Class 387

[Class377]

Ah OK. Only really travel on the north end of TL most of the time so didn't realise there were unbarriered stations down there!

 

[Class2ldn]

I've found the 387s slower at changing over, what they didn't tell us is that the cyclops light doesn't drop out, it's one way of knowing when to press shoes down or pan up so now you have to stick the noticeboard light on. Well you don't have to but it's thrown a few out who've been waiting ages lol

 

[bb21]

Writing this on 387 110. Nice ride but seats hard! Is it my imagination or does this thing have wicked acceleration, we left Gatwick faster than I've ever experienced. Or perhaps I'm just conditioned to lethargy after using 442 rubbish for two weeks?!

Blimey, we missed each other then. I was on 108 in the middle.

 

[talldave]

Blimey, we missed each other then. I was on 108 in the middle.

LOL - I'm easy to spot, usually the tallest person on the train I got off at Blackfriars - from where its departure must have been the slowest ever acceleration!!!

 

[AM9]

LOL - I'm easy to spot, usually the tallest person on the train I got off at Blackfriars - from where its departure must have been the slowest ever acceleration!!!

I was in the rear coach (of 108) from LBG to SAC. Pretty quiet there, had four seats around table all the way.
They are very quiet at the moment although my coach had a couple of minor flats already! Seats are firm but quite comfortable, the ac set about right and the door buttons worked.
I had my SLR with me so took some video but it's a bit wobbly, not, I might add caused by the train. Am rendering a rush for you tube at the moment.

If anybody is interested, the video is now uploaded. The link is:
http://youtu.be/ZGfveafzQZc

 

[The Box Photter]

Train 1G91 pantomime at Luton this evening. 17.10 Elephant & Castle to Bedford, units 387106 & 109.

Arrived at Luton 10 mins down. Doors open, pax alight and doors close, then wait ... wait ... wait ... doors still not locked although platform dispatcher had pushed the "CD" button. Wait a bit more and then the driver announces that his relief doesn't sign for the new Class 387 and won't take the train forward.

Platform staff are somewhat bemused as said relief driver stomps off back to the crew restroom leaving an 8 car train on the down fast platform (5) at Luton.

Platform staff inform passengers on train that it will not be proceeding and recommend they sprint over the bridge to the next all-stations train that is just arriving on platform three. Many passengers leave, but some stay on the train (including me) as the driver has announced that 1G91 will be departing in approximately one minute.

All stations service leaves platform 3 without waiting for all pax attempting to ascend and descend stairs. Pax return to plaform 5 and get back on 1G91.

Flustered platform dispatcher then gets onto 1G91 telling us that the train now has a "technical fault" and will be terminating. She mumbles something about the telephone for the driver to contact the signalman isn't working. Just as she does this, the driver announces that the train is departing after all.

We then head north on the down fast, passing the all stations service at Leagrave, which has been held in the platform to allow 1G91 to cross over onto the down slow.

Arrival at Flitwick 27 mins late.

Questions:

1. Who rostered a driver that wasn't trained on the 387s?
2. Why schedule a driver change at Luton for northbound services anyway?
3. Why did Thameslink attempt to declare a functioning train a failure?
4. How annoyed would the pax on the all-stations train be when they saw the train they had been turfed off pass them at Leagrave?
5. Who runs GTR Thameslink, the management or the drivers?
6. Who specified the seats in the Class 387s? I've sat on more comfortable park benches.
7. How different to a Class 377 is a Class 387 from the driver's point of view?

 

[Class377/5]

Because at one point it was a failure that was fixed.

 

[westcoaster]

Train 1G91 pantomime at Luton this evening. 17.10 Elephant & Castle to Bedford, units 387106 & 109.

Arrived at Luton 10 mins down. Doors open, pax alight and doors close, then wait ... wait ... wait ... doors still not locked although platform dispatcher had pushed the "CD" button. Wait a bit more and then the driver announces that his relief doesn't sign for the new Class 387 and won't take the train forward.

Platform staff are somewhat bemused as said relief driver stomps off back to the crew restroom leaving an 8 car train on the down fast platform (5) at Luton.

Platform staff inform passengers on train that it will not be proceeding and recommend they sprint over the bridge to the next all-stations train that is just arriving on platform three. Many passengers leave, but some stay on the train (including me) as the driver has announced that 1G91 will be departing in approximately one minute.

All stations service leaves platform 3 without waiting for all pax attempting to ascend and descend stairs. Pax return to plaform 5 and get back on 1G91.

Flustered platform dispatcher then gets onto 1G91 telling us that the train now has a "technical fault" and will be terminating. She mumbles something about the telephone for the driver to contact the signalman isn't working. Just as she does this, the driver announces that the train is departing after all.

We then head north on the down fast, passing the all stations service at Leagrave, which has been held in the platform to allow 1G91 to cross over onto the down slow.

Arrival at Flitwick 27 mins late.

Questions:

1. Who rostered a driver that wasn't trained on the 387s?
2. Why schedule a driver change at Luton for northbound services anyway?
3. Why did Thameslink attempt to declare a functioning train a failure?
4. How annoyed would the pax on the all-stations train be when they saw the train they had been turfed off pass them at Leagrave?
5. Who runs GTR Thameslink, the management or the drivers?
6. Who specified the seats in the Class 387s? I've sat on more comfortable park benches.
7. How different to a Class 377 is a Class 387 from the driver's point of view?

I took it down to elephant and Bellingham this morning it was all fine govenor

1. This morning there was no units allocated on the drivers diagram so could have been anything. Would be the same for the afternoon.
2. Always happens on 1G91 at luton ( usually the same driver stays on to bedford but pass)
3. Can't comment
4.pretty
5. GTR run the company
6. No idea
7. Lots of minor differences.

Add to that not all drivers have had there training yet, so they could of slipped through the controllers net.

 

[Fincra5]

As far as seats go... wait for the 700s.. and you'll see the comfort of the 387s

 

[hairyhandedfool]

1. Who rostered a driver that wasn't trained on the 387s?

I believe driver rosters these days are mostly computer generated and whilst checks can be made for problems, the shear number of 'jobcards' and drivers makes the task of spotting them quite tricky.

2. Why schedule a driver change at Luton for northbound services anyway?

When I worked for Thameslink (before FCC) driver changes could happen at Bedford, Luton, St Albans, Blackfriars and Brighton. Bedford, Blackfriars and Brighton were all drivers depots and Luton and St Albans had terminating services, with some drivers needing to go back to their depot and others needed to take on the trains left by the drivers who are going to the depot. Sometimes the rosters will determine that a driver needs a break from driving but is still needed to reach the end of the line for another service later.

3. Why did Thameslink attempt to declare a functioning train a failure?

Good question. My guess would be that sometimes a simple explanation is better than an accurate one. Enthusiasts will understand the driver not being trained on new stock, joe public will write to the daily wail.

4. How annoyed would the pax on the all-stations train be when they saw the train they had been turfed off pass them at Leagrave?

Very. Especially if they saw it had people on it.

5. Who runs GTR Thameslink, the management or the drivers?

Management run the company, the drivers drive the trains. Between them is Control, who try to organise the chaos (and sometimes fail).

6. Who specified the seats in the Class 387s? I've sat on more comfortable park benches.

Wasn't DfT involved as the 387s are temporary as far as Thameslink are concerned and no-one knows where they are going next???

 

[asylumxl]

I notice that TL is rather liberal with the truth when it comes to giving the public reasons for cancellations or delays.

A reason I seem to be hearing more and more regularly on my commute is "due to a lack of train crew". I've heard some drivers at Blackfriars get rather disgruntled about the blame being put on them.

 

[theageofthetra]

Saw one if these units when driving up to London Bridge tonight. That 3rd low level light is rather bright- someone on here said its to illuminate the track ahead for the front facing camera?

 

[Bald Rick]

I notice that TL is rather liberal with the truth when it comes to giving the public reasons for cancellations or delays.

A reason I seem to be hearing more and more regularly on my commute is "due to a lack of train crew". I've heard some drivers at Blackfriars get rather disgruntled about the blame being put on them.

I don't thinks it's blaming drivers who are at work!

It is, however, the truth. TL are short of drivers. Like Southern but not so drastically.

 

[jon0844]

A reason I seem to be hearing more and more regularly on my commute is "due to a lack of train crew". I've heard some drivers at Blackfriars get rather disgruntled about the blame being put on them.

I wouldn't worry as anyone should realise that having a lack of drivers is a problem caused by management.

If a shop messes up the rosters so it ends up with no staff booked to come to work one day, that's not the fault of the staff sitting at home.

Even with the unique situation where some days require volunteers, it's still up to management to sort things and incentivise where necessary to fill every train with a driver. Yes, management, drivers and the union should try and seek a long-term solution to this, but until then it's always going to be management that I hold as a responsible.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Anybody know which units were on 2T00 this morning?

 

[Class377/5]

387109/106

2W93 02:49 Bedford to Brighton
1W08 07:11 Brighton to Bedford
2T27 09:24 Bedford to Brighton
1T22 12:04 Brighton to Bedford
1T41 15:40 Bedford to Brighton
1W97 17:24 Brighton to Bedford
2T77 22:22 Bedford to Brighton

387107/105

2T00 05:10 Brighton to Bedford
1T53 17:34 Bedford to Brighton
1T56 20:34 Brighton to Bedford

 

[coxy]

387109/106

2W93 02:49 Bedford to Brighton
1W08 07:11 Brighton to Bedford
2T27 09:24 Bedford to Brighton
1T22 12:04 Brighton to Bedford
1T41 15:40 Bedford to Brighton
1W97 17:24 Brighton to Bedford
2T77 22:22 Bedford to Brighton

387107/105

2T00 05:10 Brighton to Bedford
1T53 17:34 Bedford to Brighton
1T56 20:34 Brighton to Bedford

Just wondering if these 4 units (105, 106, 107 & 109) are the only ones currently in passenger use ??

If so, are these the regular diagrams being worked ?

 

[Fincra5]

I happened to jump on one from blackfriars to Kings X.. It's just like the new 6 and 7 series... Just with Thameslink maps.

I still have to say I like the seats on them. Upright and firm but quite comfortable.

 

[Bald Rick]

Agreed.

 

[David Sinnett]

The seats may be OK for Blackfriars to StP but for Bedford to City TL they're not very comfortable. The cushion is too hard, the arm rest too hard - the window arm rest does not fold back. On my two journeys so far the AC was too warm and the train then felt stuffy/airless. Also don't like the automated announcements at every station. If you don't know where you're going when you board a train you shouldn't be travelling! Having said all that the ride noise is better than the 319s and the doors don't bang when you pass other traffic. Think when the 319s become rare I will change to EMT for most of the journey.

Monday/Tuesday this week the 7.58 ex Bedford was 387s but his mornings service was cancelled, no reason, not even on the departure board. There was a 387 pairing in the siding though.

On a different note, the lavs are nice though why can't you get water without having to get soap?

 

[swt_passenger]

So the 377/6, 377/7, and 387 all have the same or very similar seats.

Amazing - who would have predicted that...

I wonder if the 345s will have more of the same, and all the same critical posts will get yet another airing...

 

[bb21]

Just wondering if these 4 units (105, 106, 107 & 109) are the only ones currently in passenger use ??

If so, are these the regular diagrams being worked ?

No, 387108+110 has also been out, yesterday and the day before iirc.

 

[coxy]

No, 387108+110 has also been out, yesterday and the day before iirc.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Class377/5]

So far 387105-110 have been in service with 111/112 in service over the next few days. Currently 6 diagrams that started 15th tho its a steady introduction with it kept to six diagrams until mid January.

 

[AM9]

So far 387105-110 have been in service with 111/112 in service over the next few days. Currently 6 diagrams that started 15th tho its a steady introduction with it kept to six diagrams until mid January.

Are they the same six diagrams? If so can you say what they are?

 

[Class377/5]

Are they the same six diagrams? If so can you say what they are?

Nope as from Saturday you no longer have any London Bridge to Blackfriars so diagrams are different.

Will talk about them later. Should be units out all this weekend too.

 

[Fincra5]

The seats may be OK for Blackfriars to StP but for Bedford to City TL they're not very comfortable. The cushion is too hard, the arm rest too hard - the window arm rest does not fold back. On my two journeys so far the AC was too warm and the train then felt stuffy/airless. Also don't like the automated announcements at every station. If you don't know where you're going when you board a train you shouldn't be travelling! Having said all that the ride noise is better than the 319s and the doors don't bang when you pass other traffic. Think when the 319s become rare I will change to EMT for most of the journey.

Monday/Tuesday this week the 7.58 ex Bedford was 387s but his mornings service was cancelled, no reason, not even on the departure board. There was a 387 pairing in the siding though.

On a different note, the lavs are nice though why can't you get water without having to get soap?

Yes, I compared them to a new 377.. for which I have sat on from London to Brighton, and I still like the seats. The window armrests on 377s also do NOT raise up, so no difference there. Also 377/5s have auto announcements, so you should be used to them. You may not need them but imagine if you were blind (its a DDA requirement these days - I think).

 

[samuelmorris]

The only thing I'm not sure about with Southern's announcements is specifying the destination before arrival at the next station - seems a little unnecessary to me - I can only assume it's for people that missed it as they were boarding and can't see the display scrolling round. Doesn't unduly bother me, I'm sure I'll get used to it. Personally speaking I find the seats in the 377/6/7 perfectly comfortable enough for short journeys, I'll have to see how I fare on a longer one, but I'm not currently envisaging a problem.

 

[Class377/5]

The only thing I'm not sure about with Southern's announcements is specifying the destination before arrival at the next station - seems a little unnecessary to me - I can only assume it's for people that missed it as they were boarding and can't see the display scrolling round. Doesn't unduly bother me, I'm sure I'll get used to it. Personally speaking I find the seats in the 377/6/7 perfectly comfortable enough for short journeys, I'll have to see how I fare on a longer one, but I'm not currently envisaging a problem.

The 387s don' have the same seating as the five car 377. The 387s are more padded.

 

[physics34]

Yes, I compared them to a new 377.. for which I have sat on from London to Brighton, and I still like the seats. The window armrests on 377s also do NOT raise up, so no difference there. Also 377/5s have auto announcements, so you should be used to them. You may not need them but imagine if you were blind (its a DDA requirement these days - I think).

I happened to jump on one from blackfriars to Kings X.. It's just like the new 6 and 7 series... Just with Thameslink maps.

I still have to say I like the seats on them. Upright and firm but quite comfortable.

Comfortable? Now this is comfortable.

Semi-suburban seats from the 1960s vs semi-suburban seats from 2014.

Progress???!