Scotrail Class 380s

[route101]

Have the FSR 380s arrived ? i passed shields depot and there was no sign of one .

 

[MCR247]

No they haven't. First once was due to be hear but hasn't yet because of wheelset problems

 

[me123]

Nope. I don't know exactly what the story is, but the delivery from Europe keeps getting delayed unfortunately. The trains are coming up as part of 7X80 from Dollands Moor-Polmadie Depot (rather than Shields Depot at the moment).

It was originally due to arrive on the 23rd July, then it was delayed for a week, and now I believe the date keeps getting pushed back. Last I heard, they were hoping for one at the end of August (which is probably a bit too late to start running them in September as was originally hoped). The date I heard for staff training to start was 16th August, so I imagine that introduction into service will be slightly later than intended.

I'm hoping these teething problems aren't going to prove too significant! Any proper delays on this cascade could cause problem on the reopening of the Airdrie-Bathgate line, as the 334s on Ayrshire need to be displaced in December to free up enough units to operate the new line.

The only cause I've heard is a suggestion (not 100% sure) that there's a problem with the wheelsets.

(Info from S. Barton, on another railway forum; and Scot-rail.co.uk)

 

[route101]

ahh thanks for the info . i always thought it would be december when they will start service . Better get my camera out to take photos of 318/ 334s on the Ayr line if they are going elsewhere.

 

[CarterUSM]

There was something on the back page of this months rail news about them( or perhaps it was last months!) it said one was due over the tail end of Aug/Sep but nothing too confirming anyway. I must say that i'm particularly interested in seeing one now!

 

[rail-britain]

There is a meeting (A2B fortnightly) at Transport Scotland tomorrow which should include an update about the units; delivery, training, and passenger introduction
I am not attending, but I will be receiving a copy of the minutes (so should receive it in the late evening)

 

[ADRboy]

There is a meeting (A2B fortnightly) at Transport Scotland tomorrow which should include an update about the units; delivery, training, and passenger introduction
I am not attending, but I will be receiving a copy of the minutes (so should receive it in the late evening)

So you left the police then? I thought you worked with them when you posted on Strathycruise?

 

[route101]

one good thing about the 380s is that they have corridor connections . Should look nice in saltire colours.

 

[MCR247]

one good thing about the 380s is that they have corridor connections . Should look nice in saltire colours.

http://www.therailwaycentre.com/NewSite POD 2010/POD01-07-10.jpg

 

[Techniquest]

Am I the only one who's worried their camera/camcorder will break when photting/filming these 'things'?

 

[rail-britain]

So you left the police then? I thought you worked with them when you posted on Strathycruise?

I've never worked for the Police, I am a contractor, and yes I still hold some of these contracts

 

[The_Stig]

I heard that they may not be in service until the end of October/November due to the problems they are having, and it wasn't wheelsets.

 

[route101]

Just saw a pic of a Class 86 at Ayr in the 80s and why they start the services at Ayr? Can you imagine a pendolino from Ayr.

 

[The Engineer]

one good thing about the 380s is that they have corridor connections . Should look nice in saltire colours.

I think the jury's out on the corridor connection. Transport for Scotland insisted on them; ScotRail don't like them (they were removed from 318s!!).

They are an added complication and due to their sloping design I can only envisage them being unreliable(

TIME WILL TELL!!

 

[Fincra5]

I thought some drivers complained about visibility issues with the earlier desiros, so these ones have slopped front to try and remove this, can't see it helping much.

 

[rail-britain]

Just saw a pic of a Class 86 at Ayr in the 80s and why they start the services at Ayr? Can you imagine a pendolino from Ayr.

The service ran Glasgow to Ayr in the morning (from memory it was ECS)
The loco then ran round and worked Ayr back to Glasgow in service
The train then formed the Royal Scot to London
Officially it was Ayr to London

On Saturdays there was a similar service, which ran to Ayr and then back to Glasgow ECS
However, a few times it ran empty (as it did NOT pick up at Glasgow)

The chances of a Class 390, between zero and nil

 

[route101]

Interesting . I have always wondered about a pendolino going down the ayr line . Didnt one get dragged that way?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I thought some drivers complained about visibility issues with the earlier desiros, so these ones have slopped front to try and remove this, can't see it helping much.

I thought the sloped front was because it was the latest regulatory requirement for crashworthiness?

 

[90019]

I thought the sloped front was because it was the latest regulatory requirement for crashworthiness?

I think he may mean the sloped corridor connection, rather than the front of the train itself.

 

[route101]

if it wasent sloped it would just be like a 350. Anyone know what the interiors will be like ?

 

[tbtc]

Excuse my ignorance, but what are the main differences between a 380 and a common or garden 350? Enough to justify a new class?

 

[MCR247]

Excuse my ignorance, but what are the main differences between a 380 and a common or garden 350? Enough to justify a new class?

The 380 has a corridor that is slanted and comes forward when they couple

Theres one forward http://www.therailwaycentre.com/NewSite POD 2009/POD17-11-09.jpg
And not forward http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3507594261_7561b94db4.jpg

Although the second one is a mock up it gives you the idea

Also the have different shaped saloon windows

 

[sprinterguy]

Also the 380 carriages are 23m long whilst 350 carriages are 20m (20.34m to be precise). Plus the platform 5 book reports that the 380s have Voith couplings, whereas the 350s have Dellners?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Interesting . I have always wondered about a pendolino going down the ayr line . Didnt one get dragged that way?

I think I remember them being dragged on the G&SW a couple of years back whilst the Scottish end of the WCML was closed for engineering work. They've never actually been to Ayr though (as far as I'm aware); could make an interesting service from London via Carlisle and Dumfries if they did though!

 

[route101]

Yep i been on a dragged pendo via kilmarnock in may . Dosent happen often . It would be very rare if it ran via Paisley . I wonder if all this electrification goes ahead , we would see 380s with a long distance interior .

 

[rail-britain]

we would see 380s with a long distance interior

In effect it is a "long distance" interior, unlike other Scottish EMUs, as they have 2+2 seating throughout

 

[Bittern]

Many pictures of some 380s (not the mock up!) can be found here. Not bad looking, are they?

(they were removed from 318s!!).

Thankfully. The 318s are much prettier now.

 

[The_Stig]

Excuse my ignorance, but what are the main differences between a 380 and a common or garden 350? Enough to justify a new class?

They have 'Fly-by-wire' technology, the first in the UK I am lead to believe.

 

[CarterUSM]

They have 'Fly-by-wire' technology, the first in the UK I am lead to believe.

Yes, it has led to the reduction of miles of cabling I believe. What is the reliability of technology like this? Are there many new problems that could occur? Also, why the new coupling?

 

[The_Stig]

Yes, it has led to the reduction of miles of cabling I believe. What is the reliability of technology like this? Are there many new problems that could occur? Also, why the new coupling?

If it is good enough for fighter jets I think it will be pretty reliable on an EMU, if they have not scrimped on the comms, we will see though!

As for the new coupling I don't know.

 

[CarterUSM]

If it is good enough for fighter jets I think it will be pretty reliable on an EMU, if they have not scrimped on the comms, we will see though!

As for the new coupling I don't know.

I was thinking that myself, I had a yamaha with a fly by wire throttle and it was no trouble at all, and couldn't be more responsive. You're right though, we'll see how it goes!