TPE Class 397 ('Nova 2') construction and updates

[johnpeter3]

Capacity desperately needed, as well as alleviating Manchester Airport - Picc - Deansgate congestion (written standing on a 350 now. When it's a 185 it's even worse) these 397s can't come soon enough

 

[LeylandLen]

Yes. 397004 went to Glasgow on test while 397005 (handed over to TPE several weeks ago now) has been used for Driver Assessor training all this week. There is a Driver Instructor course next week. These units should become a more familiar sight as time wears on.

5S74 Test run , mileage acculimation, LLS to Glasgow terminated Preston today 1711, assumed its 397005

 

[driver9000]

5S74 Test run , mileage acculimation, LLS to Glasgow terminated Preston today 1711, assumed its 397005

Again, it's Driver training. It is stabling at Preston overnight and starting from there around 07:00 to Liverpool to become 5S41.

 

[js1000]

Capacity desperately needed, as well as alleviating Manchester Airport - Picc - Deansgate congestion (written standing on a 350 now. When it's a 185 it's even worse) these 397s can't come soon enough

As someone who gets trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly from a station on the Airport Line everyday I can safely say that compared with the 185s both the 397s and 802s are not going to help with congestion through Manchester thanks to single leaf end doors which are only going to increase dwell times and add to congestion through Manchester!

 

[ajdunlop]

As someone who gets trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly from a station on the Airport Line everyday I can safely say that compared with the 185s both the 397s and 802s are not going to help with congestion through Manchester thanks to single leaf end doors which are only going to increase dwell times and add to congestion through Manchester!

Will the single width doors really make that much of a difference? I find that when it’s busy people on the platform barely leave a one person wide gap to get off and suitcases normally take up some (and sometimes all) of the width of the doors on the 185s

 

[Bletchleyite]

Will the single width doors really make that much of a difference? I find that when it’s busy people on the platform barely leave a one person wide gap to get off and suitcases normally take up some (and sometimes all) of the width of the doors on the 185s

It's more the door position, as people can go in both directions from a "thirds" door so can load a lot quicker. With end doors someone faffing with a bag blocks the whole flow. When TPE operated 158s things were a lot slower than with the 185s.

 

[Nym]

Not to mention the significant reduction in doors per unit length on a 802 compared with a 185.

 

[Mordac]

And also the fact that you can't easily see down the coach whether there are empty seats or not. I've lost count of the number of times I've boarded a Pendo or a Voyager to be greeted by people standing in the vestibule, when there were actually plenty of seats available inside.

 

[moose2001]

And also the fact that you can't easily see down the coach whether there are empty seats or not. I've lost count of the number of times I've boarded a Pendo or a Voyager to be greeted by people standing in the vestibule, when there were actually plenty of seats available inside.

That'll be the Corbyn effect.

 

[driver_m]

That'll be the Corbyn effect.

Oh no.... here we go....

The issue is purely dependant on where the immediate point getting onto the platform is. That’s why New St is notorious for coach E overloading on a pendo, but coach A can be half empty. Seen it happen on many reasonably busy platforms across the country on different TOCs. It is clearly a commuter conditioned thing as most of our standing commuters on VT at New St are going to International or Cov.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's also that there are a lot of people who would prefer to stand than sit next to someone.

 

[AE]

If I'm only going one or two stops and and the train is busy I always stand in the vestibule. It's a combination of not wanting to waste time walking the length of the train trying to find an empty seat that might not exist combined with a bit of altruism (letting other passengers who might need it more or who might be travelling further than I am take any available seats).

 

[jonesy3001]

is this a 397 or TP set being delivered tomorrow?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K04328/2019/10/17/advanced

 

[Erniescooper]

is this a 397 or TP set being delivered tomorrow?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K04328/2019/10/17/advanced

397010

 

[Jamesrob637]

is this a 397 or TP set being delivered tomorrow?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K04328/2019/10/17/advanced

Not sure but something has gone down today from Crewe!

 

[jonesy3001]

Not sure but something has gone down today from Crewe!

5Q81 went down to portbury today, ready for tomorrow.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

As someone who gets trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly from a station on the Airport Line everyday I can safely say that compared with the 185s both the 397s and 802s are not going to help with congestion through Manchester thanks to single leaf end doors which are only going to increase dwell times and add to congestion through Manchester!

Will the single width doors really make that much of a difference? I find that when it’s busy people on the platform barely leave a one person wide gap to get off and suitcases normally take up some (and sometimes all) of the width of the doors on the 185s

It's more the door position, as people can go in both directions from a "thirds" door so can load a lot quicker. With end doors someone faffing with a bag blocks the whole flow. When TPE operated 158s things were a lot slower than with the 185s.

The mods have created a dedicated thread for discussing door positions and how passengers behave around said doors: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...the-train-before-people-have-alighted.193638/

 

[59CosG95]

5Q81 went down to portbury today, ready for tomorrow.

Returned north empty handed from Bristol East Jct after floodwater made Pill Tunnel (on the Portbury branch) impassable.

 

[hexagon789]

397007 in Glasgow Central plat 7 just now

 

[InOban]

How's the training getting on?

 

[mikemcniven]

397010 reported as currently been on its way up from Portbury (Bristol) to Manchester International Depot at the moment

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K04328/2019/10/17/advanced

 

[EE Andy b1]

Heard a rumour today that TPE are wanting to start a 2 unit Class 397 service Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central from 05th November. Big bang and all that!!

 

[Chorley Cake]

2 x 397 on Longsight this afternoon. One is 005, anybody know what the other (in the depot itself) is ?

 

[Erniescooper]

2 x 397 on Longsight this afternoon. One is 005, anybody know what the other (in the depot itself) is ?

397001

 

[Chorley Cake]

That was quick. Thanks

 

[Jamesrob637]

This?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K04301/2019-10-18/detailed

 

[geoffk]

The TPE calls at Bolton are poorly timed for those wanting to travel to Scotland in the morning. The 06.42 is too early for most but there's nothing then until 12.44! Coming south is better - 1708 from Glasgow or 20.11 from Edinburgh. Are they all due to call at Bolton once the 397s are in service?

 

[route101]

Heard a rumour today that TPE are wanting to start a 2 unit Class 397 service Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central from 05th November. Big bang and all that!!

I would of thought they would sneak one in quietly like the other new TPE types

 

[Mattrail12067]

Do you know if that would then be run all week or just a one off

 

[92002]

Did the same run on Monday to Thursday all week and most of last week too. Even on Saturday.

397007 in Glasgow Central plat 7 just now