GTR Class 377/387 cascade updates 2026

[The_Train]

377121 has now moved to Southeastern.

Playing a bit of catch up on this - is that the first and only unit to have made the move so far?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Playing a bit of catch up on this - is that the first and only unit to have made the move so far?

377 122 has also moved over, I think.

 

[The_Train]

377 122 has also moved over, I think.

Don't suppose you know when, Peter?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Don't suppose you know when, Peter?

Someone reported upthread seeing it on 30th November - now that's a Saturday, so I think it may have actually moved overnight on the night of the 29th.

 

[Southern Dvr]

377122 moved on Saturday 30th November.

5Y43 11:35 Selhurst Depot to Victoria
5K77 12:37 Victoria to Ramsgate Depot

 

[The_Train]

Someone reported upthread seeing it on 30th November - now that's a Saturday, so I think it may have actually moved overnight on the night of the 29th.

377122 moved on Saturday 30th November.

5Y43 11:35 Selhurst Depot to Victoria
5K77 12:37 Victoria to Ramsgate Depot

Thank you both

 

[bnsf734]

How long before a green southern ex GWR 387 appears on a Gatwick Express.... or are these new 387 sets operating on separate diagrams?

 

[03_179]

387/2 will be GX
the 387/1 & /3s will be SN

 

[bnsf734]

387/2 will be GX
the 387/1 & /3s will be SN

That makes sense, any idea of the diagrams for them?

 

[xxjcz]

Any idea why 387128+172 headed to streatham hill before it headed up to Lovers Walk on 5B31 today?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Dec 2024 ==

That makes sense, any idea of the diagrams for them?

This is purely a guess but in theory they should takeover the GX east coast way diagrams and maybe the peak runs to and from London Bridge from the coast. If they’re based between Stewart’s Lane and Lovers walk I guess they can end up on any of those depot based diagrams though.

 

[Sussex Ben]

387/2 will be GX
the 387/1 & /3s will be SN

Does that mean we’ll see more 12-car peak GX services soon?

 

[PGAT]

Does anyone know if 377121 and 122 are in service today?

 

[aftv]

387128 and 387129 entered service with Southern on this monrings 1J92 0702 Bognor Regis - London Bridge via Littlehampton.

 

[physics34]

387128 and 129 worked a Bognor to LBG service this morning, then ECS to Selhurst depot.

Should this thread bow appear in the Traction and Rolling Stock forum?.
...oh I just saw the post above lol

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

387128 and 387129 entered service with Southern on this monrings 1J92 0702 Bognor Regis - London Bridge via Littlehampton.

Thanks for this. Do you know if there were any photos put up anywhere? I’d love to see.

 

[PGAT]

I just saw 2 387s on 1F06 towards Eastbourne. Couldn’t identify which ones because it was too dark

 

[physics34]

Thanks for this. Do you know if there were any photos put up anywhere? I’d love to see.

Southern Electric group on facebook has one

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Southern Electric group on facebook has one

I can only see the GWR liveried one there

 

[Sad Sprinter]

They're more ideal than the 3+2 seating which occupies a majority of 377s. Plus with the airline seats, there are more seats overall which provides more chance of getting a seat. That's significantly more ideal for a longish journey.

3+2 was lovely on the old Brighton Expresses off-peak - lots of room to stretch out. Miss those trains.

 

[aftv]

Thanks for this. Do you know if there were any photos put up anywhere? I’d love to see.

There were a couple on The Official Electrostar Appreciation Group on Facebook.

 

[LCRTrainfan979]

I am not sure whether this relates to the introduction of class 379 on Great Northern and partial replacement of the 387s, but I noticed what appeared to have been a Great Northern Class 387 on Southern today, operating Brighton to Southampton services, which I believe was 387128, which is unsual because its usually Gatwick Express Class 387/2s which operate the route. Does anyone know if that has been one of the first to be offically transferred to Southern?

 

[Goldfish62]

I am not sure whether this relates to the introduction of class 379 on Great Northern and partial replacement of the 387s, but I noticed what appeared to have been a Great Northern Class 387 on Southern today, operating Brighton to Southampton services, which I believe was 387128, which is unsual because its usually Gatwick Express Class 387/2s which operate the route. Does anyone know if that has been one of the first to be offically transferred to Southern?

Yes, I've seen photos of 128 and 129 in service over the past couple of days.

 

[Tom377]

caught 387129 at Cosham today, displaying the Southern logo

 

[Peter0124]

What even is the difference between a 377 and 387

 

[Class455]

What even is the difference between a 377 and 387

The big difference between the two is that the 387’s have a higher top speed than 377’s (110tph). Originally when the first batch of 387’s were ordered they were going to be classed as 377/8’s but ultimately that never happened because of this. Also there are a few differences with the couplers and electrical wiring meaning that the door systems of a 387 aren’t compatible with 377’s which means that sadly, 377’s and 387’s cannot work together in passenger service (though they can run empty together)

 

[LCRTrainfan979]

The big difference between the two is that the 387’s have a higher top speed than 377’s (110tph). Originally when the first batch of 387’s were ordered they were going to be classed as 377/8’s but ultimately that never happened because of this. Also there are a few differences with the couplers and electrical wiring meaning that the door systems of a 387 aren’t compatible with 377’s which means that sadly, 377’s and 387’s cannot work together in passenger service (though they can run empty together)

I should also add that there are differences in the interior, namely that the Class 377 has good old fashioned comfortable seats and the Class 387s have ironing boards. Nearly all of the seating throughout the train is 2+2 as well, rather than the mix of 2+2 and 2+3 present on most Class 377s.

In general, the inability to operate Class 377s and Class 387s together I would say is it a bit of bummer. However, if they are predominately allocated to either the West or East Coastway generally in the long term, its not much of an issue, given the trains usually operate as single and uncoupled 4-car units, and I suppose if they ever needed to extend them to 5-cars should demand ever increase (which I highly doubt given fares will probably end up skyrocketing at this rate after this so called "trial" on LNER, which there is another thread all about), then they could do that with some units which are semi-permanently assigned to Southern. Although most platforms can handle coupled 8-car units, in most cases its of little importance to regional services in most cases.

I suppose one of the future refreshes they could do with those units will probably be eventually to repaint them into Southern colours, so they more closely match the Class 377s which they are partially displacing, presumably to allow a few to head off to Southeastern, whilst still boosting capacity (presumably) on London suburban routes, given Class 377/3s could be soon be made largely redundant except on Bognor Shuttle and Seaford services (where you can't really justify 4-car trains to the same extent as other routes.

 

[Mikey C]

I should also add that there are differences in the interior, namely that the Class 377 has good old fashioned comfortable seats and the Class 387s have ironing boards. Nearly all of the seating throughout the train is 2+2 as well, rather than the mix of 2+2 and 2+3 present on most Class 377s.

In general, the inability to operate Class 377s and Class 387s together I would say is it a bit of bummer. However, if they are predominately allocated to either the West or East Coastway generally in the long term, its not much of an issue, given the trains usually operate as single and uncoupled 4-car units, and I suppose if they ever needed to extend them to 5-cars should demand ever increase (which I highly doubt given fares will probably end up skyrocketing at this rate after this so called "trial" on LNER, which there is another thread all about), then they could do that with some units which are semi-permanently assigned to Southern. Although most platforms can handle coupled 8-car units, in most cases its of little importance to regional services in most cases.

I suppose one of the future refreshes they could do with those units will probably be eventually to repaint them into Southern colours, so they more closely match the Class 377s which they are partially displacing, presumably to allow a few to head off to Southeastern, whilst still boosting capacity (presumably) on London suburban routes, given Class 377/3s could be soon be made largely redundant except on Bognor Shuttle and Seaford services (where you can't really justify 4-car trains to the same extent as other routes.

Some of the later 377s have ironing boards as well.

Indeed there's a progression with the Electrostars
357s, 375s, early 377s - bonded glazing
later 377s - gasket glazing
379s - improvements
387s - improvements and 110mph

 

[Peter Sarf]

I should also add that there are differences in the interior, namely that the Class 377 has good old fashioned comfortable seats and the Class 387s have ironing boards. Nearly all of the seating throughout the train is 2+2 as well, rather than the mix of 2+2 and 2+3 present on most Class 377s.

In general, the inability to operate Class 377s and Class 387s together I would say is it a bit of bummer. However, if they are predominately allocated to either the West or East Coastway generally in the long term, its not much of an issue, given the trains usually operate as single and uncoupled 4-car units, and I suppose if they ever needed to extend them to 5-cars should demand ever increase (which I highly doubt given fares will probably end up skyrocketing at this rate after this so called "trial" on LNER, which there is another thread all about), then they could do that with some units which are semi-permanently assigned to Southern. Although most platforms can handle coupled 8-car units, in most cases its of little importance to regional services in most cases.

I suppose one of the future refreshes they could do with those units will probably be eventually to repaint them into Southern colours, so they more closely match the Class 377s which they are partially displacing, presumably to allow a few to head off to Southeastern, whilst still boosting capacity (presumably) on London suburban routes, given Class 377/3s could be soon be made largely redundant except on Bognor Shuttle and Seaford services (where you can't really justify 4-car trains to the same extent as other routes.

Worth noting that the 377/6s and 377/7s have ironing board seats and cannot multi with other 377s apparently. Reason is they are effectively 387s disguised as 377s.

 

[PGAT]

Worth noting that the 377/6s and 377/7s have ironing board seats and cannot multi with other 377s apparently. Reason is they are effectively 387s disguised as 377s.

They can and frequently do couple with other 377s in passenger service

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Worth noting that the 377/6s and 377/7s have ironing board seats and cannot multi with other 377s

I don't know where you've heard that, but it's completely false.