Scotrail Class 385 Discussion

[Speed43125]

Apart from the Edinburgh to Glasgow and empty coaching stock from depots, where are 385s operating in multiple where this dreadful gangway is actually required?

Again I'll say, unless you have sat in the driver's seat of a 385 then you cannot comment on their apparent virtues. Gangways are fine and many manufacturers can do it right but this train cab design is not fit for purpose. It'll take an incident or three and several demoted drivers before something is done.

I've yet to read a positive review of the 385 from a driver on this forum so far. Enthusiasts wailing about how great the 385 is of no interest to me.

At the moment as is said most routes that can accept 6 car is running as 6, Alloa/Dunblane/stirling services operate a couple of 2x 385/0, notably the singular peak alloa splitter from Edinburgh. Otherwise, E&G is the main usage of it.

 

[youngac]

Quite a few of the Lanarks are 6 cars as well as the occasional E-G via Shotts.

 

[385001]

When passing through Waverley I've regularly seen North Berwicks as 6 car.

 

[mcmad]

Apart from the Edinburgh to Glasgow and empty coaching stock from depots, where are 385s operating in multiple where this dreadful gangway is actually required?

Again I'll say, unless you have sat in the driver's seat of a 385 then you cannot comment on their apparent virtues. Gangways are fine and many manufacturers can do it right but this train cab design is not fit for purpose. It'll take an incident or three and several demoted drivers before something is done.

I've yet to read a positive review of the 385 from a driver on this forum so far. Enthusiasts wailing about how great the 385 is of no interest to me.

The only route I'm aware of which doesn't run 385's in multi is the via Grahamston. Don;t know what the shotts line is running though.

 

[route101]

The only route I'm aware of which doesn't run 385's in multi is the via Grahamston. Don;t know what the shotts line is running though.

Had 6 car 385s on both them routes recently , off peak too

 

[380101]

The only route I'm aware of which doesn't run 385's in multi is the via Grahamston. Don;t know what the shotts line is running though.

Cathcart circle, Neilston, Newton, Gourock and Weymes Bay all run as single 385/0s regularly throughout the day.

 

[route101]

Quite a few of the Lanarks are 6 cars as well as the occasional E-G via Shotts.

Will the Lanark wver go all 385s?

 

[NorthClyde320]

Will the Lanark wver go all 385s?

Is the double 318/320 Lanark diagram the one which starts from Carstairs in the morning? Is this why a 318/320 unit is used?
I thought 385's were passed for Carstairs. It would be good to see the Lanarks go over to all 385's, keep it uniformed.

 

[James James]

I was curious about the cab and had a quick search, indeed the view looks horrible (although it's slightly biased by the camera likely being further back than the driver would sit):
https://twitter.com/scotrail/status/1186636661377114112

The 380 looks worlds better than that.

 

[Energy]

I was curious about the cab and had a quick search, indeed the view looks horrible (although it's slightly biased by the camera likely being further back than the driver would sit):
https://twitter.com/scotrail/status/1186636661377114112

The 380 looks worlds better than that.

That window is rather small, the class 380 looks to have a much bigger window.

 

[route101]

Is the double 318/320 Lanark diagram the one which starts from Carstairs in the morning? Is this why a 318/320 unit is used?
I thought 385's were passed for Carstairs. It would be good to see the Lanarks go over to all 385's, keep it uniformed.

I take it the Carstairs diagram goes via Low Level , not sure if 385s are cleared . Yes im sure theres a Edinburgh to Glasgow 385 via Carstairs.

 

[SC318250]

There were 2 from Carstairs which are 318/320/334 operated via low level

Other Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs are currently 380 operated as they interlink with Ayrshire services but from timetable change they might be 385 operated as Ayrshire timetable is seperated from Edinburgh

 

[NorthClyde320]

I take it the Carstairs diagram goes via Low Level , not sure if 385s are cleared . Yes im sure theres a Edinburgh to Glasgow 385 via Carstairs.

No it's the 05.48 service which terminates at the high level at 06.42, I wondered if this forms the 06.52 back to Lanark then again at roughly xx.50 on the even hours and if this was why a 318/320 was used?

I know there are 2 evening peak runs to Carstairs via the low level which 385's aren't cleared for.

 

[DaStripedCgull]

I take it the Carstairs diagram goes via Low Level , not sure if 385s are cleared . Yes im sure theres a Edinburgh to Glasgow 385 via Carstairs.

I think its the one that departs Edinburgh at 1021.

 

[gsnedders]

To an extent yes, that's an issue. But these days TOCs are reluctant to do multiple splits and joins and by having longer fixed formation trains you reduce complexity, increase capacity, reduce build cost (2 cabs per 8 coaches is cheaper than 4 cabs) improve the driver environment, allow guard and catering staff access throughout the train, improve passenger circulation etc.

Having spare capacity in off peak times is not a huge penalty to pay for this. There will still be a place for 3 and four coach trains on quieter routes but busy commuter lines should be aiming to run 8 x 23m trains and ultimately they will be more financially viable and environmentally friendly that way as loadings increase.

I imagine, too, that with an EMU the penalty of overlong trains is lower? How much of DMU maintenance is related to the engine?

 

[DaStripedCgull]

No it's the 05.48 service which terminates at the high level at 06.42, I wondered if this forms the 06.52 back to Lanark then again at roughly xx.50 on the even hours and if this was why a 318/320 was used?

I know there are 2 evening peak runs to Carstairs via the low level which 385's aren't cleared for.

Yes the 320/318 does the xx:50 on the even hours departing Central. Later at around 2145 the 6 car set uncouples at Lanark, one half does the 2153 to Central and the other half waits for the 2150 from Central (formed by a 2 x 385/0s) to come in. Once the 2150 from central is in (around 2245) the 385 is stabled there overnight and the 3 car 320 or 318 forms the 2251 to Glasgow Central but I don't see this affecting what trains can run on the Lanark lines as 385s use to uncouple/couple all the time at Lanark.

 

[380101]

There were 2 from Carstairs which are 318/320/334 operated via low level

Other Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs are currently 380 operated as they interlink with Ayrshire services but from timetable change they might be 385 operated as Ayrshire timetable is seperated from Edinburgh

Think we'll be waiting a good few months yet for the "summer" timetable given the current circumstances. The May timetable change has been kicked into the long grass for now.

 

[Kite159]

I think its the one that departs Edinburgh at 1021.

The one which used to be a 156 before Shotts got wired (as a way to send back a 156 to Glasgow) and sits at Carstairs for around 15 minutes?

 

[DaStripedCgull]

The one which used to be a 156 before Shotts got wired (as a way to send back a 156 to Glasgow) and sits at Carstairs for around 15 minutes?

I can't remember exactly which service was the 156 but I think its was this one.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I can't remember exactly which service was the 156 but I think its was this one.

Can confirm it was indeed this one. Rare spectacle to get a 156 up that stretch of line.

 

[route101]

Can confirm it was indeed this one. Rare spectacle to get a 156 up that stretch of line.

Took 156 the other way around 6 year ago via Carstairs too. One of the last Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts is still a 158