SE 376 to be refurbished?

[Snow1964]

Can’t see this mentioned anywhere
According to Murky Depths, which is quoting a tweet from Steve White Rail (Steve White is Managing Director of SouthEastern)

The 376s are definitely getting refurbished and he had spoke to engineering teams about it. There are 36 x 5car units

The head of Southeastern has confirmed plans are being drawn up to refurbish 36 Class 376trains which operate Metro services in London and parts of inner Kent.

Trains were ordered by Connex in the early 2000s and introduced around 18 years ago, by which time were being operated by a government owned entity after the franchise holder was stripped of control.

Southeastern Metro trains to be refurbished - Murky Depths

Plans for a refurbishment of Southeastern trains that service metro routes have been revealed. Class 376s are nearing 20 years old.

www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk

 

[brad465]

About time, their livery is a legacy of Connex as an indicator of how long they've gone with nothing done.

 

[YSTrains]

Any details about where and when it will take place.

 

[221101 Voyager]

Hopefully they might consider fitting air conditioning as part of the planned refurbishment

 

[Paul Jones 88]

Hope they replace the seats with better ones.

 

[Wolfie]

If l was cynical l'd bet on little more than a refresh. New livery, new seat covers and flooring and other interior remedial works as necessary. Plus any mechanical work necessary.

 

[JonathanH]

Hopefully they might consider fitting air conditioning as part of the planned refurbishment

I doubt it. It wasn't fitted in the first place because of the time the doors were expected to be open.

Moreover, I simply can't see that sort of money being available. A retrim, internal and external repaint is likely to be the limit of any ambition.

Hope they replace the seats with better ones.

Again, where is the money for anything like that going to come from?

As the blog writer puts it

Aside from that I’ve always been fine with them given they provide a good travelling environment. Light and spacious.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

That’s good. I actually rather like the trains and certainly prefer them to Networkers. While I believe the Networkers are tattier, I’m relieved to see no mention of a refurbishment of those as I’d like for them to be replaced within the 2020s.

 

[physics34]

Stick a loo in and they could get used on longer distant services

 

[JonathanH]

Stick a loo in and they could get used on longer distant services

What would backfill the metro services? They are set up as metro units. If anything goes back on longer distant workings it is 465/9s.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What would backfill the metro services? They are set up as metro units. If anything goes back on longer distant workings it is 465/9s.

I would far prefer a 376 than a 465/9.

 

[Domh245]

I doubt it. It wasn't fitted in the first place because of the time the doors were expected to be open.

Moreover, I simply can't see that sort of money being available.

I think the London Overground Cl 378 (and other air conditioned metro units such as the LU S stock) have subsequently shown that to be a bit of a false concern!

I agree that it's hugely unlikely on cost grounds

 

[physics34]

What would backfill the metro services? They are set up as metro units. If anything goes back on longer distant workings it is 465/9s.

Flexibility as like Southerns 377s

 

[SolomonSouth]

It's long overdue. But finally it's happening. Enough said.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

If l was cynical l'd bet on little more than a refresh. New livery, new seat covers and flooring and other interior remedial works as necessary. Plus any mechanical work necessary.

And probably some silly marketing name like the SE 707's...

 

[TRAX]

And probably some silly marketing name like the SE 707's...

Suburbeam

 

[FOH]

Hope they replace the seats with better ones.

Don't see the issue with them at all.

 

[Techniquest]

Suburbeam

This made me smile, one of the day's best posts.

376 seats I have no issue with, but then I'm never on them for all that long so it's not a problem personally. Agreed that the refresh is required, but I have to say I am made to feel very old now, given I remember the 376s' introduction!

 

[cj_1985]

This made me smile, one of the day's best posts.

376 seats I have no issue with, but then I'm never on them for all that long so it's not a problem personally. Agreed that the refresh is required, but I have to say I am made to feel very old now, given I remember the 376s' introduction!

I found the 376s quite comfortable on journeys of around 45 minutes or so...

I used to use them regularly from Charing Cross to Dartford, Gravesend and beyond... and a few times out towards Bromley

 

[Doomotron]

Somebody repainted the Class 378 into SE dark blue livery in Train Simulator (there is no 376) and it looks really nice, so I think it'll look really good in real life as well.

 

[Kite159]

About time in my eyes, some are looking quite tired on the inside.

Although I suspect any refurbishment will only be new vinyl floors, new seat covers, maybe a splash of paint on the inside and some new vinyl on the outside. Would be nice if they went down the route to fitting plug sockets (similar to the 377s), but I suspect they will be too expensive.

 

[FOH]

Air con and slightly brighter lighting is pretty much all that's needed on the insides

 

[Snow1964]

I guess what can be justified (new seats, plug socket, air con etc) depends on how long they will stay in service.

Are we talking staying for 10 years or 20 years?
Is aim to have them as 7 days a week usage, or just peak hours extras to the 707s.

In my view have to work backwards from expected end of life to know how much should be renewed or upgraded

 

[ComUtoR]

They already have an HVAC system. Not the best I'll admit but I'd be surprised if they ripped out the old one for a completley new system. I thought the Railway was broke :/

 

[JonathanH]

They already have an HVAC system. Not the best I'll admit but I'd be surprised if they ripped out the old one for a completley new system. I thought the Railway was broke :/

For the driver?

They are otherwise pressure ventilated.

Class 376: no air-con

Why? 700s have it what other train of this era doesn't have it? can it be retrofitted global warming= stifling hot summers

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[dorsetdesiro]

It'll be great seeing the 376s finally appearing in the dark blue Southeastern livery matching the 375s, 377s and 707s, if that happens.

Maybe brand these as "Capital Connect"? Oh wait... that's pretty awful ha ha!

As for new seating, ssshhh... SE users may not be keen on getting more of what the 707s have, rock hard and ironing board shaped...

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Maybe brand these as "Capital Connect"? Oh wait... that's pretty awful ha ha!

City Metro

 

[Mikey C]

Suburbeam

While the Networkers can be named after the person in charge of NSE who helped create them

ChrisGreenbeam

 

[ExRes]

If there's a limited budget available then the one thing that doesn't need to be done is the livery, I simply fail to understand why so much money is wasted so often on nothing other than cosmetics

 

[Wolfie]

If there's a limited budget available then the one thing that doesn't need to be done is the livery, I simply fail to understand why so much money is wasted so often on nothing other than cosmetics

Trains do need to be painted periodically. If what has been suggested, namely that the 376s haven't been repainted since delivery, is true then they definitely must be due.