Confusing train liveries on the Brighton Main Line...

[Mcr Warrior]

What's going on?

Have seen the 0733 Brighton-London Bridge service formed of stock in white South East Trains livery.

Also Southern-operated trains from Clapham Junction to Watford and beyond in London Midland colours.

Also understand that ten coach Class 442 stock in Gatwick Express livery is being used on the 0714 service from Eastbourne to London Bridge and the 1822 service from London Bridge back to Eastbourne (which don't stop at Gatwick Airport!).

And that trains in Southern livery are being used to operate some First Capital Connect services.

Confusing or what?

 

[xc170]

Yes it is abit, I know that the LM350s are on loan to southern but the rest is really confusing:cry:

 

[dan_atki]

Southern themselves appreciate the whole scenario is confusing whilst stock is on short term loan between companies and even 442s being put on Eastbourne services to the extent they have a page on their website about it! http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=667

(Admittedly this page is currently bringing up a server error and as such a plain text version can be accessed at http://www.southernrailway.com/content/html/cms/page_667.html)

 

[jopsuk]

(more appropriate to another section, but basically)

It's all to do with Thameslink and the Bombardier delivery problems. If eberything had gone to plan, in March FCC would have had a shed load of shiny new class 377s, technically subleased from Southern but for now painted purple. FCC are also subleasing Southern's 319 fleet.

Anyway, the 377s got held up. The Thameslink timetable changes in March though were too crucial to the infrastructure works to not go ahead. So, a merry-go-round started. Southern subleased further 377s (being dual voltage and cleared for the TL route) to FCC. The cascade of LMs 321s was put slightly on hold for a bit, allowing them to lease Southern some 350s (which were fitted with shoe-gear specially- they already had the electrical systems for DC operation) for their dual voltage services. This still left Southern down on units, so there's some Southeastern stock on loan to them- the Gat Ex stock is now all Southern operated anyway.

There are also DC-only Thameslink services operating for now using SE Networkers to/from City, and AC-only services using FCC Great Northern 317s from Farringdon (with empty stock reversing on the Moorgate branch, which is closed to passengers).

As the 377s arrive, everything is cascading back gradually.

 

[David Sinnett]

Is it only because you know something about trains that you find it confusing? Does the average passenger care what colours the train is in? If the platform indicators and announcements say the train at platform x is the xx.xx to x then you get on it or not! Simple!

 

[jopsuk]

I think for most commuters a different platform to normal causes more confusion than a different train (though if it is, say, a 442 instead of an electrostar they'll be confused at not having "their" seat").