GTR to loan 6 387's to GWR

[Horizon22]

Is it a safe bet that Reading TCD will be their 'home' in terms of maintenance etc?

Edit: This is meant to cover all of the transferred stock, not just 201 & 203

Its where the c2c sets are too, so yes Reading TCD will be the place for maintenance although they might occasionally be stabled at W. Ealing I suppose.

 

[JonathanH]

Its where the c2c sets are too, so yes Reading TCD will be the place for maintenance although they might occasionally be stabled at W. Ealing I suppose.

...and Swindon Cocklebury sidings.

 

[The_Train]

Its where the c2c sets are too, so yes Reading TCD will be the place for maintenance although they might occasionally be stabled at W. Ealing I suppose.

Thank you

 

[Chiltern006]

entered service today

 

[Horizon22]

Yep currently working Newbury 2Zxx services and then planned to arrive into Paddington:

1K29 (1820 Newbury - Paddington) attachment at Reading.
1K58 (1935 Paddington - Newbury)
1K59 (2032 Newbury - Paddington)

Realtime Trains - 1K29 1820 Newbury to London Paddington

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Bayum]

387208 has received Great Northern logos, which even say 'operated by Gatwick Express' next to them in white text. Make of that what you will!

Southern trying to rinse more money without the Gatwick Express services and their premium!

 

[MatthewRead]

entered service today

Are they going to operate other GWR services apart from Newbury-Reading?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

entered service today

Indeed, 387201 was in Reading at the same time as 387301 today - plus a green pair. Might have made a nice photo if the Aventra wasn’t blocking the ex Gatwick from the shot

 

[northernbelle]

Are they going to operate other GWR services apart from Newbury-Reading?

Allegedly they are, unlike the C2C sets, to be worked commonly with the green sets, so probably.

 

[Horizon22]

Are they going to operate other GWR services apart from Newbury-Reading?

Possibly in time, but today it is on the same diagram. If you can keep them isolated it makes sense to.

 

[JN114]

As I think I and @FGW_DID both put upthread

They have their own diagrams, which entail Newbury work through the bulk of the day then a couple of Paddington - Newburys at the end

But the red sets are fully compatible with the green ones, so there’s no technical reason they cannot turn up anywhere; and I’m sure they will in time.

 

[MatthewRead]

As I think I and @FGW_DID both put upthread

They have their own diagrams, which entail Newbury work through the bulk of the day then a couple of Paddington - Newburys at the end

But the red sets are fully compatible with the green ones, so there’s no technical reason they cannot turn up anywhere; and I’m sure they will in time.

How come the C2C sets aren't compatible then?

 

[fgwrich]

There certainly seemed to be a number of them out and about today. At one point this evening Reading certainly didn’t resemble Reading, with 202+204 sat in Platform 7 bound for Paddington, and white 301 + 306 occupying the bay platforms.

I was also a little surprised to see a total removing of the GX branding, given that the C2C units still retain theirs.

 

[superalbs]

I was also a little surprised to see a total removing of the GX branding, given that the C2C units still retain theirs.

Suppose that might cause confusion at Reading, where the train labelled 'Gatwick' doesn't go there, but the GWR one does!

 

[banjo125]

Had the Gatwick Branding been removed before they transferred from South of the Thames to Hornsey?

 

[JN114]

Had the Gatwick Branding been removed before they transferred from South of the Thames to Hornsey?

Yes, infact I’m pretty sure they were running around unbranded while with GN

 

[jopsuk]

Suppose that might cause confusion at Reading, where the train labelled 'Gatwick' doesn't go there, but the GWR one does!

this happens at Cambridge. 379s in "Stansted Express" branding don't (usually) go to Stansted from there

 

[JaJaWa]

Great Northern currently have some branded as “Great Northern operated by Gatwick Express” (should surely be “Gatwick Express operated by Great Northern”), wonder if the GWR ones will get the same.

 

[JN114]

They’re just staying unbranded red

 

[Bayum]

Great Northern currently have some branded as “Great Northern operated by Gatwick Express” (should surely be “Gatwick Express operated by Great Northern”), wonder if the GWR ones will get the same.

The latter implies it’s a Gatwick Express service run by Great Northern, so that wouldn’t work.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Great Northern currently have some branded as “Great Northern operated by Gatwick Express” (should surely be “Gatwick Express operated by Great Northern”), wonder if the GWR ones will get the same.

These were a bit bizarre but I wonder if it was being used as an internal GTR promotional thing, i.e. "look, this is what you can normally go to Gatwick on"?

I can't see the same context being relevant to GWR.

 

[SolomonSouth]

The latter implies it’s a Gatwick Express service run by Great Northern, so that wouldn’t work.

Strange, yes. Technically possible though, as I believe 387/1s do have DC third rail.

 

[Fincra5]

These were a bit bizarre but I wonder if it was being used as an internal GTR promotional thing, i.e. "look, this is what you can normally go to Gatwick on"?

I can't see the same context being relevant to GWR.

Gatwick Express are a big fan of "The Brand", which is why all the SN services using GX Coaches are advertised as such and the OBS' announce it as so.

 

[JN114]

How come the C2C sets aren't compatible then?

SDO Hardware differences mean the SDO doesn’t work properly if they are leading a multi-unit formation, so they have to either run solo or middle unit in a 12 car - hence why they’ve only been on Newburys; it’s the only pure 4 car work

 

[Horizon22]

Had the Gatwick Branding been removed before they transferred from South of the Thames to Hornsey?

Yes it was definitely before arriving at GWR, at Hornsey I believe. No point going wild with rebranding / painting when they're only on loan to GWR.

 

[pdeaves]

I have a photo of debranded red 387201 in service at Ely in June this year. So at least one unit hasn't specially been treated to go to Reading.

 

[D365]

Strange, yes. Technically possible though, as I believe 387/1s do have DC third rail.

Unit 105 was on loan to Gatwick Express for several years.

 

[SolomonSouth]

Unit 105 was on loan to Gatwick Express for several years.

Thanks for the info mate. According to wikipedia, all 387/1s are now loaned to GWR so it must have moved back.

 

[fgwrich]

Had the Gatwick Branding been removed before they transferred from South of the Thames to Hornsey?

They are, in some cases not particularly very well but de-branded nonetheless. I did notice while walking alongside 202 + 204 last night that bits of white and Gatwick Express still remain.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Strange, yes. Technically possible though, as I believe 387/1s do have DC third rail.

Yes, 387/1s worked for Thameslink before going to Great Northern