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Class 387

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swt_passenger

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Southernrover said:
Thanks for the information
Click to expand...

Reported elsewhere that 387132 and 133 were on the Bletchley - Brighton - Bletchley circuit today:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90300/2016/07/27/advanced

Just a few minutes into the final northbound leg about now, at the time of posting.

Just to add a delivery path from Derby to Bletchley TMD has also has been activated an hour or so ago:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R01315/2016/07/27/advanced

...and has now been cancelled, at or about 1720
 
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387star

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Was on a gatwick express 387/2 today on a TL service

Was sitting in what Will be the first class section identified by Plain red seats I Think instead of patterned?

Anyway some passengers were saying how nice the train was and thinking they were in first class. Technically they could have been anywhere as First is identical to standard on 387s.

They commented on the plug sockets and remarked how nice the trains were. Think it was 387222 so was very fresh in service

Interesting to hear passengers views
 
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physics34

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387star said:
Was on a gatwick express 387/2 today on a TL service

Was sitting in what Will be the first class section identified by Plain red seats I Think instead of patterned?

Anyway some passengers were saying how nice the train was and thinking they were in first class. Technically they could have been anywhere as First is identical to standard on 387s.

They commented on the plug sockets and remarked how nice the trains were. Think it was 387222 so was very fresh in service

Interesting to hear passengers views
Click to expand...

Agree they are nice but still the issue of hard seats and no higher standard 1st class seating.
 
Class377/5

Class377/5

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I can confirm 387133 was one of the units. Missed the north end unit as we sped past them sitting on the Up Loop just north of Haywards Heath station.
 
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Master29

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Why are the GWR new build 387`s being built yet at all as they won`t be used for quite a while yet?
 
D365

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Master29 said:
Why are the GWR new build 387`s being built yet at all as they won`t be used for quite a while yet?
Click to expand...

The first eight units from the original order (130-137) will be based at North Pole for driver/fitter familiarisation and to operate the Paddington-Hayes shuttle, until the electrification to Reading is switched on.
 
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swt_passenger

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Master29 said:
Why are the GWR new build 387`s being built yet at all as they won`t be used for quite a while yet?
Click to expand...

They were intended to be using 387/1s transferred from GTR back in May, this was announced with the Direct Award franchise; but they are now due to be in use from September, on a Paddington to Hayes & Harlington peak hours shuttle service.

In order to train drivers they DO actually need them now. The route is already electrified, the scare stories about the progress with the wider electrification problem do not affect this plan at all.

PS

The delivery from Bletchley TMD to North Pole has been reinstated since the earlier posts were made.
 
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Class377/5

Class377/5

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Master29 said:
Why are the GWR new build 387`s being built yet at all as they won`t be used for quite a while yet?
Click to expand...

Seeing as they were supposed to be in service in May, they are already required as timetable alterations have begun.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
dab_move said:
the first eight units from the original order (130-136) will be based at north pole for driver/fitter familiarisation and to operate the paddington-hayes shuttle, until the electrification to reading is switched on.
Click to expand...

387130-137 :d
 
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jimm

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Path from Bletchley to North Pole this evening is now reinstated for a 19.00 departure with a new headcode

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O15666/2016/07/28/advanced

Then what looks like a move into Paddington.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V19620/2016/07/28/advanced

Then there are a series of paths booked to Heathrow Tunnel Junction and back during the night, followed by one back to North Pole at 05.36

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V19610/2016/07/29/advanced

Looking at tomorrow, there are paths listed between Paddington and Friars Junction, near Acton, from shortly after 10am until mid-afternoon.
 
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leomartin125

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jimm said:
Path from Bletchley to North Pole this evening is now reinstated for a 19.00 departure with a new headcode

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O15666/2016/07/28/advanced

Then what looks like a move into Paddington.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V19620/2016/07/28/advanced

Then there are a series of paths booked to Heathrow Tunnel Junction and back during the night, followed by one back to North Pole at 05.36

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V19610/2016/07/29/advanced

Looking at tomorrow, there are paths listed between Paddington and Friars Junction, near Action, from shortly after 10am until mid-afternoon.
Click to expand...

So it does seem the Class 387 testing will start tonight, though I somewhat doubt it, seeing as the set will only have just arrived.
 
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swt_passenger

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leomartin125 said:
So it does seem the Class 387 testing will start tonight, though I somewhat doubt it, seeing as the set will only have just arrived.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't really be the start of 387 testing though.

The units themselves are already tested, and are a known quantity. EMUs already run on the route in question, so it's more a question of route clearance than 'initial testing' as such.

Testing covers quite a wide range of issues, but they shouldn't be starting from cold in this case.
 
reddragon

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Isn't it possible to drive a 387 down the WLL and reverse into North Pole via the old Eurostar link, which is still in place?

They have been driving right past there for a couple of weeks now on test and it would save a loco drag!
 
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Master29

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Class377/5 said:
Seeing as they were supposed to be in service in May, they are already required as timetable alterations have begun.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


387130-137 :d
Click to expand...


Thanks for that. Makes more sense now.
 
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jimm

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leomartin125 said:
So it does seem the Class 387 testing will start tonight, though I somewhat doubt it, seeing as the set will only have just arrived.
Click to expand...

As swt_passenger says, the overnight runs are more than likely just about making sure that all's well when running the 387s in the West London area.

The design is a proven product, with the GWR sets simply being the continuation of a long production run, so there's not much to 'test'. The sets delivered to Bletchley so far seem to have been clocking up their planned miles of trial running without problems.

The daytime paths look a lot like the start of GWR staff training. There are only five weeks to go to the planned start of 387 services, so they can't hang around.
 
leomartin125

leomartin125

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reddragon said:
Isn't it possible to drive a 387 down the WLL and reverse into North Pole via the old Eurostar link, which is still in place?

They have been driving right past there for a couple of weeks now on test and it would save a loco drag!
Click to expand...

As the Rail Operations Group driver who I spoke to last night during the move at Southall said, it's a ROG contract and always has been. The line between Willesden Jct and Acton Wells Jct is not electrified, and there would be a hassle anyway if the train was running on it's own as it would have to reverse on the mainline which is something I'm sure the signalman would prefer not having to deal with. Overall it was just easier to drag them, only one set of drivers and crew needed (ROG) and no need to find 387 drivers and an awkward path due to the limitations of the train.
 
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JN114

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reddragon said:
Isn't it possible to drive a 387 down the WLL and reverse into North Pole via the old Eurostar link, which is still in place?

They have been driving right past there for a couple of weeks now on test and it would save a loco drag!
Click to expand...

The connection between the WLL and North Pole IEP depot is signed out of use at the moment, so not an option - it's due to be brought back into use towards the end of September, so later deliveries may come that way.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
leomartin125 said:
As the Rail Operations Group driver who I spoke to last night during the move at Southall said, it's a ROG contract and always has been. The line between Willesden Jct and Acton Wells Jct is not electrified, and there would be a hassle anyway if the train was running on it's own as it would have to reverse on the mainline which is something I'm sure the signalman would prefer not having to deal with. Overall it was just easier to drag them, only one set of drivers and crew needed (ROG) and no need to find 387 drivers and an awkward path due to the limitations of the train.
Click to expand...

It hasn't always been ROG, another operator had initially been contracted to do it but couldn't meet GWRs requirements. ROG proved to be a lot more flexible in the short time they had the job.

Victoria signalmen would have had no concerns reversing a 4 car EMU either at North Pole Jn or Kensington Olympia - both are moves that happen quite regularly with limited hassle.

Some running did take place between Hayes and London last night. Combining Driver Handling with checking platform stepping distances, SDO and PIS functionality.
 
leomartin125

leomartin125

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leomartin125

leomartin125

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Philip Phlopp said:
It's not the only unit in that video with shoe gear...
Click to expand...

May I ask why the GWR Class 387's have a shoe gear? I saw it yesterday at Southall and couldn't help but admire that snazzy shoe gear it isn't likely to use at all during it's operation. Is it just a design thing, you can't have a 387 without dual mode operation, as that would make it a Class 386 or something?
 
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