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Class 379s or 350s for Corby?

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D365

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Mod Note: Posts #1 - #15 were originally in this thread.

Could they be used on At Pancras to Corby. Or maybe 350/2s will be used there instead.

What would you have in mind for the 379s in that case?
 
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pt_mad

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Nothing is confirmed for Corby, but 379s would be a good solution.

In other news, 365523 was at Charnock Richard services this morning.

can 379s operate at speeds up to 110mph though? The 350/2s are slowly being adapted to 110mph operation.
 

Ianno87

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can 379s operate at speeds up to 110mph though? The 350/2s are slowly being adapted to 110mph operation.

379s only officially 100mph. Whether they can be 110mph capable, don't know (no electrostar yet is).

They never see higher than 90mph on their current West Anglia duties.
 

pt_mad

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379s only officially 100mph. Whether they can be 110mph capable, don't know (no electrostar yet is).

They never see higher than 90mph on their current West Anglia duties.

Parts of the midland mainline are said to be 125mph operation now. So 110mph is certainly gonna be more useful than 100mph stock. And the 350/2s won't need to be converted as by the time LNR lose them the fleet should be 110mph across the board.
 

class387

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379s only officially 100mph. Whether they can be 110mph capable, don't know (no electrostar yet is).

They never see higher than 90mph on their current West Anglia duties.
387s definitely can do 110mph on GWR.
 

D365

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379s only officially 100mph. Whether they can be 110mph capable, don't know (no electrostar yet is).

The 387s are capable by design. I believe one of the 379s was temporarily updated to 110mph as part of the testing process for the former.
 

pt_mad

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I would guess the 350/2s would be preferable as LM won some sort of award for them last year being the most reliable EMU in terms of miles per technical incident in the UK.
 

Domh245

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I would guess the 350/2s would be preferable as LM won some sort of award for them last year being the most reliable EMU in terms of miles per technical incident in the UK.

It depends on the lease prices, and how much it'll cost to refit the 350/2s to a more suitable interior.
 

pt_mad

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It depends on the lease prices, and how much it'll cost to refit the 350/2s to a more suitable interior.

Good point. It's often reported the maintenance regime Siemens impose on the 350/2s is expensive. And I suppose the Electrostatic already have a suitable interior and wouldn't really need a refit?
 

gingertom

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The 387s are capable by design. I believe one of the 379s was temporarily updated to 110mph as part of the testing process for the former.
anybody know what a 385 is capable of? Traction gear is derived from the javelin and we know what that can do!
 

gingertom

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designed for 100mph
am aware of their design speed. Just wondering what they are really capable of, bearing in mind what the traction packs' pedigree is. perhaps there is scope for upping to 110+mph should the need arise, and should we ever get some decent stretches of track to deploy it on....
 

43096

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Parts of the midland mainline are said to be 125mph operation now.
No "said to be" about it. The MML has 125mph stretches that are used at that speed by both 222s and HSTs - fact.
 

SPADTrap

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Where will the sets be maintained and stabled and who will do the maintenance and trips to and from wherever that is? If there is an insistence on Bimodes for the Midland then I can see Corby being worked by Bimodes to keep it simple.
 

Kite159

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Parts of the midland mainline are said to be 125mph operation now. So 110mph is certainly gonna be more useful than 100mph stock. And the 350/2s won't need to be converted as by the time LNR lose them the fleet should be 110mph across the board.

Isn't it 125mph for diesels, but a lower speed under the existing wiring?
 

Agent_Squash

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350s would be better IMO - might be some commonality with the 700s which make up the majority of services on the MML anyway. 379s can then have shoes stuck on again and go to Southern.
 

Roast Veg

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There's no real need for commonality, and the difference between Desiros and Desiro Citys is pretty stark. The 379s are much better fitted out internally, and the requirement for running above 100mph on OLE isn't going to be available for some time, given the upgrade work required. The class 379 modifications can be done at a similar time to the infrastructure work.
 

Agent_Squash

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They never had third rail shoes did they?
379s are still capable of using 750V DC, as it would simply feed into the DC bus.

There's no real need for commonality, and the difference between Desiros and Desiro Citys is pretty stark. The 379s are much better fitted out internally, and the requirement for running above 100mph on OLE isn't going to be available for some time, given the upgrade work required. The class 379 modifications can be done at a similar time to the infrastructure work.

I'd imagine the requirements for certifying a unit for 110mph will cost much more than those to refit the 350s with the interior requirement. The 379s would be much better south of the river on the Southern (where there is the commonality for sure with the 387s) and the 350s north of the river.
 

Roast Veg

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As far as I know (and I could be wide of the mark here) the modifications required to get a 379 up to 110mph are only a pantograph change and a software modification - assuming that the 387 commonality is as true as you suggest. If that's not the case then I would argue that neither units are particularly suitable.
 

D365

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Is there not the stated aim to run twelve car trains to Corby? 110mph with three pantographs has been one of the difficulties when it comes to GWEp. Indeed that’s partially why 110mph is not possible with GN’s 387s.
 

dk1

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Isn't it 125mph for diesels, but a lower speed under the existing wiring?

Yes. Nothing more than 100mph can be permitted for electric traction between St.Pancras & Bedford. That's another multi £million job for the extra speed.
 

hooverboy

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Where will the sets be maintained and stabled and who will do the maintenance and trips to and from wherever that is? If there is an insistence on Bimodes for the Midland then I can see Corby being worked by Bimodes to keep it simple.

if they had any brains they would do compulsary purchase of stewartby brickworks.
then you'll have :
1)impetus for getting marston vale east-west rail section going(and wired)
2)clearance of spaghetti sidings at bedford and bletchley...necessary for re-modelling track into bedford station,and enables MK direct loop.
 

D365

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Yes. Nothing more than 100mph can be permitted for electric traction between St.Pancras & Bedford. That's another multi £million job for the extra speed.

The OHLE upgrade is costed as part of the Corby electrification.
 

DarloRich

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350's are a very good train. You Midland types cant have them. They are ours on LNWR.

if they had any brains they would do compulsary purchase of stewartby brickworks.
then you'll have :
1)impetus for getting marston vale east-west rail section going(and wired)
2)clearance of spaghetti sidings at bedford and bletchley...necessary for re-modelling track into bedford station,and enables MK direct loop.

what are you on about? Stewartby is earmarked for a massive housing development. You may as well make the case of using Blethcley depot! BTW What MK direct loop? What "spaghetti" sidings?
 
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