TransPennine class 397

[InOban]

I think coach D is always unreserved - it was announced as such when we travelled back from Manchester to Edinburgh. There is no doubt that the introduction of the fast regular Anglo-Scottish services from Manchester has been exceptionally successful - and not just for end-to-end traffic. Lockerbie can never have had so many trains, making is easy to pop into Carlisle for example.

 

[dk1]

The biggest issue with the 397's is reliability, I know TPE are trying to improve it but mostly at the moment they're running trains with faults instead of fixing them.

Thank you.

I think the issue is cost, unless they can add the extra carriages onto the LNER order or CAF come out on top of the current bidding for new trains.

Yes, the Avanti platform staff commented its like this most days.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

No idea why it's taken me so long but today is the first time that I've travelled on a 397. I honestly cannot fault it. The queue for the 09:09 to Manchester Airport w/ent right across Glasgow Central concourse filling me with some trepidation but needn't have worried as several spare unreserved seats in coach D. Carlisle was reached a few minutes early giving plenty of time for the Settle & Carlisle Leeds connection.

I think they're a great example of how nice the 80x could look with some attention to design. The Nova 1 (802) has a far blander, much more sterile and uninspiring interior, yet with the same colour and design scheme as the 397s they could be really nice.

 

[Russel]

I've only used one once, between Penrith and Lancaster and couldn't really fault it.

I suppose it did help that it was during 2020 so I had an entire carriage to myself...

 

[voyagerdude220]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how quickly 397s accelerate compared with say 390s?

I thought the 397s I've been on over the last few months accelerated very quickly.

 

[driver9000]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how quickly 397s accelerate compared with say 390s?

I thought the 397s I've been on over the last few months accelerated very quickly.

They do accelerate very quickly. Going south from Preston a 397 will reach 110mph just before Leyland and going north 110mph is reached around Barton & Broughton. I don't know how that compares to a 390 though.

 

[Toby268]

They do accelerate very quickly. Going south from Preston a 397 will reach 110mph just before Leyland and going north 110mph is reached around Barton & Broughton. I don't know how that compares to a 390 though.

390s on a clear run are doing between 100-110 through Leyland station.

390s also reach 110 at the northern end of Barton and Broughton loop.

 

[Russel]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how quickly 397s accelerate compared with say 390s?

I thought the 397s I've been on over the last few months accelerated very quickly.

They are 20 years younger than the 390's, so will be a lot more advanced and no doubt lighter so I'd expect the performance to be at least level with the 390's.

 

[dk1]

I think they're a great example of how nice the 80x could look with some attention to design. The Nova 1 (802) has a far blander, much more sterile and uninspiring interior, yet with the same colour and design scheme as the 397s they could be really nice.

Yes I know these things are all cosmetic but they seemed very pleasant to me. Enjoyed doing the northern half of the WCML. Onboard team very friendly and helpful to people too.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I think coach D is always unreserved - it was announced as such when we travelled back from Manchester to Edinburgh. There is no doubt that the introduction of the fast regular Anglo-Scottish services from Manchester has been exceptionally successful - and not just for end-to-end traffic. Lockerbie can never have had so many trains, making is easy to pop into Carlisle for example.

Carriage D is unreserved on all trains. However at busier periods the higher numbers of Coach D can and will be used for reservations as well, akin to Coach C on LNER.

 

[800001]

Carriage D is unreserved on all trains. However at busier periods the higher numbers of Coach D can and will be used for reservations as well, akin to Coach C on LNER.

Half of coach C on LNER.

 

[LancasterRed]

397002 has failed and 1S35 canned at Carlisle.

Delay repay about to come in very handy...

 

[dk1]

397002 has failed and 1S35 canned at Carlisle.

Delay repay about to come in very handy...

That’s a shame. My experience was very good yesterday.

Has ticket acceptance been given with AWC?

 

[LancasterRed]

That’s a shame. My experience was very good yesterday.

Has ticket acceptance been given with AWC?

Nope, being put onto 1S41 - 397011

 

[dk1]

Nope, being put onto 1S41 - 397011

Oh that’s not too bad then. Was forgetting about the bonus Liverpool-Glasgow workings

 

[Jamesrob637]

The biggest issue with the 397's is reliability, I know TPE are trying to improve it but mostly at the moment they're running trains with faults instead of fixing them.


I think the issue is cost, unless they can add the extra carriages onto the LNER order or CAF come out on top of the current bidding for new trains.

My 397 from Manchester to Edinburgh two weeks ago got turned back at Preston towards Manchester Airport. Another 397 took passengers onward to bonny Scotland. I changed onto a Pendo as I was Glasgow-bound.

My experience of 397s, however, is fairly positive. They just need maybe 2 more carriages, as previous posts have alluded to.

 

[Lg_]

My 397 from Manchester to Edinburgh two weeks ago got turned back at Preston towards Manchester Airport. Another 397 took passengers onward to bonny Scotland. I changed onto a Pendo as I was Glasgow-bound.

My experience of 397s, however, is fairly positive. They just need maybe 2 more carriages, as previous posts have alluded to.

Generally swapping units at Preston is so they can get a train back to Manchester at the end of the night for repair.

Either that or it has a fault that network rail won’t allow on the WCML.

 

[route101]

The 397s certainly were a step up fro the 350s and 185s on the route. The seats are not comfortable though and ride can be poor. Not quite Intercity to me, more regional.

 

[Jamesrob637]

The 397s certainly were a step up fro the 350s and 185s on the route. The seats are not comfortable though and ride can be poor. Not quite Intercity to me, more regional.

A 397 is better than a single 350, but a small step below a double 350, capacity-wise

 

[LancasterRed]

Nope, being put onto 1S41 - 397011

Unbelievable...1S75 - 397011 is now out of service

Fortunately not travelling TPE today...actually made my booked Avanti this time

 

[driverd]

No idea why it's taken me so long but today is the first time that I've travelled on a 397. I honestly cannot fault it. The queue for the 09:09 to Manchester Airport w/ent right across Glasgow Central concourse filling me with some trepidation but needn't have worried as several spare unreserved seats in coach D. Carlisle was reached a few minutes early giving plenty of time for the Settle & Carlisle Leeds connection.

I completely agree. They're probably the best new train since around 2015(ish - here someone will quote one I've forgotten). They cover all the attention to detail very nicely - I particularly like the way the windows are lower in the saloon to facilitate a better view and that seat/window alignment has been well thought out throughout the unit. I much prefer the styling to an 80x too!

It's a shame TPE seem to be having so many issues, but hopefully once they get on top of them, they seem to have a quite excellent and (atleast for 2024) special train.

 

[dk1]

I completely agree. They're probably the best new train since around 2015(ish - here someone will quote one I've forgotten). They cover all the attention to detail very nicely - I particularly like the way the windows are lower in the saloon to facilitate a better view and that seat/window alignment has been well thought out throughout the unit. I much prefer the styling to an 80x too!

It's a shame TPE seem to be having so many issues, but hopefully once they get on top of them, they seem to have a quite excellent and (atleast for 2024) special train.

I hope they do mate. Apart from their day to day reliability they are a pleasant medium to long distance train.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

I completely agree. They're probably the best new train since around 2015(ish - here someone will quote one I've forgotten). They cover all the attention to detail very nicely - I particularly like the way the windows are lower in the saloon to facilitate a better view and that seat/window alignment has been well thought out throughout the unit. I much prefer the styling to an 80x too!

It's a shame TPE seem to be having so many issues, but hopefully once they get on top of them, they seem to have a quite excellent and (atleast for 2024) special train.

No 755s are the best

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I’m afraid something with poor ride characteristics can have all the curtains, well aligned windows and other amenities in the catalogue, it still fails at its basic task and gets 1/10 from me.

 

[Rob F]

I’m afraid something with poor ride characteristics can have all the curtains, well aligned windows and other amenities in the catalogue, it still fails at its basic task and gets 1/10 from me.

And when you couple poor ride characteristics with rock hard seats, you are really not onto a winner.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’m afraid something with poor ride characteristics can have all the curtains, well aligned windows and other amenities in the catalogue, it still fails at its basic task and gets 1/10 from me.

Having been on both a 397 and an 802 this weekend, I didn't note much difference in ride (both are a bit hard), but the 397 does have a higher quality environment overall. It's in essence the "Class 344" I've wanted to see for a long time (an AC 444, albeit from a different manufacturer).

However, I think it has too many tables and too few airline seats - half and half is about the right balance.

 

[TheHovisKid]

I use 397s a lot. Fast and airy, but bumpy. The seats are as almost all sears are.
I also get an 802 quite often on a Saturday. Nothing to write home about, and the vestibules are more cramped, and isse with 5 car sets at peaks, The services they work load increasingly well.

A 397 at 125 could be interesting...

 

[Fudgie]

Is using an 802 on the West Coast a regular thing?

Realtime Trains | 1M91 1611 Edinburgh to Oxenholme Lake District | 15/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 1M91 1611 departure from Edinburgh to Oxenholme Lake District on 15/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Off to a bad start it seems and it was binned at Oxenholme.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is using an 802 on the West Coast a regular thing?

Yes, done every day.

 

[hexagon789]

Is using an 802 on the West Coast a regular thing?

Realtime Trains | 1M91 1611 Edinburgh to Oxenholme Lake District | 15/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 1M91 1611 departure from Edinburgh to Oxenholme Lake District on 15/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Off to a bad start it seems and it was binned at Oxenholme.

Yes, there's a Manchester/Edinburgh Diagram booked 802.

A second WCML 802 Diagram will be happening in the near future to accommodate the 397 refresh/heavy maintenance works.