Construction progress: TPE 350/4

[TheKnightWho]

So essentially what happens now in the south with EMUs? Lots of trains in service in the peaks, many go to sidings off peak

No - I don't mean additional units, I mean additional single carriages that can be chop and changed as and when necessary. If they're truly modular with 'plug and play' that should be entirely possible, and means we wouldn't ever have to have units running in multiple as we'd just add extra middle carriages if it was needed. If done right, you're never carrying around air.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That would be an awful lot more fiddly and time consuming than just coupling / uncoupling units wouldn't it?

 

[Des Iroman]

Not to mention the additional number of drivers, shunt moves, intermediate cabs and passenger shuffling between vehicles that would be needed.

 

[ushawk]

Arrived into Manchester Piccadilly 62 late - probably not the greatest first day ever then !!

Now has ran ECS to Ardwick.

 

[MCR247]

No - I don't mean additional units, I mean additional single carriages that can be chop and changed as and when necessary. If they're truly modular with 'plug and play' that should be entirely possible, and means we wouldn't ever have to have units running in multiple as we'd just add extra middle carriages if it was needed. If done right, you're never carrying around air.

Why on earth would you want to do that? Think about how awkward that would be!

You've got a train in a siding which you want to take two carriages out of, how exactly do you get the two centre carriages out?

 

[Class172]

Why on earth would you want to do that? Think about how awkward that would be!

You've got a train in a siding which you want to take two carriages out of, how exactly do you get the two centre carriages out?

To make it practical in those terms would require cabs in every carriage. I'm sure we've seen that before…

 

[Eagle]

Or maybe we could put all the cabs and engines and stuff in one vehicle, and then have a bunch of passenger-only vehicles and attach the required number to the back of the engine vehicle...

Highly radical and futuristic thought, I know.

 

[richardio123]

Getting on the train at MCO the height difference between platform 4 and the train was huge is there anyway of them fixing this ? Also is there any reason they didn't add a longer step on the 350's like the 185's have

 

[edwin_m]

The platform may be lower than the current standard, although it's difficult to get a decent stepping distance especially with the issues of overhang on curved platforms and where the platform has to be clear of passing container trains which are a bit wider at platform level than others.

The longer step on the 185 is probably because the 185 is slightly narrower than the 350.

 

[Eagle]

The longer step on the 185 is probably because the 185 is slightly narrower than the 350.

This is definitely the case.

185s have 23 m carriages whereas 350s have 20 m carriages. This means that 185s have to be narrower by about 5 to 10 cm.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Or maybe we could put all the cabs and engines and stuff in one vehicle, and then have a bunch of passenger-only vehicles and attach the required number to the back of the engine vehicle...

Highly radical and futuristic thought, I know.

I will nominate this posting for the award of "Top technical posting of the day"...

 

[Crossover]

I was also on the maiden southbound service from Wigan. Going to Wigan on the 1300 ex Manchester Airport, the guard got wind a few of us were after the 350's and made an announcement as we approached Wigan about the delay, having mentioned it as he came through, which was nice

I realise now that with the MD on the train, come hell or high water (pun intended!) I think they'd have got that one through one way or another! The service was reasonably loaded, but was bliss what with it being an 8 car service!

There was a final photocall on arrival at Picc with quite a few people at the end of the platform watching on. It headed off with a blast of the horn, but got held in an approach road before being allowed across the throat of the station to get to Ardwick, as I passed it off a following EMT service towards Stockport.

A few amusing points I noted was 350401 showing on the screens that passenger alighting at Oxford Road should move to the front 3 coaches to alight and a member of staff exclaiming that they weren't sure where the ramp went after offload of all the catering supplies from the service!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Getting on the train at MCO the height difference between platform 4 and the train was huge is there anyway of them fixing this ? Also is there any reason they didn't add a longer step on the 350's like the 185's have

The step off at Piccadilly platform 13 wasn't particularly insignificant. The smaller step may exasperate the issue though. Was also nice to meet you (briefly) too

 

[Crossover]

I'm surprised we haven't had any photos posted here yet...or has everyone been just posting them to FTPE on Twitter/Facebook? :P

Three images
First is an interior shot of coach A of 350401
Second is 350401 on the back of the working having terminated at Manchester
Third is 350403 on the front of the working, for a final photocall with the TPE MD before the sets worked back to Ardwick depot in preparation of service tomorrow.

 

[Manchester77]

Thanks for the shots and mini reviews, it's helpful for the people who couldn't make it today

Will the 1109 from Glasgow be 350 operated until the 4/1/14 as previously stated?

 

[Crossover]

Thanks for the shots and mini reviews, it's helpful for the people who couldn't make it today

Will the 1109 from Glasgow be 350 operated until the 4/1/14 as previously stated?

No problem

As far as I am aware, it may be sticking to the same diagram each day, but don't quote me on that :P
From what I saw (3 coach notice) and heard, it sounds like 350401 needs some software work doing as it was a little glitchy today, before it goes out tomorrow

 

[martinsh]

You've got a train in a siding which you want to take two carriages out of, how exactly do you get the two centre carriages out?

Big hand from the sky ?!?

 

[Manchester77]

No problem

As far as I am aware, it may be sticking to the same diagram each day, but don't quote me on that :P
From what I saw (3 coach notice) and heard, it sounds like 350401 needs some software work doing as it was a little glitchy today, before it goes out tomorrow

Aha I'll risk it for a biscuit

Maybe they'll use 403 as I think the 8 car working was unique for today

 

[jimm]

Nice manners! No one else can have an opinion then?

What have manners got to do with it?

The point HSTEd raised and I addressed was clear enough - train operators building their own trains - not a country's rail firm buying trains from independent manufacturers in the same country, which is a quite different issue. Is the difference so hard to grasp?

And it's a bit rich going on about manners, considering what you wrote about the Chinese.

 

[richardio123]

I noticed on the NR Website it says

Engineering work is taking place over some parts of the First TransPennine Express network. The following trains are amended:

Amended First TransPennine Express services from Monday 30 December 2013 to Friday 3 January 2014

Monday to Thursday
07:00 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central. This train will start from Manchester Piccadilly
11:09 Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport. This train will terminate at Manchester Piccadilly

So maybe after then it will change ?

 

[Eagle]

So what happens on Friday then? Will it get to the airport?

 

[richardio123]

Yeah

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y82683/2014/01/03/advanced

Well the 0700 MIA-GLC returns

 

[Crossover]

I noticed on the NR Website it says

So maybe after then it will change ?

Not sure - I reckon they've started/terminated "short" for the first few days as a means to get the units easily from/back to Ardwick (I doubt the paths would be available to get it back from the Airport, and it would occupy an entire platform as a double set)

I may be being overly cynical though :P

So what happens on Friday then? Will it get to the airport?

RTT reckons so. But then the arrival at the Airport off the 1109 ex GLC doesn't fit with any suitable departures. It appears this working has historically gone on to work a service to Barrow or such like, and I can't see that happening somehow

 

[richardio123]

RTT reckons so. But then the arrival at the Airport off the 1109 ex GLC doesn't fit with any suitable departures. It appears this working has historically gone on to work a service to Barrow or such like, and I can't see that happening somehow

It still has the barrow departure on friday as well

GLC - MIA arrives platform 2A

MIA -BIF leaves from 2A 15 minutes later

Who knows..

 

[harz99]

I noticed on the NR Website it says







So maybe after then it will change ?

So what happens on Friday then? Will it get to the airport?

See post 415 for what happens from Friday onwards...............

 

[richardio123]

See post 415 for what happens from Friday onwards...............

Thanks

 

[Starmill]

For the benefit of everyone else, post 415, thank you kwvr45!:

Here are a few more piccies:

As an aside, please also note that the "entry to service" diagrams have changed:

From Monday 30th December - Thursday 2nd January the 0715 MIA - GLC and 1109 GLC - MIA will be worked by a 350. On 30th December it is scheduled to be 2 x 350. The previously planned diagram starting with the 0558 from MIA to EDB will be 185 worked on these days, I believe 2 x 185s.

From Friday 3rd January onwards the already planned diagrams will apply, which will see the 0558 MIA - EDB, 1008 EDB - MIA, 1400 MIA - EDB and 1812 EDB - MIA being 350 worked on SX dates.

Not sure what the weekend plan is I'm afraid.

Also to note: Seating round tables is arranged in a facing / backing format for seat reservations so there are 2 of some seat numbers - so it should be possible, for the first time, to book facing or backing seats on TPE services!

I have to say it was worth going out for, even if it did mean spending over an hour at Wigan for no good reason! The thing that most surprised me was having an extra toilet by the cycle area in the same coach as the accessible loo. Good thinking to have 3 per 4 coach set I think!

Also love the golden T-Key which was apparently presented to the guard on the inaugural service.

 

[STANDISH]

Was the train full coming from Wigan ? Did they need the eight coaches ?

Thanks for any information .

Standish

 

[edwin_m]

The eight coaches on the first run may be a bit of insurance in case of problems with one of the units.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't know about the 350 working yesterday, but the later northbound 185s were full and standing, with Scots heading off for Hogmanay.
Not helped by Virgin cancelling the 1253 Preston-Glasgow because there was no crew for it.
They were stuck further north because of flooding, so the Pendolino was reversed to pick up the southbound working.
All excellent service recovery, except for the trainload of disgruntled Scots dumped on the platform at Preston (to find the following 6-car TP service already "full and standing").

 

[ianhr]

Does anyone know yet if the 350s have been diagrammed for Sat 4th Jan?