Ashford International Power Issues?

[NSEWonderer]

Hello there, I've got a question thats been bugging me for a while now with Ashford International when Eurostar trains try to depart from there. It's not so evident on the 373s but the 374s seem to struggle away almost as if they lose power for abit before it comes rushing in. Is Ashford still having power issues aka are the trains really draining that much when accelerating or is there some neutral zone im unaware of. I doubt the drivers are powering up then coasting unless the speed limit out is 5mph for short distance and even then the trains almost look like they're doing 2mph. Any insight would be great thanks.

374 Struggling out Video:

Other side of the platform towards Ebbsfleet:

And here is Ebbsfleet departure which shows what the acceleration would be close to:

373s themselves departing Ashford:

Towards Channel Tunnel:

 

[EnriqueEspaña]

Hard to know if its been rectified yet as eurostar haven't stopped at ashford for a while now. I seem to remember someome posting about power issues in this area before, I will try and find it now

Eurostar test runs Ashford <> St Pancras

The last few weekends have seen a 373 run between St Pancras and Ashford and return, does anyone know why? 373229 is currently sat at Ashford P4 and according to RealTimeTrains map will be the 9Z03 13:05 back to STP(?) TIA, Simon

railforums.co.uk

According to this everything was apparently fixed. Not sure how much testing was done with 374s though

 

[Peregrine 4903]

I'm not sure this if this is true as I've only heard it at work, but apparently the reason why class 374's can't or couldn't stop at Ashford International, is because when they stopped it for some reason caused a village in France to have a complete powercut.

 

[EnriqueEspaña]

I'm not sure this if this is true as I've only heard it at work, but apparently the reason why class 374's can't or couldn't stop at Ashford International, is because when they stopped it for some reason caused a village in France to have a complete powercut.

That does sound far fetched...

 

[pdeaves]

I'm not sure this if this is true as I've only heard it at work, but apparently the reason why class 374's can't or couldn't stop at Ashford International, is because when they stopped it for some reason caused a village in France to have a complete powercut.

They couldn't call because of signalling compatibility restrictions between track and train. NR has now installed the HS1 system in Ashford, removing that constraint.

 

[GW43125]

They couldn't call because of signalling compatibility restrictions between track and train. NR has now installed the HS1 system in Ashford, removing that constraint.

There was an extended period after KVB (French signalling system) fitment when 374s were banned a second time, was there not?

 

[pdeaves]

There was an extended period after KVB (French signalling system) fitment when 374s were banned a second time, was there not?

No idea, this is the first I heard of it.

 

[FlippyFF]

There was an extended period after KVB (French signalling system) fitment when 374s were banned a second time, was there not?

Yes, there was - as the replies to my quoted posted used above show. Something about circuitry within the 374s not liking emissions from the 3rd rail or the uk signalling, can't recall which.

Simon

 

[AM9]

Poor EMC performance then.

 

[pdeaves]

Poor EMC performance then.

'Electromagnetic compatibility', for those who aren't familiar with the abbreviation.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Hard to know if its been rectified yet as eurostar haven't stopped at ashford for a while now. I seem to remember someome posting about power issues in this area before, I will try and find it now

Eurostar test runs Ashford <> St Pancras

The last few weekends have seen a 373 run between St Pancras and Ashford and return, does anyone know why? 373229 is currently sat at Ashford P4 and according to RealTimeTrains map will be the 9Z03 13:05 back to STP(?) TIA, Simon

railforums.co.uk

According to this everything was apparently fixed. Not sure how much testing was done with 374s though

Ah I see

 

[NSEWonderer]

Poor EMC performance then.

That explains it because I the way the inverters cut out and it coasts led me to think it wasn't what the driver was deliberately slowing down for indeed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2021 ==

They couldn't call because of signalling compatibility restrictions between track and train. NR has now installed the HS1 system in Ashford, removing that constraint.

Yeh I remember that but the 373s and more so the 374s that stop even now all seem to struggle out completely and with the 374s in the videos above its pretty clear where the power almost dies out. I wonder if anyone knows a Driver who could confirm its a power issue rather than some safety issue limiting to less than 5mph