Mod Note: There is a new thread to discuss movement of 365s to ScotRail here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-365s-to-scotrail.163505/
Unless the 710s are so late that the 172s are about to go off lease and they have to do something...Probably wishful thinking. TfL have repeatedly said in meeting papers and responses to GLA members questions to the Mayor that there would be no interim EMUs, as it isn’t worth the training and maintenance issues.
Apologies, I know this is quite irrelevant - I've not been on these trains but the first time I ever saw these trains was on the programme 'Tweenies' around the late 1990's !
As I'm completely unfamiliar with Ely Papworth sidings, could someone please tell me if the stored 365s can be easily viewed, either from rail or road?
There are two sets of sidings. One right as the line splits towards Norwich/Kings Lynn that is visible from the railways and where the 365s have been lately, and another set where the line curves around the back of the large building where MK3s have been lately (a larger complex) that is visible for a few seconds from passing trains if you know where to look.I believe the sidings are next to the railway line unless I'm thinking of a different set of sidings.
There are two sets of sidings. One right as the line splits towards Norwich/Kings Lynn that is visible from the railways and where the 365s have been lately, and another set where the line curves around the back of the large building where MK3s have been lately (a larger complex) that is visible for a few seconds from passing trains if you know where to look.
So the 365s are in the more readily visible sidings.
Have all of the 21 that are leaving now left GTR either to storage or Scotrail?
I think the answer is no. 365539 was certainly in service with GN as recently as last week. Not sure if this is to do with the Thameslink fiasco.
539 is staying with the GN.
Hopefully they’ll be getting the rest out of storage soon. At least the drivers will be qualified to operate them and the passengers able to travel in a degree of comfort.
In any case, if it’s so impossible to terminate services off the southern at London Bridge, these will have to run through to the first available place on the midland where they can be terminated - all of which requires more trains.
Was that not the point of the Canal Tunnels? Free up platforms at KGX and reduce the fleet requirement.
Is that the fault of the timetable, the plan, or just GTR being its usual shambolic self?Shame it doesn’t work in practice.
Does this mean GN is keeping 20 units, or is this in lieu of something else?
I saw a DRS loco hauling 2 x 365 units through Letchworth this morning. 365501 was at the rear.
They appear to be going from Ely to Northampton.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91329/2018/06/29/advanced
Must have annoyed the passengers waiting on platform 1 seeing an empty train pass through as the previous 0715 service into London was running about 50 minutes late this morning and the 0750 cancelled!
5Q70 on 29/06/18 is 57303 hauling 365501 and 365505
Thanks.
Hence yesterday's move, assuming it was another 2 units, must have been 2 from 503-507-515-527-535.
According to my notes 507+515 were taken to Ely together a few weeks ago, so could have been them on the move yesterday. The units that accompanied 503-527-535 on their respective drags to Ely are now either in or bound for Scotland.
Cheers.
Reported elsewhere that 507 + 515 were indeed the pair to be moved yesterday.
This leaves 503 - 527 - 535 still at Ely Papworth.
Thanks.
Does anyone know the purpose of these moves? Further storage, preparing for a return to GN in time for 15th July, or something else in the offing?
A return to the GN would be most welcomed. I (and a significant number of regular / daily travellers who I know) specifically choose which services to catch now so as to always (in theory) get a pair of 365's as opposed to one of those ghastly 700's.
Sadly though, I suspect further storage may be the most likely reason so as to free up space at Ely Papworth for more HST trailers and other stock soon to require somewhere to vegetate.
Purely a rumour but heard from more than one usually reliable source - is that LNWR want those surplus 365's to release 319's from the Euston - Tring / Northampton services for local work in the West Midlands which in turn will release 350's for strengthening other Euston services.
Lastly - forgive my ignorance, what's the significance of 15th July and GN?
Cheers.