Class 379 updates (all are OFF LEASE)

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Here is a new thread to continue the discussion of Class 379’s departure from GA so that we don’t clog up the Class 317 withdrawals thread with information about a different class.

 

[MatthewRead]

Here is a new thread to continue the discussion of Class 379’s departure from GA so that we don’t clog up the Class 317 withdrawals thread with information about a different class.

Yes I hear the 379's are going before the 317's how long will it be before all the 379's are off the West Anglia main line?

 

[Milo T.K]

Apparently 2 weeks left

 

[dereksingh291]

Apparently 2 weeks left

Where will they be going?

 

[Milo T.K]

Warm store for now but hopefully from what I keep hearing from insiders GN

 

[JonathanH]

Apparently 2 weeks left

Not all of them at once?

 

[Fincra5]

Warm store for now but hopefully from what I keep hearing from insiders GN

Yup, they are planned to come over to GN to displace the 387s within GTR.

 

[365 Networker]

Yup, they are planned to come over to GN to displace the 387s within GTR.

I assume to replace the 313s?

 

[47421]

Wonder if WestAnglia timetable will be thinned out a bit? Other than StanExp which is 5 of 9 diagrams in operation, WestAnglia currently operating precovid timetable other than a couple of the Camb / KL peak extras.

Also what now for the StanExp Stadlers, presumably they won't be moving to GE now?

 

[bramling]

Yup, they are planned to come over to GN to displace the 387s within GTR.

It will be interesting to see what alterations they receive for GN service. Naturally there's currently excess luggage space, and excess provision of first class too.

Hopefully GTR will do something different from their current fad for putting first class at the inner end of the country end driving vehicle. This really doesn't work well.

 

[fgwrich]

It will be interesting to see what alterations they receive for GN service. Naturally there's currently excess luggage space, and excess provision of first class too.

Hopefully GTR will do something different from their current fad for putting first class at the inner end of the country end driving vehicle. This really doesn't work well.

I wonder if Her Majesty will prefer the "new" First Class offered by the 379s over the poor effort on the 387s and 700s. Surely has to be GTRs most important user of it.

 

[JonathanH]

Wonder if WestAnglia timetable will be thinned out a bit? Other than StanExp which is 5 of 9 diagrams in operation, WestAnglia currently operating precovid timetable other than a couple of the Camb / KL peak extras.

The thinning over Christmas was to bin off the Stratford services (which couldn't run anyway).

2tph Meridian Water to Stratford, 2tph Hertford East, 2tph Cambridge and 2tph Stansted is presumably the basic sustainable level of timetable with just the Stratford to Bishop Stortford binned. Next step would then presumably be 1tph Cambridge.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Surely has to be GTRs most important user of it.

Considering she doesn’t pay, some might dispute that claim.

 

[Fincra5]

It will be interesting to see what alterations they receive for GN service. Naturally there's currently excess luggage space, and excess provision of first class too.

Hopefully GTR will do something different from their current fad for putting first class at the inner end of the country end driving vehicle. This really doesn't work well.

No idea but you'd assume the extra sized luggage racks would be swapped for more seats.

 

[Energy]

Yup, they are planned to come over to GN to displace the 387s within GTR.

Is this coming from inside GTR rather than the RUK rumour?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Is this coming from inside GTR rather than the RUK rumour?

Indeed it’s become such a widely discussed rumour people are beginning to discuss it as if it is confirmed by GTR as fact.

 

[Mikey C]

Why were replacements for the 379s ordered anyway?

Yes they would be non standard with the Aventras and Stadlers, but they'll now be non standard in somebody else's fleet.

 

[CBlue]

Why were replacements for the 379s ordered anyway?

Yes they would be non standard with the Aventras and Stadlers, but they'll now be non standard in somebody else's fleet.

Another operator having to deal with some non-standard units isn't Greater Anglia's concern, though?

It had been suggested on here before that the 379s leasing costs were rather high and replacing them with a more uniform fleet made sense from a financial perspective.

 

[adrock1976]

See the tread I have created regarding hypothetical future uses for the 379s at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/suggested-future-uses-for-class-379s.226816/

 

[Mikey C]

Another operator having to deal with some non-standard units isn't Greater Anglia's concern, though?

It had been suggested on here before that the 379s leasing costs were rather high and replacing them with a more uniform fleet made sense from a financial perspective.

Which is a major flaw of the thinking 5 years ago

Unless you scrap new, but displaced stock or there's an exact requirement for them (e.g. the EMR 360s), you end up creating non standard issues elsewhere (e.g. the 707s now at Southeastern, operating alongside Networkers and 376s on the same routes)

 

[dk1]

Considering she doesn’t pay, some might dispute that claim.

It’s usually mentioned in local news & media that she does & also uses a Senior Railcard.

Why were replacements for the 379s ordered anyway?

Yes they would be non standard with the Aventras and Stadlers, but they'll now be non standard in somebody else's fleet.

Uniform fleet a far better option.

I wonder if Her Majesty will prefer the "new" First Class offered by the 379s over the poor effort on the 387s and 700s. Surely has to be GTRs most important user of it.

Will be perfect for her & the Lynn services assuming GTR don’t alter the seating layouts to any extent.

 

[bramling]

Uniform fleet a far better option.

The trouble with all these uniform fleets is, apart from that it simply shifts the issue elsewhere, that things change over time and suddenly it isn't a uniform fleet any more. Especially if fleet sizes are cut in response to Covid and then a few years down the line numbers come back and suddenly lots of fleets are too small.

Will be perfect for her & the Lynn services assuming GTR don’t alter the seating layouts to any extent.

They will have to make some changes, as things stand there's too much first, and too much space taken up by the luggage racks.

I presume what will happen is they will swap first and standard in the DMC car, so first occupies the space at the non-driving end like on the GN 387s. However this isn't quite as trivial as on the 387s as the seats are different, so it isn't simply a case of moving the antimacassers.

If GTR wanted to make a decent job of it they should move first to either be at both ends of the units next to the cabs, and move the sliding doors to match, or failing that move it to where SE have it on their Electrostars. £££, of course.

 

[Fincra5]

Is this coming from inside GTR rather than the RUK rumour?

It isn't a RUK Rumour...

 

[dk1]

They will have to make some changes, as things stand there's too much first, and too much space taken up by the luggage racks.

I presume what will happen is they will swap first and standard in the DMC car, so first occupies the space at the non-driving end like on the GN 387s. However this isn't quite as trivial as on the 387s as the seats are different, so it isn't simply a case of moving the antimacassers.

If GTR wanted to make a decent job of it they should move first to either be at both ends of the units next to the cabs, and move the sliding doors to match, or failing that move it to where SE have it on their Electrostars. £££, of course.

Im not personally expecting any major internal work but do expect a reduction in the excessive 1st class provision & also maybe the extent of the luggage stacks designed for the airport duties they where built for.

 

[Sleepy]

Considering she doesn’t pay, some might dispute that claim.

Think you'll find she uses FOS normally. Don't know if she has a senior railcard though !

 

[dk1]

Think you'll find she uses FOS normally. Don't know if she has a senior railcard though !

She most certainly does & gets her discount.

 

[AY1975]

I assume to replace the 313s?

The 313s have already all gone (apart from those on Southern).

 

[Failed Unit]

Im not personally expecting any major internal work but do expect a reduction in the excessive 1st class provision & also maybe the extent of the luggage stacks designed for the airport duties they where built for.

I think it will be a big improvement for the Cambridge services, not sure to be honest if they have too much first class accommodation, they have less than the 365s, the last train on that line that had real first class seats, but agree in terms of space used it may be too much. One for a different thread I guess, but I expect the 387s / 700s have damaged the 1st class market from Cambridge, but even in standard class these trains will be a major comfort improvement.

 

[JonathanH]

even in standard class these trains will be a major comfort improvement.

That is going a bit far. The standard class seats are basically the same as those in a Southern 313 or a 507 / 508 or the 3+2 area in a 375 or 377 with a slightly different cushion. If they are part of a cascade that eliminates 313s it would be good if they can recycle the seat frames when they take out the current first class seats.

 

[jopsuk]

if they go to the GN route, and have a change of interior, then I hope the interior is designed around the needs of day to day users, rather than one little old lady making a single return journey a year (and didn't even go this Christmas, increasing chances of never doing so again)