Class 318 refurb thread

[SC318250]

There is a video of it being shunted at Wabtec on the 7th March

Looks like a bit of work still to happen on A coach

 

[Strathclyder]

Here's the aforementioned video:
[youtube]?v=285oaQCpwK8[/youtube]
I have to say, it looks a lot better than I thought it would.

 

[SC318250]

318251 back home at Shields Depot tonight

318257 should be going south during the day on Sunday

Thanks to Scot-rail group

 

[387star]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=285oaQCpwK8

 

[SC318250]

318257 did indeed go on holiday south today

 

[318259]

I'm looking forward to seeing what the inside looks like.

It's strange that the 318s are getting an internal redesign (no more green and orange), when the 320s didn't. Especially since the 318s had an internal redesign less than 10 years ago, when the 320s haven't.

 

[318259]

Managed to grab a blurry still from this video of 318251 running through Uddingston. Looks like we've got blue seats and white walls inside.

 

[yoma]

Thought this would be back out again or is it getting something else done aswell at shields ?

 

[318259]

Must be getting inspected at Shields or something. I haven't seen it about, and there aren't any photos yet on any of the usual sites.

I go past the Yoker depot every day, so I've been keeping an eye out for it there as well.

I'm wondering if Strathclyder and Citizen's Network will be keeping their names. They de-named all the 320s when they got saltire'd.

 

[yoma]

Must be getting inspected at Shields or something. I haven't seen it about, and there aren't any photos yet on any of the usual sites.

I go past the Yoker depot every day, so I've been keeping an eye out for it there as well.

I'm wondering if Strathclyder and Citizen's Network will be keeping their names. They de-named all the 320s when they got saltire'd.

Pretty sure i heard they were all being denamed but i could be getting that mixed up with the 320s just be done but i am sure it was 318's aswell.

Yeah pretty annoying as i have been watching for progress on this unit from the day it went in and now its back out there hasn't been a good visual of the unit but from what i have seen from the youtube clips and a sneaky view at shields depot its looking impressive. Want to see what the inside looks like specially with a disabled toilet onboard inside of the closet

 

[NotATrainspott]

There are two through-the-fence photos on scot-rail.co.uk:

http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/15456/

http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/15455/

They're of 318251 outside at Shields showing each cab end but nothing much of the passenger area.

 

[318259]

Want to see what the inside looks like specially with a disabled toilet onboard inside of the closet

I imagine they'll be the same as the 320 toilets. Massive, with a weird seating arrangement beside them. They'll probably get the LED lights around the toilet, too.

 

[rossco156433]

Pretty sure i heard they were all being denamed but i could be getting that mixed up with the 320s just be done but i am sure it was 318's

All the named 156's & 334's that have had the saltire livery applied also got denamed.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[yoma]

Update
Contacted ScotRail regarding it and got a reply today. They contacted the depot manager at shields and they said it should be back in service tomorrow. 10th April.

Looking forward to seeing what it looks like.

Still don't know why the 320's never got new seating. Anyone know why ?

 

[318259]

Update Still don't know why the 320's never got new seating. Anyone know why ?

I have no idea. The 320s got a "half-refurbishment". They got new toilets, new lighting at the doors, but only the new flip-up disabled seating has blue covers.

Also, the floor in the doorway was replaced with the new grey vinyl, but the rest of the floor still has the SPT green vinyl.

It will be interesting to see if the 318s have a total internal refurbishment, or if they get something similar to the 320s. From the screenshot I posted above, the inside of the train looks white and blue. But the white balance in that video is off, because of the high-pressure sodium lighting on the platform.

 

[yoma]

I take it this must have not went back into service today as i haven't seen any pictures arise. I wonder what they are doing to it ? seems strange

 

[318259]

Just saw 318251 at Hyndland. I was stepping onto a train going the other way as it pulled in, so these are crap photos. Also, there was a really hot guy on the platform so I was trying to be subtle with the phone camera. Playing it cool

It's had a 334 style renovation rather than a 320 style one. New seat covers, full repaint inside. Didn't see the new toilet.

 

[applepie2100]

New seating and removing the tables would have been a good start for it. It would have been much better to see them taking the chance to use one of the 318's for a 321 style refurb demo as done by Eversholt down south.

 

[318259]

Everybody seems to dislike the seats on the 318s. I like them: they're bouncy!

I checked out that demo, and it's interesting. If I recall, they did something similar with a class 156 a few years ago. I think it was called the Tickford Prototype.

 

[applepie2100]

I just can't help but feel that Transport Scotland/First want to put as little effort into their refurbishments as possible. Most of the Scottish fleets have never had more than a heavy refresh and the 320's got what could only be described as a cursory glance!

The best part of six months for one unit and the result to be what we have doesn't really feel like time or money well spent!

 

[318259]

Most of the Scottish fleets have never had more than a heavy refresh and the 320's got what could only be described as a cursory glance!

The best part of six months for one unit and the result to be what we have doesn't really feel like time or money well spent!

Most of that 6 months was probably spent on the undercarriage. Those things are probably rusty as f**k after years of running along the Ayrshire coast.

But yeah, the 320 renovation was a disappointment. Especially the 'door opening' sound. It's a constant 5 second beep that sounds way too much like the "door closing" sound. They could have used the "ding ding ding" of the 318/334s, or the quiet "beeep beeep beeep" of the 170s and 380s. But no. They picked the worst sound ever.

Sorry for the rant about door opening sounds. It turns out that absinthe is 55% alcohol

 

[NotATrainspott]

All of the ScotRail fleet will have to have power sockets (one for every two seats, but not on the 314s) and WiFi fitted before 2017 as part of the new franchise specification.

 

[applepie2100]

The interior of the 320's is nothing short of disgraceful now with the state of the seat covers, floors that look filthy regardless of how well cleaned they are, seatbacks with chips and graffiti all over and lots of other work that really needs done.

I notice as well how the North Ayrshire lines always seem to get the new stock and their cast offs get punted north of the Clyde!

 

[318259]

All of the ScotRail fleet will have to have power sockets (one for every two seats, but not on the 314s) and WiFi fitted

That's good news about power sockets. Obviously the 380s have power sockets. The 334s also have really well-hidden power sockets. But I think they're for the cleaners and we're not "allowed" to use them. They're in the end carriages, under the seats beside the doors. I used to charge my iPod using them, on the long journey to Ayr

Wifi, I'm not so sure about. A lot of people on Twitter are complaining that the wifi doesn't work, or only works where you have 3G. Of course it does! How do you think wifi on trains works? MagicNet? There's a 3G transmitter on the roof!

As long as the mobile networks boost their transmitters along the main railway likes, like TMobile have along the West Coast Mainline, we'll be OK. Otherwise, don't expect wifi in Lochwinnoch.

 

[NotATrainspott]

That's good news about power sockets. Obviously the 380s have power sockets. The 334s also have really well-hidden power sockets. But I think they're for the cleaners and we're not "allowed" to use them. They're in the end carriages, under the seats beside the doors. I used to charge my iPod using them, on the long journey to Ayr

Wifi, I'm not so sure about. A lot of people on Twitter are complaining that the wifi doesn't work, or only works where you have 3G. Of course it does! How do you think wifi on trains works? MagicNet? There's a 3G transmitter on the roof!

As long as the mobile networks boost their transmitters along the main railway likes, like TMobile have along the West Coast Mainline, we'll be OK. Otherwise, don't expect wifi in Lochwinnoch.

I've heard that the power sockets which are not designed for public use (e.g. the vestibule ones on 170s) are not regulated to the same level as normal ones. This isn't a problem for simple electronics like kettles or hoovers but small phone chargers will have a problem with them if the voltage goes up or down. I've not heard of these ones on the 334s though and it would be interesting to find out just how many people have heard of them - I will certainly make a mental note to seek them out the next time I travel on one!

The WiFi on trains is also going to improve dramatically over the next few years as Network Rail are planning to let them use some of the massive capacity provided by the fibre optic signalling cables they install everywhere nowadays. Since the entire network has to have 100% perfect GSM-R coverage (with ETCS, a loss of GSM-R communication results in a full brake application, and I don't see NR being happy with trains running without cab radios at the moment) it should eventually filter into providing semi-dedicated wireless internet to train carriages.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Interior + exterior shots here on scot-rail.co.uk

 

[318259]

Interior + exterior shots here on scot-rail.co.uk

Nice! I thought we'd get the same kind of toilet, with LED spotlights around it. Somehow it doesn't look right without the "paintings" of Glasgow like the 320s have

The guy who took those photos says all the lighting is LED, which is a nice touch. I know you can get LED "fluorescent" tubes (I need to pick up two 6-foot ones for my kitchen!), so it wouldn't surprise me if ScotRail had fitted those.

ScotRail have been playing with LED lights for a while, what with the spotlights on the 320s, the footlight on the 320s and 334s, random spotlights in certain 158s, spotlights in Glasgow Central and Argyle Street, and the aforementioned "fluorescent" tubes that have just been installed in Glasgow Central low level (on platform 16, beside the eastern entrance). It's good to see LED lights getting used.

Edit: Oh, I see they have diffusers on the lights, rather than the 318/320's metal grille. Looks like the light have gotten some attention and it's probably LEDs after all!

 

[Strathclyder]

Managed to get 318251 at Garscadden on the back of a Dalmuir - Motherwell train (318270 was on the front) today while waiting for 55022 to come back from Kilmarnock with 334010. I've included the Deltic shot as a bonus:

 

[yoma]

Must say 318251 is looking rather nice after that refurb

318's seats are imo the most comfortable so glad they just changed the seat covers

Weird seeing a 318 with a disabled toilet now but a big improvement overall i would say.

 

[AndrewR232]

I've been on it a couple of times, and I like it.

 

[318259]

I would have chosen lighter shades of paint for the walls, door wind screens and luggage racks. They're painted very dark. It makes the train look older somehow.

The LED lights are good, but they're not as bright as the old fluorescents. This doesn't help with the paint situation.