Class 387 to GN

[jon0844]

Isn't the first class seating in different places on different 387s? If so, when will GTR make a decision on the correct place?

 

[bramling]

Isn't the first class seating in different places on different 387s? If so, when will GTR make a decision on the correct place?

Has it been said officially anywhere that they are experimenting? I've heard it said that the difference is simply due to trains being in various stages of modification, or in some cases turned round -- not sure how true this is though, but it would make sense.

 

[jon0844]

Yes it could be this, but it still means a potential of four different positions just on that alone. And on the GN side, the position of first class isn't stated.

When they are 2x387, if the positions vary on each unit then it's going to be even more crazy!

 

[Failed Unit]

Must admit is confusing now. No idea if they will turn the 387s so they all face the same way. The London end. Some have 1st on the door near the drivers cabs from the Thameslink days.

I know we have the same issue with the 317s. I used to always stand at the rear coach to avoid first. If a 365 turned up no problem as it doesn't have much first compared to standing at the front and a 321 showing up.

As you say great northern give you no idea where to stand to avoid first. Do you feel lucky on the diagrams that any unit type can show up.

 

[jon0844]

I knew to look at which way the pantograph was facing on a 317 to know if it was coach 2 or 3, and - touch wood - bar the initial introduction, 321s always have FC at the London end.

So as long as I could see the train on approach, I always knew where FC was and could get into position.

Goodness knows how others did it, if they had first class tickets. No screens have ever said where it is and of late, I'm seeing screens not even stating the length of a train.

I don't think the 387s have any easy way to tell, unless there's a symbol on the front of the train as with some trains on GA (and others)?

 

[Class315]

Once again this morning, 1P47 0706 PBO-KGXwhich is now scheduled to run with 2x387 will run 4v8 in the form of a 365 this morning.
2R39 1000 LET - KGX is now scheduled to run as 2x387 will run as 1x365

The 387 will only perform it's original diagram

2R00 0414 KGX-LET
1R41 0613 LET-KGX
2C04 0705 KGX-CBG
2C39 0855 CBG - KGX

Yet to be confirmed regarding this evening's workings.

 

[Failed Unit]

What % of drivers are passed on the 387? This is pretty bad even for GTR that they cant even run 2 daily diagrams with about 6 weeks to go until the bins go off lease.

 

[jon0844]

What % of drivers are passed on the 387? This is pretty bad even for GTR that they cant even run 2 daily diagrams with about 6 weeks to go until the bins go off lease.

Maybe GTR just plan to cancel the trains. Why rush?!

 

[Failed Unit]

Short forming is also good. When they do eventually operate with 2x 387 it will be an improvement on a 4 car unit. We will be so thankful it is 8 we will forget all about how many more seats the previous sets had.

Ended up on 0855 cam - London this morning. Cosy because of cancellation of 0942 WGC service.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Was 387110 on another diagram this morning as it is sat in Kings Cross on platform 11 or is this just a unit for crew training?

 

[Class377/5]

Short forming is also good. When they do eventually operate with 2x 387 it will be an improvement on a 4 car unit. We will be so thankful it is 8 we will forget all about how many more seats the previous sets had.

Ended up on 0855 cam - London this morning. Cosy because of cancellation of 0942 WGC service.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Was 387110 on another diagram this morning as it is sat in Kings Cross on platform 11 or is this just a unit for crew training?

Why is short forming good?

 

[D365]

Why is short forming good?

Think he was being sarcastic :roll:

 

[stut]

Why is short forming good?

Because you get to feel the benefit when the 8-car 387s come on.

 

[jon0844]

Because you get to feel the benefit when the 8-car 387s come on.

Well, cancelling trains due to driver shortages makes you feel great even if a 4 car runs instead of 12..

These days, all I'm looking out for is 'cancelled' and considering anything else a bonus.

 

[stut]

Well, cancelling trains due to driver shortages makes you feel great even if a 4 car runs instead of 12

Depends. I'd rather have a cancelled train and do some work at home, than one I can't fit on, and spend another half hour plus milling around the station.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Looks like the 0706 PBO-KGX ran as the booked 2x387 today, as I saw it stopping at Arlesey at 0757 this morning (7 minutes down). Didn't look too crush-loaded, but I imagine at Hitchin it probably would be.

Interestingly, seeing a comment above about 321 FC positioning, I'm on one that's in place of the 365 normally booked for the 0722 KGX-PBO, and FC is at the front (country end) of the unit today. Not a very regular occurrence, but funny anyways.

 

[crazystripe]

I took the 7.06 ex PBO from Sandy this morning. There were a lot of standees from Hitchin onwards. I was at the front of the second 4-car unit - nice to have a walk-through between all 8 cars, and the luggage rack right by the door is a better location than at the carriage-ends (which is where they are on the 365s).

The ride was fairly smooth (nothing special) and definitely quieter than the older units. The aisles are narrower than in the 365s because the seats are wider, which means bags/folding bikes don't really work next to seats, whereas on 365s they do.

 

[stut]

I took the 7.06 ex PBO from Sandy this morning. There were a lot of standees from Hitchin onwards. I was at the front of the second 4-car unit - nice to have a walk-through between all 8 cars, and the luggage rack right by the door is a better location than at the carriage-ends (which is where they are on the 365s).

The ride was fairly smooth (nothing special) and definitely quieter than the older units. The aisles are narrower than in the 365s because the seats are wider, which means bags/folding bikes don't really work next to seats, whereas on 365s they do.

Was on the same train. Rather liked it, although I'm only on as far as Hitchin, and standing as I have a bike with me. The wider vestibules make a difference (particularly getting on/off at Hitchin), and the grab handles mean there's a better spread of where you can comfortably stand in the aisles compared to a 317 or 321. It didn't seem any busier leaving Arlesey (the middle seats are usually still empty at that point) but can imagine there'd be quite a few more standing from Hitchin. When will it be 12-car?

(The delay was due to a fault in the train ahead of it at HUN, incidentally...)

I'd dispute that bags in the aisles worked on 365s though - it was a bloody annoying place for people to leave them (particularly when they plonked them down right in your foot space!)

 

[philjo]

I was on the 09:29 from Letchworth to Potters Bar this morning (08:55 from Cambridge, running about 11 minutes late due to congestion at Cambridge area)

I was at the very back of the train - still plenty of seats available when I got up at Potters Bar but maybe because we were late so the Moorgate train was now ahead of us after WGC - fewer seemed to board at Hatfield than normal.

I noticed that the door open/close buttons seem to be very low down (& not that obvious when there was a bike propped in front of them) - I'm not that tall but I still had to stoop down to press the button to open the door to get off !

 

[notverydeep]

Yesterday's 1C96 was 2 x 365 as (previously) normal last night.

Less directly related, this morning's 2C93 0727 Cambridge - King's Cross was short formed to 1 x 317 for the second time this week. Unusually this wasn't announced at WGC before arrival and didn't appear as a disruption on GN's email update that you can sign up to. Anyone know what the issue was?

This is normally a pair of 317s and presumably will become 2 x 387 in the coming weeks. I for one am not looking forward to standing on a daily basis...

 

[D365]

Spotted an eight-car Class 387 train when passing Nene CS this morning. Didn't get the numbers but it would have been stabling over the weekend, ready for Monday service.

 

[jamieP]

spotted an eight-car class 387 train when passing nene cs this morning. Didn't get the numbers but it would have been stabling over the weekend, ready for monday service.

387119 & 106

 

[D365]

387119 & 106

Thanks. Will it be operating the 07:06 again, and what time will it be returning to Peterborough?

 

[Failed Unit]

Thanks. Will it be operating the 07:06 again, and what time will it be returning to Peterborough?

2122 KX - Peterborough from what I understand, however this is GTR yes it should be on the 0706 - but that is of course if they have a driver that is passed to drive it. They seem to be failing badly on that.

 

[Class315]

Thanks. Will it be operating the 07:06 again, and what time will it be returning to Peterborough?

All things being equal and there is a type trained driver then yes, it will run the 07:06 on Monday.

It usually runs as 1P47 0706 PBO KGX,
3R39 0842 KGX - LET VIA XLL*
2R39 1000 LET - KGX
5E48 1114 KGX - XHE (stables)**

5R96 1803 XHE-KGX
1C96 1823 KGX-CBG
1C21 2015 CBG-KGX
1P80 2122 KGX-PBO
5P80 2250 PBO-XPN***

* Letchworth A/D line
** Hornsey EMUD
** Peterborough Nene sidings.

 

[D365]

Thanks. Unfortunately the return journey is too late for me to make use of

 

[387star]

When will they receive gn livery thanks

 

[D365]

When will they receive gn livery thanks

Don't think there is much of a Great Northern livery. Only thing I can think of is vinyl accents and blue doors.

 

[physics34]

When will they receive gn livery thanks

not a priority it seems probably due to financial reasons. It would make sense for them to have light blue vinyls on the doors, the same colour as the 365s.

Surely this isnt "too" expensive and wont take too long to apply.

 

[SprinterMan]

When will they receive gn livery thanks

They will be remaining in their current livery, which has been deemed as "close enough" to GN colours. GN actually stated in a press release that passengers looking out for the new air conditioned trains should look out for trains with dark green doors. Weirdly enough, the next things we will be repainting will be the soon-to-be-withdrawn 313s as part of their C6 overhaul. Hornsey are apparently equipping themselves with a new painting area specifically for this.

Adam

 

[physics34]

They will be remaining in their current livery, which has been deemed as "close enough" to GN colours. GN actually stated in a press release that passengers looking out for the new air conditioned trains should look out for trains with dark green doors. Weirdly enough, the next things we will be repainting will be the soon-to-be-withdrawn 313s as part of their C6 overhaul. Hornsey are apparently equipping themselves with a new painting area specifically for this.

Adam

bizarre that they wont change the door colour. :roll: