Class 387

[317 forever]

That's a relief Jonathan, thanks!

I have deliberately timed a visit to Reading to ride a 387 there before the invasion of the class 345s on the current Heathrow Connect service. I want my first 345 to be on a new section of CrossRail or maybe the short-lived service to the Liverpool Street terminus.

 

[Non Multi]

... I have deliberately timed a visit to Reading to ride a 387 there before the invasion of the class 345s on the current Heathrow Connect service. I want my first 345 to be on a new section of CrossRail or maybe the short-lived service to the Liverpool Street terminus.

I rather enjoyed going west of Reading on the 387s. I'd actually recommend a ride on a 165 stopper beforehand just to understand how much of an improvement they are.

IIRC, there will still be trains terminating in the peaks (6tph) at Liverpool St (high level) when the Crossrail route is fully operational.

 

[317 forever]

I rather enjoyed going west of Reading on the 387s. I'd actually recommend a ride on a 165 stopper beforehand just to understand how much of an improvement they are.

IIRC, there will still be trains terminating in the peaks (6tph) at Liverpool St (high level) when the Crossrail route is fully operational.

Oh, you mean there will still be a peak-hour service of 345s into Liverpool Street high level?

 

[Non Multi]

Oh, you mean there will still be a peak-hour service of 345s into Liverpool Street high level?

That's correct, it's either going to be 4 or 6tph (although everything is still subject to last minute changes etc).
The latest proposed frequency diagram: https://cdn.londonreconnections.com...quency-including-Liv-St-peak-only-service.png
The LR article: https://www.londonreconnections.com/2017/one-of-the-family-crossrails-transition-to-being-a-tube/

 

[MatthewRead]

There simply aren't enough Turbos at Reading for the Didcot Parkway services you refer to not to be 387s.

Thinning of service on Good Friday looks like its due to two track railway through Twyford and Maidenhead (reliefs open, mains shut).

What about the rest of that weekend?

 

[JonathanH]

What about the rest of that weekend?

I suspect that the timetables in RTT are currently wrong for the rest of the Easter weekend as there is some block at Bristol yet trains are still shown as going there.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/116354.aspx/?nreTrack=engineering#Bristol
https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering

However, the point remains that GWR *have* to use 387s to provide the stopping service out of Paddington. They don't have enough of any other kind of rolling stock.

 

[Jpeg]

That's correct, it's either going to be 4 or 6tph (although everything is still subject to last minute changes etc).
The latest proposed frequency diagram: https://cdn.londonreconnections.com...quency-including-Liv-St-peak-only-service.png
The LR article: https://www.londonreconnections.com/2017/one-of-the-family-crossrails-transition-to-being-a-tube/

What is going to happen to the current 387 non stopping services from Maidenhead and Slough once the 345s start running. It would make sense to transfer them to the Elizabeth line?

 

[Siemens Staines]

Last weekend there was a two track railway for some sections of the line between Paddington and Reading. This also reduced the stopping service to 2tph but only alternate services ran through to Didcot (all stoppers were pairs of 387). The gap in the service west of Reading was filled by extending alternate Oxford - Didcot shuttles through to Reading. This only increased the number of turbos to be used on the shuttles from three to four and was balanced by the fact that the two track railway caused all Bedwyn - Paddington trains to terminate at Reading reducing the number of units on that circuit from three to two. The Bedwyn trains (and likewise the Cheltenham Spa hsts) rarely run through to Paddington when there is a reduction in the number of available paths east of Reading.

I would have thought that this alteration would apply whenever there is two track railway east of Reading although I recognise that the precise locations of the engineering work will affect this.

 

[jimm]

What is going to happen to the current 387 non stopping services from Maidenhead and Slough once the 345s start running. It would make sense to transfer them to the Elizabeth line?

No it wouldn't, as most of them already run fast on the main lines east of Maidenhead, not the relief lines. That will not be changing.

Crossrail is designed to be a frequent all-stations service on the relief lines and, as such, doesn't allow for fast services sharing the same tracks.

 

[JonathanH]

Last weekend there was a two track railway for some sections of the line between Paddington and Reading. This also reduced the stopping service to 2tph but only alternate services ran through to Didcot (all stoppers were pairs of 387). The gap in the service west of Reading was filled by extending alternate Oxford - Didcot shuttles through to Reading. This only increased the number of turbos to be used on the shuttles from three to four and was balanced by the fact that the two track railway caused all Bedwyn - Paddington trains to terminate at Reading reducing the number of units on that circuit from three to two. The Bedwyn trains (and likewise the Cheltenham Spa hsts) rarely run through to Paddington when there is a reduction in the number of available paths east of Reading.

I would have thought that this alteration would apply whenever there is two track railway east of Reading although I recognise that the precise locations of the engineering work will affect this.

Last weekend's engineering work forced the closure of the up main and down relief between Slough East and Acton. As a result, neither the Hayes shuttles or Heathrow Connect could run with the Reading / Didcot stoppers having to stop at Southall and no service at Hanwell, West Ealing and Acton Main Line. It was noticeable that while the down service was every 30 minutes, the up service in Saturday had a 15/45 minute gap over the restricted section.

If the lines west of Slough are shut, there are fewer stations to serve on the two-track stretch so perhaps it is easier to run two Didcots 30 minutes apart rather than a Didcot and a Reading on irregular spacing in each hour.

 

[317 forever]

What about the rest of that weekend?

Where the Easter plot thickens I that, even according to the GWR website, there are 4 trains an hour from Twyford (and presumably Reading) to Paddington on the Saturday. I therefore prefer to ride a 387 then when I shall see them more often!

 

[spark001uk]

That's a relief Jonathan, thanks!

Don't you mean that's two reliefs??

 

[MatthewRead]

Where the Easter plot thickens I that, even according to the GWR website, there are 4 trains an hour from Twyford (and presumably Reading) to Paddington on the Saturday. I therefore prefer to ride a 387 then when I shall see them more often!

I meant are there any closures at the eastern end near Paddington?

 

[Jpeg]

How long until all 387s are in service, there are 4 units remaining?

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/electric-class-387/1s-fleet-latest

 

[FGW_DID]

How long until all 387s are in service, there are 4 units remaining?

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/electric-class-387/1s-fleet-latest

Almost there, two still to arrive at Reading.

387160 is expected on 25/01.
387174 date TBC.

 

[43096]

Almost there, two still to arrive at Reading.

387160 is expected on 25/01.
387174 date TBC.

387160 is being held at Bletchley as a mate to pair with 387174 for its testing. On that basis I would expect delivery to GWR to be at the same time.

 

[FGW_DID]

387160 is being held at Bletchley as a mate to pair with 387174 for its testing. On that basis I would expect delivery to GWR to be at the same time.

We’ve already been notified of the 160 move, no mention of 174.

 

[Bessie]

So in the last week I've been on a class 345 out of Liverpool Street to Stratford and today I had my first taste of a class 387 from Reading to Maidenhead. I've always liked Electrostars with 2+2 seating on the Brighton line and the 387's are top notch. I can't say the same about the 345's. I know their main purpose is to act as pseudo LU stock on Cross-Rail but in 2 year's time when the Elizabeth Line is fully open I can see some Thames Valley commuters being shocked about the down-grading of their stock. It reminds of the time in the late 80's when Thameslink first came to the Brighton line and my first experience of sitting in a class 319 was akin to sitting on a very low-slung toilet. The difference between those seats and the big and bouncy seats on the CIGs (especially the earlier build ones) was a shock but hey that's progress!

 

[jon0844]

I like the colour scheme of the 345s. Quiet dark and cosy, but not so dark as to make you feel unsafe.

But, I've not been on one in crowded conditions and I think the ambience won't count for much if people are uncomfortable or don't have enough things to hold on to.

Nor will they be forgiving if they suffer lots of faults, as given the number of people these trains will shift, disruption is going to be along the same lines as when the Thameslink core goes tits up.

 

[jimm]

So in the last week I've been on a class 345 out of Liverpool Street to Stratford and today I had my first taste of a class 387 from Reading to Maidenhead. I've always liked Electrostars with 2+2 seating on the Brighton line and the 387's are top notch. I can't say the same about the 345's. I know their main purpose is to act as pseudo LU stock on Cross-Rail but in 2 year's time when the Elizabeth Line is fully open I can see some Thames Valley commuters being shocked about the down-grading of their stock. It reminds of the time in the late 80's when Thameslink first came to the Brighton line and my first experience of sitting in a class 319 was akin to sitting on a very low-slung toilet. The difference between those seats and the big and bouncy seats on the CIGs (especially the earlier build ones) was a shock but hey that's progress!

Passengers using the Thames Valley inner-suburban services have had years of being crammed into short Turbo formations - almost anything would look like an improvement on that.

 

[spark001uk]

5Q74 just passed through Acton yard, ROG 37 and I think it was 387160 but I might be wrong. But it was just the one unit.

 

[JN114]

5Q74 just passed through Acton yard, ROG 37 and I think it was 387160 but I might be wrong. But it was just the one unit.

160 had been pencilled in to move today - 174 due shortly aswell

 

[spark001uk]

Have to say they're settling in nicely all things considered. Making good time too, I just got one from pad to rdg and we were early at almost every stop - notably from Ealing to Southall, did it in 4 mins of the booked 9. I'm guessing these timings are still a bit liberal though at the moment?

 

[TwistedMentat]

Have to say they're settling in nicely all things considered. Making good time too, I just got one from pad to rdg and we were early at almost every stop - notably from Ealing to Southall, did it in 4 mins of the booked 9. I'm guessing these timings are still a bit liberal though at the moment?

I think its the same situation the 800s are in. The current timetable is built for the diesels which have much poorer acceleration. While under wires the electrics are basically always ahead. The upcoming big new schedule will probably change that to take better advantage of the electric acceleration.

 

[FGW_DID]

5Q74 just passed through Acton yard, ROG 37 and I think it was 387160 but I might be wrong. But it was just the one unit.

37800 & 387160

 

[spark001uk]

37800 & 387160

Ah ok, thought I was right with the 387 as I glanced on way past, and thought I saw "Cassiopeia" on the side of the 37, wondered which one it could be but turns out 800 just got named in the last couple of weeks.

 

[jon0844]

It's happening again!

387 buttons

• jon0844
• 26 Jan 2018

It's happening again!

 

[reddragon]

Apparently 12 car 387s are doing some Didcot locals in the evening peaks, getting delayed at Maidenhead why commuters to the 5 coach walk of shame and then wait at Reading 10-30 minutes why they try to remove the rear unit.

Whats going on? The commuters are not happy bunnies anymore with the new trains!

 

[spark001uk]

Apparently 12 car 387s are doing some Didcot locals in the evening peaks, getting delayed at Maidenhead why commuters to the 5 coach walk of shame and then wait at Reading 10-30 minutes why they try to remove the rear unit.

Whats going on? The commuters are not happy bunnies anymore with the new trains!

I was on 1D93 yesterday, that was a 12. Yes we were at Maidenhead 5 mins, probably was commuters walking down from the back. I'd have shut the doors and left - they should listen to the announcements, they're made often enough!
Reading wasn't too bad, it decoupled OK. Didn't get the path away for a few mins due to congestion, but otherwise alright.

 

[reddragon]

I was on 1D93 yesterday, that was a 12. Yes we were at Maidenhead 5 mins, probably was commuters walking down from the back. I'd have shut the doors and left - they should listen to the announcements, they're made often enough!
Reading wasn't too bad, it decoupled OK. Didn't get the path away for a few mins due to congestion, but otherwise alright.

I agree that the announcements are endlessly clear to the point of annoying!

I suppose the commuters used to 2 car 165s have yet to learn that trains longer than 6 coaches are possible! 8 is a shock, but 12 must be so unbelievable to them that they don't believe it!