Class 387

[RobShipway]

Not everyone wants to go to Victoria anyway, An awful lot of tourists will be taking the Thameslink line into London, especially once it's upgraded, with it's frequency and easy connections to the likes of Crossrail, and nobody has suggested separate airport trains for this route?

Is the paths available for separate Gatwick Airport trains still or are those services being changed to extend to either Brighton or Eastbourne?

 

[swt_passenger]

Is the paths available for separate Gatwick Airport trains still or are those services being changed to extend to either Brighton or Eastbourne?

It's clear from GTR's announcements so far that Gatwick Express will run at 4 tph between Gatwick and Victoria. 2 of those 4 trains will also extend to/from Brighton.

No mention of Eastbourne - I'm surprised you think it might be involved at all.

 

[physics34]

I'm 99% sure you're linking Class377/5 to his own flickr site, he probably knows about that...

i did think at one point they were the same person!! Ha ha, my original instinct was correct, ha ha ha...

 

[RobShipway]

It's clear from GTR's announcements so far that Gatwick Express will run at 4 tph between Gatwick and Victoria. 2 of those 4 trains will also extend to/from Brighton.

No mention of Eastbourne - I'm surprised you think it might be involved at all.

I believe that some of the current services for Gatwick Express where they are using class 442 trains that some of those services are extending to Eastbourne both in the morning and evening, are they not?

 

[MCR247]

They are just southern services which use class 442s - nothing to do with gatwick express services really

 

[RobShipway]

They are just southern services which use class 442s - nothing to do with gatwick express services really

Ah, okay.

 

[Class377/5]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mackenzieblu/12924463945/in/set-72157641848570973

I'm 99% sure you're linking Class377/5 to his own flickr site, he probably knows about that...

I do indeed ??????

Just to note although that's the dates when ordered, due to the late 377/7s, its had a knock on effect on the 387/1 build. Last unit is now July time (with the first GatEx unit the same month) so should be a bit off that list now.

Word is 387101-104 are built.

 

[swt_passenger]

I believe that some of the current services for Gatwick Express where they are using class 442 trains that some of those services are extending to Eastbourne both in the morning and evening, are they not?

The use of the stock to/from Eastbourne is on separate diagrams to/from London Bridge though isn't it?

Nowt to do with Gatwick Express, and perhaps one part of the reason for deleting the word Gatwick from the 442 branding.

 

[Class377/5]

The use of the stock to/from Eastbourne is on separate diagrams to/from London Bridge though isn't it?

Nowt to do with Gatwick Express, and perhaps one part of the reason for deleting the word Gatwick from the 442 branding.

Yes. Eastbourne 442 are not GatEx services but Southern using all available stock.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

http://antony-christie.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/bombardier-class-387-construction-derby.html

The entry on that blog was in May so I'd assume that possibly at least 1 car of that unit is completed by now.

Will the 387's be cleared to so the Southampton route (giving a very rare opportunity to see one there in the event they get used to cover a Southampton service or will they never ever get used on that route?

 

[physics34]

http://antony-christie.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/bombardier-class-387-construction-derby.html

The entry on that blog was in May so I'd assume that possibly at least 1 car of that unit is completed by now.

Will the 387's be cleared to so the Southampton route (giving a very rare opportunity to see one there in the event they get used to cover a Southampton service or will they never ever get used on that route?

well they will be for thameslink services so i can't see them ever being used to to southampton. You'd imagine they will be cleared to run there though being the same bodyshell as a 377.

the 'unconfirmed' gatwick express 387s wouldnt be running down there either.

 

[Class377/5]

http://antony-christie.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/bombardier-class-387-construction-derby.html

The entry on that blog was in May so I'd assume that possibly at least 1 car of that unit is completed by now.

Will the 387's be cleared to so the Southampton route (giving a very rare opportunity to see one there in the event they get used to cover a Southampton service or will they never ever get used on that route?

Bombardier seems to think it can build a whole 387 in a week. So 12 weeks later they should be a fair bit more ahead that four actually.

Once the production line is fully operational, Bombardier expects to be rolling-out a new four-car Class 387 in just over a week

http://railwayherald.com/uknews/first-class-387-on-the-production-line

 

[jon0844]

Given their record, I find it unlikely they'll ever manage to do anything on time.

 

[Class377/5]

Given their record, I find it unlikely they'll ever manage to do anything on time.

They are already late. First unit should have been at Old Dalby in June according to the magazines Bombardier showed the 387s off too.

 

[jon0844]

I guess such delays happen when you have an all new platform, cutting edge technology and so on...!

 

[Class377/5]

I guess such delays happen when you have an all new platform, cutting edge technology and so on...!

If only!

 

[Class 317722]

I think the 387s should replace the 444s

 

[ModernRailways]

I think the 387s should replace the 444s

Are you being serious or just trolling? The 444s are still relatively new!

 

[GatwickDepress]

Are you being serious or just trolling? The 444s are still relatively new!

Ah, but it'll free up the 444s for everyone's fantasist projects!

 

[swt_passenger]

Ah, but it'll free up the 444s for everyone's fantasist projects!

Either that or it was an innocent typo by a newbie who hasn't heard that 387s are almost certainly replacing the 442s anyway...

 

[southern442]

Either that or it was an innocent typo by a newbie who hasn't heard that 387s are almost certainly replacing the 442s anyway...

This person in question is awaiting activation so you are almost definitely right

 

[capital12]

I think the 387s should replace the 444s

Don't want any of that Bombardier crap on SWT thank you very much!!

 

[Class377/5]

And the first picture of 387101 on test

https://twitter.com/RailYardHobo/status/496582776905150464/photo/1

And of 378101 being dragged to Old Dalby

https://twitter.com/FLHeavyHaul/status/501292373302050816/photo/1

Also I've found this....

http://www.stokesassociates.com/our-news

Stokes Associates are awarded the contract by Bombardier Transportation to produce a suite of Safety Management System (SMS) procedures for Bletchley Depot. We will be working in partnership with Bombardier Transportation providing management expertise at the depot during Class 387 “Electrostar” Electric Multiple Units commissioning and mileage accumulation trials.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Bletchey? So it seems that poor forgotten depot has finally found a use?

 

[59CosG95]

I take it that Bletchley isn't going to become the permanent base for the 387s, as they'll be operating on the BML and MML.

 

[Manchester77]

I take it that Bletchley isn't going to become the permanent base for the 387s, as they'll be operating on the BML and MML.

I thought they were to be based at Lovers Walk?

 

[GatwickDepress]

I take it that Bletchley isn't going to become the permanent base for the 387s, as they'll be operating on the BML and MML.

Definitely not. On paper it looks a decent enough "hotel depot" for them while undergoing testing though.

 

[Class377/5]

I thought they were to be based at Lovers Walk?

I take it that Bletchley isn't going to become the permanent base for the 387s, as they'll be operating on the BML and MML.

The hint folks is bolded.

Stokes Associates are awarded the contract by Bombardier Transportation to produce a suite of Safety Management System (SMS) procedures for Bletchley Depot. We will be working in partnership with Bombardier Transportation providing management expertise at the depot during Class 387 “Electrostar” Electric Multiple Units commissioning and mileage accumulation trials.

Its purely for commissioning runs. Likely due to Stewarts Lane being rather full these days and another 29 units (plus the GatEx replacement 27 units straight afterwards) would be too much.

 

[physics34]

The hint folks is bolded.



Its purely for commissioning runs. Likely due to Stewarts Lane being rather full these days and another 29 units (plus the GatEx replacement 27 units straight afterwards) would be too much.

really need new sidings built, not just for new units but the current fleet.

How short sighting it was removing all those siding from various places years ago!

 

[Class377/5]

really need new sidings built, not just for new units but the current fleet.

How short sighting it was removing all those siding from various places years ago!

There are plently of sidings now being built to modern standards, removing them all years ago isn't short sighted as they wouldn't be much use to today and would require rebuilding any way. There 6x 20 car roads at Cricklewood (which will become 24 cars soon and the same amount on the south side currently being built, with the sidings used to store released stock prior to being cascased) along with new depot at Three Bridges and other places means there is a lot of new stabling but these aren't so helpful for commissioning work.

EDIT:

Update on fleet build from WNXX

387106 should be complete
387107 should be completed next week
387108 should be complete early next month
387110 underframe complete next week

387101

DSC_0528_01 by Carl Westwood, on Flickr

EDIT 2:

387102 has been moved to Old Dalby this evening.


Here's some images of the drag

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60628514@N02/15042909351

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61070880@N04/15041789971

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60628514@N02/15045979515

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61070880@N04/15044849295