Class 387

[Metobusfan]

There are plently of sidings now being built to modern standards, removing them all years ago isn't short sighted as they wouldn't be much use to today and would require rebuilding any way. There 6x 20 car roads at Cricklewood (which will become 24 cars soon and the same amount on the south side currently being built, with the sidings used to store released stock prior to being cascased) along with new depot at Three Bridges and other places means there is a lot of new stabling but these aren't so helpful for commissioning work.



EDIT:



Update on fleet build from WNXX



387106 should be complete

387107 should be completed next week

387108 should be complete early next month

387110 underframe complete next week



387101



DSC_0528_01 by Carl Westwood, on Flickr



EDIT 2:



387102 has been moved to Old Dalby this evening.





Here's some images of the drag



https://www.flickr.com/photos/60628514@N02/15042909351



https://www.flickr.com/photos/61070880@N04/15041789971



https://www.flickr.com/photos/60628514@N02/15045979515



https://www.flickr.com/photos/61070880@N04/15044849295

I guess that's the work they are doing to cricket wood

 

[Class377/5]

I guess that's the work they are doing to cricket wood

You mean Cricklewood? Pic about is of a 387 unit at Old Dalby not Cricklewood (which has OHLE).

 

[Fincra5]

Seems to have a half arsedly applied livery.. the grey band under the window, similar to 313s...

 

[Deepgreen]

Seems to have a half arsedly applied livery.. the grey band under the window, similar to 313s...

Grey? It looks like dark green to me.

 

[physics34]

Seems to have a half arsedly applied livery.. the grey band under the window, similar to 313s...

the green bits......

the 377/6s that first 377/6s that were under test ran around with bits of their livery missing.

As "Class377/5" says, they could be living that space free for a webaddress or the logo.

 

[Class377/5]

Grey? It looks like dark green to me.

Tis the dark Southern green.

 

[JaJaWa]

Anyone have any idea why every single carriage has a different amount of dark green stripe (no stripe, full stripe, just the ends striped, one end striped)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JWu25YG898

 

[MCR247]

Maybe it's what govia want for a promotional kind of livery?

 

[starrymarkb]

Or might not be finished yet. There could be a big reveal coming up and so parts of the livery are covered up.

I remember when American Airlines rebranded, they launched the new livery on a brand new aircraft. However to keep the brand under wraps it was tested and did staff training with large white vinyls covering the new logo and tail to avoid any spotters spoiling their reveal.

 

[Class377/5]

Anyone have any idea why every single carriage has a different amount of dark green stripe (no stripe, full stripe, just the ends striped, one end striped)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JWu25YG898

Because the units aren't finished, they are currently under going testing. No different when 377601 came down for testing on the Southern region, it was in half finished Southern livery.

 

[Chris125]

Or might not be finished yet. There could be a big reveal coming up and so parts of the livery are covered up.

As they'll be moving on from Thameslink relatively quickly they may not even get a full livery, just basic branding.

Chris

 

[physics34]

.......

 

[Bishopstone]

Is the seating in these the same as the 377/6 and 377/7, including the first class section?

 

[SN319]

Looking good!

 

[physics34]

Is the seating in these the same as the 377/6 and 377/7, including the first class section?

looks like it is from the pics, not sure about first class though.

 

[thelem]

Anyone have any idea why every single carriage has a different amount of dark green stripe (no stripe, full stripe, just the ends striped, one end striped)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JWu25YG898

If you look at the far side (visible at the start of the video) you can see that it is applied slightly differently (the last carriage has the end striped too), so it does look like they just ran out of time and will finish it later.

 

[Class377/5]

Is the seating in these the same as the 377/6 and 377/7, including the first class section?

Seating is the same as the 377/6 & /7 in standard. Not 100% sure about first class as I haven't seen it.

EDIT:

387104 was moved to Old Dalby this afternoon.

66616 & 387104, Cossington 10/09/2014 by Michael Sutton Rail Photography, on Flickr

More photos of testing here

387101 running around - https://flic.kr/p/p6kPQJ

8 car 387 - https://flic.kr/p/oPWbc4

8 car VIP trip

electrostar emu 387102 & 387101 by neil booton, on Flickr

 

[bonzawe]

Does anybody know when these units might enter service?

 

[southern442]

So will these trains enter service in just the green doors and stripe or will they receive full southern livery?

 

[Class377/5]

Does anybody know when these units might enter service?

First one isn't due from commissioning until end of October, so maybe this year.

So will these trains enter service in just the green doors and stripe or will they receive full southern livery?

They won't receive the Southern livery as they won't ever be operated by Southern.

 

[westcoaster]

We have been told that the 387's will be limited to 100 mph while in operation on the MML.
Would that be due to the overheads or just not needed.

 

[Bald Rick]

We have been told that the 387's will be limited to 100 mph while in operation on the MML.
Would that be due to the overheads or just not needed.

AIUI the MML is not yet cleared for multi-pan operation above 100mph. Presumably these won't be operating as single units very often, so to avoid driver confusion ( especially with the 377s also) I imagine a 100mph restriction is the answer.

 

[Class377/5]

There's also no timetabling benefit to using 110mph as the 700s will be 100mph units so no point in using that advantage then using it within a few years. Better to keep things simple.

 

[notadriver]

Will that limit just be an instruction to drivers as no doubt 110 mph max speed will be shown in cabs.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

AIUI the MML is not yet cleared for multi-pan operation above 100mph. Presumably these won't be operating as single units very often, so to avoid driver confusion ( especially with the 377s also) I imagine a 100mph restriction is the answer.

What about when the wires reach Corby and further north?
I understand the St Pancras-Bedford OHLE would have to be upgraded for operation over 100mph (as will Paddington-Airport Jn).
It wouldn't seem sensible to limit new stock to 100mph where the route has been upgraded to 110/125mph (for IEP or whatever electric stock the MML gets).

 

[Bald Rick]

What about when the wires reach Corby and further north?

The 387s will have found a new home by then. Probably.

 

[Class377/5]

Now seems there's going to be a 3rd order of 387s according to Derby sources for 21 additional 387 units.

Likely destination is Great Western as all 29x 387/1 that are to be used on Thameslink first are now heading that way. It would Great Western 50 units to play with then.

 

[physics34]

Now seems there's going to be a 3rd order of 387s according to Derby sources for 21 additional 387 units.

Likely destination is Great Western as all 29x 387/1 that are to be used on Thameslink first are now heading that way. It would Great Western 50 units to play with then.

yeh just read the article from Modern railways. So if the 319s are not going to FGW, the ones that are not going to northern will be surplus.

Athough it would be a waste of the AC capabilities and is unlikely id like to see them replace Southern 455s and 313s.

 

[Manchester77]

So does this mean that 387s will be a homogenous fleet for the GW or will they just be for the GWML Thames Valley services with 319s for the branches & Bristol?

 

[swt_passenger]

So does this mean that 387s will be a homogenous fleet for the GW or will they just be for the GWML Thames Valley services with 319s for the branches & Bristol?

I too would have some doubts about all GW EMU services needing 387s. Although there are advantages of a common fleet, the 110 mph capability would be somewhat wasted on a service such as the Newbury to Reading stopper, although we've seen references in the earlier GWML franchise spec to NR wanting 110 mph units for the main line services into Paddington..

You'd think there were some better claims on the stock, such as the MML Corby suggestions. Good luck to them if it's going to be 387s everywhere on the GW, but is it the right solution for the railway when considered nationally?