Are Class 360s compatible with Class 350s?

[nathanclass323]

Don't know what sparked this to be honest. I was just thinking of the suitability of the 4 which may be released from Heathrow Connect once Crossrail is completed for London Midland (or whoever has the franchise)

 

[D365]

Don't know if they have ever coupled in service but as the HC 360/2s are built in part from the prototype 350/0, and that the only major difference with the +10 class number is the lack of an inter-unit gangway, they should easily be compatible. Presumably the 450s too.

360205 will also be released as Crossrail doubles the frequency on the Heathrow branch from 2tph with HC to 4tph. This unit is used by Heathrow to provide every other service between Central and T4 but as explained will no longer be needed.

Whether the 5 are sold is of course down to BAA. I don't see what else they might do with them. If the 21 360s were replaced on GE, perhaps by the 13 GN and 7 Midland 321s (perhaps when the latter area gains the 350/4s) or otherwise the 317s, this would leave 26 360s (plus 5 spare carriages...) - conveniently, the same quantity as the Birmingham 323s..!

Might platform lengthening and/or SDO be worth it? Oh, and I forget to mention, more EMUs are going to be needed in the coming years when non-electrified routes in the charge of the franchise are electrified.

 

[nathanclass323]

Could the centre cars (or at least two of them) be taken out to extend some GA sets and maybe lease the shortened ones to London Midland as a replacement to five of the 323s which could in turn go to Northern considering more of their network is to be electrified or support the LM 321s?

Just a thought - I'd be surprised if it happened

 

[Old Hill Bank]

LM will need more EMUs when Redditch Branch and Bromsgrove projects are completed in the next couple of years and then even more when Walsall-Rugeley is electrified towards the end of CP5, you need to put that into your thinking

 

[nathanclass323]

With the units being replaced in London, is that going to cover all of these extras which will be needed fairly soon though? I fear we may be seeing diesels under the wires on branches for a while unless an EMU order is placed fairly soon.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

With Transpennine being wired as well you would think there would be a procurement master plan for rolling stock!!!!!!

 

[nathanclass323]

I hate Voyagers with a passion but I do think it's a shame that the E-Voyager project didn't go ahead. That would have helped.

 

[Class377/5]

With the units being replaced in London, is that going to cover all of these extras which will be needed fairly soon though? I fear we may be seeing diesels under the wires on branches for a while unless an EMU order is placed fairly soon.

There's been an order placed. 29x EMU that get delivered in 2015, believed to be number 377801-829. However the initial DMU to EMU will be released units by the introduction of the 377/7s next year.

 

[nathanclass323]

There's been an order placed. 29x EMU that get delivered in 2015, believed to be number 377801-829. However the initial DMU to EMU will be released units by the introduction of the 377/7s next year.

Ahh okay. Thanks.

 

[Eagle]

LM will need more EMUs when Redditch Branch and Bromsgrove projects are completed in the next couple of years and then even more when Walsall-Rugeley is electrified towards the end of CP5, you need to put that into your thinking

That's what the upcoming 350/3s are for. (And by the time the Chase line is electrified LM might well have gotten the 350/4s from TPE.)

 

[Old Hill Bank]

That's what the upcoming 350/3s are for. (And by the time the Chase line is electrified LM might well have gotten the 350/4s from TPE.)

Agreed, just pointing out that LM losing some 323s is not an option anytime soon.

 

[D365]

Agreed, just pointing out that LM losing some 323s is not an option anytime soon.

Obviously they'd be replaced... by the 360s, perhaps? As I have suggested - just a thought.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Obviously they'd be replaced... by the 360s, perhaps? As I have suggested - just a thought.

The Lichfield- Redditch route is set up for and needs high density 23 metre stock in 3 and 6 car formations hence the 323s. With the Redditch branch and and Bromsgrove projects happening there will be a requirement for additional diagrams on the route with Redditch going to 3tph and the other 3 Longbridge terminators extended to Bromsgrove. 350s and 360s are only 20 metre stock and would not be compatable. LM use 3 or 4 323s on the Wolverhampton -Walsall route and the Birmingham International shuttles where most of the the stations are built to take 4 x 20 metre services, it therefore makes good sense to free up these units for the enhanced Redditch/Bromsgrove operation and use three of the ten 350/3s to cover the other jobs (remember thet the other seven have been pledged to capacity enhancements on West Coast South services). Should as many expect the 350'4s come to LM with a new order of EMUs for TPE that will then cover the Chase line jobs as well with some of the 350/2s covering the West Midlands suburban jobs and the /1,/3 and /4s dealing with most of the other diagrams. Again just my own thoughts.