Class 345 progress

[TRAX]

I find the interior very welcoming and cosy. Finally something else than that hospital white...
Why no triple vertical grabrails, though ? This is stupid...

 

[47802]

I'm not sure how anyone could say these trains look old on the outside, they look ok to me and are quite distinctive. The inside is typical TFL and as essentially they are a 21st century tube train I think its about what you would expect.

 

[jon0844]

I'm not sure how anyone could say these trains look old on the outside, they look ok to me and are quite distinctive. The inside is typical TFL and as essentially they are a 21st century tube train I think its about what you would expect.

I think it's the colour scheme that makes the train look old.

But we'll all get used to them.

 

[spark001uk]

I see tfl has made it public on the news then, saying they're still testing the units and they'll enter service "later this month". Guess that'll be the 30th then!
.

 

[Kite159]

I see tfl has made it public on the news then, saying they're still testing the units and they'll enter service "later this month". Guess that'll be the 30th then!
.

Who wants to make a bet at the 345s still entering service before the 707s for SWT?

I can't wait to try one out, but some passengers who would normally get a seat might end up finding they have to stand with the reduction of seating.

 

[Dixie]

345001 at Arriva traincare in Crewe today

Was still there today, looking very grubby

 

[samuelmorris]

Who wants to make a bet at the 345s still entering service before the 707s for SWT?

I can't wait to try one out, but some passengers who would normally get a seat might end up finding they have to stand with the reduction of seating.

There's no doubt about that. However, the 345s, even in 7-car guise, stand a very real chance of making it actually possible to board a train at Stratford regardless of where you're standing on the platform. As it stands now, if you're not in exactly the right place, you have to queue for the next one. Being able to get a seat is very much a secondary objective.

 

[spark001uk]

There's no doubt about that. However, the 345s, even in 7-car guise, stand a very real chance of making it actually possible to board a train at Stratford regardless of where you're standing on the platform. As it stands now, if you're not in exactly the right place, you have to queue for the next one. Being able to get a seat is very much a secondary objective.

This picture I took of plat 8 at Stratford reflects the situation you describe quite well. Was at about 6pm the other day.

 

[iphone76]

This picture I took of plat 8 at Stratford reflects the situation you describe quite well. Was at about 6pm the other day.

I'd be tempted to say that was quite quite - possibly after a train had just left. It's usually solid 4/5/6 people deep - especially when you have a 7 min gap between the Shenfield and Gidea Park trains during the PM. peak.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh I know that sort of crowd at Stratford, it's not nice whatsoever. Especially if you're not used to it! Imagine trying to ID which 315s you've got when it's even busier than the photo shows!

 

[samuelmorris]

Oh I know that sort of crowd at Stratford, it's not nice whatsoever. Especially if you're not used to it! Imagine trying to ID which 315s you've got when it's even busier than the photo shows!

To hell with that, I just take the 5-digit vehicle number once I'm onboard and it's quietened down a bit - or look when I get off. If you're just spotting for 315s, doing it at Stratford at that time of day is most definitely doing it wrong :P

Also, I agree with iphone76 - it's usually worse than that.

 

[Techniquest]

There is a good reason why I haven't cleared the 315s, and the epic crowds is it! I am looking at popping out to Stratford for some 321s and 360s on Friday, with a probable 315 mixed in to say farewell to them while the chance is there.

Of course, I'll probably end up on LU and DLR all morning now I've said that. Not a bad thing!

 

[spark001uk]

I'd be tempted to say that was quite quite - possibly after a train had just left. It's usually solid 4/5/6 people deep - especially when you have a 7 min gap between the Shenfield and Gidea Park trains during the PM. peak.

And you're right. It left (not with everyone it seemed), and within 1 minute the platform looked the same again.

Those 345s will have their seams tested that's for sure! Though the somewhat complained about abundance of longitudinal seating will definitely pay off with way more standing room.

 

[samuelmorris]

There is a good reason why I haven't cleared the 315s, and the epic crowds is it! I am looking at popping out to Stratford for some 321s and 360s on Friday, with a probable 315 mixed in to say farewell to them while the chance is there.

Of course, I'll probably end up on LU and DLR all morning now I've said that. Not a bad thing!

Your best bet would probably be to head out to Shenfield on a GA service early PM peak then head back towards Romford, you can then shuttle between Gidea Park and Romford a few times. You'd better get a move on, if there are any 315s in need of major work they're likely to be withdrawn within the next couple of months as 345s arrive to displace them. Don't forget of course the LO units which you'll have about another year or so to clear.

 

[Techniquest]

Your best bet would probably be to head out to Shenfield on a GA service early PM peak then head back towards Romford, you can then shuttle between Gidea Park and Romford a few times. You'd better get a move on, if there are any 315s in need of major work they're likely to be withdrawn within the next couple of months as 345s arrive to displace them. Don't forget of course the LO units which you'll have about another year or so to clear.

If I don't get all the 315s I want, 6 of them are on TfL Rail, then it's just the way things go. There's too much going in the next couple of years to get everything!

 

[absolutelymilk]

I assume the 315s normally operate as eight-car trains?

 

[samuelmorris]

On TfL Rail, as far as I know they're now exclusively in 8-car formations. LO still use theirs as either 4 or 8.

 

[JBuchananGB]

To get back to 345s, a friend told me today that a factor in the delayed introduction is that they do not have enough drivers trained to work a full diagram. Anyone else heard that rumour?

 

[306024]

To get back to 345s, a friend told me today that a factor in the delayed introduction is that they do not have enough drivers trained to work a full diagram. Anyone else heard that rumour?

If it is a railway rumour doubtless loads of people will have heard it. Doesn't make it true though.

 

[essex_commuter]

Is there a 345 in passenger service today? Just pulled out of goodmayes and one was going the other way slowing into the station. The back said Shenfield on it.

There's nothing on RTT for that time though (about 9:35).

 

[spark001uk]

Is there a 345 in passenger service today? Just pulled out of goodmayes and one was going the other way slowing into the station. The back said Shenfield on it.

There's nothing on RTT for that time though (about 9:35).

It's showing as 547T on the signalling diagrams, just gone into Gidea park cs.
547T is booked as 1037 out of Liverpool street on rtt but no realtime info has come up, which to be honest is quite normal as the crew seem to be making things up as they go lately!

 

[essex_commuter]

This tweet indicates there is one in public service, although possibly not the one I saw!

https://twitter.com/allthestations/status/872040095725101059

 

[absolutelymilk]

This tweet indicates there is one in public service, although possibly not the one I saw!

https://twitter.com/allthestations/status/872040095725101059

https://twitter.com/allthestations/status/872047295428263936

Their next tweet says that it was a mistake unfortunately!

 

[Cletus]

An official tweet

@elizabethline 3h3 hours ago

First train is still undergoing thorough testing, assurance & approvals before entering service, expected to complete in the next few weeks

 

[essex_commuter]

https://twitter.com/allthestations/status/872047295428263936

Their next tweet says that it was a mistake unfortunately!

Just seen that, makes sense though!

 

[superkev]

An official tweet

It's a good job it diddnt take as long with Lancaster bombers as modern trains or we would have lost the war. You could have a whole war in the time theve been playing with the first 800.
K

 

[jon0844]

They need to make sure they're using the right buttons!

 

[AM9]

It's a good job it diddnt take as long with Lancaster bombers as modern trains or we would have lost the war. You could have a whole war in the time theve been playing with the first 800.
K

It's a case of 'needs be'. There are documented records of complex airborne equipment that was designed, developed, manufactured, tested and delivered in just 15 days, during the Falklands campaign. None of the current train provisioning is anywhere that critical or indeed important. Plenty of interesting information here:

http://www.au.af.mil/au/afri/aspj/airchronicles/apj/apj89/spr89/udemi.html

Too much information to publish all but here is a portion:

Modified to Meet the Need
British Aircraft in the Falklands ...

... At the time of the invasion, Britain was at a disadvantage in the critical areas of available fighter aircraft, long-range airlift aircraft, instruments for conducting electronic warfare, and devices for aircraft surveillance. This discussion examines various aircraft modifications or improvisations Britain hastily undertook to meet the needs created by shortfalls or by Argentine threats. Many of these changes were completed in a matter of days or weeks. In peacetime, comparable modifications and improvisations performed in Britain or the United States might have taken years. ...

However, if a large hole appears under the formation at Forest Hill, it's fixed as quickly as possible.

 

[ctom_s]

More problems today. With all the delays recently they're probably struggling to actually test the trains at all.

 

[ijmad]

So does anyone now know when the first one might pop up in passenger service yet? What are our best guesses or is it still an unknown at this point?