Class 387

[Bald Rick]

So it will never happen.

Oh I wouldn't say that. In fact, quite the opposite, I would say it is practically a certainty. And not just at St Pancras.

 

[12CSVT]

You only have to try travelling North on the Victoria line from Victoria to see how many sheep there are. I occasionally walk up the Southbound platform to gain access to the Northbound platform further up. Alternative is to jump on a Southbound to Pimlico station then double back !.

Unless Victoria station is totally rebuilt and redesigned this is always going to be a major problem on the northbound Victoria line. This of course isn't helped by the fact that the Victoria Line platforms at Kings Cross St Pancras also have platforms entrances at the south end of the platform, so during the peaks, hundreds of commuters travelling from Victoria to Kings Cross will try to squash into the rear coach in the hope of saving a few seconds.

 

[Bald Rick]

Unless Victoria station is totally rebuilt and redesigned this is always going to be a major problem on the northbound Victoria line.

Err, it is being totally rebuilt, to sort this very issue!

 

[grid56126]

Oh I wouldn't say that. In fact, quite the opposite, I would say it is practically a certainty. And not just at St Pancras.

Good news if so and even more so if the "right" staff are employed. I would be a very happy chappy.

 

[B&W]

Employ a few sensible people to stand near the bottom of the escalators to approach people looking bewildered and offer them the assistance they need and for them to have platform microphones and actively coral people. Just like on the underground, those who want to stay where they are, will, those who are a little less aware will follow the announcements. This is already in play at numerous stations on the LUL and works. yes it will cost a bit, but the cost in reduced dwell times will be saved day in day out and with the right people on the platforms instead of minimum wage contractors only there for the cash, it could make a genuine difference.

So it will never happen. An over complicated piece of too hi tech kit will be trialled and after two days of 2 - 3 minute dwells an agency will be approached to provide droids wearing big foam hands pointing to the other end of the platform .[/QUOTE]

Chap from LUL was telling me only yesterday that the simple people shepherd solution works extremely well and is cost effective after only a couple of trains. If they are not there the dwell times are extended so all the expensive signalling to get trains following one another is money down the drain as it were. Its also why the doors on LUL all open automatically as waiting people for to realise the train has stopped and fumbling for the button to open the doors also makes for too long a dwell time.

However as its Govia I have every confidence they will choose the cheapest solution of opening all the doors at all stations regardless of the discomfort , or simply blame their customers for late trains because they do not use the buttons quickly enough, or move down the trains and platforms etc.

Brian

 

[jon0844]

Presumably the doors could be set to open automatically within the core stations? Or certainly at St Pancras where you'll perhaps have a large number of people that aren't regulars. Probably at somewhere like City Thameslink, it will be quite a smooth process.

 

[Bald Rick]

Presumably the doors could be set to open automatically within the core stations? Or certainly at St Pancras where you'll perhaps have a large number of people that aren't regulars. Probably at somewhere like City Thameslink, it will be quite a smooth process.

That's the plan, auto open at all core stations.

 

[Class377/5]

Back on topic, 387123 came onto service today. That's the 19th one in passenger service. Just ten left now (with two on commissioning runs already).

 

[physics34]

Back on topic, 387123 came onto service today. That's the 19th one in passenger service. Just ten left now (with two on commissioning runs already).

NIce.

Anymore news on the Gat Ex /2s? Is the delivery gonna be a direct continuation after the /1s order has been fully fulfilled.?

 

[Class377/5]

NIce.

Anymore news on the Gat Ex /2s? Is the delivery gonna be a direct continuation after the /1s order has been fully fulfilled.?

As previously stated, 387/2 build start May with first unit on test in September. No direct continuation.

 

[southern442]

From what I have heard, the 387/2's won't be anything new really, pretty much the same train but with more luggage space. Presumably they won't have a pantograph either. No doubt the first class will be the same as standard, and with as little first class signage as they can get away with. I wonder how the business travellers will feel about that.

 

[physics34]

As previously stated, 387/2 build start May with first unit on test in September. No direct continuation.

ok ta. Im losing track of everything at the moment.!

Ive already heard of some southern driving instructors being trained on Thameslink 387s in readiness.

 

[Bald Rick]

Back on topic, 387123 came onto service today. That's the 19th one in passenger service. Just ten left now (with two on commissioning runs already).

I thought the carpet smelled new!

 

[physics34]

I thought the carpet smelled new!

what were you doing laying on the floor?!

 

[Bald Rick]

what were you doing laying on the floor?!

Nope - just enjoying the comfy seats.

 

[physics34]

Nope - just enjoying the comfy seats.

ha ha

 

[RobShipway]

From what I have heard, the 387/2's won't be anything new really, pretty much the same train but with more luggage space. Presumably they won't have a pantograph either. No doubt the first class will be the same as standard, and with as little first class signage as they can get away with. I wonder how the business travellers will feel about that.

Why do you suspect that the 387/2's will not have a pantograph?

Admittedly, the 387/2's will be solely for the Gatwick Express route, however I can see them possibly being interchanged with the 387/1's while they do the Thameslink services and where needed covering for the class 700's should there not be enough available and should there be spare 387/2's.

 

[Class377/5]

From what I have heard, the 387/2's won't be anything new really, pretty much the same train but with more luggage space. Presumably they won't have a pantograph either. No doubt the first class will be the same as standard, and with as little first class signage as they can get away with. I wonder how the business travellers will feel about that.

The 387/2 are having pans. Fact they are being commissioned out of Bletchley depot would confirm this.

Why do you suspect that the 387/2's will not have a pantograph?

Admittedly, the 387/2's will be solely for the Gatwick Express route, however I can see them possibly being interchanged with the 387/1's while they do the Thameslink services and where needed covering for the class 700's should there not be enough available and should there be spare 387/2's.

There will be no interchanging between the 387/1 and 387/2.

 

[AM9]

The 387/2 are having pans. Fact they are being commissioned out of Bletchley depot would confirm this.



There will be no interchanging between the 387/1 and 387/2.

But in a few years, when GatEx wants some new trains, they will be available to replace the 319s that London has cast-off to Northern.

 

[Class377/5]

But in a few years, when GatEx wants some new trains, they will be available to replace the 319s that London has cast-off to Northern.

Whats that idea got to do with what I wrote?

 

[JB25]

Only my personaly opinion but as the GatEx units are being commissioned for exactly that GatEx, I cannot see them ever being combined with 387/1s, the Liverys for a start wouldn't match and I can't see Govia having its "Flagship" Franchise rolling around in odds and sods.

The other day I had the misfortune of seeing a green 377 sandwiched between two purple ones. Now FCC have gone I'd hoped we might not see that anymore.

 

[Class377/5]

Only my personaly opinion but as the GatEx units are being commissioned for exactly that GatEx, I cannot see them ever being combined with 387/1s, the Liverys for a start wouldn't match and I can't see Govia having its "Flagship" Franchise rolling around in odds and sods.

The other day I had the misfortune of seeing a green 377 sandwiched between two purple ones. Now FCC have gone I'd hoped we might not see that anymore.

The fleet agreements mean you'll still see that until the 377s are replaced by 700s. Changing TOCs doesn't change the fact Thameslink requires ask the units is got. If the worst thing you see on the railway is mismatched units, wow that's a bad day for you then.

 

[JB25]

Is the Livery on the 387s I see rolling around permanent or not?

They don't look finished being plain White with Green doors. I can't work out if they will add more to them later or not?

 

[Class377/5]

Is the Livery on the 387s I see rolling around permanent or not?

They don't look finished being plain White with Green doors. I can't work out if they will add more to them later or not?

As the 387/1 are temporary fleet they are in a simple livery that can be replaced later. They will stay the same while on Thameslink, its up to the next TOC to change their livery. GTR have said they aren't reliverying trains.

 

[jon0844]

I hope the seats don't wear out by the time they're cascaded.

 

[BingBong50]

The 387/2 are having pans. Fact they are being commissioned out of Bletchley depot would confirm this.



There will be no interchanging between the 387/1 and 387/2.

The fact that the 387/2's will have a pantograph but it will never be used on Gat Ex does this mean that periodic testing of the pantograph functionality will have to be carried out somewhere?

 

[Class377/5]

The fact that the 387/2's will have a pantograph but it will never be used on Gat Ex does this mean that periodic testing of the pantograph functionality will have to be carried out somewhere?

Not really as the 375/6 pans don't get checked. However the difference is Selhurst and Lovers Walk depots will be able to do pan checks.

 

[JB25]

Not really as the 375/6 pans don't get checked. However the difference is Selhurst and Lovers Walk depots will be able to do pan checks.

Never seen it used but there is a Pantograph testing cage at Selhurst.

 

[Class377/5]

Never seen it used but there is a Pantograph testing cage at Selhurst.

Its used regularly and was extended for 5 cars prior to the 377/7 arriving.

 

[JB25]

Its used regularly and was extended for 5 cars prior to the 377/7 arriving.

Probably is, just not when I am around.