Class 387

[jon0844]

I had a similar trip on Thursday but the outward working was a 700. Made for quite an interesting direct comparison. There were immediate comments from members of my family about the sockets and tables on the 387 (and absence of them on the 700.)

My family comments wouldn't count. My wife would be 'it's just a train' and my four year old would be a mini me (God help us all!).

One lady on our trip who commutes to London daily from Bedford did say that the new trains (the 387s) break down a lot. She hadn't been on a 700 yet.

 

[spark001uk]

...Jumping from 445/442 to 387s is a big jump...

Is 445 a typo or were you really referring to the 1970s prototype 4PEP unit?

 

[Saint66]

Have found the PIS and announcements to be pretty unreliable on the 387's on TL at the moment (The only issue with them). Either not working at all, or being completely wrong.

 

[Class377/5]

Is 445 a typo or were you really referring to the 1970s prototype 4PEP unit?

I actually meant just 442's. What 7 early shifts do to you!

 

[Bishopstone]

Still lots of 442s out on GatEx duties, today. This evening, three consecutive Down Brighton extensions were 2x442, plus a 1x442 seen at Gatwick on the airport shuttle.

Meanwhile, an Up Brighton extension, seen passing Haywards Heath at speed, was formed 1x387/2 and predictably heaving with the crowds from the beach. There were infrastructure problems at the southern end of the Brighton line - yet again - so perhaps that caused a 2x387/2 formation to be split, out of course? I hope there is no intention of ever operating the Brighton extensions with one unit as a matter of routine.

You would have thought GTR would be eager to show-off their new fleet (WiFi, sockets etc), on a key weekend for the tourist trade, rather than leave many of them parked up.

 

[JonathanH]

I think that you get 1x387/2 on the Brighton extensions when one is swapped between Gatwick shuttles and the Brighton services - not a great idea on a summer day.

Certainly seem to have been quite a few cancellations yesterday to cause disruption.

 

[jimm]

Picture gallery with a number of GWR 387 interior pictures on the Rail website

Eight four-car Class 387/1s will enter traffic with Great Western Railway from September 5.

They will be used between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington initially before operating further west as Network Rail electrifies the GWML.
On August 12, JACK BOSKETT visited Derby Litchurch Lane, where the '387/1s' are being constructed, to view their progress.

http://www.railmagazine.com/galleries/new-trains-for-great-western-railway/image/20993

 

[reddragon]

I thought that at the moment 387 130,131,132,133 were at North Pole, 134 at Bletchley, 135,136 at Derby awaiting dispatch and 137 testing at Derby? Is there any updates on this?

I read somewhere that only 4 will be ready for 5th and the remainder would arrive by 'mid-September' allowing the possibility only 4-car operation on one of the 2 morning duties (as we cannot expect 100% availability) until the 134 arrives. I see that there is only 1 evening down departure.

I looked at travelling on a morning run, but I would have to leave at 6am to get there in time.

What is happening to the single 165/1 2-car unit freed up for an hour? Added to a Reading return?

 

[swt_passenger]

134 and 136 are both testing out of Bletchley, someone reported it in a new thread a few days ago: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=134745 They may even be delivered this week, there's an STP path in today although not yet activated.

The quote from Rail is OK isn't it? It says 'from' September 5th, not on September 5th. When was the last time an entire batch of new EMUs entered service on the same day?

There are two down trains in the evening peak showing on RTT:

2S48 to Hayes & Harlington dep 1718 http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C46514/2016/09/05/advanced
2S52 to Hayes & Harlington dep 1848 http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C44190/2016/09/05/advanced

 

[HowardGWR]

Picture gallery with a number of GWR 387 interior pictures on the Rail website



http://www.railmagazine.com/galleries/new-trains-for-great-western-railway/image/20993

I noticed on existing trains that have these bent bits on the ends of coaches (see last image in the link) that the carriage washers tend to miss the dented pieces, so presenting a very poor image after a while.

Does GWR have new washers installed that could prevent this?

 

[swt_passenger]

As well as the Bletchley to North Pole path I mentioned earlier (not yet activated):

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R02505/2016/08/31/advanced

there are two paths in from Derby Litchurch Lane to Bletchley for tonight, these appear to both be activated but presumably they are alternative route options and only one will run?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03313/2016/08/31/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03194/2016/08/31/advanced

So, touch wood, it could shortly be 6 at North Pole and 2 at Bletchley...

 

[JN114]

The two Derby - Bletchley paths are auto-called, so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

 

[FGW_DID]

Paths are in RTT for 387 Training Runs: Reading TCD - Didcot - Reading TCD

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...16/09/12/0600-2000?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...16/09/12/0600-2000?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

All we need now is some 387s at Reading and the wires connecting up!!

 

[CP165]

Saw a 387 with GWR branding as I passed North Pole earlier today.

Must say it looked pretty darn good.

 

[swt_passenger]

The two Derby - Bletchley paths are auto-called, so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Yes, the two hour difference as per the discussion about auto calls in another recent thread.

I really only posted the info to show that things can change quickly, in view of the earlier comments about GWR only having four units so far.

 

[Class 319]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

 

[J-2739]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

Now THAT'S what I call a train!

 

[southern442]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

Does look rather nice.

 

[swt_passenger]

387134 & 136 are currently on a Brighton and back run.

 

[class387]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

Beautiful.

 

[Fincra5]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

Arguably the best Livery an Electrostar has worn!

 

[phoenixcronin]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

That picture brings up a question that's been on my mind for a while: Why are the opening hopper windows in the 1st car in a different location to the other 3 cars? I've noticed this on all the 387s

 

[Harbornite]

387 131 has been branded.

http://goo.gl/G00spW

That does look quite fetching, although the lighting helps.

 

[cactustwirly]

That picture brings up a question that's been on my mind for a while: Why are the opening hopper windows in the 1st car in a different location to the other 3 cars? I've noticed this on all the 387s

probably because the 1st car is backwards

 

[phoenixcronin]

probably because the 1st car is backwards

by that reasoning isn't the 2nd car backwards as well?

 

[aleggatta]

by that reasoning isn't the 2nd car backwards as well?

not quite... in this picture Dmos B is leading, and as such you are looking at the 'right' of Dmos B and the 'Left' of all the other coaches.

 

[physics34]

Beautiful.

yep, very nice indeed.

 

[trainlogger]

There was a Derby-Bletchley delivery run last night (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03313/2016/09/01/advanced) - does anyone know if it was 387135 or 387137 (or both?) please?

Thanks!

 

[43096]

There was a Derby-Bletchley delivery run last night (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03313/2016/09/01/advanced) - does anyone know if it was 387135 or 387137 (or both?) please?



Thanks!

Quoted elsewhere as 387135.

 

[RobShipway]

GWR have release a video on Youtube with a look inside their Electrostar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F5JTT5Rcsk