Class 379 updates (all are OFF LEASE)

[Peregrine 4903]

Southern Wimbledon Loop services, Guildford services and GWR’s Brighton services are all being culled. Stuff which runs on lines where there plentiful other duplicate services are in trouble yes. Thameslink to Grinstead, Littlehampton and Eastbourne are unlikely to last much longer.

Thameslink don't run to Eastbourne. Southern's Wimbledon Loop and Guildford services were already culled since 2020.

Just wait and see when the May 22 timetable gets uploaded.

 

[Southern Dvr]

Thameslink don't run to Eastbourne. Southern's Wimbledon Loop and Guildford services were already culled since 2020.

Just wait and see when the May 22 timetable gets uploaded.

Thameslink were supposed to go to Eastbourne.

Wimbledon Loop services were supposed to return, until recently drivers were being route refreshed on it.

Guildford has indeed been dead since 2020. The conductors all came into work one day and found their route cards no longer had it on there.

What is shocking is that the frontline staff haven’t been told any of this officially and will soon find out at the same time as the public.

 

[physics34]

Southern Wimbledon Loop services, Guildford services and GWR’s Brighton services are all being culled. Stuff which runs on lines where there plentiful other duplicate services are in trouble yes. Thameslink to Grinstead, Littlehampton and Eastbourne are unlikely to last much longer.

Grinstead people will want their London Bridge services back though. They seem to have kittens about them when they dont run

 

[Southern Dvr]

Grinstead people will want their London Bridge services back though. They seem to have kittens about them when they dont run

But that’s the point, they only want London Bridge services. Not Bedford or Luton etc. Therefore they could be run by the incumbent operator on that route.

 

[physics34]

But that’s the point, they only want London Bridge services. Not Bedford or Luton etc. Therefore they could be run by the incumbent operator on that route.

Or maybe Southern dvrs on the route shouldve signed 700s.... something suggested many moons ago lol

 

[Southern Dvr]

Or maybe Southern dvrs on the route shouldve signed 700s.... something suggested many moons ago lol

We digress massively here but I think there was a logistical reason why Southern was kept distanced from TL/GN. Would be easier to cut it completely if there wasn’t an amalgamation.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Thameslink to Grinstead, Littlehampton and Eastbourne are unlikely to last much longer.

They won't get away without providing a London Bridge services in the rush hour but could be managed by switching some of the Vics to cover then reverting back to Vic off peak I guess.

Sadly, I suspect that DfT will be more willing to take a hit on overcrowding than to ask the Treasury for more money.

For sure they won't care about some overcrowding especially as it won't be five days a week.

 

[JonathanH]

They won't get away without providing a London Bridge services in the rush hour but could be managed by switching some of the Vics to cover then reverting back to Vic off peak I guess.

They will get away with it - same platform change at East Croydon. They are getting away with 1tph to East Grinstead during the day at the moment and can simply explain that there isn't enough revenue to justify 4tph to East Grinstead peak any more.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

They will get away with it - same platform change at East Croydon. They are getting away with 1tph to East Grinstead during the day at the moment and can simply explain that there isn't enough revenue to justify 4tph to East Grinstead peak any more.

Ummm, I wouldn't be sure about that.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

They will get away with it - same platform change at East Croydon. They are getting away with 1tph to East Grinstead during the day at the moment and can simply explain that there isn't enough revenue to justify 4tph to East Grinstead peak any more.

E.Grinstead Is returning to half hourly in the peak from next Monday upto 1000hrs and then between 1500-2000 so not that many turns to reinstate to make it half all day probably from May i suggest. TLks have to be reinstated no way that a L.Bdge service can't be provided in the rush hour its a big chunk of the traffic.
Edit: One TLk shown from May 22 and half hourly service although many are Q paths so looks like they are covering themselves. SN also cutting back many metro services so not sure they will need any extra stock anytime soon.

 

[Bald Rick]

As has been mentioned already, more Electrostar stock is needed as there aren’t enough Class 377s to replace both 455 & 313 fleets but both will be replaced.

thats a bold statement!

 

[A0wen]

Good. The Treasury shouldn't spend any more than it needs to on a railway that has an excessive cost base and that has taken a huge amount of subsidy in recent years. It's managed the impressive trick pre-pandemic of increasing customers and revenue whilst also requiring more subsidy. That is a sure sign of something being badly wrong.

I happen to agree with you, but you're brave making such a statement in this parish.

It is a very valid, but oft ignored fact that despite record passenger numbers, subsidy levels were increasing, which is counter intuitive.

 

[Jturner98]

How did the battery trial go a few years back?

 

[bramling]

I happen to agree with you, but you're brave making such a statement in this parish.

It is a very valid, but oft ignored fact that despite record passenger numbers, subsidy levels were increasing, which is counter intuitive.

That's all well and good, but we all know that masses of subsidy goes on keeping basket-cases like Stranraer or Whitby running. Until now the commuter routes have helped pay the bill for such services.

There's also the question of whether it was an optimal model having peak services running around crush-loaded, even if this was efficient.

No easy solutions, but what is the worst of all worlds is we cut capacity now and then find we need it back a couple of years down the line. London Underground got badly bitten by this in the 80s/90s.

 

[JonathanH]

How did the battery trial go a few years back?

Not really relevant as battery technology has moved on. Basic point is that battery technology could be fitted to many different trains.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/uckfield-line-to-be-electrified.215575/#post-5058198

 

[Cowley]

We’ve gone quite a few miles off topic here….
If anyone wants to start a thread on one of the various subjects that are being discussed then please do!

 

[A0wen]

That's all well and good, but we all know that masses of subsidy goes on keeping basket-cases like Stranraer or Whitby running. Until now the commuter routes have helped pay the bill for such services.

However, according to Yorksrob services like Whitby and Stranraer are *always* busy to overflowing so the deficits on those lines should be reducing.....

The point made though was pre Covid passenger numbers were increasing *yet* so was the level of subsidy. Logically as passenger numbers increase the gap to be filled by subsidy should be lower.

Keeping it OT, the 379s do seem most likely to head to GN. The only other AC units soon to be available would be the 350/2s, but they won't be free until LNWs Aventras arrive.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

However, according to Yorksrob services like Whitby and Stranraer are *always* busy to overflowing so the deficits on those lines should be reducing.....

The point made though was pre Covid passenger numbers were increasing *yet* so was the level of subsidy. Logically as passenger numbers increase the gap to be filled by subsidy should be lower.

This is completely off topic from Class 379's leaving Greater Anglia.

On a different note, are all the class 379's withdrawn now or any still being used in emergency situations?

 

[dk1]

This is completely off topic from Class 379's leaving Greater Anglia.

On a different note, are all the class 379's withdrawn now or any still being used in emergency situations?

Two are dumped in the engine sidings at Cambridge with their pans up. A colleague at Liverpool St told me one was hot spare at I think Orient Way yesterday but it is only to be used as a very last resort if at all. Mileage he said was the main issue.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I believe the lease ends on Monday?

 

[Bikeman78]

This is completely off topic from Class 379's leaving Greater Anglia.

On a different note, are all the class 379's withdrawn now or any still being used in emergency situations?

Last known working was 1H87 and 1H00 on Friday 11th.

 

[387star]

A huge upgrade for Great Northern
Will they retain the luxurious First Class ?

 

[D365]

A huge upgrade for Great Northern
Will they retain the luxurious First Class ?

Eh? Is it confirmed?

 

[Fincra5]

Eh? Is it confirmed?

One Day yes, the next no... When its all in the hands of the DfT...

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

One Day yes, the next no... When its all in the hands of the DfT...

Even if it is won't be happening for May as SN are rehashing electrostar diagrams and and services so they can deliver the timetable without the 455's and without any extra stock. However, with 313's rumoured to be next target for the chop in Dec TT change they will need some extra stock then so maybe it with facilitated by 379's going somewhere to release stock. As you say who knows.........

 

[Class 466]

One Day yes, the next no... When its all in the hands of the DfT...

I Expect nothing will be confirmed before the new contract/transfer to OLR happens

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder that this thread is to discuss Class 379’s departure from Greater Anglia

If anyone wishes to discuss anything else, please create a new thread (if there isn't one already)

Any posts of a speculative/predictive nature are to be posted in Speculative Discussion, please.

Some posts have been moved to:

Class 379 cascade: what BR would have done

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-379’s-departure-from-greater-anglia.226784/ If this was old British Rail maximising its assets, then 379s transfer to GN lines, releasing 387s to Southern. Once the newly arrived 387s arrived on Southern, then they'll...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Cowley]

Further to the post from @yorkie, there’s a thread here that would be better for speculative discussions:

Future of Class 379

Greater Anglia's class 379's are being replaced with the new Stadler FLIRT trains even though 379 was built about 8 years ago. What will happen to them after this?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[dk1]

Two units just arrived Crown Point apparently for warm storage.

 

[ashkeba]

Two units just arrived Crown Point apparently for warm storage.

Blooming Norwich stealing West Anglia trains again!