FCC test runs at Lewes?

[samogers]

Hi, on real train times,at Lewes signal Lw58 there are diagrammed services at 1138 and 1338 to Haywards Heath, 1220 to Preston Park sidings and 1420 to Brighton. These services are operated by FCC and are stated as tests. Are they paths for ECS, driver training or actual testing? However, it says that the units used will be 319s so surely can't be testing as they are not new units.
Does anyone know what these units/paths are used for? Thanks, Sam

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...14/03/31/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[Lrd]

It may be a test schedule rather than a test train.

 

[westcoaster]

Hi, on real train times,at Lewes signal Lw58 there are diagrammed services at 1138 and 1338 to Haywards Heath, 1220 to Preston Park sidings and 1420 to Brighton. These services are operated by FCC and are stated as tests. Are they paths for ECS, driver training or actual testing? However, it says that the units used will be 319s so surely can't be testing as they are not new units.
Does anyone know what these units/paths are used for? Thanks, Sam

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...14/03/31/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

These are used as and when needed by drivers (Brighton and some blackfriars) to keep up route knowledge between Brighton and wivlesfield via lewes. These might used a lot this week with the re signalling done down that way. Incidentally the unit used on this run is the hot spare unit, which has a long iirc 5-6 layover at Brighton but can be used incase of failures or disruption.

 

[samogers]

These are used as and when needed by drivers (Brighton and some blackfriars) to keep up route knowledge between Brighton and wivlesfield via lewes. These might used a lot this week with the re signalling done down that way. Incidentally the unit used on this run is the hot spare unit, which has a long iirc 5-6 layover at Brighton but can be used incase of failures or disruption.

Ok thanks, I suppose it is a diversionary route for the BML

 

[neilm]

Yes an example of this is on Saturday night. Trains from london to Brighton run up until 1am - 1:30am into Brighton, so sometimes the BML is closed and they run via lewes, I did wonder if it was fcc drivers that did this route without the help of southern so it appears they do.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Yes an example of this is on Saturday night. Trains from london to Brighton run up until 1am - 1:30am into Brighton, so sometimes the BML is closed and they run via lewes, I did wonder if it was fcc drivers that did this route without the help of southern so it appears they do.

All FCC Brighton drivers should know the diversionary route via Lewes.

 

[samogers]

All FCC Brighton drivers should know the diversionary route via Lewes.

But on some Sundays, when the BML is closed and services are diverted via Lewes, normally the FCC services terminate at Haywards Heath or Three Bridges and its only the Southern VIC - BTN services that are diverted via Lewez so surely they wouldn't need to know the route.

Unless they also use it as an emergency route in case there is disruption between Wivlesfield and Brighton

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It is an emergency diversionary - and used reasonably often - for engineering works Southern and FCC work together in the best interests of capacity and service (e.g FCC often cover Southern workings and vice versa - as for example ,over the Xmas period when FCC ran services Brighton to Gatwick main line)

 

[samogers]

It is an emergency diversionary - and used reasonably often - for engineering works Southern and FCC work together in the best interests of capacity and service (e.g FCC often cover Southern workings and vice versa - as for example ,over the Xmas period when FCC ran services Brighton to Gatwick main line)

Oh ok, what about the re signalling, will that effect anything?

 

[GatwickDepress]

I've passed FCC services near Lewes, to my surprise!

There's a a small platform, like a staff halt, with stop marker boards a little way past Lewes in the Eastbourne direction. Is this used by those drivers to swap ends or by them at all?