Class 707 - SWT: Introduction into service

[Emblematic]

Is there any more info around about this yet?

Yes - correction published on MR website saying it will happen at a later date, no hint as to when. http://www.modern-railways.com/view_article.asp?ID=9399

 

[Class377/5]

Mock up not happening this week according to tweet from MR. Will be shown at a later date.

 

[the sniper]

Thanks chaps. I thought it odd that there'd not been more hype given it was only supposed to be a day away!

 

[Class377/5]

First shots of completed units have now been grabbed here while on delivery from factory at Krefield to Wildenrath testing ground.

http://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?4,7751376

 

[Domh245]

First shots of completed units have now been grabbed here while on delivery from factory at Krefield to Wildenrath testing ground.

http://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?4,7751376

They look very nice. Quite interesting to see that 374 in the consist as well.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

When SWT's drivers start their training on them will they have to do a full course or is enough aspects of the 707 close enough to the 444s/450s that they'll only have to do a partial course

 

[nlogax]

When SWT's drivers start their training on them will they have to do a full course or is enough aspects of the 707 close enough to the 444s/450s that they'll only have to do a partial course

Also, would 707s be able to work in multiple with 444/450s? Electrics-aside, the cab-ends looks like they may nix that possibility.

 

[Monty]

Also, would 707s be able to work in multiple with 444/450s? Electrics-aside, the cab-ends looks like they may nix that possibility.

The 707s will not be able to work in multiple with the existing Desiro fleet.

No word on when training starts for either drivers or guards, there is still quite a bit to do before delivery to SWT.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

I'd have thought that only a few selected depots will be trained on them anyway, as they're meant to be used pretty much exclusively on the Windsor side services.

So certain depots on the mainline side won't drive them, just like they don't do 458s anymore, not that I'm complaining. I suspect that the inner depots will be transferred to TfL in the future anyway, along with the 707s.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will the 707s be having their own dedicated depot where Siemens maintain them?

 

[Domh245]

Will the 707s be having their own dedicated depot where Siemens maintain them?

Nope they will be at Wimbledon. Their introduction was one of the main reasons behind the 455 retractioning.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'd have thought some work possible at Strawberry Hill too, wasn't some of the commissioning of 450s done there?

 

[Clansman]

Not seen any of the pics yet, I can just tell the sets will have the Ironing Board seats...

 

[jon0844]

They look very nice. Quite interesting to see that 374 in the consist as well.

Maybe they should paint that in SWT colours and add it as the first class carriage...

 

[Bigfoot]

I'd have thought some work possible at Strawberry Hill too, wasn't some of the commissioning of 450s done there?

Commissioning will take place at clapham according to various people. One of the reasons for the new pit road.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will they be getting pans just for the testing (with removal once testing complete) or will Siemens be testing them purely as DC units?

 

[swt_passenger]

Will they be getting pans just for the testing (with removal once testing complete)...

That ^^.

It'll probably be found somewhere earlier in the thread - or maybe I saw it in another forum. I think it was juts a couple would be fitted to gain type approval, the main production run wouldn't be fitted with pans.

 

[jopsuk]

First shots of completed units have now been grabbed here while on delivery from factory at Krefield to Wildenrath testing ground.

http://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?4,7751376

bit of an odd consist. three carriages of a five car unit and two from a 16-car unit.

 

[AM9]

Not seen any of the pics yet, I can just tell the sets will have the Ironing Board seats...

I would hope that they do as they are high density metro trains and new trains should have 'posture correct' seating anyway.

 

[Class377/5]

bit of an odd consist. three carriages of a five car unit and two from a 16-car unit.

Its a move from the Krefield factory to the testing facilities. Krefield isn't big enough to form up full units so parts are shipped out as they are finished to make room for more. Makes sense they would put as many finished carriages on the moves as possible.

Will they be getting pans just for the testing (with removal once testing complete) or will Siemens be testing them purely as DC units?

First two units are reported as getting pans for testing. They will be removed prior to them being sent to the UK.

 

[jayiscupid]

Maybe they should paint that in SWT colours and add it as the first class carriage...

Until it's gets to the first bridge and gets wedged!

 

[Goldfish62]

I would hope that they do as they are high density metro trains and new trains should have 'posture correct' seating anyway.

I was rather hoping they would have the Grammer seats that SWT have standardised on. At least they have a degree of comfort, unlike the Fainsa ironing boards.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Once enough of them are eventually delivered and into service, will that free up enough 450s for the Lymington branch to always be a 450? Would it be worth SWT ordering a single unit 4 car version (don't know if a 5-car would fit) for the Lymington branch with routine maintenance being done at Northam (think that's what the maintenance depot is called near Southampton, with heavier maintenance being done wherever the rest of the 707s will have it done?

 

[swt_passenger]

Once enough of them are eventually delivered and into service, will that free up enough 450s for the Lymington branch to always be a 450?

Completion of the 458/5 mods was supposed to allow the Lymington Branch to be 450 operated 7/7, it was announced early last year in the Lymington local press.

This matter has been covered in a number of previous threads; I pointed out somewhere that the diagrams were changed to EMU all week in time for the Dec 15 timetable, and were then changed back to DMU at the last minute. If it doesn't go 450 during this year, as the 458/5 programme completes, it'll still be able to go 450 when the 707s arrive anyway.

Using a single 707 down there would seem to be typical of your usual over the top solutions. Not realistic at all.

 

[Class377/5]

Completion of the 458/5 mods was supposed to allow the Lymington Branch to be 450 operated 7/7, it was announced early last year in the Lymington local press.

This matter has been covered in a number of previous threads; I pointed out somewhere that the diagrams were changed to EMU all week in time for the Dec 15 timetable, and were then changed back to DMU at the last minute. If it doesn't go 450 during this year, as the 458/5 programme completes, it'll still be able to go 450 when the 707s arrive anyway.

Using a single 707 down there would seem to be typical of your usual over the top solutions. Not realistic at all.

Not to mention Siemens has no long term maintenance agreement in place for the 707. It's SWT doing the maintenance for the 707 so I suspect a special one unit deal wouldn't be cheap as some would suspect.

 

[swt_passenger]

Not to mention Siemens has no long term maintenance agreement in place for the 707. It's SWT doing the maintenance for the 707 so I suspect a special one unit deal wouldn't be cheap as some would suspect.

Not forgetting also that the 707s are almost guaranteed to be transferred to TfL control within a couple of years after arriving.

 

[Class377/5]

Not forgetting also that the 707s are almost guaranteed to be transferred to TfL control within a couple of years after arriving.

Not guaranteed at all. This common misunderstanding is that it's a hand over. SWT could still operate the units. All TfL is proposing to do under this consultation is control the Standards etc not fully control the service a la LO. Separate business units is what the next SW franchise has to achieve. Don't forget GTR has four separate business units but isn't stopping stock moving between them.

 

[swt_passenger]

Not guaranteed at all. This common misunderstanding is that it's a hand over. SWT could still operate the units. All TfL is proposing to do under this consultation is control the Standards etc not fully control the service a la LO. Separate business units is what the next SW franchise has to achieve. Don't forget GTR has four separate business units but isn't stopping stock moving between them.

That's right, which is exactly why I wrote 'TfL control', rather than 'transfer'.

I'm well aware of the concept of a separate business unit , but didn't want to over complicate the reply. In any case it seems likely such a business unit wouldn't want to be responsible for the Lymington Branch stock.

In addition, it is a branch with a first class service, in blue and white train land, so 707s just wouldn't be right...

 

[D6975]

Using a single 707 down there would seem to be typical of your usual over the top solutions. Not realistic at all.

Quite, even a 4 car 450 is OTT if a 2 car 158 is currently considered adequate.
If you were to use a short emu, then a 456 could do it. That then introduces other problems though like crew training, diagram swapping etc.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The DfT might specificy they want so many 707s to the point where all the 707s would be spoken for (units needed for service + those undergoing maintenance). My gut feeling is that the 707s will end up being used just on the routes that the DfT are going to take over.

Not sure that 456s would be any good on the Lymington branch due to the level crossing and the risk of them getting gapped.