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Rail Operations Group Fleet Expansion - Heathrow Connect 360/2s.

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fgwrich

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In a rather surprising and unexpected move, it would appear that Rail Operations Group have tonight taken on the former Heathrow Connect 360/2 Fleet with the first two moved to the former MOD Bicester site today.

Ok, so it’s just another Rail Operations Group locomotive preparing to depart the depot with a pair of Siemens Desiro class 360 EMUs. Well, not quite, this time it’s personal. The class 360s are now part of ROG’s growing fleet of locomotives, BMUs, EMUs and specialist rolling stock vehicles. We'll certainly be looking after these babies!
 
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jopsuk

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is there a full fleet list for ROGs increasing fleet of stuff?
 

ExRes

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Or possibly for the Orion logistics side of the business, could they be a better bet long term than 319s?
 

DB

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I do wonder if they'll end up as spot hire units - Similar to how Porterbrook had the small batch of 170s a decade a go.

Wouldn't have thought the demand would be there for EMUs.
 

43096

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Or possibly for the Orion logistics side of the business, could they be a better bet long term than 319s?
As 5-car units with only the two driving cars motored, there should be plenty of space underneath for batteries for a "last mile" capability.
 

fgwrich

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See below for my Speculative Idea regarding Porterbrook FLEX conversion:
Actually, putting these forward for the Flex conversion might be a more sensible idea than previously thought - Being converted from non standard spot hire units already, they could allow the standard 350/2 fleet to avoid the "Flex" treatment. However, I still consider them being too new for any "Orion" conversion and will probably stay as passenger units in some form or other.

But this is all swinging us back into the speculative territory - at least (and the point of the thread at least) is to announce that they've been saved.
 

D365

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But this is all swinging us back into the speculative territory - at least (and the point of the thread at least) is to announce that they've been saved.
Hence my posting in the Speculative Ideas subforum.
 

Energy

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If they could be fitted with third rail I could imagine them being great for spot hire due to being cleared already for a lot of the country because of the 350s, 450s and 360/1s.

I wasn't expecting ROG though, maybe they have been fed up with 769 delays?
 

Domh245

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I wasn't expecting ROG though, maybe they have been fed up with 769 delays?

If they were still waiting for 769s (and fed up of waiting!), then they wouldn't bring in more units that would require more work to design, fit, validate & certify!
 

Aictos

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It's interesting to find out what they have in mind for the fleet as there is a number of uses that they could be used for.

From spot hire to parcel work, just wonder what they've got them for?
 

Energy

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I can't see them going into regular passenger services, it's not their core business at all.
I wouldn't be suprised if it was for their parcel business, desiros have the advantage of already being cleared for a lot of the UK and likely being cheap for ROG to buy from Heathrow.
 

Horizon22

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These 5Q74s have been running down - there was one yesterday as well. Was wondering what they were meant to be considering they were starting at Old Oak - was expecting moves as scrap.

In the current climate not sure what use they'll be - they'd be best used on a commuter style line, but for the next few years there's likely to be excess capacity on many suburban lines in London & SE.
 

3973EXL

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12/02 5Q74 37608 1300 passed Acton ML 201/203


but not under that description.
It ran as 5Q74. On OTT it was shown as 584S but was not shown under the RTT schedule as the feed was down when it was originally called.
 

warwickshire

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If they were still waiting for 769s (and fed up of waiting!), then they wouldn't bring in more units that would require more work to design, fit, validate & certify!
5Q74 SEEN at oxford Parkway with 37608 360203 and 360201. During staff exchange. Confirmed the 769s are staying. and 360/2 s good purchase. Couldn't let them go. 769s late entry aren't affecting anything. However at bicester mod depot. They do join some ex Anglia/transport for Wales mk3 slam door coaches. Which went up late end November 2020 approximately.
 

northernbelle

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I can't see them going into regular passenger services, it's not their core business at all.
Indeed. And given how awash with reasonably modern EMUs we'll be in a year or two, with limited potential uses for them unless electrification continues to expand, the freight sector seems to be quite a potential alternative for them.

I seem to remember Siemens saying they were developing their own 'flex' product on the Desiro platform. Perhaps that's about to come to fruition with these sets?
 

Bob Price

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ROG must have plans for them, as with their 30 new locos. Only time will tell.
 

yorkie

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I seem to remember Siemens saying they were developing their own 'flex' product on the Desiro platform. Perhaps that's about to come to fruition with these sets?
Please feel free to continue that discussion in the Speculative Ideas section :)


(Sorry to nitpick but the Traction & Rolling Stock section is for actual updates not for speculative ideas; we absolutely do welcome speculative ideas in the right section though! :D)
 
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OTRail

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More info on the 360/2s for ROG, although nothing specific as to their use other than “aiding us in transforming UK rail freight logistics”

Rail Operations UK Limited (ROUK) have completed a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Heathrow Airport Limited, the parent company of Heathrow Express, to acquire the fleet of five Class 360/2 multiple units, plus spare parts

The Class 360/2 units were previously used to operate the “Heathrow Connect” stopping services on the route between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington.

The purchase of the units by ROUK follows on from the recent announcement that the dynamic and innovative company has ordered 30 Class 93 tri-mode locomotives.

Gordon Cox, ROG Business Development Director, explained that: ROUK have identified the potential of this well-maintained multiple unit fleet to assist in our transformation of UK rail freight logistics.
 
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D365

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And yet, according to Wikipedia, ROG's own social media posts aren't sufficient as evidence that they have purchased the 360/2s :lol:
 
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