Class 377 refurbishment video

[class377man]

http://www.itv.com/meridian-east/how-to-refit-a-train82717/

I thought this might be of interest

 

[387star]

Thanks for that

 

[MCR247]

If it is not fare prices or overcrowding, it is the state of our trains that passengers aren't happy about

My heart bleeds for them, can't believe they have to still put up with those 375s,376s,378s,395s,450s&444s. I mean how could you expect them to have to put up with all of them and not complain?!

 

[Fincra5]

My heart bleeds for them, can't believe they have to still put up with those 375s,376s,378s,395s,450s&444s. I mean how could you expect them to have to put up with all of them and not complain?!

Haha

 

[lookingforit35]

Appreciating there's always a degree of PR in this type of report, it did look impressive nontheless.

As a regular user of Southeastern 375s I wonder how their refurb programme compares with Southern's. I dont want to appear to be one of the many "Southeastern bashers" but based on my own observations the SE work to interiors is perhaps best described as cosmetic (and in certain cases not hugely successful I'm sorry to say).

 

[ert47]

I think I might have stumbled on to one of the refurbed carriages a week or so back! Did actually look very new from the inside - you wouldnt have known that it was refurbished unless you notice the wear and tear on the outside of the carriage!

I just wish people would stop putting muddy shoes on the seats

My heart bleeds for them, can't believe they have to still put up with those 375s,376s,378s,395s,450s&444s. I mean how could you expect them to have to put up with all of them and not complain?!

I wonder if the people who complain of a lack of seats on Southern trains are the same people who reserve a seat for their bag/coat/imaginary friend :roll:

 

[the sniper]

Just out of curiosity, where are Southern doing the overhaul?

 

[jon0844]

Am I the only one who preferred the look of the ex-South Eastern trains? Even though the refreshed train may be clean, I really do think the colour of the seats makes them look worn - just like the pale blue on the new Victoria Line trains.

Still, keeping the work in house is a good thing. Can't imagine Bombardier would have wanted to do it. They'd have offered to replace the seats and tables with ones that wouldn't fit...!

 

[Fincra5]

Just out of curiosity, where are Southern doing the overhaul?

I think its being done at Selhurst.

 

[causton]

Am I the only one who preferred the look of the ex-South Eastern trains? Even though the refreshed train may be clean, I really do think the colour of the seats makes them look worn - just like the pale blue on the new Victoria Line trains.

No I'm pretty sure the Vic line trains just have fabric that actually wears really easily, they look horrible after about a month of use either fading or turning an awful brown. Not nice

 

[thelem]

I don't care much about the colour, but the fabric and seats were softer and more comfortable. I'm not a fan of the astroturf fabric, but at least they aren't adding any ironing boards seats (3+2 seats as used in other subclasses)

 

[TEW]

I have to agree the refurb is a retrograde in terms of comfort of the seats, at least for 377/1s and 377/3s. The interiors of the refurbished trains do look smart and clean though.

 

[Goldfish62]

And of course the is due for completion in 2014, around the time that the Southern franchise gets merged with Thameslink. Which will doubtless mean a new livery, corporate image and the refurbished interior scheme becoming obsolete overnight.

 

[Minstral25]

Had the pleasure yesterday in travelling in a couple of the refurbished units and the new look is very good and made me realise just how bad the unrefurbished units have become. The point of electric green is that it doesn't show much dirt and until you sit in a clean one you suddenly realise how rubbish the units had become.

The matching of carpets and new plastics is very good in the refurbishment too.

Shame I'll be back to FCC's uncomfortable and dirty looking 319's on Monday.

 

[swt_passenger]

And of course the is due for completion in 2014, around the time that the Southern franchise gets merged with Thameslink. Which will doubtless mean a new livery, corporate image and the refurbished interior scheme becoming obsolete overnight.

Alternatively, given that the vast majority of the combined fleet will already be in unbranded 'Southern' they just order the Desiro City fleet in a similar style.

Another possible option is that GoVia win the current franchise competition anyway, so the green livery stays, and is applied to the Thameslink fleet anyway. Another is that they decide that for ease of identification by passengers, the units used on the Thameslink routes have a completely separate livery.

The type of difference you get with normal Southern and '(Gatwick) Express' on the 442s for instance.

 

[387star]

Whoever wins FCC will end up running Southern? Is it known who is bidding?

 

[swt_passenger]

Whoever wins FCC will end up running Southern? Is it known who is bidding?

No, because the process is still only at the stage where prospective bidders are trying to get shortisted...

However it would be quite easy to come up with a reasonable list of possibilities - I think Virgin are the only company who don't normally bid for what are basically commuter franchises.

 

[BestWestern]

Let's hope that it goes to Govia and the current Southern management, who seem to be one of the country's more capable TOC's, and certainly seem to be better thought of than the dreaded FCC. More integration through larger franchises is well overdue in the southern region area, so a properly combined operation here would be a good start. Perhaps one livery but with appropriate Thameslink and Gatwick Express branding on the relevant units. While I have no wish to re-open the perennial Bombardier saga, it is rather unhelpful to have ordered new Desiro units which are totally different from, and presumably incompatible with, the Eletrostar stock already well established with both current TOCs, and which also introduce yet another new train type to our network. Sadly some lessons just aren't being learnt, and yet again we see more complication, this time in fleet terms.

I'd have to say that I'm not a fan of Southern's dull interior style, and I'm surprised they haven't taken the opportunity here to brighten it up with a newer design, but at least there is a clear commitment to keeping things clean and tidy.

 

[Class377/5]

I don't see why the new Thameslink can't have an overall brand the sub branding. IE keep the Southern routes train in green, have the Desiro Thameslink trains in a blue version of the Southern livery and the have the GN only trains as a purple livery. This way you clearly mark to the passenger what sort of train it is quickly. SWT has used this approach and it works well.

Whoever wins FCC will end up running Southern? Is it known who is bidding?

Not yet but First and Govia have said they will. Official bids are to be put in to the DfT later this year.

 

[387star]

If First take over I would be heart broken

Southern's future will be decided in 2013 then even though the merge might not happen till after 2015

 

[Class377/5]

If First take over I would be heart broken

Southern's future will be decided in 2013 then even though the merge might not happen till after 2015

The merger is officially happening 26th July 2015. However if Govia win it then effective it'll happen sooner in everything expect name.

 

[387star]

Cheers.

By the way wouldn't it be sensible for Thameslink to increase the order of desiros to replace the 313s on the Great Northern

 

[MCR247]

Why would you want 8 & 12 car TL stock for that?

 

[Class377/5]

Cheers.

By the way wouldn't it be sensible for Thameslink to increase the order of desiros to replace the 313s on the Great Northern

Problem is Thameslink as you put it doesn't exist. The DfT is leading the ordering of the trains as the current TOC's won't be around when they arrive.

As for add on orders, well you had terms built into most recent contracts to do add on orders. Look at the 350/2 and 378 fleets for this.

 

[Blindtraveler]

is the southern refurb major?0what are they doing? Appologies but as my username suggests I cant view any pictures posted.

 

[ert47]

I don't see why the new Thameslink can't have an overall brand the sub branding. IE keep the Southern routes train in green, have the Desiro Thameslink trains in a blue version of the Southern livery and the have the GN only trains as a purple livery. This way you clearly mark to the passenger what sort of train it is quickly. SWT has used this approach and it works well.

If Govia wins, they could always bring back the last Thameslink livery they did (the one like Southerns... just minus colour and more grey with a smidge of blue)

is the southern refurb major?0what are they doing? Appologies but as my username suggests I cant view any pictures posted.

I'd say the refurb on the Southerns Electrostar is more of a refresh. They're basically replacing all of the fabric within the trains (seats, carpetting, side panels, etc.). Not sure whether they're cleaning the light diffusers as some of the older Electrostars look a little yellowy under the lights.

 

[fgwrich]

Let's hope that it goes to Govia and the current Southern management, who seem to be one of the country's more capable TOC's, and certainly seem to be better thought of than the dreaded FCC...

Govias Southerns Management maybe...Govias Southeastern management No Thanks! Same company ownership, but a world apart in management - Southerns is good, not spot on, but neither is FCCs or Southeastern...

 

[Blindtraveler]

thanks for the response and would agree that the Southern management would be more suited should they win. I have had no probs with SET but appear to be in the minority here.

 

[MCR247]

I believe I was on a refurbished /1 on Saturday and it wasn't screaming out: "I'VE JUST BEEN REFURBISHED" to me, just felt normal like a /4 would in a driving car

 

[pendolino]

I'd say the refurb on the Southerns Electrostar is more of a refresh. They're basically replacing all of the fabric within the trains (seats, carpetting, side panels, etc.). Not sure whether they're cleaning the light diffusers as some of the older Electrostars look a little yellowy under the lights.

Grab rails and handles have been painted a nice shiny new yellow too. Which is all that seems to have been done in the toilets - a bit of a shame really as the vinyl floors are a bit tired and some of the hand basins are a bit grubby, but then I don't know what could have been done short of ripping them out and replacing. Overall though I think the refresh looks great.

In the cab all the controls have been relabelled, but that was about all that was needed. Still waiting for new driving seats though - the current ones can become very uncomfortable on long journeys, but there's a working group of ASLEF, Southern and an ergonomist looking into it so hopefully we should see results of that soon.