180 at Welwyn Garden City

[Failed Unit]

I see a 180 in the sidings near Welwyn Garden City station today.

normally when they are there they are failed?

however is this set getting used for testing the signalling? Trying to be positive rather than the normal reason. The route is closed but I have seen trains running to / from Welwyn Garden City today.

 

[D365]

I would believe that, in conjunction with the NR Class 43s, this is in relation to ETCS high speed testing.

How many of the 14 Class 180 units are fitted with the Alstom ETCS.

 

[_toommm_]

It came down last night as the following:

Realtime Trains | 5F01 0958 Crofton Depot to Welwyn G.C. F.D. | 29/11/2024

Real-time train running information for 5F01 0958 departure from Crofton Depot to Welwyn G.C. F.D. on 29/11/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And is operating on Sunday between Finsbury Park and Huntingdon:

Realtime Trains | 5Q80 0701 Welwyn G.C. F.D. to Finsbury Park | 01/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q80 0701 departure from Welwyn G.C. F.D. to Finsbury Park on 01/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:N36917/2024-12-01/detailed etc.

It'll then return on Monday:

Realtime Trains | 5G01 1030 Welwyn G.C. F.D. to Crofton Depot | 02/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 5G01 1030 departure from Welwyn G.C. F.D. to Crofton Depot on 02/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Failed Unit]

Thanks - It is nice it is there for a positive reason

 

[InTheEastMids]

Thanks - It is nice it is there for a positive reason

I had been led to believe from this forum, that in the context of 180s, ETCS stood for "Emergency - Thermal: Combustion & Smoke"

 

[Discuss223]

I see a 180 in the sidings near Welwyn Garden City station today.

normally when they are there they are failed?

however is this set getting used for testing the signalling? Trying to be positive rather than the normal reason. The route is closed but I have seen trains running to / from Welwyn Garden City today.

Good evening. There is route upgrade works taking place on the day in question 30/11/2024. Various services on the East Coast Mainline are stopping and starting at stations north of King's Cross. It may well be that the unit you saw was awaiting its next service northwards. You are also correct, in that it could be for signalling upgrades relating to the specific unit. All units on the ECML are going to require a specific type of signalling capability soon, the name evades me but it's something like *EHTS or something. It was confirmed in the Class 221 thread that the Class 180s will be getting this signalling modification applied, as they are planned to continue operation on the line indefinitely.

 

[_toommm_]

It may well be that the unit you saw was awaiting its next service northwards.

It was definitely for the above reasons , and wasn't in public service. I posted the paths for it above.

 

[D365]

It was confirmed in the Class 221 thread that the Class 180s will be getting this signalling modification applied, as they are planned to continue operation on the line indefinitely.

How many of the Class 180 units are currently fitted with the Alstom ETCS?

 

[43055]

How many of the Class 180 units are currently fitted with the Alstom ETCS?

I believe all the Grand Central units have been fitted.