Class 375 roller shutter?

[boiledbeans2]

I have always wondered - what's the purpose of this roller shutter (see attachment) on Class 375s?

The fact that it's painted in contrasting colours to the wall panels means they want to attract customer's attention to it? Like some kind of small shop?

If it was a 'Do not touch - electrical equipment', I think it would be painted the same colour as the wall panels.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I have always wondered - what's the purpose of this roller shutter (see attachment) on Class 375s?

The fact that it's painted in contrasting colours to the wall panels means they want to attract customer's attention to it? Like some kind of small shop?

If it was a 'Do not touch - electrical equipment', I think it would be painted the same colour as the wall panels.

You don’t seriously think a shop could fit in that?

 

[occone]

The 158s used to have a section that could be locked for transporting parcels if needed. It also had a roller shutter.

Looks like some kind of storage, maybe it's where they keep their hopes and dreams or bottles of emergency water.

 

[Liam L]

I have always wondered - what's the purpose of this roller shutter (see attachment) on Class 375s?

The fact that it's painted in contrasting colours to the wall panels means they want to attract customer's attention to it? Like some kind of small shop?

If it was a 'Do not touch - electrical equipment', I think it would be painted the same colour as the wall panels.

I believe some of the 172s have that too so must be down to design of the bombardier builds at the time. Definitely won't fit a small shop in the space though.

 

[JonathanH]

I've seen guards using them as a locker for their personal effects. I think the intention is that guards don't use the rear or intermediate cabs.

 

[Mzzzs]

I remember that the 377 had a area for a trolley to be stored i think its the same on 375

 

[Carlisle]

Looks like some kind of storage, maybe it's where they keep their hopes and dreams or bottles of emergency water.

Yes most likely bottles of emergency water like on several other varieties of rolling stock .

 

[GatwickDepress]

When I saw the bottom cabinet open over the summer, it had catering packs of emergency bottled water stacked on top of each other and some other boxes of stuff - presumably other useful equipment or supplies. The cupboard with the roller shutter is completely empty and seems to be used for guards to dump their ticket machine and rucksack in when not required. Sometimes it's kept unlocked.

Never known the cabinet to be used for catering trolleys, and I'm not sure there's even the room there to swing them in. When Southeastern had trolleys, they would typically idle at the vestibule at either end of the train.

 

[NSE]

It’s actively promoted for staff storage on the 377’s on SN. I imagine it’s the same on SE.

 

[physics34]

Its got a plug socket in it... i think

 

[MCR247]

I don’t have a source but I’ve always been under the impression that Connex had plans for/were considering operating a trolley service on some runs. I suppose it wasn’t a big enough deal to change it in the follow on orders so up to and including the 377/5s have them. The /6s and /7s have luggage space instead.

 

[Townsend Hook]

I don’t have a source but I’ve always been under the impression that Connex had plans for/were considering operating a trolley service on some runs. I suppose it wasn’t a big enough deal to change it in the follow on orders so up to and including the 377/5s have them. The /6s and /7s have luggage space instead.

Southern had a trolley service on 377s on several of the longer-distance routes until a few years ago. I don’t know that they actually used a dedicated base for them on the train at all.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Many thanks for everyone's replies! So the conclusion is that it is a staff storage cabinet.

I've seen guards using them as a locker for their personal effects. I think the intention is that guards don't use the rear or intermediate cabs.

But why don't the guards just store their stuff in the cabs? This is what I see on SWR, where the guards put their bags in the cab, and they (may) walk through the train during the journey.

 

[JonathanH]

But why don't the guards just store their stuff in the cabs? This is what I see on SWR, where the guards put their bags in the cab, and they (may) walk through the train during the journey.

The rules on access to cabs differ by operator. In some cases guards aren't allowed to use the back / intermediate cabs.

 

[NSE]

Many thanks for everyone's replies! So the conclusion is that it is a staff storage cabinet.


But why don't the guards just store their stuff in the cabs? This is what I see on SWR, where the guards put their bags in the cab, and they (may) walk through the train during the journey.

They can. But GTR OBS have no need to use the rear cab. All their duties can be done from carriages. They are only supposed to use the rear cab when it’s too busy to pass through the train (though many do in practice). Also, the emergency stop is always live in the back cab so makes sense to promote things that keep people out the back cab.