Class 387

[JN114]

Thanks JN114. I do appreciate your responses even though as a service user it is very frustrating!

Am i right in thinking that since the 387's are running all day HC are unable to turn at Hayes anymore? If so that just exacerbates the problem.

That exact scenario was looked at in the contingency plan review. Connect can run to Hayes bay with a full Electrostar service running - HC Unit and Driver need to step up one diagram to make it a 10 minute turnaround (so 2T18 becomes 2Y16, rather than 2Y18 it would form at the Airport) and that gives you a just-about working 4tph service in and out the bay. Heathrow aren't particularly keen on it, as apparently it doesn't really work with their driver diagramming, but I don't know any more on that.

However, if there's any subsequent limitation in capacity on the Relief lines between Hayes and Paddington will see the Connect service suspended to give priority to the higher capacity 387s, as it only works of everything is running on time. If Connect are suspended Hanwell is to be served 1tph with a Turbo, to mitigate risk of 387 calling outside of daylight hours. Hopefully can all be sorted out properly once Hanwell get some decent lighting.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I wonder if some temporary lighting at Hanwell would be worth it while the proper lighting that is sympathetic to the architecture there gets designed and installed ?.

 

[317 forever]

We will have had 1 very short-lived operator of class 387s. National Express! They took up 6 387s but are now in the process of selling c2c to Trenitalia.

 

[Skimble19]

The signal failure affecting only them was an ATP fault on the Airport branch. The 387 services called once it became daylight, 2S09/10 was to be the first circuit to do so, but Connect re-instated from 2T22 off Paddington at 0803.

Hanwell is a listed station, if it was that easy to just change the lighting it would have been done when they did the other stations in the summer. It isn't that easy, and that's why November 2017 has been given as an estimated completion date.

In that case would it not be sensible to temporarily allocate some dispatchers there during the hours of darkness? Or is it so rare that it wouldn't be worthwhile?

 

[Class377/5]

In that case would it not be sensible to temporarily allocate some dispatchers there during the hours of darkness? Or is it so rare that it wouldn't be worthwhile?

It's not in the 387 dispatch safety case on GWR (I've heard) so would makes months to get everything signed off. Upgrading the lighting will be quicker.

 

[Peter Sarf]

For those who want to know. On Monday 23/01/2017 the c2c 387s were working 12-car on the 17:16 and 17:43 departures from Fenchurch Street (both to Shoeburyness iirc).

 

[Peter Mugridge]

For those who want to know. On Monday 23/01/2017 the c2c 387s were working 12-car on the 17:16 and 17:43 departures from Fenchurch Street (both to Shoeburyness iirc).

Yes - and they have them neatly sorted into odds and evens! The two rakes are, and apparently have been since before Christmas:

387 302 + 387 304 + 387 306

387 303 + 387 301 + 387 305

in that order.

I bashed both workings tonight ( it's their regular diagram ); rather conveniently both call at Limehouse meaning no need to risk the fairly tight leap back to Fenchurch Street from the first one - it can be done though.

Not often one can clear a whole sub class for haulage inside ½ hour...

 

[Kite159]

Yes - and they have them neatly sorted into odds and evens! The two rakes are, and apparently have been since before Christmas:

387 302 + 387 304 + 387 306

387 303 + 387 301 + 387 305

in that order.

I bashed both workings tonight ( it's their regular diagram ); rather conveniently both call at Limehouse meaning no need to risk the fairly tight leap back to Fenchurch Street from the first one - it can be done though.

Not often one can clear a whole sub class for haulage inside ½ hour...

I wouldn't say the leap back to Fenchurch Street is tight, as you arrive a couple trains before the 2nd ECS rolls in

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yes - and they have them neatly sorted into odds and evens! The two rakes are, and apparently have been since before Christmas:

387 302 + 387 304 + 387 306

387 303 + 387 301 + 387 305

in that order.

I bashed both workings tonight ( it's their regular diagram ); rather conveniently both call at Limehouse meaning no need to risk the fairly tight leap back to Fenchurch Street from the first one - it can be done though.

Not often one can clear a whole sub class for haulage inside ½ hour...

Ashamingly easy !!.

 

[spark001uk]

I had my first go on a few 379s today (Stansted express), and after having a butcher's around once inside, I conclude these are basically 387s, going by things like extra marker light on front, power sockets at all seats, grab handle types, look of the toilets, etc etc

What I did notice however, was how the seats have had extra padding put on them, that the other sub classes don't have. It's made them rather more comfy in my opinion. Pic attached.

I tell you what, people following my posts today must be starting to think I've got some sort of seat fetish!

 

[jon0844]

The 379s are nice trains, but also suffer the same issue with cramped aisles.

For the services shared with airport users and commuters, they're pretty horrible for the time that they mix on the run. However, there was obviously a belief that people paying a premium to get to the airport should have some level of comfort - and they do.

First class is very nice on them, and positioned in a much better location.

It would be crazy for these trains not to be put into use somewhere else as quickly as possible.

 

[Deepgreen]

Victoria yesterday afternoon - the 1630 to Brighton. I was amused to overhear a guard/conductor/OBS (who can tell which?) that he hadn't been told about the "white" trains and wasn't sure if this was his working!

 

[spark001uk]

...It would be crazy for these trains not to be put into use somewhere else as quickly as possible.

I agree, and it's a shame the extra padding in the seats wasn't chosen for the other sub-classes. Though I can understand, the others are mainly put into use for high volume commuter work. But the GX though, they should have put them in those, as like the stanEx the fares are at a premium.

 

[Deepgreen]

The 379s are nice trains, but also suffer the same issue with cramped aisles.

For the services shared with airport users and commuters, they're pretty horrible for the time that they mix on the run. However, there was obviously a belief that people paying a premium to get to the airport should have some level of comfort - and they do.

First class is very nice on them, and positioned in a much better location.

It would be crazy for these trains not to be put into use somewhere else as quickly as possible.

I feel I must have missed something here - are the 379s about to cease their Stansted operations?

 

[spark001uk]

I feel I must have missed something here - are the 379s about to cease their Stansted operations?

I think he may have meant it would be nice to have more of this class in operation on other routes.?

In my opinion the GX should definitely have had the same seating, also being a premium airport service and all.

 

[Deepgreen]

I think he may have meant it would be nice to have more of this class in operation on other routes.?

In my opinion the GX should definitely have had the same seating, also being a premium airport service and all.

Ah - I agree with that, not to mention all the other 37xs! I thought I had missed an announcement that the 379s were moving home.

 

[sjoh]

Ah - I agree with that, not to mention all the other 37xs! I thought I had missed an announcement that the 379s were moving home.

I suspect he actually meant post Greater Anglia fleet renewal in a few years. So, yes they will be moving eventually.

 

[Deepgreen]

I suspect he actually meant post Greater Anglia fleet renewal in a few years. So, yes they will be moving eventually.

Will they be replaced so soon? They are only less than seven years old - surely they have a long life left yet?

Edit - discovered this on Wikipedia :

"By 2019, the Class 379s will be replaced by a brand new fleet of Stadler FLIRT EMUs which will be fixed 12-car trains".

So, another question - what happens to them after 2019? Manchester Airport?

 

[RichJF]

Victoria yesterday afternoon - the 1630 to Brighton. I was amused to overhear a guard/conductor/OBS (who can tell which?) that he hadn't been told about the "white" trains and wasn't sure if this was his working!

I think this pairing was out & about this morning! Either on the 1W86 to Bedford, or the 1A17 to Victoria. Passed my southbound train at Purley Oaks!

 

[sjoh]

Will they be replaced so soon? They are only less than seven years old - surely they have a long life left yet?

Edit - discovered this on Wikipedia :

"By 2019, the Class 379s will be replaced by a brand new fleet of Stadler FLIRT EMUs which will be fixed 12-car trains".

So, another question - what happens to them after 2019? Manchester Airport?

I believe there's a conversation going on about this in another thread (had a look, couldn't find).

 

[swt_passenger]

Will they be replaced so soon? They are only less than seven years old - surely they have a long life left yet?

Edit - discovered this on Wikipedia :

"By 2019, the Class 379s will be replaced by a brand new fleet of Stadler FLIRT EMUs which will be fixed 12-car trains".

So, another question - what happens to them after 2019? Manchester Airport?

Your guess is as good as any, there have been a few suggestions in these forums but the truth (as always) is that no-one really has a clue...

 

[Deepgreen]

I think this pairing was out & about this morning! Either on the 1W86 to Bedford, or the 1A17 to Victoria. Passed my southbound train at Purley Oaks!

As the pair is GX-operated, I assume it wouldn't stray to TL.

 

[Class377/5]

I think this pairing was out & about this morning! Either on the 1W86 to Bedford, or the 1A17 to Victoria. Passed my southbound train at Purley Oaks!

As the pair is GX-operated, I assume it wouldn't stray to TL.

No 12 car 387s on TL either now.

Soon the only way to ride a 387/1 on TL will be 387124 on GatEx services.

 

[Kite159]

No 12 car 387s on TL either now.

Soon the only way to ride a 387/1 on GN will be 387124 on GatEx services.

Don't you mean Thameslink rather than GN there?

At least the good news is that if you see "formed of 12 coaches" on a Thameslink service it will pretty much be a 700 (and not a trio of 377s like I had last month on a late evening service)

 

[Class377/5]

Don't you mean Thameslink rather than GN there?

At least the good news is that if you see "formed of 12 coaches" on a Thameslink service it will pretty much be a 700 (and not a trio of 377s like I had last month on a late evening service)

Oops!

Been no booked (weekday) non 700 12 services on Thameslink since the late summer IIRC.

 

[southern442]

Will they be replaced so soon? They are only less than seven years old - surely they have a long life left yet?

Edit - discovered this on Wikipedia :

"By 2019, the Class 379s will be replaced by a brand new fleet of Stadler FLIRT EMUs which will be fixed 12-car trains".

So, another question - what happens to them after 2019? Manchester Airport?

It would be absolutely fantastic if they converted them to third rail use for GX - but it seems unlikely to happen.

 

[jon0844]

I feel I must have missed something here - are the 379s about to cease their Stansted operations?

Not for a while, but GA is replacing all its trains so they'll be off somewhere. No doubt with a ROSCO perhaps having to reduce the fee with a lot of other stock to choose from.

 

[OFFDN]

No 12 car 387s on TL either now.

Soon the only way to ride a 387/1 on TL will be 387124 on GatEx services.

I was under the impression that a number of 387/1s would be doing something else after they are released from TL duties but before they move to GN...

 

[Class377/5]

I was under the impression that a number of 387/1s would be doing something else after they are released from TL duties but before they move to GN...

Was never a plan for that. Always was cascade out and straight to new home. Initially to GWR but that changed last year to GN so they went straight there.

 

[OFFDN]

Was never a plan for that. Always was cascade out and straight to new home. Initially to GWR but that changed last year to GN so they went straight there.

What I meant was that there were conversations happening yesterday to get 387/1s to cover the remaining 442 work until May when they are needed on GN, allowing the 442s off lease and giving the 387/1s something to do before the full 387 fleet is needed for the May timetable change.