Additional maintenance on GTR Southern Class 171 units?

[AndrewE]

Just spotted this on the Network Rail Service Disruptions page:

Additional maintenance is taking place on some trains that run between Hastings and Ashford International. As a result of this, trains between Hastings / Rye and Ashford International may be cancelled.

This is expected to continue until approximately 21:00.

Customer Advice:

Some services between Rye and Ashford International will not run. However, services scheduled to operate between Ashford and Brighton are running as normal, and you are advised to use these services to complete your journey.

This evening, rail replacement bus services will operate as below:

Between Ashford International and Rye at 18.00, 19.02 and 19.59
Between Rye and Ashford International at 17.31, 18.43 and 19.45

Maybe hasty modifications to extend DOO? Any other suggestions? It's not leaf-fall season...

 

[Fincra5]

Just spotted this on the Network Rail Service Disruptions page:



Maybe hasty modifications to extend DOO? Any other suggestions? It's not leaf-fall season...

171's aren't DOO capable as it stands so no.

 

[electrostar375]

171's aren't DOO capable as it stands so no.

Maybe platform cameras are being added to make these stations DOO compatible with the 171's?


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[tsr]

Maybe hasty modifications to extend DOO? Any other suggestions? It's not leaf-fall season...

No, it won't be. You'd have to rebuild the cabs of the entire fleet of 171s to allow them to interwork with the Uckfield Line units, and AIUI some of the ex-170 units are too troublesome to allow this. However, it would be a chronic waste of time and money, as you'd only be able to use DOO equipment on the Marshlink - conductors are mandatory for door release and certain types of shunting on the Uckfield Line.

A number of 171s have been out of traffic for the last few days (actually only one or two more two-coach units today than would permit a full service, from what I gather) but I have seen no suggestion that this is for extra equipment to be added. Certainly no visual signs of this on the units which are out of service, either.

Lastly, it would take more than a few days of limited service to be able to rollout and test DOO equipment on the whole fleet.

Maybe platform cameras are being added to make these stations DOO compatible with the 171's?

Highly unlikely. I doubt it would be worth the investment at the tiny stations on the Marshlink where Southern would still be required by the DfT to stop the minimum specified number of trains, and I'm not even sure that new platform-mounted cameras/monitors are permitted for DOO extensions. Also, retained Eastbourne conductors are still required to be able to operate the doors as a contingency measure for certain formations, so you'd still need people to continue working the route and retaining competencies. Finally, there is not the slightest hint of this disruption being an excuse for infrastructure works - far from it.