Class 379 updates (all are OFF LEASE)

[dk1]

Blooming Norwich stealing West Anglia trains again!

Haha, they know the proper Anglia main line rather than western branch.

 

[BRblue33]

units 379003/24 at Norwich

 

[47584Suffolk]

Two units just arrived Crown Point apparently for warm storage.

379003 + 379024 5P18 13+24 IL to NC (for storage in 'new' Wensum sidings). I don't think those sidings are wired, so 'warm' storage might be difficult.

 

[dk1]

379003 + 379024 5P18 13+24 IL to NC (for storage in 'new' Wensum sidings). I don't think those sidings are wired, so 'warm' storage might be difficult.

Certainly not wired. Not been used in a good while either. Richard Clinnick was saying warm storage.

 

[ashkeba]

Certainly not wired. Not been used in a good while either. Richard Clinnick was saying warm storage.

I think Wensum sidings were used to store 755 units before introduction. Maybe 745s too. Not overhead wired but there seem to be a lot of modern lights there, so was shorr supply installed with the lights?

 

[dk1]

I think Wensum sidings were used to store 755 units before introduction. Maybe 745s too. Not overhead wired but there seem to be a lot of modern lights there, so was shorr supply installed with the lights?

Only 755s & MK3 stock. The 745s wouldn’t fit in there. The sidings where completely rebuilt & made secure in 2019. Unfortunately they are a pain to use so can only have a limited purpose. No shore supply afaik.

 

[Wivenswold]

I think Wensum sidings were used to store 755 units before introduction. Maybe 745s too. Not overhead wired but there seem to be a lot of modern lights there, so was shorr supply installed with the lights?

Terminology changes obviously, from my railway days the two status types for stored traction was "Serviceable" and "Unserviceable" but my understanding of modern "warm storage" is that it kept ready for service but not necessarily powered-up, shoes down/pans up or engine running.

 

[dk1]

Terminology changes obviously, from my railway days the two status types for stored traction was "Serviceable" and "Unserviceable" but my understanding of modern "warm storage" is that it kept ready for service but not necessarily powered-up, shoes down/pans up or engine running.

Trouble is at Norwich that nobody would sign them. A WA driver would need to be sent to do anything with them.

 

[CBlue]

I think Wensum sidings were used to store 755 units before introduction. Maybe 745s too. Not overhead wired but there seem to be a lot of modern lights there, so was shorr supply installed with the lights?

I don't think the 379s have shore supply capability going by the answers to another thread on here.

 

[Geeves]

Trouble is at Norwich that nobody would sign them. A WA driver would need to be sent to do anything with them.

Don't worry an ROG vulture will be circling soon when he signs those too ha.

 

[dk1]

Just passed Wensum Sidings & they are safely stabled in there.

 

[dk1]

GAs internal staff magazine has an article in it today regarding the 379s that states:-

“They are planned to be used by Great Northern on their routes between London Kings Cross, Ely and Kings Lynn”.

 

[Railperf]

The pair at Orient Way have now been debranded

 

[Mamorin]

I would thought given that the 379s will never go back to GA, that all the 379s would have been de-branded by now tbh.

 

[dk1]

I would thought all the 379s would have been de-branded by now tbh.

Those in Wensum Sidings have been & are spotlessly clean.

 

[Mamorin]

Ah right ok, I was unaware if any had been de-branded.

If the units in Wensum Sidings are clean that perhaps the 379s are going to GN after all?

I meen the 379s kinda can’t really go anywhere else.

 

[dk1]

I meen the 379s kinda can’t really go anywhere else.

They could go anywhere that has 25kv OHL.

 

[Mamorin]

Ture, but like the costs of training for any other TOC besides GN would be a huge put off for other TOCs.

That and the units may have gauging issues that limit where they can and can’t go.

Still not 100% sure the units are going to GN given the high leasing costs and that TOCs are being forced to cut costs by the DFT.

 

[dk1]

Ture, but like the costs of training for any other TOC besides GN would be a huge put off for other TOCs.

That and the units may have gauging issues that limit where they can and can’t go.

Still not 100% sure the units are going to GN given the high leasing costs and that TOCs are being forced to cut costs by the DFT.

Why would it cost GN less to train crews than say GWR?

 

[Mamorin]

I made a mistake I should have said any TOC that don’t operate Electrostars. My bad.

 

[dk1]

I made a mistake I should have said any TOC that don’t operate Electrostars. My bad.

Thanks. I was a little confused.

 

[JonathanH]

GAs internal staff magazine has an article in it today regarding the 379s that states:-

“They are planned to be used by Great Northern on their routes between London Kings Cross, Ely and Kings Lynn”.

There is no guarantee that the people writing the magazine know exactly what is planned. It seems that the future of the 379s now depends very much on how passenger loadings recover on the Southern network and whether 387s are actually needed there. If the 377 fleet copes with the demand on Southern, 387s won't be needed there and 379s won't be needed on GN.

 

[43102EMR]

The pair at Orient Way have now been debranded

379005’s been debranded for a while now - guess they finally got round to 007

There is no guarantee that the people writing the magazine know exactly what is planned. It seems that the future of the 379s now depends very much on how passenger loadings recover on the Southern network and whether 387s are actually needed there. If the 377 fleet copes with the demand on Southern, 387s won't be needed there and 379s won't be needed on GN.

I mean, they work for Greater Anglia and obviously talk to management, so you would have thought they would?

 

[JonathanH]

I mean, they work for Greater Anglia and obviously talk to management, so you would have thought they would?

Yes, although ultimately the decision to use the 379s has nothing to do with Greater Anglia employees or management now. It is a decision for GTR and the DfT so would appear to have greater weighting if included in a GTR newsletter.

There doesn't appear to be any doubt that 379s were planned for GN but that doesn't mean the deal has actually been done.

 

[43102EMR]

Yes, although ultimately the decision to use the 379s has nothing to do with Greater Anglia employees or management now. It is a decision for GTR and the DfT so would appear to have greater weighting if included in a GTR newsletter.

There doesn't appear to be any doubt that 379s were planned for GN but that doesn't mean the deal has actually been done.

Fair point - it’s anyone’s guess what will happen now. Would be a shame if they end up meeting the chop this early on during their lifecycle.

 

[Skimble19]

There doesn't appear to be any doubt that 379s were planned for GN but that doesn't mean the deal has actually been done.

This is correct, and to date, no deal has been done. That’s not to say things won’t change again in the future, but right now it’s not happening.

 

[Malaxa]

The pair at Orient Way have now been debranded

For the record 379 014 + 379 020.
Is there an update on where the rest of them are?

 

[bramling]

Yes, although ultimately the decision to use the 379s has nothing to do with Greater Anglia employees or management now. It is a decision for GTR and the DfT so would appear to have greater weighting if included in a GTR newsletter.

There doesn't appear to be any doubt that 379s were planned for GN but that doesn't mean the deal has actually been done.

It’s certainly gone cold, not so long ago it was certainly being planned.

Whether this is cost cutting or an attempt to get more favourable leasing costs (or both) is less clear.

DFT do have some spare stock in the form of the stored 465/2s, which in turn can influence what happens with the 377/5s. Was it ever confirmed these are definitely moving to Southern?

In the slightly longer term, there’s the issue that the only spare “modern” EMUs are going to be the 350/2 and 379. If the leasing company can ride out a few months, I’d say there will be demand for them. If the intention was ever to create a glut of EMUs to drive leasing charges down, this doesn’t seem to have gone to plan - the leasing companies seem quite happy to scrap stuff.

 

[Roger B]

It’s certainly gone cold, not so long ago it was certainly being planned.

Whether this is cost cutting or an attempt to get more favourable leasing costs (or both) is less clear.

DFT do have some spare stock in the form of the stored 465/2s, which in turn can influence what happens with the 377/5s. Was it ever confirmed these are definitely moving to Southern?

In the slightly longer term, there’s the issue that the only spare “modern” EMUs are going to be the 350/2 and 379. If the leasing company can ride out a few months, I’d say there will be demand for them. If the intention was ever to create a glut of EMUs to drive leasing charges down, this doesn’t seem to have gone to plan - the leasing companies seem quite happy to scrap stuff.

And as I passed Wembley Yard heading north yesterday afternoon, I saw at least two 720s.

 

[Energy]

It’s certainly gone cold, not so long ago it was certainly being planned.

Going cold might be a tactic from the DfT for the leasing company to lower the leasing charges to regain the DfT's interest.

This is assuming that its gone cold on internal discussions on not just on here...