Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Deepgreen]

Sadly we live in a culture where people are not responsible for their own actions. If they stopped claiming compensation I have no doubt the announcements will fade into obscurity.

Blame the people who caused all this, rather those that have to allow for the Darwinism of the human race.

We had a thread the other week requesting warnings about trains going through platforms at speed. That very same poster often bemoans pointless announcements.

My point was that; a) the warning is pointless as platform surfaces are not noticeably more slippery in rain, and; b) that the message was displayed permanently at the expense of all the other, actually useful, information. The PIS was clearly (yet again) faulty.

Simply displaying such a warning notice will not make the slightest difference to those who choose to bring action because they perceive a liability on the part of the railway for rain! Such an action would be laughably easy to quash. Otherwise, when will we see notices along all roads and footpaths to the effect that, when wet, they may present a hazard?! Let's not fall into the trap that every single possible hazard requires a warning to guard against possible legal action - that way lies madness.

 

[ComUtoR]

Simply displaying such a warning notice will not make the slightest difference to those who choose to bring action because they perceive a liability on the part of the railway for rain!

Yet they still blame the railway. Not even just the railway. Its a sad state of affairs this country has succumb to. Where there's blame....

- that way lies madness.

Tell that to the people who sue over peanuts not containing a nut allergy warning.

Even if people are not really successful in getting a pay out they still get compensated. People will now complain purely because companies will pay out something. A few vouchers here and there, free ticket to, flowers, choccies etc etc.

 

[spark001uk]

Just a thought whilst sat at the back of this 700, if a bed-btn is still formed of a pair of 377s, is there official word as to any of its 1st being declass?
As an 8-377 has less 1st seating than a 700, my gut instinct would say no.

 

[tsr]

Just a thought whilst sat at the back of this 700, if a bed-btn is still formed of a pair of 377s, is there official word as to any of its 1st being declass?
As an 8-377 has less 1st seating than a 700, my gut instinct would say no.

Sometimes it's posted on the CIS, sometimes not, but with TL 377 workings, there is generally one First Class section which is permanently declassified (and labelled as such), and another at the opposite end which remains designated for First Class ticket holders only.

A notable exception to this would be any TL workings in and out of London Bridge which use Southern 377s. Bar the /3, /6 and /7 variants, none of which would regularly see use for TL, Southern 377s are meant to convey First Class at both ends of each unit.

 

[spark001uk]

First time I've witnessed a full house! On 2O97 to Sutton. It's standing in vestibules and all gangways. I'm assuming FLU aren't suitable for the Sutton loop then?

 

[Domh245]

First time I've witnessed a full house! On 2O97 to Sutton. It's standing in vestibules and all gangways. I'm assuming FLU aren't suitable for the Sutton loop then?

FLUs would be far too long for just about every platform and would foul the points at Wimbledon. And wait till you've witnessed fullest house - crush loaded in all locations - if you can, try and get the luggage rack as a convenient standback/desk area

 

[Peter Mugridge]

700 011 reported in France today, en route here...




Another snippet of news:

On the platform timetable displays at Wimbledon, three or four trains round the loop are now shown as having first class accommodation available; the times of these trains appear to match those of the longer established booked 700s round the loop...

 

[AM9]

700 011 reported in France today, en route here...




Another snippet of news:

On the platform timetable displays at Wimbledon, three or four trains round the loop are now shown as having first class accommodation available; the times of these trains appear to match those of the longer established booked 700s round the loop...

Maybe they can now do that because all 700s will have 1st class seating areas which can be designated as such, unlike the 319s,- some of which were metro stock and were all standard class seating, ISTR 313/0 and 313/3.

 

[Bald Rick]

First time I've witnessed a full house! On 2O97 to Sutton. It's standing in vestibules and all gangways. I'm assuming FLU aren't suitable for the Sutton loop then?

You can't have been out much then! Just about any fast train from St Albans in the morning between the 0738 and 0812 is full red on the loading indicators (Friday's excepted).

As I posted up thread, I have experienced one leaving people behind with no delays or cancellations on other services. Given that in crush loading the 12 coach version can swallow nearly 2000 people, that shows how busy the line is.

 

[westcoaster]

700 011 reported in France today, en route here...




Another snippet of news:

On the platform timetable displays at Wimbledon, three or four trains round the loop are now shown as having first class accommodation available; the times of these trains appear to match those of the longer established booked 700s round the loop...

That has always been the case a few morning and evening trains still have 1st class these tend to be the class 1 workings which originate from and to bedford

 

[ChiefPlanner]

You can't have been out much then! Just about any fast train from St Albans in the morning between the 0738 and 0812 is full red on the loading indicators (Friday's excepted).

As I posted up thread, I have experienced one leaving people behind with no delays or cancellations on other services. Given that in crush loading the 12 coach version can swallow nearly 2000 people, that shows how busy the line is.

Which will get worse when the current rash of apartment building within easy strolling distance of the station is occupied. Further in - note the demolition of the old Hendon Police training school for 2000 flats. (+ the Brent Cross makeover) - TLK North will become even more squeezed - fast as well as slow trains.

Crossrail 3 anyone ?

 

[urpert]

Which will get worse when the current rash of apartment building within easy strolling distance of the station is occupied. Further in - note the demolition of the old Hendon Police training school for 2000 flats. (+ the Brent Cross makeover) - TLK North will become even more squeezed - fast as well as slow trains.

Crossrail 3 anyone ?

It's always surprised me that they haven't marketed it as a sort of Crossrail-lite, particularly given the high density stock and ATO in the centre.

 

[387star]

A rough idea when tables will be fitted in standard ? Should lessen coffee spills

I struggle at 5 9 to get comfy in the airline window seats legroom too tight combined with the heater cover and the seat fitting underneath

 

[phoenixcronin]

700108 has broken down halfway into Blackfriars Platform 2. The brakes have become stuck (apparently)

Everyone is being tipped out

https://flic.kr/p/SYmzWH

 

[bengley]

Not a brake fault although that may have been what the public were told.

The AWS acknowledge button fell off the desk.

 

[phoenixcronin]

Not a brake fault although that may have been what the public were told.

The AWS acknowledge button fell off the desk.

From hitting it too hard?

 

[bengley]

From hitting it too hard?

Unlikely. The buttons are poor quality. A memo was already put out a while ago stating that the buttons have to be pressed a lot harder and less quickly than the buttons on old stock (which for a button which has to be pressed fairly quickly is not really ideal)

 

[notverydeep]

Not a brake fault although that may have been what the public were told.

The AWS acknowledge button fell off the desk.

The real person announcement on the NB platform at St. Pancras said nothing more specific than train fault. Once the detrainment had been finished the unit moved off quite quickly. Total delay to trains behind was circa 40 minutes.

 

[jon0844]

Not a brake fault although that may have been what the public were told.

The AWS acknowledge button fell off the desk.

Siemens trying to trump Bombardier now?

Bloody buttons!

 

[Mordac]

Not a brake fault although that may have been what the public were told.

The AWS acknowledge button fell off the desk.

Did Siemens subcontract this one to Bombardier?#

EDIT: I see jonmorris0844 beat me to it.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Unlikely. The buttons are poor quality. A memo was already put out a while ago stating that the buttons have to be pressed a lot harder and less quickly than the buttons on old stock (which for a button which has to be pressed fairly quickly is not really ideal)

I would have expected the AWS acknowledge button to be a heavy duty button as on any class of unit or loco it must get the most use by a long way

 

[jon0844]

Did Siemens subcontract this one to Bombardier?#

EDIT: I see jonmorris0844 beat me to it.

How could I not? Jokes about this are my sole reason for existing.

 

[Minstral25]

Probably only confirms what has been said earlier on here at the GN/Thameslink Stakeholders meeting they said that Thameslink will be an all 700 railway by end of May except for some SE services driven by SE crew which will convert to 700 by end of July.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Probably only confirms what has been said earlier on here at the GN/Thameslink Stakeholders meeting they said that Thameslink will be an all 700 railway by end of May except for some SE services driven by SE crew which will convert to 700 by end of July.

If that is the case, then expect many more 319s to go off for storage over the coming weeks...bar a few for the Sevenoaks service until July

 

[asylumxl]

Anyone know what broke down in City Thameslink earlier?

 

[bengley]

Anyone know what broke down in City Thameslink earlier?

700 FLU

Sat down from approx 0400 until 0822.

Now on the move at 5mph to Cricklewood as a 20 car (assisted by RLU)

 

[asylumxl]

700 FLU

Sat down from approx 0400 until 0822.

Now on the move at 5mph to Cricklewood as a 20 car (assisted by RLU)

Over 4 hours!? Wow... just wow.

 

[spark001uk]

I wait eagerly to see if SWT have any of these problems.

 

[Deepgreen]

Over 4 hours!? Wow... just wow.

Indeed - staggering.

 

[The Box Photter]

Add to that fact that two other Siemens Disastros failed at Bedford on the 0716 to Sevenoaks and 0730 to Brighton and you've got a recipe for complete meltdown ... which is what happened.

No southbound trains from Flitwick between 0708 and 0817 (except for 1H91 Bedford to Beckenham Jcn which sailed through without stopping). When a 700 RLU did finally arrive it was all-stations to St Pancras.

Why the constant failures in traffic? Hardware, software or soft-squishy-ware (driver mis-handling)?