Class 379 Miscellanea

[Tottenham Flyer]

Units out to play today in passenger service:

379007 & 009
379005 & 008

Will post the driver training unit(s) when I find them.

 

[rockford]

Bit of an odd one, this...
I've travelled on the new Electrostars three or four times now, and each time there have been three or four loud thuds from overhead.
It seems to happen more often between Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street.

The best way I can describe it is that it sounds like something has hit the roof of the cabin, then it goes very quiet, then there's a sound like a compressor starting back up, then the 'normal' noise resumes.

Any ideas what it is?
The initial loud bang was making passengers jump at first, but it seems people have got used to it now.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

It's the neutral section on the overhead lines. Nothing to worry about. A few people have said how loud it is.

One of the driver training units is 010, currently en route to Cambridge.

 

[jon0844]

The units were rebooted at least 3 times and actually had a crash. Someone went to open the doors and the whole train shut down with doors still part open and the lights out. On the return journey the PA was turned on and it was broken with crackling and words repeated like an echo. As a regular 377/5 user I was impressed at the units.

Sorry about the selective (mis)quoting, but as a 377/5 user, I can see how those things would still leave you impressed overall.

 

[lm321412]

I rode these trains today and I must say I do really like them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photography_by_tom/5638418367/in/photostream/ 379005

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photography_by_tom/5639018640/in/photostream/ 379007

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photography_by_tom/5639044138/in/photostream/ 379008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photography_by_tom/5638485447/in/photostream/ 379009

Also have pics of the nameplate, interior photographs and more!

Just far too tired to add them at the moment...

 

[jon0844]

I took the 1710 from Liverpool St tonight and arrived at around 1650 to get a chance to take some photos before it filled up - and, boy, did it fill up! As I finished going through all eight carriages, including taking a gander in the toilets, it was nearly packed - such that I had to get off and walk along the platform to get back on!! This train certainly does get busy, and while it may well have had a lot of commuters, it also had plenty of tourists going to the airport.

I love the look of the trains inside and out.. one of the nicest trains I've been on, but there's nowhere near enough luggage space, meaning the aisles were full up of bags. The luggage racks above are pathetic too; way too small to fit carry on bags, just carrier bags and copies of Metro! How does the trolley ever get through the train at busy times (it was on there).

I also noticed that in the front set (005?) that the PIS inside wasn't working properly. It seems the screens facing the station weren't on, while the ones facing the 'country end' were. On the second set, they were all on. I also think it's quite odd that some internal doors have green-illuminated buttons on the doors themselves, which people were finding near impossible to operate (are they real buttons, or is there a sensor covering it?) and normal yellow-illuminated exit-door style buttons at other places. Why no consistency?

We also left LST late by around 2-3 minutes, but I don't know why. Technical problems?

Anyway - they're great trains. Much nicer than 377s. I even logged into the Wi-Fi service and that was nice and responsive, but I couldn't do a speed test as I was on my BlackBerry!

Oh, and I think the manual 'lever' to lock in the disabled toilet is an excellent solution to the problem of people not locking the doors (or, for trains that autolock, having the situation where people don't notice it locked and press again - which turns the lock off). Such a simple idea, even if it is really just a glorified switch - kudos to the person(s) behind that!!



What a shame they make the alarm look less obvious, with some people almost certainly going to confuse this with a button to flush - the alarm notice doesn't seem to be part of the button!



Oh, one last thing. The doors close automatically after a set time (for the air con to keep working) but someone didn't seem bothered by the warning beeps - presumably as it was some time before departure - and he just stepped on as the doors were closing. They did touch him, then moved back to about half open (each, so therefore plenty of room for him to get on) and then tried again when he'd passed the floor beam. There are also sensors in the ceiling of the door panel too, presumably passenger counters. Anyway, if people are going to simply walk on and off even with some pretty loud alerts going off, there may well be door problems to come in the future.

 

[387star]

You would think they would have learnt by now trains need more luggage space.

How are they better than the 377s?

It is funny how trains are judged on seating. If the 450s had 444 seating people would say they were excellent trains. A lot of trains are probably under appreciated due to the seating percieved to be uncomfortable

 

[MCR247]

It is funny how trains are judged on seating. If the 450s had 444 seating people would say they were excellent trains. A lot of trains are probably under appreciated due to the seating percieved to be uncomfortable

I wholly agree! Trains should be judged by reliability etc not by the TOC running them, livery, seats etc...

 

[jon0844]

How are they better than the 377s?

General look and feel - the colours are very neutral and look like they won't look old after a few months/years.

There are other things like the use of LED lighting, bigger PIS screens, an improved door on the disabled toilet (didn't look at the other one) and other things that suggest a slightly more modern design.

So, a mix of actual differences and personal opinion.

I did forget to mention about the disabled toilet though; when the door was shut, there was a 2mm gap between the rubber seal and the door frame - so, in theory, someone could press their head up and look in from the outside.

In terms of luggage, the trains will never cope. Ryanair may have made many people travel with only hand luggage, but these can't go above the seats.. and you can get very few bags in the single luggage space (the equivalent of just one set of seats). As a result the bags go in the aisle, on the seats (in this case, there were no seats spare) and the vestibule. The people who are checking bags in are using giant bags, presumably as it's often cheaper to take one big bag than two smaller/lighter ones, so one bag fills one shelf...

The vestibules have two tip-down seats, but you can't use them when there are bags everywhere. Oh, and then there are people with prams. There IS an area with room on both sides for wheelchairs (and possibly bikes/buggies) but it didn't seem clearly marked. What's more, each set was in a reverse formation (so first class is at the far end of the combined set). Will they always run as 8-car? If not, they'll have to say where FC is on the trains as some will be the wrong way round.

Clearly the trains will be emptier at other times, but the announcements say to keep bags with you and not leave them unattended - so everyone is going to keep bags next to them aren't they!

 

[Bald Rick]

You did manage to pick just about the busiest Stan Ex of the evening peak on the busiest day of the year for air travel, so I would hope you saw the demand for luggage space at its peak.

The trains are also designed for commuters, and for 90% of the time I think the space is better used with more seats than luggage space.

They are great trains aren't they!

 

[jon0844]

It was the only train I could take given the limited operation on Thursday, so I hope it will be a lot better at other times. Maybe they should have had more areas for bags, with tip-down seats, and not just the vestibules.

Anyway, I presume they did a lot of research and planning before deciding on the internal configuration. I've been on it just once!

The fact is, they're definitely great trains! I bet commuters are wishing all the 317s would be replaced with these!

 

[STN commuter]

Oh, one last thing. The doors close automatically after a set time (for the air con to keep working) but someone didn't seem bothered by the warning beeps - presumably as it was some time before departure - and he just stepped on as the doors were closing. They did touch him, then moved back to about half open (each, so therefore plenty of room for him to get on) and then tried again when he'd passed the floor beam. There are also sensors in the ceiling of the door panel too, presumably passenger counters. Anyway, if people are going to simply walk on and off even with some pretty loud alerts going off, there may well be door problems to come in the future.

You don't commute by train daily, do you?

It's quite normal for passengers to get jammed in the doors on a regular basis :roll:--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

General look and feel - the colours are very neutral and look like they won't look old after a few months/years.

There are other things like the use of LED lighting, bigger PIS screens, an improved door on the disabled toilet (didn't look at the other one) and other things that suggest a slightly more modern design.

So, a mix of actual differences and personal opinion.

I did forget to mention about the disabled toilet though; when the door was shut, there was a 2mm gap between the rubber seal and the door frame - so, in theory, someone could press their head up and look in from the outside.

In my experience, you don't get many Peeping Toms on busy Stansted Express services, they prefer quieter places to peep

In terms of luggage, the trains will never cope. Ryanair may have made many people travel with only hand luggage, but these can't go above the seats.. and you can get very few bags in the single luggage space (the equivalent of just one set of seats). As a result the bags go in the aisle, on the seats (in this case, there were no seats spare) and the vestibule. The people who are checking bags in are using giant bags, presumably as it's often cheaper to take one big bag than two smaller/lighter ones, so one bag fills one shelf...

Again, this is all quite normal. Air passengers with large bags either leave them in the vestibules, wedge them on the overhead racks where they teeter on the edge for the journey, or simply take them to the seats with them so two people and their luggage take up four seats (well, until the Bishops Stortford commuters get on :roll.

The vestibules have two tip-down seats, but you can't use them when there are bags everywhere. Oh, and then there are people with prams. There IS an area with room on both sides for wheelchairs (and possibly bikes/buggies) but it didn't seem clearly marked. What's more, each set was in a reverse formation (so first class is at the far end of the combined set). Will they always run as 8-car? Yes

If not, they'll have to say where FC is on the trains as some will be the wrong way round.

Clearly the trains will be emptier at other times, but the announcements say to keep bags with you and not leave them unattended - so everyone is going to keep bags next to them aren't they!

.....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It was the only train I could take given the limited operation on Thursday, so I hope it will be a lot better at other times. Maybe they should have had more areas for bags, with tip-down seats, and not just the vestibules.

Anyway, I presume they did a lot of research and planning before deciding on the internal configuration. I've been on it just once!

The fact is, they're definitely great trains! I bet commuters are wishing all the 317s would be replaced with these!

Not a problem if you commute from the airport daily!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


By the way, does anyone have the passenger diagrams for next week yet?

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Not yet, but all I know is that they're not out until Tuesday, and 014 has now arrived at Ilford.

 

[The_Stig]

Oh, one last thing. The doors close automatically after a set time (for the air con to keep working) but someone didn't seem bothered by the warning beeps - presumably as it was some time before departure - and he just stepped on as the doors were closing. They did touch him, then moved back to about half open (each, so therefore plenty of room for him to get on) and then tried again when he'd passed the floor beam. There are also sensors in the ceiling of the door panel too, presumably passenger counters. Anyway, if people are going to simply walk on and off even with some pretty loud alerts going off, there may well be door problems to come in the future.

380's have a similar function regarding the doors re-opening if the start to close whilst at a station. The re-opening function is disabled when the driver/guard closes them. The doors will default to the standard obstacle detection in case someone is between the doors. I would assume that the 379 may be the same.

 

[jon0844]

If they work like lift doors, no wonder people will just get on and ignore the alarm. They will be shocked when the driver closes them, or they get on another type of train!!

Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

 

[Boothby97]

I know 379 001-009/013-015 have been built but have any of the others been constructed yet.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Yeah, 010, 011 and 012 are at Ilford and are being used for driver training. I believe 10 and 11 may have done a passenger run too.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

I think 016 - 018 are built too. When I spoke to a driver the other day, he mentioned he'd just come back from Derby and was playing around with 017 and 018.

 

[Boothby97]

How long before construction is complete?

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

I know NX will need all 30 units in time for the December timetable change as there's going to be 10 units diagrammed for Cambridge services, and the other 20 for Stansteds, although they only need 18 to run a full Stansted Express service.

 

[Boothby97]

I believe the other two will be sat at Ilford all day and be needed if a unit fails

 

[Csalem]

Yeah, 010, 011 and 012 are at Ilford and are being used for driver training. I believe 10 and 11 may have done a passenger run too.

I managed to see 10 and 11 on test runs in Cambridge last Tuesday when I popped over:
http://transportsceneireland.smugmu...-2011/16697447_dHGZrk#1259315966_rdCCcsL-L-LB

http://transportsceneireland.smugmu...-2011/16697447_dHGZrk#1259315618_VDTvTG7-L-LB

 

[Boothby97]

I saw 379 014 and 015 pass Rugby on a Test run on Tuesday Afternoon.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

I believe the other two will be sat at Ilford all day and be needed if a unit fails

Maintenance units chief, and then spare.

 

[Boothby97]

379 002 and 025 passed Crewe around 11.30 am on Tuesday heading north (to Crewe IEMD I think).

 

[WestCountry]

Have any worked service trains to Cambridge yet? If not, at what point can/will they start? (is there much more certification/training to do?)

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Have any worked service trains to Cambridge yet? If not, at what point can/will they start? (is there much more certification/training to do?)

Service trains to Cambridge start in December.

The SDO function on the train is still causing major headaches and there aren't enough drivers trained on them yet.

Last week a set was swapped over at Bishops Stortford because the relief driver didn't sign them, so a 317 was quickly brought out of the sidings and did a couple of trips. 379 was then brought back out of the sidings and carried on. There was also a time recently when a Driver Manager had to drive the train because the relief driver didn't sign the 379. He took it to London where it was swapped for a 317 for a couple of trips.

 

[STN commuter]

Have any worked service trains to Cambridge yet? If not, at what point can/will they start? (is there much more certification/training to do?)

As I understand it, the last 10 of the 30 x 379 4 car units will not go into proper service on Cambridge services until the airport service is fully deployed with the first 20 - and it is far from that yet.

 

[Flywaver]

Will any be booked to peak hour Lynns eventually?

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Will any be booked to peak hour Lynns eventually?

I can see all the peak hour Lynn trains being 379's.

The 379's will not go onto Cambridge/Ely/Kings Lynn services until December. The only planned changes between now and December is the withdrawal of 317's on Stansted services.