Class 387

[WestCountry]

What about using the 378s 387s on the GN fasts not being transferred to Thameslink, where they could make good use of that 110mph capability up the ECML, and moving the 365s south?
After all, they were built with DC equipment and worked in Kent for some time.

 

[A-driver]

What about using the 378s on the GN fasts not being transferred to Thameslink, where they could make good use of that 110mph capability up the ECML, and moving the 365s south?

After all, they were built with DC equipment and worked in Kent for some time.

365s can't run in any southern routes, they are only cleared for southeastern. They can't take the Brighton lines out of London bridge or Victoria.

 

[Manchester77]

What about using the 378s on the GN fasts not being transferred to Thameslink, where they could make good use of that 110mph capability up the ECML, and moving the 365s south?
After all, they were built with DC equipment and worked in Kent for some time.

The 387s were ordered with the plan to cascade them elsewhere in the country so for TSGN to retain the 387s as well as 365s would mean a new EMU order would be needed for the routes which would have otherwise gained 387s.

 

[Aictos]

The 387s were ordered with the plan to cascade them elsewhere in the country so for TSGN to retain the 387s as well as 365s would mean a new EMU order would be needed for the routes which would have otherwise gained 387s.

More Class 700s maybe?

 

[hwl]

The 387s were ordered with the plan to cascade them elsewhere in the country so for TSGN to retain the 387s as well as 365s would mean a new EMU order would be needed for the routes which would have otherwise gained 387s.

That still is the plan...
The TSGN ITT said the original batch of 387s had to be released and cascaded... it said nothing about taking up the options for the additional ones and retaining those which is what many are assuming hence no "new" order just the use of an existing option. Given the time-scale involved this seems the most probable option by far.

 

[railfanatic]

Train 387-001, fresh off the production line.

 

[Class377/5]

Train 387-001, fresh off the production line.

Isn't it supposed to be at Old Dalby by now? Good to see the first completed.

 

[physics34]

Train 387-001, fresh off the production line.

Just strange how they are being subleased by southern to Thameslink (TSGN) who are the same company (first unit due to be in public service in november) and they are releasing them with green southern doors.

They will never go 'back' to southern, so i wonder why they are not in the new TSGN livery...

Maybe its too soon after the franchise decision was announced and theyve got 600,000 gallons of green paint!

 

[joeykins82]

Southern have stated that anything that runs north of the Thames will be branded Thameslink (with the new TSGN livery) whereas the existing Southern area will continue to be Southern.

https://twitter.com/SouthernRailUK/status/474528719944843264

So yeah, once the class 700 deliveries are complete it'll be in Southern green

 

[physics34]

Southern have stated that anything that runs north of the Thames will be branded Thameslink (with the new TSGN livery) whereas the existing Southern area will continue to be Southern.

https://twitter.com/SouthernRailUK/status/474528719944843264

So yeah, once the class 700 deliveries are complete it'll be in Southern green

when the 700s come out they will be going somewhere else (currently undecided i believe) so i doubt theyll be in southern colours.

 

[Class377/5]

Its already been announced that they are to recieve a green version of the TSGN livery. Govia choose that.

 

[Domh245]

What does that mean exactly? Green body with white stripes and blue doors, or white with green doors and stripes?

 

[Class377/5]

What does that mean exactly? Green body with white stripes and blue doors, or white with green doors and stripes?

A green version of the TSGN livery, ie in green vice blue.

 

[physics34]

A green version of the TSGN livery, ie in green vice blue.

so they are gonna vinyl or paint the whole carriage grey but not gonna bother to change the colour of the doors to blue?? That doesnt really make sense.

 

[westcoaster]

In that 387 picture what's wrong with the second carriage, looks way out of line.

 

[swt_passenger]

so they are gonna vinyl or paint the whole carriage grey but not gonna bother to change the colour of the doors to blue?? That doesnt really make sense.

It does a bit, because GoVia have earlier stated (and it has been referred to in a number of other threads), that they were going to have different branding and liveries for the Thameslink and Southern (and GatEx ) parts of the new combined franchise.

 

[physics34]

It does a bit, because GoVia have earlier stated (and it has been referred to in a number of other threads), that they were going to have different branding and liveries for the Thameslink and Southern (and GatEx ) parts of the new combined franchise.

Thing is they are gonna be running on thameslink services to replace the 319s, then when the 700s enter service they will be off, they wont run on southern services at all (unless they get mixed and matched with the /5s???). So why the green???

 

[fgwrich]

Just strange how they are releasing them with green southern doors....
Maybe its too soon after the franchise decision was announced and theyve got 600,000 gallons of green paint!

More than likely it's just common parts, given that they've just built the /6s, working through the /7s means that they've probably ordered a bulk amount of doors and interior parts to be finished in the same colours. I just hope that the seat's aren't the same ironing board efforts as in the /6s with that god awful recycled beach towel/astroturf efforts Southern seem so seen on using though.

Given the poor build qualities being shown up in the 379 thread I wonder how long those door buttons will remain on...

 

[Class377/5]

so they are gonna vinyl or paint the whole carriage grey but not gonna bother to change the colour of the doors to blue?? That doesnt really make sense.

They may stay this way long term but think about. Cascaded new units in Govia colours reflecting positively on Govia for the 387's future routes.

Note the green doors on the 387's were ordered by Southern prior to tenders going in for TSGN franchise. Southern call the 387 livery an interim one.

 

[AM9]

In that 387 picture what's wrong with the second carriage, looks way out of line.

Also they don't seem to have camera housings above the the cab window so are they equipped for Thameslink with DOO?

 

[Class377/5]

Also they don't seem to have camera housings above the the cab window so are they equipped for Thameslink with DOO?

They have DOO but the camera positions are off set. You can clearly see in this image that there is a camera on the rear of the leading coach. On the other side of the carriage it'll be on the drivers cab like all Electrostars.

Train 387-001, fresh off the production line.

 

[Surreyman]

I note that Roger Ford (modern railways) believes that the new Gatwick Express trains will be sourced from the follow-on (option) order for 387s.

 

[bnsf734]

I note that Roger Ford (modern railways) believes that the new Gatwick Express trains will be sourced from the follow-on (option) order for 387s.

That makes sense and it will save several months from the procurement process.

Instead of having to go out to tender for a new fleet just send an email to Bombardier asking them to build the optional follow on order.....

 

[physics34]

They may stay this way long term but think about. Cascaded new units in Govia colours reflecting positively on Govia for the 387's future routes.

Note the green doors on the 387's were ordered by Southern prior to tenders going in for TSGN franchise. Southern call the 387 livery an interim one.

Yeh fair enough. I suppose anything is better than the too loud FCC livery.

 

[Aictos]

If say Govia do decide to take up the option for a follow on order of Class 387s to use on the Gatwick Express, would they be looking at extending more GatExs towards Brighton?

How many 387s would they need to completely remove 442s from the GatEx?

 

[Stats]

If say Govia do decide to take up the option for a follow on order of Class 387s to use on the Gatwick Express, would they be looking at extending more GatExs towards Brighton?

It has already been announced that 2 of the 4 tph off-peak will be extended to Brighton from Dec 2015.

 

[swt_passenger]

How many 387s would they need to completely remove 442s from the GatEx?

Presumably the figure they've already announced in their press release, i.e. 108 vehicles, so 27 x 4 car units?

New trains
• 108 new Gatwick Express carriages designed for airline travellers by 2016
• 150 new metro carriages for Moorgate services in 2018
• 1,140 Thameslink Class 700 carriages already ordered from Siemens delivered between 2016 and 2018

http://www.govia.info/news/2014-news/govia-awarded-tsgn-franchise/

As discussed in earlier threads...

 

[MidlandMainlie]

I note that Roger Ford (modern railways) believes that the new Gatwick Express trains will be sourced from the follow-on (option) order for 387s.

Are they designed with airport passengers in mind though? Suppose a different interior could be fitted but it seems like a waste of their 110mph capability if they are stuck on the BML.

Perhaps a more radical suggestion is to use them to replace 365's on the Cambridge/Kings Lynn services (wasn't there talk of these being replaced with air conditioned stock?) their 110mph capability would be more use on the ECML and the 365's could be used on GatEx or cascaded elsewhere (Transpennnine express perhaps). Would the numbers add up?

 

[swt_passenger]

Are they designed with airport passengers in mind though? Suppose a different interior could be fitted but it seems like a waste of their 110mph capability if they are stuck on the BML.

Here's a novel idea. Perhaps the GoVia press release is correct, i.e. when they say they are new trains designed for airline travellers they really will be?

In hindsight I think maybe a big assumption is being made in the forum generally, that the potential follow on order for additional units has to definitely be more 387s set to run at 110 mph. Perhaps they'll just turn out to be 100 mph 377/8s or something - I don't think the details have been ever been published at all, so has it ever been correct to assume they'll definitely be more of the same?

 

[TEW]

I think it's a given that the new Gatwick Express trains will have interiors suitable for airport use given the current criticism of the 442s for their unsuitable interiors.