to those who wished to avoid wedged Voyagers. It ran slow line from Balshaw Lane, and on good days the Voyager caught it up and the two trains arrived at Preston side by side. I thought it ran Monday to Friday though. Central had aspirations to run to Preston regularly, but didn't get the paths.

 

[Eagle]

The service ended when London Midland took over.

Actually it lasted until a year into LM's franchise. What killed it off was the need for units for the hourly London–Crewe stoppers which started in December 2008 (and the fact that it wasn't a franchise specification).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There are two TP 350 round trips posted on http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y02494/2013/07/29/advanced from 29 July to 6 Dec (TSSuX).

0735, 1230 ex Preston arr Carlisle 0846, 1355 5C92/82
0930, 1424 ex Carlisle arr Preston 1050, 1545 5N93/95

Timed for class 350 EMU at 100mph.
Northbounds call at Penrith, southbounds at Lancaster.

 

[Class377/5]

LM did want to bring back the Preston services but was refused the paths.

There are two TP 350 round trips posted on http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y02494/2013/07/29/advanced from 29 July to 6 Dec (TSSuX).

0735, 1230 ex Preston arr Carlisle 0846, 1355 5C92/82
0930, 1424 ex Carlisle arr Preston 1050, 1545 5N93/95

Timed for class 350 EMU at 100mph.
Northbounds call at Penrith, southbounds at Lancaster.

Poster reported they are cancelled this week. Not so much calls but stops.

 

[driver9000]

Actually it lasted until a year into LM's franchise. What killed it off was the need for units for the hourly London–Crewe stoppers which started in December 2008 (and the fact that it wasn't a franchise specification).

Thanks. I have no recollection of it after LM took over.

 

[sd0733]

350252 has been sat outside at LNWR Crewe all week so presume that this one is what is/was allocated as the current unit for tpex training as there isn't usually a spare unit at Crewe during the week.

 

[martinsh]

350252 has been sat outside at LNWR Crewe all week so presume that this one is what is/was allocated as the current unit for tpex training as there isn't usually a spare unit at Crewe during the week.

Not all week - it was missing one day. Which seems to prove that this is what it is doing.

 

[Eagle]

I see from looking at Network Rail's website that TPE have put in an application for using the electricity during testing.

 

[rownd]

350252 still out on test - stabled in Preston Carriage Sidings on the western-most road this morning.

 

[whizzylizzy]

For all you train spotters TPE have a Class 350 running between Preston and Carlisle today for Driver training. Its got the Midland Livery on it as it is only leased, it's not one of the new class 350/4.

 

[dvboy]

Perhaps this explains LM tweeting about short formed traines on the Euston-Crewe route due to "extra driver training"

 

[sd0733]

All euston crewe services are only 4-car anyway apart from a few which have a unit detached at northampton in the evening peak as any longer than 4 car still vant stop at stone or kidsgrove.

 

[Lancaster]

While waiting at Lancaster station, a London Midland class 350 pulled into platform 3 and stopped at the north end of the platform.

I take it that this is for driver training purposes?
Does anybody know where it is heading? Will it be Barrow or Glasgow?

Many thanks

just remembered the line to barrow is not electrified past Carnforth :/

 

[Eagle]

Yep, TPE driver training. They're currently running between Crewe and Carlisle until the wires go live on the line to Manchester.


(Also it can't have been going to Barrow, that line isn't electrified.)

 

[driver9000]

Yep, TPE driver training. They're currently running between Crewe and Carlisle until the wires go live on the line to Manchester.


(Also it can't have been going to Barrow, that line isn't electrified.)

The training trips have been running between Preston and Carlisle with two round trips a day stabling in Pitt Street at Preston. The set came up from Crewe on Tuesday morning.

 

[317 forever]

It would be a good idea if the full Manchester-Glasgow service at least is operated by new class 350s in time for the Commonwealth Games there next July/August. I admit I don't have a good feeling about it though.

 

[Eagle]

If all goes to plan it'll be completely 350 operated by May 2014 (in fact the proposed May timetable doesn't work if there are still 185s left on the route).

 

[317 forever]

If all goes to plan it'll be completely 350 operated by May 2014 (in fact the proposed May timetable doesn't work if there are still 185s left on the route).

Ah that's promising thanks Eagle. I particularly hope the Glasgow service is all modern class 350s rather than any loaned from London Midland.

Will the Edinburgh service be all class 350 too?

 

[Eagle]

Yes. All brand new 4-car 350s (with an "intercity-style" layout, whatever that actually means).

 

[317 forever]

Yes. All brand new 4-car 350s (with an "intercity-style" layout, whatever that actually means).

Thanks Eagle. Looking forward to going already!!

 

[ash39]

Saw a 350 in the carriage sidings at Preston last night. Was hiding behind two Northern 156's. Was an unusual sight but I was half expecting it as I had seen this thread!

 

[Class377/5]

If all goes to plan it'll be completely 350 operated by May 2014 (in fact the proposed May timetable doesn't work if there are still 185s left on the route).

That's not true as TPE have publicly talked about 4, 6 and 8 car trains at the busier times (Friday-Sunday).

 

[Eagle]

That's not true as TPE have publicly talked about 4, 6 and 8 car trains at the busier times (Friday-Sunday).

That's for the December 2013 timetable, where it'll still be a mixture of 350s and 185s.

 

[Class377/5]

That's for the December 2013 timetable, where it'll still be a mixture of 350s and 185s.

Modern Railways July 2013

FTPE experiences high demand on Fridays and Sundays and will diagram every Edinburgh service for a pair of Class 350 or Class 185 units.

Two diagrams each day (one Edinburgh and one Glasgow) will remain timed for Class 185 DMUs. On Fridays Class 185 will be able to be used on these services to release Class 350s for strengthening other trains.

Clearly this is not talking about the December 2013 as then all diagrams will be timed for 185 and the May 2014 will have enhanced timetabling to take advantage of performance of the 350s.