GWR proposal to run a class 387 from Cardiff on weekday evenings from December 2020

[JN114]

First 387s in passenger service to Cardiff today -

9B14 1213 London Paddington to Cardiff Central

returns as

9L23 1441 Cardiff Central to London Paddington

8 car 387 with 7167 on the London End of the formation and 7148 at the Country End

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

First 387s in passenger service to Cardiff today -

9B14 1213 London Paddington to Cardiff Central

returns as

9L23 1441 Cardiff Central to London Paddington

8 car 387 with 7167 on the London End of the formation and 7148 at the Country End

Seems to have run pretty smoothly if RealTimeTrains is anything to go by

 

[JN114]

I was onboard Paddington - Cardiff - Swindon with a couple of GWR colleagues, didn't miss a beat for all we could see.

Reasonably well loaded, particularly Newport to Cardiff on the down leg.

Many boarding at Newport were very impressed with the "new" train

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I was onboard Paddington - Cardiff - Swindon with a couple of GWR colleagues, didn't miss a beat for all we could see.

Reasonably well loaded, particularly Newport to Cardiff on the down leg.

Many boarding at Newport were very impressed with the "new" train

Not gonna lie, I considerably prefer 800s to 387s especially with the Intercity layout, so I wouldn’t have been thrilled for that to turn up.

 

[Horizon22]

Not gonna lie, I considerably prefer 800s to 387s especially with the Intercity layout, so I wouldn’t have been thrilled for that to turn up.

Ive also found the ride to be a bit more “wild” on a 387. It’s not necessarily silky smooth on an 80x, but it’s still noticeably worse in my view.

 

[Envoy]

I was onboard Paddington - Cardiff - Swindon with a couple of GWR colleagues, didn't miss a beat for all we could see.

Reasonably well loaded, particularly Newport to Cardiff on the down leg.

Many boarding at Newport were very impressed with the "new" train

All very well for the short hop from Newport to Cardiff but 387’s with their ironing board seats are not suitable for long distance travel. The public would be well advised to avoid these services for longer trips. (The top speed of 110 mph will also make the journeys longer than the 125 mph Class 800’s).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I also make use of first class on these journeys so that’s another lack I’d find annoying

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I was onboard Paddington - Cardiff - Swindon with a couple of GWR colleagues, didn't miss a beat for all we could see.

Reasonably well loaded, particularly Newport to Cardiff on the down leg.

Many boarding at Newport were very impressed with the "new" train

How many coaches are regularly used when its 387's? There was 12 some time ago but are these now 8 coaches when 9 and 10-car IET's mostly get used?

 

[JN114]

How many coaches are regularly used when its 387's? There was 12 some time ago but are these now 8 coaches when 9 and 10-car IET's mostly get used?

8 for these daily runs, and 8 will remain the limit for the time being due to SDO issues to resolve at Newport.

It’s replaced a shoulder-AM-peak Cardiff which, back in the day, was 5-800

 

[Kite159]

I also make use of first class on these journeys so that’s another lack I’d find annoying

I assume the 387 operated services will be advertised as "First Class Not Available" at Cardiff/Newport? (Not sure if it was advertised like that at Bristol/Swindon for the last few months they have been running)

How many coaches are regularly used when its 387's? There was 12 some time ago but are these now 8 coaches when 9 and 10-car IET's mostly get used?

What is the number of seats on a 8-coach 387 compared to a 9 coach IET (or even a 10 coach IET)?

----------

Hopefully I can give the 387s a try in Wales at some-point, from memory there is engineering works for the next few weekends. Just for the novelty factor.

 

[cactustwirly]

I also make use of first class on these journeys so that’s another lack I’d find annoying

Well you can always travel on Swansea services who do have first class

 

[DanNCL]

I also make use of first class on these journeys so that’s another lack I’d find annoying

Nobody is forcing you take a 387. If you want to travel in first class, book an 800 worked service, of which there are plenty.

 

[JN114]

What is the number of seats on a 8-coach 387 compared to a 9 coach IET (or even a 10 coach IET)?

GWR 80x
10 - 580S 72F
9 - 576S 71F

GWR 387
8 - 504S (from Memory)

 

[GW43125]

All very well for the short hop from Newport to Cardiff but 387’s with their ironing board seats are not suitable for long distance travel. The public would be well advised to avoid these services for longer trips.

Conversely, I find the 387s very well suited for the King's Lynn services, and a run to Cardiff is only around 20 minutes longer than King's Lynn.

It's not ideal, mind, nor would I want to spend much longer than that on one, but it's hardly a disaster.

 

[cactustwirly]

GWR 80x
10 - 580S 72F
9 - 576S 71F

GWR 387
8 - 504S (from Memory)

How does that compare to a HST set just out of curiosity?

 

[JN114]

How does that compare to a HST set just out of curiosity?

I forget now - more S, but obviously no F. I think it was around 480S for a GW 2+8 HST

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I assume the 387 operated services will be advertised as "First Class Not Available" at Cardiff/Newport? (Not sure if it was advertised like that at Bristol/Swindon for the last few months they have been running)



What is the number of seats on a 8-coach 387 compared to a 9 coach IET (or even a 10 coach IET)?

----------

Hopefully I can give the 387s a try in Wales at some-point, from memory there is engineering works for the next few weekends. Just for the novelty factor.

Each 4-car 387 has 224 seats (8 coaches, 448 and 12 coaches 672).

A 9-car IET has 647 seats (71 are First Class). A 10-car set has 652 seats (72 are First Class).

 

[nmsq]

Just to clarify that there is no speed advantage for an 800 after Bristol Parkway (top speed 95) and effectively Westerleigh allowing for the slowing down for Parkway.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I assume the 387 operated services will be advertised as "First Class Not Available" at Cardiff/Newport? (Not sure if it was advertised like that at Bristol/Swindon for the last few months they have been running)



What is the number of seats on a 8-coach 387 compared to a 9 coach IET (or even a 10 coach IET)?

----------

Hopefully I can give the 387s a try in Wales at some-point, from memory there is engineering works for the next few weekends. Just for the novelty factor.

I've gone completely blank but do the 387s have first class? Albeit literally just a separate compartment with a cloth that says first class, I suppose technically first class is still available so no, they wouldn't advertise it as not available, but then you'd wait for an 800 instead which has full first class facilities.

 

[Mag_seven]

I've gone completely blank but do the 387s have first class? Albeit literally just a separate compartment with a cloth that says first class, I suppose technically first class is still available so no, they wouldn't advertise it as not available, but then you'd wait for an 800 instead which has full first class facilities.

The GWR class 387s do not have first class accommodation.

 

[ValleyLines142]

The GWR class 387s do not have first class accommodation.

Thank you, wasn't sure if it was the same as GX units.

 

[Parallel]

I assume the 387 operated services will be advertised as "First Class Not Available" at Cardiff/Newport? (Not sure if it was advertised like that at Bristol/Swindon for the last few months they have been running)

Probably not, at stations, GWR services are normally announced as
First Class accommodation can be found in zones (X and Y)

Where first class is not available, they’ll just usually tell you which part of the platform the train stops on.

 

[JonathanH]

Thank you, wasn't sure if it was the same as GX units.

It would be possible as the same partitions are fitted but it has never been set up that way.

 

[Acton1991]

The GWR class 387s do not have first class accommodation.

Although I feel like they have a separate section at the end of each set that’s glassed off with an automatic door - is this incase of First Class in the future?

 

[JonathanH]

Although I feel like they have a separate section at the end of each set that’s glassed off with an automatic door - is this incase of First Class in the future?

It is just the way the later 377s, 379s and 387s are specified. They all have the same partition in the same place as a standard part of the design.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Just to clarify that there is no speed advantage for an 800 after Bristol Parkway (top speed 95) and effectively Westerleigh allowing for the slowing down for Parkway.

And actually, you would have an acceleration advantage after Severn Tunnel Junction etc…

 

[Signal_Box]

Overall it’ll probably be cheaper to use conventionally leased 387s on the IEP contract diagrams than the 800s, and accept the slight extension of running times.

 

[irish_rail]

Overall it’ll probably be cheaper to use conventionally leased 387s on the IEP contract diagrams than the 800s, and accept the slight extension of running times.

One would hope the Welsh government t would have something to say about this. Downgrading of a service from intercity standard to commuter standard isn't really on. Ok its happened on London to Norwich , but London to Cardiff is about 2 hours or more isn't it? So that's comparable with London to Liverpool, Manchester or Leeds. Can't see those services being switched to commuter stock anytime soon....

 

[43102EMR]

One would hope the Welsh government t would have something to say about this. Downgrading of a service from intercity standard to commuter standard isn't really on. Ok its happened on London to Norwich , but London to Cardiff is about 2 hours or more isn't it? So that's comparable with London to Liverpool, Manchester or Leeds. Can't see those services being switched to commuter stock anytime soon....

Minus “Norwich in 90” services, it’s the same length timing wise - it could even be argued that there are some occasions where the journey time between London and Norwich is slightly longer by a few minutes…

 

[irish_rail]

Minus “Norwich in 90” services, it’s the same length timing wise - it could even be argued that there are some occasions where the journey time between London and Norwich is slightly longer by a few minutes.

And it should never have been commuterised either. Id also argue though that London to Cardiff connects the capital of England and Wales and also serves Bristol and Reading, so rather more important than the London to Norwich route.