EMR Class 360's

[bramling]

Can the 360s be considered an Airport express train too?

It's certainly been hinted at officially. I wonder if serving the airport might also be part of the business case in running an all-day 2tph 8-car service, as there must be an element of fresh air being carried at the northern end of the route during parts of the off-peak?

 

[Alfie1014]

Had my first trip on these away from ‘home’ last week. Was quite bizarre to be hurtling down Sharnbrook bank at 110mp, the ride overall was very good, not sure that’s MML track quality but certainly seemed better than 100mph on the hammered GEML. Timings are very tight a slightly late running Up Sheffield service (1.5 down) put 4 mins into us by Bedford though we’d made up 2 mins by Pancras. Interesting to see the volume of passengers transferring at Kettering from Notts service to the EMU. Also interesting to see the design of OLE north of Bedford being lighter than on GWML and more therefore more pleasing and also the progress north of Kettering although many bridges still need to be rebuilt plus the feeder station.

 

[QSK19]

We’ve got a new starter today who has to come up from London. He was held at Sharnbrook for over 45 minutes, as was the case for many other services.

The explanation on National Rail was that an object was caught in the overhead wires; and our new starter said a train was in the way. Was it a 360 that got its pantograph tangled up in the wires or the fact that the power supply went and left it stranded?

It’s clearly backed everything up, to the point whereby, at just after midday, four northbound Meridians seemed to arrive in Leicester within 10 minutes of each other.

Fun and games on the MML!

 

[swt_passenger]

We’ve got a new starter today who has to come up from London. He was held at Sharnbrook for over 45 minutes, as was seemingly every other train passing there.

The explanation on National Rail was that an object was caught in the overhead wires; and our new starter said a train was in the way. Was it a 360 that got its pantograph tangled up in the wires or the fact that the power supply went and left it stranded?

It’s clearly backed everything up, to the point whereby, at just after midday, four northbound Meridians seemed to arrive in Leicester within 10 minutes of each other.

Fun and games on the MML!

“An object caught in the wires” usually means something random has been blown in over the railway boundary, I think.

 

[baz962]

Had my first trip on these away from ‘home’ last week. Was quite bizarre to be hurtling down Sharnbrook bank at 110mp, the ride overall was very good, not sure that’s MML track quality but certainly seemed better than 100mph on the hammered GEML. Timings are very tight a slightly late running Up Sheffield service (1.5 down) put 4 mins into us by Bedford though we’d made up 2 mins by Pancras. Interesting to see the volume of passengers transferring at Kettering from Notts service to the EMU. Also interesting to see the design of OLE north of Bedford being lighter than on GWML and more therefore more pleasing and also the progress north of Kettering although many bridges still need to be rebuilt plus the feeder station.

To be fair. Although the timings are tight , it could be better. I don't know if west Hampstead signal box use automatic route setting or are doing it manually , but the 360 could leave Wellingborough earlier than they do after the Sheffield. The Sheffield will go through Wellingborough at 80 linespeed and clear the next signal after in seconds and the 360 could come out on a single yellow. But they must let the Sheffield clear several signals before giving the 360 the road as it quite often clears from red to green and sits there around another two to three minutes.

 

[westcoaster]

To be fair. Although the timings are tight , it could be better. I don't know if west Hampstead signal box use automatic route setting or are doing it manually , but the 360 could leave Wellingborough earlier than they do after the Sheffield. The Sheffield will go through Wellingborough at 80 linespeed and clear the next signal after in seconds and the 360 could come out on a single yellow. But they must let the Sheffield clear several signals before giving the 360 the road as it quite often clears from red to green and sits there around another two to three minutes.

Not West Hampstead PSB, but EMCC Kettering work station.

The amount of times the the Corby leaves late awaiting a late running Sheffield/Nottingham service. Biggest hold was 8 minutes, could have reached Bedford in that time.

 

[baz962]

Not West Hampstead PSB, but EMCC Kettering work station.

The amount of times the the Corby leaves late awaiting a late running Sheffield/Nottingham service. Biggest hold was 8 minutes, could have reached Bedford in that time.

Sorry yes , Kettering on the slow. Won't they be waiting for Leicester to give them the go ahead. Still waiting on those signals too long though.

 

[westcoaster]

Kettering work station from sharbrook junction north on both lines

 

[baz962]

Kettering work station from sharbrook junction north on both lines

Different panels though . Bk and LR

 

[43055]

Different panels though . Bk and LR

BK and LR are the signal prefixes. It is all one workstation at the EMCC.

 

[westcoaster]

Different panels though . Bk and LR

Bk = Bedford Kettering
LR = Leicester

Same signaller, same signal panel at the EMCC

 

[Helvellyn]

EMR have definitely described it as providing a fast 2tph Airport service, it was described in the Dec 2020 consultation/brief for the new timetable as ”New London Luton Airport express service – running every 30 minutes and linking the airport with central London in just 22 minutes”.

I think what then happened was some of the mass media wrongly took that to mean a shuttle to/from Luton Airport Parkway, rather than the service to Corby.

As reported below Luton Airport themselves seemed to be suggesting early last year that the new EMU timetable was a first step to providing a branded Luton Airport Express. I think it was discussed at the time here, and the consensus was that there was no intention to brand the service as such:

It is a good idea, but again it shows a London centric view. If the EMR Connect services connected with the semi-fast Sheffield at Kettering instead of the fast Nottingham then EMR could also promote a one-stop connection to Luton Airport from the InterCity stations, which could add some traffic between Kettering and Luton Aiport.

Yes, the bigger market is potentially London but even so the 360s with 2+2 seating, some luggage stacks and First Class could be making EMR Connect more than just a 2tph Corby-London commuter/Airport sercice.

 

[43066]

It is a good idea, but again it shows a London centric view. If the EMR Connect services connected with the semi-fast Sheffield at Kettering instead of the fast Nottingham then EMR could also promote a one-stop connection to Luton Airport from the InterCity stations, which could add some traffic between Kettering and Luton Aiport.

Yes, the bigger market is potentially London but even so the 360s with 2+2 seating, some luggage stacks and First Class could be making EMR Connect more than just a 2tph Corby-London commuter/Airport sercice.

But you’re then impacting on the journeys to London for everybody else on board, who will represent a far bigger market than those heading to Luton airport from the intercity stations further north.

Remember part of the intention of the current timetable is to make the MML intercity offering more appealing to long distance passengers, who might previously have driven to ECML and WCML stations.

 

[MML]

I've thought all along that the semi fast Nottingham and Sheffield trains should be stopping at Kettering giving a one stop interchange to all EMR destinations with only the fast services being first stop Leicester. Those wanting quickest end to end journey time would opt for the fast service, while those wanting better connectivity would use the semi fast.
Instead we have the 6am departure from St Pancras to Sheffield hurtling through in record time with hardly anybody onboard and people who used to travel by rail from intermediate stations now opting to drive rather than change trains twice. Unless of course they are visiting the pride of the Midlands Corby

 

[43066]

I've thought all along that the semi fast Nottingham and Sheffield trains should be stopping at Kettering giving a one stop interchange to all EMR destinations with only the fast services being first stop Leicester. Those wanting quickest end to end journey time would opt for the fast service, while those wanting better connectivity would use the semi fast.
Instead we have the 6am departure from St Pancras to Sheffield hurtling through in record time with hardly anybody onboard and people who used to travel by rail from intermediate stations now opting to drive rather than change trains twice. Unless of course they are visiting the pride of the Midlands Corby

To be fair the 0559 Sheffield stops at Wellingborough, the 0605 Notts stops at Bedford, so there’s more connectivity early on to get to Notts/Sheffield from either with one change at Leicester.

 

[edwin_m]

I've thought all along that the semi fast Nottingham and Sheffield trains should be stopping at Kettering giving a one stop interchange to all EMR destinations with only the fast services being first stop Leicester. Those wanting quickest end to end journey time would opt for the fast service, while those wanting better connectivity would use the semi fast.
Instead we have the 6am departure from St Pancras to Sheffield hurtling through in record time with hardly anybody onboard and people who used to travel by rail from intermediate stations now opting to drive rather than change trains twice. Unless of course they are visiting the pride of the Midlands Corby

There isn't really a fast and a semi any longer, the Nottinghams and Sheffields do the same thing south of Leicester. This gives an even interval for stops at Market Harborough and also at Kettering, which is particularly important to maintain connections with the half-hourly Corby service. So some of those connections would be quite long.

 

[3973EXL]

STP 08/03 5Q80 47749 360102 1028 Cricklewood - Eastleigh Works RT Cricklewood S Junction.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04661/2022-03-08/detailed

STP 08/03 5Q81 47749 360103 1630 Eastleigh Works - Cricklewood dep 60 late
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04660/2022-03-08/detailed

 

[spotify95]

I've thought all along that the semi fast Nottingham and Sheffield trains should be stopping at Kettering giving a one stop interchange to all EMR destinations with only the fast services being first stop Leicester. Those wanting quickest end to end journey time would opt for the fast service, while those wanting better connectivity would use the semi fast.
Instead we have the 6am departure from St Pancras to Sheffield hurtling through in record time with hardly anybody onboard and people who used to travel by rail from intermediate stations now opting to drive rather than change trains twice. Unless of course they are visiting the pride of the Midlands Corby

Even some people who are only travelling as far as Leicester, from an intermediate station (i.e. one change only) are now driving instead of using the train, because the trains used to be direct (no changing at Kettering) but now you have to interchange!
Market Harborough to Wellingborough is also a candidate for using A6 - A14 - A509 rather than Market Harborough - Wellingborough via an interchange at Kettering. Really good for getting people to use public transport instead of their own cars.

Regarding the 6am London - Sheffield, I believe that this is the 06:42 departure from Wellingborough so at least it gives Wellingborough users a direct train to Sheffield (and Leicester) - even if you do have to get up at unsociable hours to take advantage of it...

 

[MML]

360119 suffered a bird strike this afternoon. It seems pheasants and pigeons are attracted to the flat frontage of these units.
Perhaps the birds are used to the noise of a Meridian and are surprised when a quieter electric unit appears, though strikes seem more frequent than the Thameslink 700s.
I wonder if a different frontage could better alert our feathered friends. Jet engines have a black and white rotary spiral to prevent bird strikes.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

360119 suffered a bird strike this afternoon. It seems pheasants and pigeons are attracted to the flat frontage of these units.
Perhaps the birds are used to the noise of a Meridian and are surprised when a quieter electric unit appears, though strikes seem more frequent than the Thameslink 700s.
I wonder if a different frontage could better alert our feathered friends. Jet engines have a black and white rotary spiral to prevent bird strikes.

Not to be sarky, but the consequences of a bird getting into a plane’s engine would be far worse than one being hit by a train.

 

[Class 170101]

Not to be sarky, but the consequences of a bird getting into a plane’s engine would be far worse than one being hit by a train.

Just ask the pilot who ditched his plane into the Hudson River.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Pheasants are particularly stupid birds, there's not much you can do to stop them getting into the way of trains if they happen to be near a railway.

 

[73128]

STP 08/03 5Q80 47749 360102 1028 Cricklewood - Eastleigh Works RT Cricklewood S Junction.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04661/2022-03-08/detailed

STP 08/03 5Q81 47749 360103 1630 Eastleigh Works - Cricklewood dep 60 late
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04660/2022-03-08/detailed

360102 went south

 

[43102EMR]

360102 went south

Surprised - this is one of the vinyled units so thought they would be the last to go.

 

[MML]

By the time the fleet are all repainted, it'll be time to change the livery again. and so the merry go round continues

 

[spotify95]

Plenty of short formations of recent. Last night the 18:11 (I think it is?) From Wellingborough to Corby was a short formation. The same goes for the 07:39 from Wellingborough to Corby. And there was one the night before that was short formed Corby to St Pancras.

We were promised 12 coaches in the peak as part of the improvements to the Connect stations, as well as to make up for the lack of northbound services (e.g. to Leicester and Nottingham). But now, we can't even get 8 coaches sometimes? And these times were in the peak!

 

[spotify95]

And... ANOTHER 2 short formations today in regards to the 360s! 17:57 from Wellingborough to St Pancras was a 4 car set, and so too was the Corby service that left beforehand.

What is actually going on with EMRs connect service, did they not buy enough units for the service?! Forget 12 car, we still haven't got 8 car services...

 

[43096]

And... ANOTHER 2 short formations today in regards to the 360s! 17:57 from Wellingborough to St Pancras was a 4 car set, and so too was the Corby service that left beforehand.

What is actually going on with EMRs connect service, did they not buy enough units for the service?! Forget 12 car, we still haven't got 8 car services...

They didn’t buy any units.

 

[MML]

Short forming has been going on for days. 4-car units are completely unacceptable for this service with increasing customer numbers, the units often depart full and standing.
EMR have 21 units. They only need 12 to be serviceable to provide 8 car formations. EMR promised 12 car in the peaks. They can't even prioritise longer units on the peak flow, with an 8 car travelling contra peak and a 4 car unit swamped on a peak flow. Why the units are so appallingly unreliable and EMR are so incompetent - heaven only knows !

 

[Scotrail314209]

Short forming has been going on for days. 4-car units are completely unacceptable for this service with increasing customer numbers, the units often depart full and standing.
EMR have 21 units. They only need 12 to be serviceable to provide 8 car formations. EMR promised 12 car in the peaks. They can't even prioritise longer units on the peak flow, with an 8 car travelling contra peak and a 4 car unit swamped on a peak flow. Why the units are so appallingly unreliable and EMR are so incompetent - heaven only knows !

Would the reliability issue maybe come from a possible lack of maintenance on Greater Anglia? The units were in quite a state when they moved over (and still are!)