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Class 387

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Techniquest

Techniquest

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swt_passenger said:
Not that long. Searching back through this thread for 387130 you get an idea how long it spent at Bletchley, and assuming it wasn't out every day during its stay I reckon they could be delivered to GWR in maybe a week to ten days if pushed. A fortnight may be more typical. Individual units have to have reliability confirmed with 1500 miles fault free running, as a follow on build they would already be certified/approved for use.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Reports in the GWR forum that ASDO is in normal use as per Southern, complete with the separate voice announcing the carriage number.
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Not too bad then, so when the next batch arrive it wouldn't be long before the new ones could be in use. Thanks!
 
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swt_passenger

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Techniquest said:
Not too bad then, so when the next batch arrive it wouldn't be long before the new ones could be in use. Thanks!
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Indeed two of the three currently at Bletchley have been observed test running on both WCML and to Brighton a few times already, so I'd think they'll be arriving at North Pole imminently if there are no faults found.

I'd expect the 7th unit (delivered to Bletchley last week) will be waiting for the 8th to arrive, as they invariably go out as pairs for testing - presumably for insurance against failure.
 
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swt_passenger

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On the GWR website they state they will commence running all day in January, and extend to Maidenhead in May 2017. Does anyone have an idea how many pairs of units an all day 2 tph service to Maidenhead will require?

Presumably depending on layover times at either end that'll need a couple more than the initial 8 units, plus maintenance spares, but that won't be a problem for Bombardier's delivery plans I expect.
 
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fgwrich

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phoenixcronin said:
Who voices the DVA on the GWR 387s? Is it Julie Berry?
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greaterwest said:
I'd assume Faye, the same person who does the Turbos, 150s and 158s.
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Neither I hope. Im not a fan of Julie Berry's softer voice, and Faye's voice I'm not impressed with in the Turbo's. Partially as a result of the reported issues with the varying volume quality in her announcements and because she seems to make most of the stations like like a rhetorical question. I.e "Welcome Aboard this Great Western Railway? Service to, Reading? We will be calling at Bramley? Mortimer, Reading West and, Reading?"
 
LNW-GW Joint

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So does this count as the first new stock working out of Paddington since the last Turbo 166 was delivered in 1993?
That discounts the Heathrow stock of course, which are not traditional GW services, and also the odd new Voyager which worked to Paddington on VXC services before they were cut back to Reading.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit:
Ah, forgot the 180s.... ;)
 
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Techniquest

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Ah right, looks like it'll be more than a couple of years before I clear the 387s totally then :lol: Cheers for the gen gang!

As an aside, having seen the GWR 387/1s already here, I have to say they looked awesome. So much better than the white livery on TL and so much better than the red GX livery!
 
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ANP1990

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Two observations watching a 387 depart paddington.

1. The pantograph lights are very noticeable - must have some serious LEDs there.

2. They (the 387s) seem to really shift going out of the station compared to anything else.
 
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shaun

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Very smart looking inside and out! I think these will go down very well with the commuters (those not using Crossrail at least), seeing as they have more tables and are generally more roomy and quieter than the 16x units. Actually gutted I don't live on that stretch of the GWML anymore, exciting times!

Take it this is the internal colour scheme the 800s will go for as well? Much better looking than the boring grey inside the prototype...
 
greaterwest

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fgwrich said:
Neither I hope. Im not a fan of Julie Berry's softer voice, and Faye's voice I'm not impressed with in the Turbo's. Partially as a result of the reported issues with the varying volume quality in her announcements and because she seems to make most of the stations like like a rhetorical question. I.e "Welcome Aboard this Great Western Railway? Service to, Reading? We will be calling at Bramley? Mortimer, Reading West and, Reading?"
Click to expand...

I reported all the observed issues e.g. Calling at Wokingham!, Crowthorne!, Sandhurst!, Blackwater?, Farnborough North., North Camp?, Ash!, Guildford? and Shalford?

Also various other problems with the system that were "logged" back in October 2015.

Rather Faye than Julie though. I can't stand Julie's voice.
 
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TH172341

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Actually I think Julie's voice is quite good - it's the one they use on Chiltern's 168s - it works well, being clear and audible.
 
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phoenixcronin

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fgwrich said:
Neither I hope. Im not a fan of Julie Berry's softer voice, and Faye's voice I'm not impressed with in the Turbo's. Partially as a result of the reported issues with the varying volume quality in her announcements and because she seems to make most of the stations like like a rhetorical question. I.e "Welcome Aboard this Great Western Railway? Service to, Reading? We will be calling at Bramley? Mortimer, Reading West and, Reading?"
Click to expand...

I personally love Julie Berry's voice. Very powerful and yet soft at the same time. Her best version is on the Piccadilly Line. She also emphasises the right words.
 
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D365

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jonmorris0844 said:
Given GTR is making no money, will they bother to change the stickers FROM Thameslink to Great Northern?
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That would be quite the contradiction. We'll have the 700s which do run into Thameslink, and the Class 387s which used to run on Thameslink.

To be honest, I thought the £20m was just to prop them up.
 
Minstral25

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DAB_Move said:
I'm quite glad to be getting them on the Great Northern side ;)
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So lucky up north, we had lovely 377's, replaced with 387's (which most passengers consider an excellent upgrade) to be replaced with the horrible 700's - no thanks, don't want them but we got them anyway. Enjoy!
 
D365

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Minstral25 said:
So lucky up north, we had lovely 377's, replaced with 387's (which most passengers consider an excellent upgrade) to be replaced with the horrible 700's - no thanks, don't want them but we got them anyway. Enjoy!
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That's the first time I've ever heard Cambridgeshire referred to as 'up north' :lol:

Don't worry, I'm on the Peterborough side, from 2018 it's going to be an all-day Class 700 service. Maybe a 365 or two in the peak, if we're very lucky.
 
reddragon

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Out on the GWR I can only look forward to class 387s or perhaps any decent sized train!

I can tell you that waiting on a packed platform in the morning only to see a 2-car Turbo turn up and then leave most of us behind is never a good sight. Another half hour wait. Even worse, a late night or last departure (Saturday in particular) from Paddington (they are rare) a Turbo so packed that the doors cannot shut and it gets later & later well into the small hours. It is a miracle the GWR can keep these units serviceable, as none sit in the depot peak times.

Whilst most of London has 8, 10 or 12 car trains, on the good old GWR fares are the highest in the UK and we get 2,3,4,5 or 6 car slow diesels. Give me any EMU any day and it would be a step change. Even and old 315 or 319!

The turbo's average under 30mph, so take over an hour to Reading, often overcrowded, aircon failed, doors jamming. When loaded acceleration is very slow and station stops lengthy. The staff at Reading depot deserve credit for keeping these trains going under such pressure. I know there are fast HSTs, but they are no good to get you to an intermediate station.

So why I laugh at you all complaining about the 700 being worse than a 377 and that 365s are better, I know that ANY EMU will provide me with a better service that packed, over worked turbos. Roll on 345s & 387s!! Hahaha. LOL
 
D365

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reddragon said:
So why I laugh at you all complaining about the 700 being worse than a 377 and that 365s are better, I know that ANY EMU will provide me with a better service that packed, over worked turbos. Roll on 345s & 387s!! Hahaha.
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I don't envy you, the Great Western electrification should have happened years ago. I struggle to imagine what the Great Northern must have been like in the 70s before the suburban electrification was complete.
 
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