Construction progress: TPE 350/4

[61653 HTAFC]

Funnily enough, I had 2 trips on 185s earlier (Monday), Huddersfield-Leeds just after lunchtime (Standing room only) and back on the last train of the night (Got a seat at a table- Luxury!)... The problem with the North Transpennine route is the fact that its custom seems to be split pretty much 50/50 between those going one or two stops (Leeds-Huddersfield for example), and those travelling long distance (Manchester Airport-York or beyond), so there needs to be some kind of compromise between the two types of use. 185s are ideal currently because the door arrangement does allow swift loading/unloading. They could do with being twice as long perhaps, and some sort of interior door would be welcome in winter (on a day like today, the blast of fresh air at Dewsbury was much appreciated though!). I just hope that whatever EMUs are provided in the future have the capacity to cope with demand- something the 185s are unable to manage even between the peaks!

 

[HSTEd]

A loco hauled formation on the NW route would run headlong into the platform length limitations at Oxford Road..... it can support 6 x 23m vehicles which means that once you account for a locomotive and DVT you will be down to a maximum of four 23m vehicles or 5 20m ones.

 

[edwin_m]

A loco hauled formation on the NW route would run headlong into the platform length limitations at Oxford Road..... it can support 6 x 23m vehicles which means that once you account for a locomotive and DVT you will be down to a maximum of four 23m vehicles or 5 20m ones.

Does this mean that 8-car 350 formations won't be possible on Manchester-Scotland?

(apologies if we've been here before!)

 

[Class377/5]

Does this mean that 8-car 350 formations won't be possible on Manchester-Scotland?

(apologies if we've been here before!)

Already been confirmed that they will be running 8 car services when demand is high enough.

 

[WatcherZero]

Its planned Friday and Weekend services would be doubled 185's and 350's when they have enough stock. Theyve also indicated that the busiest mid week services might be tactically strengthened from a 350 to a pair of 185's.

 

[edwin_m]

So can these stop at Oxford Road? Presumably SDO is provided but the back of the train would probably be fouling pointwork.

Edit: Scrub that. Quail map shows that relevant platforms can take 8 cars.

 

[76020]

https://plus.google.com/+transpenni...RdFotD#+transpennineexpress/posts/3mp3tRdFotD

 

[northwichcat]

So can these stop at Oxford Road? Presumably SDO is provided but the back of the train would probably be fouling pointwork.

Edit: Scrub that. Quail map shows that relevant platforms can take 8 cars.

Well yes I've been on a 8 car 158 formation that stopped without issues at Oxford Road so a shorter 8 car 350 with the passenger doors not at the ends of the carriages won't be an issue.

 

[tbtc]

The 87's have gone to Europe so doesn't really matter. But with nearly 8000 hp available, they have been proven to be very reliable and powerful. So do need not be a stop gap, with some refurbished carriages.

I'm really not sure why we are arguing about 87s then.

 

[Brunel]

Not arguing, just think it is wasted opportunity.

 

[Class172]

Out of interest, how does the power of a class 86 or 90 compare with the 87; would any of those be better at the job?

 

[northwichcat]

Out of interest, how does the power of a class 86 or 90 compare with the 87; would any of those be better at the job?

Class 87 - 5,000 bhp (3,730 kW)
Class 90 - 5,000 bhp (3,730 kW)

Class 86s were built to different specs some only do 3,600 hp (2,685 kW), others are on a par with the 87s and 90s.

 

[F Great Eastern]

More photos now on the Transpennine Express Facebook and Google Plus pages
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....1073741834.116365638417081&type=1&permPage=1

 

[F Great Eastern]

Cabs now ready to be shown:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+transpennineexpress/posts/fLYVXCPgoi5

 

[455driver]

Whats a DRA pedal?

 

[Eagle]

Driver reminder appliance pedal?

 

[455driver]

All ours on a switch on the dash, dont fancy it being a pedal much.

 

[Monty]

I imagine the DRA setup is the same as it is on existing Desiros and is a switch on the drivers dashboard. The DVD/DSD pedal doesn't leave much space for anything else between the drivers legs.

 

[455driver]

I imagine the DRA setup is the same as it is on existing Desiros and is a switch on the drivers dashboard. The DVD/DSD pedal doesn't leave much space for anything else between the drivers legs.

and they still managed to put the DSD so you cant put your foot flat on it without twisting your ankle at a silly angle!

Give me a 455 any day, at least the cab is set up so you can be comfortable for more than 5 minutes unlike the Disasto cabs, as for the 444s and banging my left elbow on the handrail every time I pull the PBC back!

 

[Geeves]

I noticed this posted on WNXX. The photographer states its for testing with TPE

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/9248419623/

Is there any reason why they couldn't of just ran the full train on the rails, this seems a rather expensive move, unless its for something else?!

Also as far as I can tell the photograph seems to up near Lancaster, so its missing out Manchester completely, very odd!

 

[Class377/5]

I noticed this posted on WNXX. The photographer states its for testing with TPE

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/9248419623/

Is there any reason why they couldn't of just ran the full train on the rails, this seems a rather expensive move, unless its for something else?!

Also as far as I can tell the photograph seems to up near Lancaster, so its missing out Manchester completely, very odd!

According to Modern Railways FTPE is to get a 350/2 in August for driver training between Preston and Carlisle.

No need to train in Manchester as drivers just need traction training only.

 

[MCR247]

But that's a /1 and not a /2?

 

[Class377/5]

But that's a /1 and not a /2?

And its July not August so unless things have changed since Modern Railways was told about the deal its not the unit for FTPE. Noted on WNXX that it could be going for repair at Kilmarnock, that would make more sense as it'd be a single drag for the unit to go north for FTPE where as this appears to be a single car.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The 2-page section in the July 2013 edition of Modern Railways (pp 62-63) has an update article on the Manchester to Scotland electrification project with a picture on p63 of the type of unit that FTPE will borrow from LM for training purposes.

 

[Class377/5]

The 2-page section in the July 2013 edition of Modern Railways (pp 62-63) has an update article on the Manchester to Scotland electrification project with a picture on p63 of the type of unit that FTPE will borrow from LM for training purposes.

That's a 350/2 which is almost identical (especially from that angle) to the Desiro UK standard design (350/450 etc).

 

[Pumbaa]

103 has been broken for a while now, so I hope this is indicative of it going away for repairs.

 

[Class377/5]

103 has been broken for a while now, so I hope this is indicative of it going away for repairs.

What broke it?

 

[sd0733]

It was parked at northampton for months, the driving car had a couple of windows boarded up and a bit of a gash in one side so looked like collision damage of some sort. At least 2 coaches are still at Northampton

 

[Pumbaa]

All 4 are now in Kilmarnock apparently. It was damaged in the dewirement at Hanslope earlier this year. Nasty gashes down the side of the cars hidden from view when at Northants and to the photographer on the M6.

 

[Lankyline]

Just for info, TP Express announced that the first of their new Class 350's has arrived at Widenrath for testing today ahead of schedule !