Great Western Railway Heathrow Express Class 387 Refittment and Service Updates

[JN114]

Apologies if it's been covered before but looking at some test videos the 387s don't appear to be level boarding like the 332s. This seems a really odd change in a time when railways need to be getting more accessible.

The platforms were built to the height of the stock ordered when the branch was built; which was lower than typical for UK stock - and indeed causes problems in Platforms 6/7 at Paddington when other train types use them.

As it’s slab track throughout the Airport Branch, and in Platforms 6/7 at Paddington it isn’t an easy fix, although I suspect the coping stones could be adjusted to level out the gap. The floor height of the 387s is nominally the same as the 345s.

 

[clagmonster]

Is it expected that any HX 387s will work service trains to/from Reading or will they all be ecs please?

 

[FGW_DID]

Is it expected that any HX 387s will work service trains to/from Reading or will they all be ecs please?

No, only ECS moves.

 

[T-Karmel]

Questions

1/ Do they have the same level boarding as the class 332s?
2/ Is there the same amount of luggage space? The 387 GatEx is poor with not enough room for everyone's luggage and overhead racks are useless.

1/ As said earlier - no.
2/ Yes-ish. First of all, overhead racks are much smaller, and on 332s you could put over there even huge hand luggage. On 387s I think it's a bit of struggle even with small ones.
However luggage space for big luggages is similar to what it is in 332s, I'm not sure if there is a little bit less number of them per carriage. But they're much much more generous than what Gatex has.

 

[Ianno87]

How do the Crossrail Class 345s do for level boarding at the Heathrow stations?

 

[JN114]

How do the Crossrail Class 345s do for level boarding at the Heathrow stations?

Anecdotally they’re the same or very similar to a 387 - but I’ve not gotten a tape measure out and checked.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Anecdotally they’re the same or very similar to a 387 - but I’ve not gotten a tape measure out and checked.

If they actually are, then it would make sense to adjust the platforms slightly.

 

[Energy]

How do the Crossrail Class 345s do for level boarding at the Heathrow stations?

Have the platforms be higher.

Anyone know how the 332s got level boarding while still having a flat internal floor?

 

[py_megapixel]

Have the platforms be higher.

Anyone know how the 332s got level boarding while still having a flat internal floor?

It's relatively easy to have the platforms built to the same height as the trains when there are only four stations on your entire network, three of which are owned by the same company that operates the trains.

 

[supervc-10]

Little off topic perhaps, but do Northern's 333s have a similarly close to level boarding?

 

[JN114]

Little off topic perhaps, but do Northern's 333s have a similarly close to level boarding?

I don’t think so - I think it’s very much a case of the platforms built for the trains, not the trains built for the platforms.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's relatively easy to have the platforms built to the same height as the trains when there are only four stations on your entire network, three of which are owned by the same company that operates the trains.

And no freight, which is the main reason why you can't just build all platforms up and out a bit. While Merseyrail is now going the Stadler way, its platforms are closer to the train floor height than is usual, and the step on the trains protrudes out over the platform edge as well, largely because it's similarly self-contained, if a little bigger.

 

[skyhigh]

Little off topic perhaps, but do Northern's 333s have a similarly close to level boarding?

Not in the slightest- lots of the 'Triangle' they're normally found on have some pretty impressive gaps (Keighley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston are three good examples).

 

[supervc-10]

So if the 387s have a higher floor than the 332s, would those stations @skyhigh mentions have even worse gaps with other stock?

 

[Ianno87]

Anecdotally they’re the same or very similar to a 387 - but I’ve not gotten a tape measure out and checked.

If they actually are, then it would make sense to adjust the platforms slightly.

Have the platforms be higher.

Anyone know how the 332s got level boarding while still having a flat internal floor?

It's relatively easy to have the platforms built to the same height as the trains when there are only four stations on your entire network, three of which are owned by the same company that operates the trains.

If it was feasible to adjust the platforms that would give level boarding from Heathrow to all stations Paddington-Abbey Wood (inclusive), which would be a pretty big "win".

 

[Mag_seven]

Can we keep the discussion in this thread to the topic of the GWR Class 387s that will be used for Heathrow Express please.

Discussion of other classes elsewhere should be confined to other threads.

Thanks

 

[supervc-10]

If it was feasible to adjust the platforms that would give level boarding from Heathrow to all stations Paddington-Abbey Wood (inclusive), which would be a pretty big "win".

Not only for accessibility, but also as people travelling to/from Heathrow often have luggage, which is a lot easier to wheel on/off a level boarding train than carry up the step onto a conventional train. As a regular (pre-covid) Manchester Metrolink user, it makes life so much easier, and I say that as an able bodied person.

 

[rebmcr]

If it was feasible to adjust the platforms that would give level boarding from Heathrow to all stations Paddington-Abbey Wood (inclusive), which would be a pretty big "win".

All except Hayes, Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, and Acton Main Line. The GWML stations other than Paddington have to allow freight to pass through.

It absolutely should be done at Heathrow once the 332s are no more.

 

[JN114]

All except Hayes, Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, and Acton Main Line. The GWML stations other than Paddington have to allow freight to pass through.

It absolutely should be done at Heathrow once the 332s are no more.

@Ianno87 is correct - there would be level boarding from Heathrow, to all stations Paddington to Abbey Wood (inclusive)

 

[rebmcr]

@Ianno87 is correct - there would be level boarding from Heathrow, to all stations Paddington to Abbey Wood (inclusive)

Ah yes, that's some intricate phrasing!

 

[Chriso]

Is it full 387 on the Heathrow Express today?

Thanks in advance

 

[JonathanH]

Is it full 387 on the Heathrow Express today?

Thanks in advance

No, 332s until just after Christmas.

 

[St. Paddy]

HX 387s authorised into service by the ORR this afternoon

 

[FGW_DID]

HX 387s authorised into service by the ORR this afternoon

Wont be in service until the 29th though.

 

[rebmcr]

HX 387s authorised into service by the ORR this afternoon

Is the letter published? And, do we know what caused the delay?

 

[Domh245]

Is the letter published? And, do we know what caused the delay?

https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-12/2020-12-14-prm-iop-0337-etcs-authorisation-letter-387.pdf

It's typically dry though. No indication of what delayed authorisation although I'm sure with enough trawling through the appendices there might be something interesting

 

[JN114]

Full 387 service today (2tph COVID timetable)

Circuit 'A' (0522 Heathrow T5 to London Paddington etc) - 387141 + 387132
Circuit 'B' (0542 Heathrow T5 to London Paddington etc) - 387130 + 387133
Circuit 'C' (0525 London Paddington to Heathrow T5 etc) - 387136 + 387139

All shown London End unit first.

 

[Horizon22]

Yep passed a few running this morning - all the units in service this morning and all running to time. If Hex went back to 6 circuits, would all 6 be able to be 387s at this point?

 

[JN114]

Yep passed a few running this morning - all the units in service this morning and all running to time. If Hex went back to 6 circuits, would all 6 be able to be 387s at this point?

It’s 5 circuits for HEx, always has been - but yes there would be no issues running 4tph 387s. Plan is (still) for that to happen early in the new year.

 

[Horizon22]

It’s 5 circuits for HEx, always has been - but yes there would be no issues running 4tph 387s. Plan is (still) for that to happen early in the new year.

Not sure where 6 came from! That's good to know. I noted one train with an ETCS issue today (1T37), although that's still a much lower frequency than the TfL 345s.