700003 - Long term out of service?

[Andy Pacer]

Ive been after my penultimate Thameslink unit, 700003, for some time. On regular checking of RTT it never seems to be out, is this one long term out of traffic for some reason or just a coincidence?

 

[jbqfc]

I last saw it on the 06/03/25

 

[Covshire1]

It was noted on Three Bridges depot last week.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Thanks for the replies, I'll keep checking!

 

[bramling]

Ive been after my penultimate Thameslink unit, 700003, for some time. On regular checking of RTT it never seems to be out, is this one long term out of traffic for some reason or just a coincidence?

I’m guessing it is out of service from the fact it doesn’t seem to be out, however of interest is this is the only 700/0 that I have never known working on the GN side since May 18. This isn’t to say it hasn’t, especially on Sevenoaks services, however it does seem notable this unit manages to be somewhat elusive.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I’m guessing it is out of service from the fact it doesn’t seem to be out, however of interest is this is the only 700/0 that I have never known working on the GN side since May 18. This isn’t to say it hasn’t, especially on Sevenoaks services, however it does seem notable this unit manages to be somewhat elusive.

I almost managed it a few months ago, but I got on at St Pancras and waited a couple of minutes before it was cancelled due to a train fault!

 

[bramling]

I almost managed it a few months ago, but I got on at St Pancras and waited a couple of minutes before it was cancelled due to a train fault!

I was on it about a year ago, Kentish Town to St Pancras! It stuck out because I’ve never known it on the GN side. Every other 700/0 has spent time on GN.

 

[collosus]

the unit can’t even be tracked to see if it’s out or not

 

[Peter Mugridge]

the unit can’t even be tracked to see if it’s out or not

Well, if it's out it'll at least show up on RTT.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Well, if it's out it'll at least show up on RTT.

Never seems to be for me!

 

[Southern Dvr]

700003 is at Three Bridges having ETCS modifications

 

[Peter Mugridge]

700003 is at Three Bridges having ETCS modifications

Does it have an "expected OK" date or is this one of those very slow "first of class" test fittings that could take months?

 

[westcoaster]

I was going to say, is this being used for ETCS work on the East Coast mainline.

When ETCS was first brought in 700110 and iirc 006 were used for about a year for testing and commissioning.

 

[westcoaster]

UPDATE

700003 is out and about.

Currently coupled to 700137 as a 20 car train. On Three bridges up depot road 1, adjacent to the up slow line.

Viewable from the main line.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

UPDATE

700003 is out and about.

Currently coupled to 700137 as a 20 car train. On Three bridges up depot road 1, adjacent to the up slow line.

Viewable from the main line.

700 137 is in traffic this afternoon on the 16.53 Gatwick to Bedford, so @Andy Pacer - it might be worth keeping an eye on any evening peak 8 car diagrams which start from Three Bridges depot just in case 700 003 does come out to play. It's not showing anything as I post this, however - although maybe someone with system access can see more than RTT can...?

 

[SECR 65]

700003 isn't even showing up as existing on Rail Record for me! As I type in 700 it lists 001 002 then 004 and the rest of the class.

 

[Andy Pacer]

700 137 is in traffic this afternoon on the 16.53 Gatwick to Bedford, so @Andy Pacer - it might be worth keeping an eye on any evening peak 8 car diagrams which start from Three Bridges depot just in case 700 003 does come out to play. It's not showing anything as I post this, however - although maybe someone with system access can see more than RTT can...?

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Forty29]

Being on the depot doesn't mean it's out and about.

 

[Bikeman78]

700003 isn't even showing up as existing on Rail Record for me! As I type in 700 it lists 001 002 then 004 and the rest of the class.

I was about to post the same thing. How long has Live Rail Record existed? And how long does a train have to be stopped before the history disappears? I have found 455 allocations going back to November so they remain for several months. 700003 is still parked up in the same spot.

 

[SECR 65]

Do we know when 700003 last ran in service? I can't think of any websites that will go more than a few weeks back...

 

[Firestarter]

According to a recent post on LinkedIn, 700003 was on a ETCS test run yesterday.

 

[zwk500]

According to a recent post on LinkedIn, 700003 was on a ETCS test run yesterday.

Presumably that test is part of the upgrade that was announced back in June '23?

Thameslink fleet set for additional digital upgrade

Industry partners in the transformational East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) have signed a £32.7million contract to upgrade the Class 700 Thameslink fleet to the latest specification of European Train Control System (ETCS). The five-year contract was signed by Cross London Trains, DfT, Govia...

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Wednesday 21 Jun 2023

Thameslink fleet set for additional digital upgrade​

...
Software design and development for the upgrade will take place from this summer, with a programme of testing and commissioning on the first-in-class 700 unit set to get underway from 2024. The entire fleet will be upgraded in 2026 following the completion of the safety approvals and validation process.
...
Software will be upgraded to ETCS BL3 R2, also referred to as version 3.6.0.

Is 700003 the first-in-class for B3R2/3.6.0?

 

[westcoaster]

According to a recent post on LinkedIn, 700003 was on a ETCS test run yesterday.

Thanks, is there a link to the post.

 

[Firestarter]

Thanks, is there a link to the post.

Unit 700 003 successfully completed its first mainline trial run using ETCS B3R2 (3.6.0) last night, operating under ATO through the Thameslink core. This test run also successfully validated the… | Connor Philpott

Unit 700 003 successfully completed its first mainline trial run using ETCS B3R2 (3.6.0) last night, operating under ATO through the Thameslink core. This test run also successfully validated the infrastructure updates planned for later this year. The upgraded onboard systems performed...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Paging @Andy Pacer - 700 003 is in service and is on Sutton loop services today.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Paging @Andy Pacer - 700 003 is in service and is on Sutton loop services today.

View attachment 206146

Thank you for the heads up that its back out and about, hopefully catch up with it soon!