Class 379 updates (all are OFF LEASE)

[dk1]

Thanks for the info.
Must have looked weird seeing an electrostar at platform 5!

Quite a bit of interest in it. Got used to seeing the battery fitted 379 around back in 2015 but very rare since.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

West Anglia yes, but not West Anglia Main Line. This whole WAML thing has come from I don’t know where, but it grates because it is a route and not a mainline.

The London (Stratford)-Bishops Stortford-Cambridge line was originally the Northern & Eastern Railway, before being leased by the Eastern Counties Railway.
The ECR became part of the Great Eastern Railway.
No "West" or "Anglia" in sight.

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

The London (Stratford)-Bishops Stortford-Cambridge line was originally the Northern & Eastern Railway, before being leased by the Eastern Counties Railway.
The ECR became part of the Great Eastern Railway.
No "West" or "Anglia" in sight.

It's the line with no name then I suppose

 

[Railperf]

Looks like only 1 of 7 WA Cambrige diagrams now a pair of 379's - the remainder are 5-car 720's.
Plus 2 pairs of 379's on Meridian Water shuttles

 

[Milo T.K]

Just saw 379019 go past Shenfield with another unit didnt see the number tho

 

[Ex31Rigger]

Units 379019 and 020 were diagrammed to work 5A12 from Ilford to Harwich Parkston H S departing at 13.24 arriving at 16.08

 

[Class360/1]

Units 379019 and 020 were diagrammed to work 5A12 from Ilford to Harwich Parkston H S departing at 13.24 arriving at 16.08

It can’t run today due to Rail Replacement Buses along the Mayflower Line

 

[mtmikethom]

It can’t run today due to Rail Replacement Buses along the Mayflower Line

I think he may be referring to Friday, RTT shows it as cancelled but I believe it ran as suggested by the previous comment, think I saw it on Open Train Mapping which I looked at after seeing the comment

 

[Railperf]

Be interesting to see how long the 379's last on Cambridge diagrams now.
Any information on the remaining 379 diagrams appreciated over this next week or two.

The only 8-car diagram on Cambridge services today so far seems to be a pair of 317s. 479s still on Meridian water and looks like a pair on Hertford East diagrams

 

[43102EMR]

It would seem more have gone to Harwich for storage over the last 24 hours.

I still don’t see the point in storing them now when 1) the 720s are rather limited with where they can operate at present and 2) the 379s are still on lease to GA? Not to mention Plan B restrictions have eased and commuter traffic’s once again increasing…

 

[JonathanH]

I still don’t see the point in storing them now when 1) the 720s are rather limited with where they can operate at present and 2) the 379s are still on lease to GA?

The 720s can go anywhere on West Anglia, just as 5-car units, and the number in use there is increasing. As someone posted, they have more 317s/379s than are needed for the current service.

 

[43102EMR]

The 720s can go anywhere on West Anglia, just as 5-car units, and the number in use there is increasing. As someone posted, they have more 317s/379s than are needed for the current service.

That’s fair enough, but surely with Plan B measures ending today, the emergency timetable will be dropped no? I’ve noticed a significant increase in commuter traffic since the WFH order was dropped…

 

[hwl]

2) the 379s are still on lease to GA?

All going off lease soon so you avoid using any units that require major maintenance to minimise your costs.

 

[Bikeman78]

That’s fair enough, but surely with Plan B measures ending today, the emergency timetable will be dropped no? I’ve noticed a significant increase in commuter traffic since the WFH order was dropped…

The reduced timetable is already uploaded for next week though it could be tweaked further. Someone mentioned in another thread that extra trains are planned on most TOCs from February 14th so it looks like a fun fortnight ahead. If the class 379s are leased month by month then it could be game over in four days.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

the 379s are still on lease to GA? Not to mention Plan B restrictions have eased and commuter traffic’s once again increasing…

I don't agree with it but they are the most expensive units to lease currently compared to 317/321's so if you need to dial back the service and save money they are obvious target.

 

[Jturner98]

Visited the WAML today and noticed that there’s not a lot of 379s knocking about. I only saw 2 lots of 8 carriage trains on the Hertfords. There were plenty parked up at Ilford depot though.

On another note I’ve seen on multiple occasions now that when the 720s are operating a Cambridge North diagram at Tottenham you end up with a load of people expecting an 8 carriage train to turn up running back up the platform. At this current time I think 5 carriages to Cambridge is too small.

 

[JonathanH]

On another note I’ve seen on multiple occasions now that when the 720s are operating a Cambridge North diagram at Tottenham you end up with a load of people expecting an 8 carriage train to turn up running back up the platform. At this current time I think 5 carriages to Cambridge is too small.

They are the equivalent of a 6 carriage 379 in terms of length though and as pointed out have more seats than a 8 carriage 379 formation. Presumably it has always been the plan to operate 5 carriages on most workings on the Cambridge line?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They are the equivalent of a 6 carriage 379 in terms of length though and as pointed out have more seats than a 8 carriage 379 formation. Presumably it has always been the plan to operate 5 carriages on most workings on the Cambridge line?

I actually think the 5 carriage working has happened by accident due to delays to platform extensions at Hertford East, Stratford, and elsewhere - as well as an intention to get the older stock off the line as quickly as possible.

I think if the plan had been predominately 5 carriage West Anglia (the Cambridges are usually busier than Hertford and Stratfords so I reckon if the plan would have been 5 car Cambridge it would have been 5 car those two) then it is unlikely one-hundred and thirty-three 720s would have been ordered.

 

[Kite159]

They are the equivalent of a 6 carriage 379 in terms of length though and as pointed out have more seats than a 8 carriage 379 formation. Presumably it has always been the plan to operate 5 carriages on most workings on the Cambridge line?

Might have the same number of seats as a 8 coach 379 formation, but some people will prefer to stand in the vestibule areas rather than trying to squeeze into the middle seat or even down the narrow aisles.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Might have the same number of seats as a 8 coach 379 formation, but some people will prefer to stand in the vestibule areas rather than trying to squeeze into the middle seat or even down the narrow aisles.

That’s their choice though. The point is the option of the seat is there.

379002, 003, 004, 009, 011, 016, 018, 019, 020 and 028 all now withdrawn and stored at Parkeston, meaning a third of the fleet is out of action. This is according to Richard Clinnick and several images of the fleet transferring on Twitter.

 

[fodphil]

That’s their choice though. The point is the option of the seat is there.

379002, 003, 004, 009, 011, 016, 018, 019, 020 and 028 all now withdrawn and stored at Parkeston, meaning a third of the fleet is out of action. This is according to Richard Clinnick and several images of the fleet transferring on Twitter.

Are these easy too see by train or on foot?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Are these easy too see by train or on foot?

I wouldn’t know.

 

[dereksingh291]

Will the 379s be transferred to Great Northern and the 387s transferred to Southern?

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Will the 379s be transferred to Great Northern and the 387s transferred to Southern?

That's the rumour, nothing official confirmed yet.

 

[Shwam3]

Are these easy to see by train or on foot?

They were visible from the train when I went past last Tuesday.

 

[CBlue]

The London (Stratford)-Bishops Stortford-Cambridge line was originally the Northern & Eastern Railway, before being leased by the Eastern Counties Railway.
The ECR became part of the Great Eastern Railway.
No "West" or "Anglia" in sight.

It's the line with no name then I suppose

So if it has no name, and Network Southeast branded it "West Anglia" i.e., the first name it had in quite a long time.....then what's wrong with knowing it as such? Just because it wasn't called that by the Victorian railway firms or BR doesn't make it less valid.

 

[fodphil]

They were visible from the train when I went past last Tuesday.

Thanks

 

[O L Leigh]

So if it has no name, and Network Southeast branded it "West Anglia" i.e., the first name it had in quite a long time.....then what's wrong with knowing it as such? Just because it wasn't called that by the Victorian railway firms or BR doesn't make it less valid.

"West Anglia" yes. "West Anglia Mainline" or "WAML" no.

 

[Bikeman78]

That’s their choice though. The point is the option of the seat is there.

379002, 003, 004, 009, 011, 016, 018, 019, 020 and 028 all now withdrawn and stored at Parkeston, meaning a third of the fleet is out of action. This is according to Richard Clinnick and several images of the fleet transferring on Twitter.

You can add 379001 and 379015 to that list.

 

[Bald Rick]

"West Anglia" yes. "West Anglia Mainline" or "WAML" no.

or West Anglia Main Line, yes.

anyone who says WAML, (pronounced “Whammel’) gets a hard stare from me. Same with “Gemmel”. Horrible.