380 in Britain NOW!

[Bittern]

And won't be out tomorrow either.

 

[me123]

Any news on Monday's passenger workings? Supposed to be starting from Ayr Townhead sidings according the diagrams on Scot-rail.co.uk, but with the trains all still in Glasgow I have a feeling they won't go ahead either...

 

[MCR247]

Could be a late night ECS? Shame things are going wrong

 

[Bittern]

With A-B opening in two weeks, those 380s surely have to enter service soon!

 

[First ScotRail]

I think there are a lot of crossed figures at Atrium Court and Buchannan House for what promises to be an eventful two weeks...

 

[me123]

If none of them are in service by then, then I doubt that there'd be any units to run Airdrie-Bathgate. Unless you were to run all the services in short formation, but I doubt that that would be popular. Sending three units out to cover training diagrams has already left us short!

As an absolute contingency (and I'm talking worst case scenario here), delaying the opening of Airdrie-Bathgate and essentially reverting to the current timetable would work. But:

• It would be politically sensitive. Bearing in mind that there's to be an election in about 6 months time...
• It would generate a lot of adverse publicity for the line, despite the line itself being ready on time!
• Scotrail would look particulary stupid, as they've just published the timetables for the new route online!

Out of curiosity, how many 380s need to be in service for the 12th December to ensure that there's enough units?

 

[rail-britain]

With A-B opening in two weeks, those 380s surely have to enter service soon!

So long as the units are accepted and there are enough drivers trained in order for six Class 380 units to enter service on Sunday 12 December and eight Class 380 units on Monday 13 December

Providing the other two 3 car units are delivered and accrue enough miles prior to the Monday, then yes there will be enough units
However, if the poor weather persists and these units have not accrued the required minimum trouble free miles then the contigency plan and timetable will come into effect
This will see the minimum number of Class 334 units operating the A2B, Class 318 units remaining on Ayr, and Class 156 units on the Largs

 

[Bittern]

In that case a wee trip to Largs might be in order.

 

[rail-britain]

In that case a wee trip to Largs might be in order

Why? You can get a Class 156 between Glasgow and Kilwinning/Ayr any time
Beyond Kilwinning to Largs isn't very interesting

 

[Bittern]

Because getting a 156 on a route that it doesn't normally operate on isn't something I want to pass up.

And I'll decide if I find the route interesting or not. Thanks.

 

[MCR247]

Apparently entry into service for 380s is now expected in early 2011

 

[First ScotRail]

Mmm news to me, I certainly can't see it being that long away before we see one introduced into service. Problems have been encountered late last week preventing an immediate entry to service, still a case of wait and see!

 

[rail-britain]

Apparently entry into service for 380s is now expected in early 2011

I know the official launch has been pushed back to beyond Sunday 12 December, confirmation is due tomorrow, but I have not heard anything official to the change for the "phased introduction, commencing Monday 29 November"
All you can do is observe what happens in the morning
As mentioned elsewhere, modern EMUs and DMUs just don't like adverse weather (ie anything other than dry and 5'C to 25'C)

 

[Bittern]

It's kind of sad when a "modern" EMU can't stand the cold and a steam loco has no trouble at all like last year when Tornado rescued passengers after their EMU failed on them.

 

[CarterUSM]

It is actually a disgrace, they should, and i assume could, be designed to run in varying conditions.

 

[Bittern]

ScotRail should borrow Morayshire for a wee while. That'd certainly help relieve some problems.

 

[Damien1986]

So long as the units are accepted and there are enough drivers trained in order for six Class 380 units to enter service on Sunday 12 December and eight Class 380 units on Monday 13 December

Providing the other two 3 car units are delivered and accrue enough miles prior to the Monday, then yes there will be enough units
However, if the poor weather persists and these units have not accrued the required minimum trouble free miles then the contigency plan and timetable will come into effect
This will see the minimum number of Class 334 units operating the A2B, Class 318 units remaining on Ayr, and Class 156 units on the Largs

But surely some class 320 units will be cascaded to the Argyle Line as was promised? Moving on,I saw at least a few 6 car class 334 units on the Argyle Line yesterday formed of 2 ,3 car units when in my opinion they should have been on route learning duties on the Argyle Line!

 

[rail-britain]

But surely some class 320 units will be cascaded to the Argyle Line as was promised?

As mentioned many, many, many times before, the cascade of units from North Clyde to Argyle line is a different project
This is not affected

 

[Pumbaa]

It's kind of sad when a "modern" EMU can't stand the cold and a steam loco has no trouble at all like last year when Tornado rescued passengers after their EMU failed on them.

Still - EMUs fail with the wrong type of snow, Tornado failed last week (twice) with the wrong type of coal. Win some, lose some!

 

[First ScotRail]

I saw at least a few 6 car class 334 units on the Argyle Line yesterday formed of 2 ,3 car units when in my opinion they should have been on route learning duties on the Argyle Line!

Why? 334s run on the argyle line anyway...
There are units training on the A-B line at present, and the 334s are running in 6 car due to the problems with the snow.

 

[Damien1986]

Why? 334s run on the argyle line anyway...
There are units training on the A-B line at present, and the 334s are running in 6 car due to the problems with the snow.

I made a mistake! I meant to say route learning duties on the Airdrie to Bathgate Line rather than running trains on the Argyle Line and why aren't they putting class 320 units on Argyle Line services to get themselves familiarised with the route?

 

[rail-britain]

why aren't they putting class 320 units on Argyle Line services to get themselves familiarised with the route?

There is no need; same drivers, same unit knowledge
All that is different is the train type with similar specification (Class 318 and Class 320)
The only time traction knowledge is required is if there is a signifcant change, such as the Class 156 and Class 158

 

[route101]

The 320s sometimes run ECS via Central Low Level. Speaking of 380s i saw a Class 380 stop sign at Kingsknowe and Slateford!

 

[class156]

The 320s sometimes run ECS via Central Low Level. Speaking of 380s i saw a Class 380 stop sign at Kingsknowe and Slateford!

That's probably because the 380s will be going onto North Berwick services from March and they will use that route to get from Glasgow.

 

[route101]

That's probably because the 380s will be going onto North Berwick services from March and they will use that route to get from Glasgow.

I never thought they would stop at these stations i just assumed that the slow shotts will . Maybe it is a requirement on 380 routes .

 

[Bittern]

They're taking over the service that's currently operated by the 322s. No real changes will be made.

 

[First ScotRail]

380 coaches are longer, 23m vice 20m. Hence the new stop signs. expect to see them at any 380 served station across the central belt.

 

[Bittern]

No 380s at Corkerhill this evening.

 

[me123]

They're taking over the service that's currently operated by the 322s. No real changes will be made.

Exactly. Services from Glasgow Central-North Berwick via Carstairs (which are required in order to get electric stock to/from the depot in Glasgow) often call at all stations between Edinburgh and Carstairs, and the 380s will continue this.

 

[rail-britain]

via Carstairs (which are required in order to get electric stock to/from the depot in Glasgow)

No longer necessary, as the units could travel via Bathgate and head to Yoker for maintenance
Equally, in the event Carstairs is closed, same as above then reverse at Hyndland and via Rutherglen
However more likely they would take the unit to Bathgate or Yoker and it would then return to Shields at a later date