Great Western Railway Heathrow Express Class 387 Refittment and Service Updates

[Domh245]

Just to elaborate, the 57/3s are the dellner (or tightlock!) fitted units, the 57/6s are the GW Sleeper locos. In this case however, the 57/3s used were operated by Rail Operations Group. ROG's modified 37s (601, 608, 611, 800, 884) also made some of the drags related to the HEx conversion

 

[pdeaves]

I assume they're being stored there due to reduced demand?

The Oxford sidings are a convenient place to park thing not required at Reading. None of the Heathrow ones are in service yet (still under conversion, there is a separate thread about that) so is independent of any reaction to reduced demand.

 

[K.o.R]

I've recently noticed a pair of Heathrow Express Class 387s parked in the sidings just north of Oxford. I assume they're being stored there due to reduced demand? Also, as electric units how did they get there? I assume they were dragged there but by what - a DMU or a loco fitted with some sort of adaptor?

I'm curious, have they had a new livery or other markings to identify them as such?

 

[221129]

I'm curious, have they had a new livery or other markings to identify them as such?

Yes.

 

[K.o.R]

Yes.

So they have, and rather smart they look too!

 

[73128]

I saw a Heathrow Express 387 dragged through Stratford yesterday (direction of Liverpool Street), anyone know why?

between Ilford and Reading. Ilford is doing the upgrade work and it feels as if most sets have been at least twice (either because the work is done in bits or it's not right when it gets back west). 387130 came west today (Friday 18th) behind 57310.

 

[JN114]

between Ilford and Reading. Ilford is doing the upgrade work and it feels as if most sets have been at least twice (either because the work is done in bits or it's not right when it gets back west). 387130 came west today (Friday 18th) behind 57310.

There are different phases of the work, each requiring a trip to Ilford; however there isn’t the space to store them there between completion of one phase and progression with the next - so they’ve been dragged back to various places on Western for storage between works trips.

 

[mic505]

Any plans for 387 introduction yet? Hence, all three Class 345's are now running to Heathrow in lieu of the 360's.

 

[JN114]

Any plans for 387 introduction yet? Hence, all three Class 345's are now running to Heathrow in lieu of the 360's.

Hasn’t changed since post 345 slightly up page.

 

[FGW_DID]

@JN114

End of the month for the first pair into service was mentioned in work t’other night! The activity around a couple of them has certainly ’upped the pace” of late. Watch this space!

 

[JN114]

@JN114

End of the month for the first pair into service was mentioned in work t’other night! The activity around a couple of them has certainly ’upped the pace” of late. Watch this space!

We’ll see, although I’ll put my chips on a different month than this one....

If nothing else I’ll be peeved as I’m not back in work until October, so won’t keep my HEX firsts record going....

 

[FGW_DID]

We’ll see, although I’ll put my chips on a different month than this one....

If nothing else I’ll be peeved as I’m not back in work until October, so won’t keep my HEX firsts record going....

Lol, my reaction was similar, I did raise my eyebrows and ask “September in which year?”
Enjoy your time off!

 

[73128]

There are three sets at Oxford now (387136/7/41). Probably not much longer if other reports of first ETCS driver training runs using 387131/138 starring Tuesday 6th October (and then Tuesday - Friday next week and then WFO). intention I believe is that there will be 4 units into passenger service from Sunday 6th December, with all ten in service from Sunday 13th December (so Saturday 12th December should be the last day of class 332 operation on Hex.) (This assumes the two set per train quarter hourly service is resumed, compared with the current three set service, with a single set every half a hour).

 

[Horizon22]

There are three sets at Oxford now (387136/7/41). Probably not much longer if other reports of first ETCS driver training runs using 387131/138 starring Tuesday 6th October (and then Tuesday - Friday next week and then WFO). intention I believe is that there will be 4 units into passenger service from Sunday 6th December, with all ten in service from Sunday 13th December (so Saturday 12th December should be the last day of class 332 operation on Hex.) (This assumes the two set per train quarter hourly service is resumed, compared with the current three set service, with a single set every half a hour).

The big question mark at the moment is whether HeX even want to go back to 4tph considering the very low passenger numbers to the airport currently. If they don't, the introduction will be much easier for GWR.

 

[JN114]

387137 swapping from Oxford to RTCD with 387140 going the other way.

Both loco hauled by Rail Ops Group throughout

 

[Horizon22]

3Zxx services running between Paddington and T5 today. Formed of 387131 & 3817138 in the new livery. All seems to be going to plan as per @73128's post barring delays due to typical 345 failures.

 

[bussikuski179]

This have the regular GWR interior?

 

[swt_passenger]

This have the regular GWR interior?

I’m sure the relevant subset of the fleet have had interior modifications done. I think there are pictures somewhere earlier in this discussion - yes, in post #187

 

[HarryL]

Is it possible that some of the 332 carriages could be salvaged and taken on by Northern and used to provide extensions to their 333 fleet once these trains replace them? I know the driving equipment is a little different and incompatible but are the carriages the same? Northern touted extending their West Yorkshire services to 6 cars rather than the current 4 but it never happened when they got new trains, this seems like an opportunity to do it to my very untrained mind.

 

[JN114]

Is it possible that some of the 332 carriages could be salvaged and taken on by Northern and used to provide extensions to their 333 fleet once these trains replace them? I know the driving equipment is a little different and incompatible but are the carriages the same? Northern touted extending their West Yorkshire services to 6 cars rather than the current 4 but it never happened when they got new trains, this seems like an opportunity to do it to my very untrained mind.

Not economically. There’s a thread in the speculation bit of the forum where it’s all been debunked over and over again.

 

[skyhigh]

Is it possible that some of the 332 carriages could be salvaged and taken on by Northern and used to provide extensions to their 333 fleet once these trains replace them? I know the driving equipment is a little different and incompatible but are the carriages the same? Northern touted extending their West Yorkshire services to 6 cars rather than the current 4 but it never happened when they got new trains, this seems like an opportunity to do it to my very untrained mind.

1) 6 car 331 working is planned to start later this year
2) 5 car 333s won't fit on most platforms and they don't have any form of SDO (which 331s do) to enable that to be a viable method of working

Plus lots of other reasons mentioned in other threads. Not going to happen.

 

[fgwrich]

Slightly related, but HEX “Christmas Tree” 332014 has been pictured at a scrapyard (Sims Peterborough) largely cut up, with only part of a bogie and front fairing left. So that is the first unit gone I’m afraid. Unsure if I can share the picture (as it’s on a private Facebook group) but that is the first one now gone.

 

[221101 Voyager]

Slightly related, but HEX “Christmas Tree” 332014 has been pictured at a scrapyard (Sims Peterborough) largely cut up, with only part of a bogie and front fairing left. So that is the first unit gone I’m afraid. Unsure if I can share the picture (as it’s on a private Facebook group) but that is the first one now gone.

Do you know any more details about this? Just so I can quote a source when adding it to the Wiki article.
Thanks.

Even if you have the link to the page, that will be fine then at least I can quote it as a source.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I’m assuming HEX are using COVID to scrap some 332s as I believe they are running a reduced service atm?

 

[JN114]

I’m assuming HEX are using COVID to scrap some 332s as I believe they are running a reduced service atm?

332002, 005, 012 are all also already withdrawn (permanently) from traffic.

Current service requires 3 units from a fleet of 14, (well now 10), so that’s not expected to cause any hardship.

387 ETCS L2 driver training is pathed every weekday at present, although tends to only run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

We should only be a couple of weeks away from entry into service.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

332002, 005, 012 are all also already withdrawn (permanently) from traffic.

Current service requires 3 units from a fleet of 14, (well now 10), so that’s not expected to cause any hardship.

387 ETCS L2 driver training is pathed every weekday at present, although tends to only run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

We should only be a couple of weeks away from entry into service.

As in theory HEX resume 4tph between Paddington and Heathrow T5 from December (lord knows why), presumably that will require some of the 387Air units to be in traffic by then?

 

[supervc-10]

Slightly related, but HEX “Christmas Tree” 332014 has been pictured at a scrapyard (Sims Peterborough) largely cut up, with only part of a bogie and front fairing left. So that is the first unit gone I’m afraid. Unsure if I can share the picture (as it’s on a private Facebook group) but that is the first one now gone.

Would this make it the first post-privatisation unit to be scrapped that's not due to an accident?

 

[JonathanH]

As in theory HEX resume 4tph between Paddington and Heathrow T5 from December (lord knows why), presumably that will require some of the 387Air units to be in traffic by then?

Assuming T4 remains closed, I can't see a reason for either TfL Rail or Heathrow Express running more than 2tph to Heathrow T5 from 14 December - presumably the STP changes will be made nearer the time. Posting 373 above indicates that the first 387 runs on 6 December and the last 332 on 12 December.

Would this make it the first post-privatisation unit to be scrapped that's not due to an accident?

Does 325010 count as post-privatisation, not that it carried passengers? 332014 hasn't operated for a franchised operator of course, only open access.

 

[supervc-10]

Weren't the 325s built just before privatisation?

Perhaps privatisation era would have been a better term!

 

[fgwrich]

The same picture has now reached RailNews.

332 014 Ex-Heathrow Express has been scrapped at Sims Peterborough, making it the first if it’s class to be scrapped. 332 014 was last in service in... | By Uk_railnews | Facebook

332 014 Ex-Heathrow Express has been scrapped at Sims Peterborough, making it the first if it’s class to be scrapped. 332 014 was last in service in...

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