I saw this a few weeks back, I think the software surrounding this is still not 100%.For the first time today I noticed on the info screen on one of these units it said a particular coach was ‘full’. I’ve been on busier services in the past and the screens still showed green empty seats in each carriage. Is this a recent change or have I just been oblivious?
I wasn’t aware the available seats thing even worked. Had almost 200 on a 4-car the other day & it was green throughout.
My 3 car (338) to Norwich was pretty packed today and showed all green (I even had a stranger sat opposite me on my table), some units I have been on it has worked like 411 but don't know about the others. Am going back on the train on Friday so will have another look.
Thanks but I’d be amazed if it worked. Only other colour I’ve ever seen on that display is red when the toilets are occupied.
Out of interest. Which road at Crown Point is number 24 ?. Is that round the back of the depot nearer to the river or is it one of the sidings where the 745s park up (nearer to Norwich station). How visible is 755403 ?.
Yes matey. I can’t remember whether they’ve been removed completely. Big old buggers that I have still managed to walk into in the past.
Reported on the TOPS thread as being 755 333 + 755 411
It ran wednesday as 755333 and 755411 with 755333 separating at Cromer and reattaching for the return to Norwich. Didn't run on the Bittern Line on Thursday
Thankyou. I suspected it would be buried deep !.
In fact. I am surprised I have not seen it from an Ipswich train. If I understand it correctly then it is one of those (scattered) sidings visible soon after the river bridge as the train goes over towards Norwich station. How long has it been there ?.
Is that a sign that it is being repaired now?
So its luck if 755403 is moved out side the shed. Then it is luck if road 24 is visible and that requires roads 20-23 to be empty !.
One of the most famous being 466036 at Slade Green. In the end I paid a visit (12/08/96), and was very pleasantly surprised to be taken to see it - fortunately no tracks to cross.
Obvious question - why not obtain the spare parts from the manufacturer? Particularly as the trains are brand new!
Expect it’s a combination of Covid, Brexit & a surplus of units.
Am currently on 407 and the seat screens are showing that 2 of the 4 coaches are fairly full so they do work. This train has had a lot of people board at North Walsham.For the first time today I noticed on the info screen on one of these units it said a particular coach was ‘full’. I’ve been on busier services in the past and the screens still showed green empty seats in each carriage. Is this a recent change or have I just been oblivious?
Yes there are erm 50% extra rails that you do not want to step on !. I think I heard a few people were waiting for a 466, I must have been lucky.
When it comes to major parts (engines and bogies for instance) that are changeable but not likely to need replacing (just refurbishing) I suspect there are only ever just enough. If a bogie or engine has been written off then there is not another one on the shelf. There will be quite a lead time getting things like these. I suspect there might have been more than one spare engine but they might have got through them all !. All conjecture on my part but based on sense and experience in other fields.
Think it was 407 I was on when I noticed the screen said a carriage was full, haven’t seen it on any other units since tho!
Don’t Stadler maintain the units under contract as well? If so they will be required to provide a certain number of units each day, probably a reduced number at the moment, and it will be up to them when they repair it if they can meet the requirement in the meantime.
They have been providing over & above the requirement. So much so 755s have been standing in for 745s on the mainline, running pairs on test trips & as many as three units sitting spare around Norwich Station with another on standby at Ipswich.
Presumably the stand-ins have been 3 or at least 2 units in multiple? 3 and 4 car units replacing 12-car ones doesn't exactly sound satisfactory, even considering the reduced demand at the moment.
No, multiple working in passenger service is still not permitted. They run with reduced calls or simply terminate at Colchester restarting the return working there after spending a couple of hours in the up loop.
Is that resulting in frequent cancellations east of Colchester then?
Not really. They have tended to be used to cover the extra trains recently added to ramp back up to a half hourly frequency so at least one train every hour operates direct from Norwich to London. Loadings have dramatically increased in the last few weeks with 500 passengers not being uncommon.
