Look to Wales where on the valley lines commuting into Cardiff it's usually a sprinter or pacer or in other parts of Wales it's a 150/153/143 usually if we see a 158 or anything nice something has been blocked elsewhereI often commute on Southern Railway and on weekends in particular, I am likely to be stuck on a Southern Railway Class 455 that offers cramped 3 seating in an all family-style layout, no tables, no toilet facilities, no coat hooks, no floor luggage racks, no First Class, no air-conditioning, no plug-powerpoints, horribly bright lighting, and a very loud and jerky ride. I cannot be the only one who cannot stand this.
My question is when and how likely will the Class 455/8 get replaced, and why do Southern put the Class 377's in storage and utilise a high class 455 fleet on suburban services via Norbury and Crystal Palace.
Now, I understand that the Class 379's from Greater Anglia will be free (after they get replaced by new Stadler and Bombardier trains) which have similar characteristics as the existing Class 377/6 on the suburban southern network. Is this a possibility or will they end up with East Midlands Railway?
The Class 707's are said to be going to southeastern from what I can understand, and I don't think their Class 377/5's will ever be seen absorbed onto the Southern Network.
What about the Class 458's from South Western Railway?
Also why does the C2C Class 387 have Southern moquette? Will they eventually go to Southern? Sorry if there is loads of questions, but I am just so confused why what it appears to be new electrostar Southern trains going to C2C, Great Northern and Southeastern, when they have ageing trains from the 1980's. I much rather the Class 319 come onto the southern network, they offer a much moor comfortable ride than the Class 455's that just have a very jerky motor ride.
The 465s and 466s can be scrapped, the 376s are fine but a small fleet compare to the rest of SE metro so I would send them to Southern, if what Starmill said is true about only requiring just over a half then there will be enough 376s to replace the 455s. Then transfer the SE 377s across and there will be enough to replace the 313s.
Aren’t the pacers getting replaced?I was thinking exactly the same thing! Wonder how the OP would have coped with a Pacer?!
Another thing Is that since the May 2018 timetable there is only one repetitive working 377/6 or 377/7 on the Victoria - Crystal Palace - London Bridge/West Croydon route. Why is this? They used to be so many more.In May 2018 they simplified the diagrams which kept particular trains to particular routes. For example, the Victoria to Epsom/Dorking/Horsham route is self contained with only 377s. Similarly the London Bridge to Caterham and Tattenham Corner (377), London Bridge to Caterham (455), London Bridge to Coulsdon Town (455), London Bridge to Beckenham Jct (455), London Bridge to Epsom (377), Victoria to Epsom Downs (both) and Victoria to Sutton (both) are all self contained routes. London Bridge to Victoria and Victoria to West Croydon interwork: sidings - West Croydon - Victoria - London Bridge - Victoria - West Croydon - sidings.
Can’t speak for the Bridge via Crystal Palace route but I’m a regular user of Victoria - West Croydon and it’s almost always two 377/3s attached to a 377/1 (or sometimes attached to a 377/4)Another thing Is that since the May 2018 timetable there is only one repetitive working 377/6 or 377/7 on the Victoria - Crystal Palace - London Bridge/West Croydon route. Why is this? They used to be so many more.
Can’t speak for the Bridge via Crystal Palace route but I’m a regular user of Victoria - West Croydon and it’s almost always two 377/3s attached to a 377/1 (or sometimes attached to a 377/4)
Another thing Is that since the May 2018 timetable there is only one repetitive working 377/6 or 377/7 on the Victoria - Crystal Palace - London Bridge/West Croydon route. Why is this? They used to be so many more.
They're reasonably comfortable and aren't used on any routes that demand better facilities.
They're reasonably comfortable and aren't used on any routes that demand better facilities.
The lack of air conditioning is very noticeable during the summer!
They sound like luxury. You should try living in the north most of our fleet are like that. With the addition of a diesel engine. And that's the good stuff.
There's still quite a lot of non-ac stock about, though. Again, given the short journeys, I wouldn't say it's a priority.
The answer would still be the same. There are no plans to replace the 313s during the current franchise.I could ask the very same question about the 313 variety of monstrosity.
I could ask the very same question about the 313 variety of monstrosity.
Obvious choice for the next renewal on Southern is the 313s, significantly older and really not great for the lengthy runs they do.