380 in Britain NOW!

[me123]

The contingency plan at the moment is as follows, according to Scot-rail.co.uk:

• Friday's Grand Opening has been axed
• A full service will operate between Airdrie and Helensburgh/Balloch/Milngavie, as per usual.
• A full service (as timetabled) will operate between Edinburgh and Bathgate, using a mixture of DMUs and Class 334 EMUs.
• An hourly service (as an extension of one of the above) is expected to operate between Edinburgh and Airdrie calling at all stations

I believe that once ten 380s are in service (which doesn't sound like being too far off from what you're saying), then the "half" timetable published by Scotrail will run, which features:

• A full service from Airdrie to the West
• A half-hourly Helensburgh-Edinburgh service calling at all stations
• Services from Milngavie (which form limited stop runs to Edinburgh) will terminate at High Street as per now
• An increased service to Bathgate will be provided with DMUs

Then, once the 380s fully enter service, a full service can operate on A-B:
Airdrie-Balloch half-hourly
Edinburgh-Milngavie, limited stop, half-hourly
Edinburgh-Helensburgh, all stops, half-hourly
This combines to give a 4tph service across the new line and at Bathgate station throughout the day.

I believe your post is right; so there will be no 380s in use come Sunday or Monday! That said, four will be diagrammed somewhere but won't operate yet. I'd be surprised if they didn't get some in service by the end of the year, and I doubt that the contingency plan outlined above (with only an hourly service between Edinburgh and Airdrie) will last for long.

 

[First ScotRail]

F a r c e!

 

[rail-britain]

Latest information I have is that the Edinburgh - Helensburgh service will be one train per hour, as part of the emergency timetable and will apply until the temporary timetable can be implemented

 

[me123]

Helensburgh-Edinburgh 1tph would make a lot more sense than Edinburgh-Airdrie running separately. The people on scot-rail were saying that they would be separate affairs for now, but it seems crazy, impractical and very short sighted.

I love how we've got both a temporary and an emergency timetable

 

[Damien1986]

F a r c e!

Agree totally! Scotrail have let a lot of people down on this issue and will we get at least 3 class 320 units on Sunday or will it be class 334's as usual?

 

[rail-britain]

I love how we've got both a temporary and an emergency timetable

Even worse, new timetable, emergency timetable, temporary timetable

 

[The_Stig]

Agree totally! Scotrail have let a lot of people down on this issue and will we get at least 3 class 320 units on Sunday or will it be class 334's as usual?

How is it ScotRail's fault that their new fleet of units have encountered teething problems during commissioning or that the worst winter weather in a decade has affected the rest of the fleet?

Also, hat do you mean regarding the 3 x 320's?

 

[MadCommuter]

I don't know the full story, but it would appear that no time allowance was made for tething troubles with the 380s. But then, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[jopsuk]

I guess that they rather hoped that the commissioning at the factory test track would have sorted those out.

 

[The Engineer]

I've been involved with designing and introdcuing new rolling stock over the last 35 years and no matter what the level of technolgy used there are always UNFORSEEN problems.

No amount of testing off the national rail system - even on test tracks - can totally simulate the conditions of the "real" railway. This applies particularly (these days) to supply characteristics, signalling compatibility and interference issues.

I think that anyone who plans to introduce a new fleet of trains without allowing contingency for initial running problems gets what they deserve!

 

[me123]

But I think we do need to remember that entry into service was scheduled for September 2010 initially. Now, December 2010 is here and there's been no services (although, that said, there's been rumours of an unexpected passenger carrying service on scot-rail.co.uk). How much time was allowed for technical issues, before you look at the significant delays in delivery and introduction into service in the first place?

 

[Damien1986]

How is it ScotRail's fault that their new fleet of units have encountered teething problems during commissioning or that the worst winter weather in a decade has affected the rest of the fleet?

Also, hat do you mean regarding the 3 x 320's?

I saw something mentioned on Scot-rail co.uk that at least 19 class 320 units were required for North Clyde services so naturally I would like to know if the Argyle Line will get at least some class 320 units as promised?

 

[rail-britain]

19 class 320 units were required for North Clyde services
I would like to know if the Argyle Line will get at least some class 320 units as promised?

Looks like someone is mixing up North Clyde with Argyle Line
However, the latest is that the planned cascade has been suspended until Monday 17 January 2011

 

[MacCookie]

Looks like someone is mixing up North Clyde with Argyle Line

No actually.

Ewan
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I saw something mentioned on Scot-rail co.uk that at least 19 class 320 units were required for North Clyde services so naturally I would like to know if the Argyle Line will get at least some class 320 units as promised?

Damien,

Your question was answered here: http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/message/236512

Ewan

 

[me123]

And, for those who don't have access: There are 19 North Clyde diagrams, and no scheduled Argyle Line duties. This means that 19 out of the 22 units are scheduled to be in service, leaving 3 for maintenance, spares etc (I've paraphrased quite a bit!).

The good news is that the new Class 380 trains have now been out and about in passenger service as reported on Scot-rail.co.uk

 

[First ScotRail]

380 out in service again today according to scot-rail.co.uk
working 1530 GLC to AYR

 

[route101]

does anyone know if the 1530 ex glasgow to ayr is a 380 today?

 

[me123]

The diagrams for Saturday 27th (which are the only diagrams I can find for a Saturday) are for a unit based in Shields, not the set in Ayr Townhead. If this diagram is running, it would be on the following passenger services (plus the associated ECS runs to and from Shields) :

06:30 Glasgow Central-Ayr
07:43 Ayr-Glasgow Central
16:30 Glasgow Central-Ayr
17:43 Ayr-Glasgow Central

I don't know if 380s trains are on these diagrams, or even if they are out and about today at all.

 

[route101]

The diagrams for Saturday 27th (which are the only diagrams I can find for a Saturday) are for a unit based in Shields, not the set in Ayr Townhead. If this diagram is running, it would be on the following passenger services (plus the associated ECS runs to and from Shields) :

06:30 Glasgow Central-Ayr
07:43 Ayr-Glasgow Central
16:30 Glasgow Central-Ayr
17:43 Ayr-Glasgow Central

I don't know if 380s trains are on these diagrams, or even if they are out and about today at all.

Ok thanks for that. I think i may be in town later and if that 1630 is a 380 i ma take a spin to Paisley . Hopefully a good weekend . First 380 and First time on Airdrie to Bathgate .

 

[me123]

I'm not sure if they are right; that's what was reported for two weeks ago, but it's the only weekend diagram available on Scot-rail.co.uk.

 

[route101]

well the 1630 to ayr was a 334 ! Round 2 tomorrow ill try out the airdrie to bathgate.

 

[Damien1986]

well the 1630 to ayr was a 334 ! Round 2 tomorrow ill try out the airdrie to bathgate.

So could that see even 3 or 4 class 320 units on the Argyle Line today , seeing as they have been able to get a few class 380 units into service?

 

[CarterUSM]

So could that see even 3 or 4 class 320 units on the Argyle Line today , seeing as they have been able to get a few class 380 units into service?

Few being the operative word! I wouldn't get my hopes up mate.

 

[Damien1986]

Few being the operative word! I wouldn't get my hopes up mate.

I understand what what you are saying but if you look up flikr you will see pictures of class 380 units operating passenger services albiet only 4 units are doing this. Also surely with these 4 units in operation surely they could cascade 4 class 334 units off the Ayrshire services as well as cascading 4 334 units off the Argyle Line meaning that Airdrie to Bathgate/North Clyde services will have at least 8 extra 334 units and the Argyle Line will get some extra class 318 units from Ayrshire/Inverclyde/North Clyde etc as well as a few of the promised class 320 units.

 

[rail-britain]

So could that see even 3 or 4 class 320 units on the Argyle Line today , seeing as they have been able to get a few class 380 units into service?

How many times does the echo have to be heard?
The second part of the fleet cascade has been suspended, but Class 320 units could operate on the Argyle Line from time to time (depending on what units are available); effectively it is now a mixed fleet of Class 318 and 320

The full introduction is expected from 17 January 2011

 

[Bittern]

Mainly 318s from what I've observed today. Only saw two 334s on this route.

 

[danfitz123]

out of interest, Why didn't siemens make a 380101? If they did why wasn't that sent first?

 

[MCR247]

They have made 380101, does it matter in what order they were sent?

 

[danfitz123]

They have made 380101, does it matter in what order they were sent?

No i just always thought the first of the batch was always sent first.

 

[MCR247]

Not really, IIRC 377501 wasn't the first to be sent, and in fact it was one of the last to enter service I think due to it being used as a Christmas tree at Derby