Scotrail Class 385 Discussion

[InOban]

The light engine has set off, but we know that means little. However scotrail posted a new tweet recently showing the yard at Aycliffe full of 385s, hardly any space for Azumas.

 

[Typhoon_93]

67006 hauling 385107 north tonight as 5X09.

 

[jagardner1984]

It’s obviously too late now but a number of comments on the train I was on about how uncomfortable the “new train” was compared to the old ones.

I couldn’t disagree.

 

[Journeyman]

It’s obviously too late now but a number of comments on the train I was on about how uncomfortable the “new train” was compared to the old ones.

I couldn’t disagree.

Have to be honest and say I'm avoiding the 385s while I can. They're OK, but the 365s and 380s are more comfortable.

 

[gsnedders]

Anyone know what diagrams the 385s are on now? What trains in the next few hours from GLQ should be 385 operated? I've still not made it on one, so…

 

[Journeyman]

Anyone know what diagrams the 385s are on now? What trains in the next few hours from GLQ should be 385 operated? I've still not made it on one, so…

Currently a good bet are the xx.15 departures from each end.

 

[alexf380]

Although today the 15:15 from Edinburgh was a pair of 170s. There is a 6 car working of 385s on the North Berwick branch today, however.

 

[Journeyman]

Although today the 15:15 from Edinburgh was a pair of 170s. There is a 6 car working of 385s on the North Berwick branch today, however.

Strange. Is there a shortage of working 385s again?

 

[Northhighland]

Have to be honest and say I'm avoiding the 385s while I can. They're OK, but the 365s and 380s are more comfortable.

Agreed, I would add the 365 seems the best of the bunch.

 

[gsnedders]

Although today the 15:15 from Edinburgh was a pair of 170s. There is a 6 car working of 385s on the North Berwick branch today, however.

Bah, missed that when I headed into GLQ! Am on the 16:15, which is thus a pair of 170s, and given the x:30s have been 365/380s for ages they don't have the novelty factor to wait around for.

 

[SC318250]

Light loco from Tyne cancelled early

Not sure if loco will come from Doncaster , but there is an 0Z68 sitting at Newcastle in the Thunderbird siding.

385 move not shown as cancelled yet, but it might be later on

 

[hooky3]

does anyone know what services these operate on a Saturday?

 

[K.o.R]

Can anyone explain why these (and the 380s also) run as seven-coach pairs? That seems very strange and an absolute headache as you need two different unit types for every train.

 

[scotraildriver]

7 is the longest that can be accommodated at Queen St. So it maximises capacity.

 

[jopsuk]

Can anyone explain why these (and the 380s also) run as seven-coach pairs? That seems very strange and an absolute headache as you need two different unit types for every train.

Until the Queen Street platform lengthening is complete 7 is the max. The lengthening will allow Edinburgh-Glasgow express to be 8 carriages; at this point the 4-car units will be exclusively used on the Express whilst the 3 car units will be for the other services

 

[ScotTrains]

It’s obviously too late now but a number of comments on the train I was on about how uncomfortable the “new train” was compared to the old ones.

I couldn’t disagree.

When they had the mock up in Edinburgh a few years ago there were plenty of negative comments about the poor seats. Scotrail chose to ignore them and continue with these horrid seats. They are very uncomfortable.
I will now happily take one of the slower routes to Edinburgh to avoid the 385s. It's a shame Scotrail don't listen to their customers.

 

[K.o.R]

Until the Queen Street platform lengthening is complete 7 is the max. The lengthening will allow Edinburgh-Glasgow express to be 8 carriages; at this point the 4-car units will be exclusively used on the Express whilst the 3 car units will be for the other services

Don't the 365s run to Queen Street? How do they manage?

 

[InOban]

They're 20m coaches, so 8 coaches is no longer than a 4+3 385.

 

[jaffachief]

The 365 carriages are a wee bit shorter

 

[gingertom]

Don't the 365s run to Queen Street? How do they manage?

365s are shorter, 20m bodies as opposed to the 23m bodies of the 380/385.

 

[K.o.R]

365s are shorter, 20m bodies as opposed to the 23m bodies of the 380/385.

Ah, I was unaware of that. Not a huge number of 23m EMUs out there; I thought the 444s and 442s were the only ones.

 

[ainsworth74]

Ah, I was unaware of that. Not a huge number of 23m EMUs out there; I thought the 444s and 442s were the only ones.

There are a few more than that: 323s, 333s, 332s, 390s and 80xs for example.

 

[jopsuk]

The Class 380 are 23m as well.

 

[Domh245]

There are a few more than that: 323s, 333s, 332s, 390s and 80xs for example.

80x are 26m (nominal), 390s are nominal 24m

 

[380101]

It's a shame Scotrail don't listen to their customers.

They don't listen to their staff either! Abellio are terrible and make First look absolutely fantastic!

 

[GrimShady]

When they had the mock up in Edinburgh a few years ago there were plenty of negative comments about the poor seats. Scotrail chose to ignore them and continue with these horrid seats. They are very uncomfortable.
I will now happily take one of the slower routes to Edinburgh to avoid the 385s. It's a shame Scotrail don't listen to their customers.

IMO they should have used the same GWR seats in first to create a harmonious product between Inter7city fleet and the 385s

 

[Clansman]

They don't listen to their staff either! Abellio are terrible and make First look absolutely fantastic!

This.

 

[Mingulay]

They don't listen to their staff either! Abellio are terrible and make First look absolutely fantastic!

I Have not been on a 385 yet as they seem still to be as rare as hens teeth. So I must reserve judgment. But from the feedback todate, they don't sound like the"continental European feel" that Alex H was boasting about at a recent presentation. Leaving aside the 385 delays . The windows the brake problem teething troubles. The solitary show piece HST sitting idle at Haymarket it seems . The new timetable that delivers better for some but worse for others . I sense that Abellio are poised to replicate that unfortunate Scottish sporting talent. They will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! So much has been promised for so long that the reality already delayed seems fated to underwhelm the travelling public. More time needed perhaps. HST looks good , but years to get a fleet. The public will judge the 385 by the service in the whole. Not just its seats. If the service is not much better for all , the 385 reputation will be the train that marked the start of a diminished service for many or at best no noticeable improvement. The stop gap electric trains older and more comfortable will already have taken the gloss off a new train that has had a shaky start. . So all you have left is more capacity and faster journeys. I sense that aim too will also miss the target for many in the central belt.

 

[mde]

IMO they should have used the same GWR seats in first to create a harmonious product between Inter7city fleet and the 385s

It seems more likely that they'd have used the the Grammer seats from the 380s (the E3000), rather than the ones used on the HST sets (IC3000, as also seen in the Inverness 158s, and on similar units in TfW land).

IC3000s would perhaps be a bit overkill on some of the routes the 385 is specced for, and, creating a mixed fleet would perhaps somewhat defeat the purpose of having a standard. But, it's all semantics now unfortunately. The Fainsa's will be with us for some years yet.

 

[GrimShady]

It seems more likely that they'd have used the the Grammer seats from the 380s (the E3000), rather than the ones used on the HST sets (IC3000, as also seen in the Inverness 158s, and on similar units in TfW land).

IC3000s would perhaps be a bit overkill on some of the routes the 385 is specced for, and, creating a mixed fleet would perhaps somewhat defeat the purpose of having a standard. But, it's all semantics now unfortunately. The Fainsa's will be with us for some years yet.

The four car sets are dedicated E&G are they not?

Can't say I'm a big fan of the 380 seats either, 170s seats are superior in my view.