EMR Class 360's

[43102EMR]

What is the difficulty of access? Sure, the 360s need to be dragged, but EMR could drag several every night. Did you mean lack of capacity at Northampton?

Yeah my bad, should’ve been more clearer!

 

[43066]

360106 operating as a single 4-car unit today. Standing commuters again. Obviously not enough serviceable units to make it an 8-car on the peak journey into London. Why are EMR regularly unable to provide 8 car formations when they have 21 x 360s and an average service requirement of just 12. I just don't understand how this organisation is fit for purpose?
That's leaving aside the fact they still haven't procured a business to undertake the internal refurbishment. They knew they were getting the 360 fleet long before COVID, yet they still use it as an excuse. DfT hold the purse strings now, the work might have been delayed due to supplies or social distancing. But they haven't even concluded a contract for the work to be done, let alone start the refurbishment.

It’s not ideal to run four cars, but if you have a number of units which can only run in multiple (eg if a cracked windscreen boxed in) it only takes the unit they’re mated to develop a fault and that eight car train is then useless. If you have good four cars lying around (which can’t run in multi) it would make sense to switch those in rather than cancel the train altogether.

Four vice eight trains are likely to have standees but are still unlike to be crush loaded and/or leaving people behind.

 

[Ciderking]

360 121 outside Eastleigh Works today.

Eastleigh Works 360121

Slightly better view of newly painted EMR 360 121 than my picture from a few weeks ago.

www.flickr.com

 

[Doomotron]

It's just my personal preference, but I really don't like the new yellow front. I found the one on the vinyl units much easier on the eyes, whereas the new one looks over-designed.

 

[swt_passenger]

It's just my personal preference, but I really don't like the new yellow front. I found the one on the vinyl units much easier on the eyes, whereas the new one looks over-designed.

I don’t like the 45° angles at the corners - especially by the main lights.

I was hoping the stupid 230/484 look wouldn’t catch on…

 

[Aictos]

It’s not ideal to run four cars, but if you have a number of units which can only run in multiple (eg if a cracked windscreen boxed in) it only takes the unit they’re mated to develop a fault and that eight car train is then useless. If you have good four cars lying around (which can’t run in multi) it would make sense to switch those in rather than cancel the train altogether.

Four vice eight trains are likely to have standees but are still unlike to be crush loaded and/or leaving people behind.

With regards to the failures, I was talking to Siemens yesterday and they actually told me that they're getting a unit with a smashed windscreen every week and it's because of all the bird strikes that plague the fleet between St Pancras and Corby.

I've seen the damage a bird strike can cause to a windscreen and it's no minor matter especially when it's the driver's side of the cab.

Plus a lot of the times the birds get carried underneath so cause damage there too.

That is only one example of why Class 360 fleet availability isn't as high as it could be because they attract birds like the the leading character in Stanley Kubrick's The Birds horror movie.

 

[fgwrich]

I would have preferred it if they had rounded the edges off, ala TPE 185 and HEX 360 style. Though it’s the strange extension of the black above the cab roof I find most jarring.

I don’t like the 45° angles at the corners - especially by the main lights.

I was hoping the stupid 230/484 look wouldn’t catch on…

 

[Domh245]

Though it’s the strange extension of the black above the cab roof I find most jarring.

I suppose the upshot is that after a few thousand miles it'll be buried under a thick layer of grime and mostly hidden from view!

 

[Chriso]

This must be a record for the longest repaint ever.

 

[MML]

Availability of 8-car units does appear to have improved over the past few weeks. Long may it continue what with the increasing passenger numbers now returning to the daily commute.
IMHO what these units need is a nose cone similar to 460s rather than the flat end. Alas any anti bird strike measures will be limited to a new paint job which will hopefully be less attractive to our feathered friends.

 

[pompeyfan]

The pantograph carriage (TOSLWP?) has joined the driving DMC out the front in an all over purple with silver doors.

 

[edwin_m]

That is only one example of why Class 360 fleet availability isn't as high as it could be because they attract birds like the the leading character in Stanley Kubrick's The Birds horror movie.

Did they also attract birds when on GE/Anglia? Are there some particularly stupid birds in Herts and Beds?

 

[43096]

This must be a record for the longest repaint ever.

It isn’t just a repaint. These sets have never had a repaint before so the bodywork will be stripped back for corrosion repairs; it’s also “first of class” so it will inevitably take longer. There have also been “repaints” in the past which have taken far longer.

 

[weastebusdepot]

Did they also attract birds when on GE/Anglia? Are there some particularly stupid birds in Herts and Beds?

Apparently so. A few times I've seen a cloud of feathers go past the window and I've never noticed to on any other line. They also seem to attract deer. A few weeks ago a line block was required to pull one out from under the wheels.

 

[swt_passenger]

This must be a record for the longest repaint ever.

Hasn’t it been a first of class interior refurb and overhaul first, as well? I think the first of class often takes a much longer time to do than follow on units.

 

[Domh245]

Hasn’t it been a first of class interior refurb and overhaul first, as well? I think the first of class often takes a much longer time to do than follow on units.

It won't be interior refurb for certain, based on the MD saying that first internally refurbished train won't be until next year: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/emr-class-360s.205226/page-58#post-5321965

 

[swt_passenger]

It won't be interior refurb for certain, based on the MD saying that first internally refurbished train won't be until next year: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/emr-class-360s.205226/page-58#post-5321965

Oh I was just going by earlier supposition it was there for the full package. If not then my post #1754 can be ignored…

 

[A0]

I don’t like the 45° angles at the corners - especially by the main lights.

I was hoping the stupid 230/484 look wouldn’t catch on…

Personal opinion - I think it looks better as a full yellow end would just make them look very 'slabby'.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Personal opinion - I think it looks better as a full yellow end would just make them look very 'slabby'.

Agreed (for once!) - they look awful with a full yellow end. I do prefer the more rounded yellow of the TPE 185s (which have a cab of exactly the same shape, just a bit narrower) though either will do.

 

[Aictos]

Did they also attract birds when on GE/Anglia? Are there some particularly stupid birds in Herts and Beds?

They must be, was reliably informed that yet another Class 360 had to have a windscreen replaced last night.

No idea on the frequency of bird strikes on the Great Eastern but talking to a Siemens contact, they get them weekly without fail as the birds are attracted to the trains for some reason.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

The EMR 360s' new angular ends reminds me little of Northern's CAF Civitys.

Either that or the curved TPE 185 ends will look better than the slabby ends which looked god awful as the 360s were originally meant to resemble 350s-450s-444s, with gangway ends, but ended up looking like that as a result.

The 458's original ends springs to mind - just blank like a face missing a nose & mouth!

Shame GA, or NatEx EA before it, didn't go to the effort to give the 360/1s a new livery & ends which TfL Rail wisely did with their 360/2s.

The angular ends suit far better on 484s as the D-Train has a blockier & squarer profile which the Desiros are more streamlined obviously except for the 360/1s' slabbier ends.

 

[Roast Veg]

They must be, was reliably informed that yet another Class 360 had to have a windscreen replaced last night.

No idea on the frequency of bird strikes on the Great Eastern but talking to a Siemens contact, they get them weekly without fail as the birds are attracted to the trains for some reason.

I'd love to read an academic study into this, or even a professional report. It could end up being one of those bizaare things that goes into new train orders!

 

[fgwrich]

This must be a record for the longest repaint ever.

It isn’t just a repaint. These sets have never had a repaint before so the bodywork will be stripped back for corrosion repairs; it’s also “first of class” so it will inevitably take longer. There have also been “repaints” in the past which have taken far longer.

Spot on. The original paint did a good job of lasting this long, and I know it took them a while to remove, but each unit has thrown up it's own issues with regards to corrosion repairs. These are certainly being stripped back to bare metal and being the first in class for the Arlington Paint Shop, will take them a little bit more time than say a Mk3.

Out of interest, do we know how long the first LNWR 350 was away at Long Marston for?

 

[Nottingham59]

an academic study into this

I wonder if it's because the 360 trains are so much quieter? Between Bedford and Kettering at least, the birdlife will be habituated to diesels. It would be interesting to know the split of bird strike locations between North and South of Bedford.

 

[westcoaster]

I wonder if it's because the 360 trains are so much quieter? Between Bedford and Kettering at least, the birdlife will be habituated to diesels. It would be interesting to know the split of bird strike locations between North and South of Bedford.

lots south of Bedford, but units with smashed cab windows could be boxed in not removed from service.
Double pigeon strke at harpenden was one last week.
Lots of pheasants just north of Chiltern Green at the moment.

Also I wonder if any study is done on the strikes above 100mph. Does the extra speed cause weakness, do they require an uprated window screen.

Looking at the picture of 101 have the passenger windows been tinted.

 

[Roast Veg]

lots south of Bedford, but units with smashed cab windows could be boxed in not removed from service.
Double pigeon strke at harpenden was one last week.
Lots of pheasants just north of Chiltern Green at the moment.

I wouldn't discount the idea that the 360s run smoother (as opposed to quieter) than the other stock about. If they vibrate or hunt less than 222s/700s birds may not pick up on their approach.

 

[Aictos]

Looking at the picture of 101 have the passenger windows been tinted.

Just to double check, are you sure you're referring to 101 and not 121?

As I saw 101 yesterday and as per the rest of the fleet in passenger service, I didn't see any tinted windows.

I do know that 101 had it's second man side windscreen replaced Thursday due to a bird strike at one end.

 

[QSK19]

My son and I are having a “train tourism” trip to Wellingborough today (he is absolutely mad about these and the 180s). We’re currently sitting in 360108 and have seen drips of water falling from the ceiling (video attached) - is it an actual leak or could it be from the air con units?

 

[lambo89]

My son and I are having a “train tourism” trip to Wellingborough today (he is absolutely mad about these and the 180s). We’re currently sitting in 360108 and have seen drips of water falling from the ceiling (video attached) - is it an actual leak or could it be from the air con units?

Likely to be a leak on a day like today!

 

[Aictos]

Likely to be a leak on a day like today!

I'm on the entire fleet 5 days a week except 360121 as it's missing in action (actually it's at Eastleigh) and I've never come across any Class 360 that has a leaking roof - did you mention it to the guard?