Future of Class 379

[AceTrains]

Greater Anglia's class 379's are being replaced with the new Stadler FLIRT trains even though 379 was built about 8 years ago. What will happen to them after this?

 

[RichJF]

Corby services?

 

[AlexNL]

Send them onto the MML to run services to Corby?

 

[swt_passenger]

Greater Anglia's class 379's are being replaced with the new Stadler FLIRT trains even though 379 was built about 8 years ago. What will happen to them after this?

What would you like to do with them? Your guess will be as accurate as anyone else’s, at this stage. Nothing has ever been made public, although I’d agree with Corby as a possible...

 

[hexagon789]

Greater Anglia's class 379's are being replaced with the new Stadler FLIRT trains even though 379 was built about 8 years ago. What will happen to them after this?

If it was happening soon enough, Edinburgh-Glasgow

 

[Fincra5]

Heathrow Express over modding 387s. But I can see them going to EMT for Corby.

 

[physics34]

Wonder how easy it is to fit shoes and add other dc equipment . Southern are looking at a full electrostar franchise when the 455s go

 

[Fincra5]

Wonder how easy it is to fit shoes and add other dc equipment . Southern are looking at a full electrostar franchise when the 455s go

No Technician but I believe the Electrostar range was designed to be flexible. The AC feeds down to the same Equipment as we have on a DV! So probably just the likes of the Shoe/ Shoe Fuse and Line In (and other related gubbins!)

 

[hwl]

Wonder how easy it is to fit shoes and add other dc equipment . Southern are looking at a full electrostar franchise when the 455s go

Very easy but they would need plenty of other work to bring up to Southern spec (e.g. ASDO), they also have the new computer systems so the same issues as interworking between 377/1-5s and 6s/7s + 387s. The 379 ROSCO hasn't been as good as Porterbrook with the 377s/387s

 

[Dan1997]

If the rumour about the 323s replacing Northern’s 319s turns out to be false, is there any reason why these couldn’t hypothetically replace them?

 

[D365]

If it was happening soon enough, Edinburgh-Glasgow

Heathrow Express over modding 387s.

Won’t be available in time for either of those.

Wonder how easy it is to fit shoes and add other dc equipment . Southern are looking at a full electrostar franchise when the 455s go

30 isn’t enough though..? Not sure if they are looking at more five car units, maybe they’ll pick up the 376s once the next Kent franchise replaces the Networkers.

The 379 ROSCO hasn't been as good as Porterbrook with the 377s/387s

In what way hasn’t Eversholt “been as good”?

If the rumour about the 323s replacing Northern’s 319s turns out to be false, is there any reason why these couldn’t hypothetically replace them?

Class 319s are contracted beyond 2020, the reason for the 323 speculation is that both fleets are owned by Porterbrook.

 

[Domh245]

In what way hasn’t Eversholt “been as good”?

The 379 ROSCO is Macquarie, not Eversholt.

 

[D365]

The 379 ROSCO is Macquarie, not Eversholt.

The owning history of them seems a bit confusing, I can’t find many references to it online, or indeed internally. I think they were purchased originally by some kind of HSBC Lloyds alliance?

 

[Domh245]

The owning history of them seems a bit confusing, I can’t find many references to it online, or indeed internally. I think they were purchased originally by some kind of HSBC alliance?

After a quick bit of googling, it seems to be the case that the 379s were ordered by Lloyds Banking Group (who had a stake in Porterbrook, but went alone as Lloyds TSB General Leasing for this), who also purchased the Freightliner 70s. This division of Lloyds was then sold to Macquarie in November 2012, leaving us where we are today

 

[D365]

Ah right, that’s where I was going wrong with my search. Cheers.

 

[Fincra5]

Very easy but they would need plenty of other work to bring up to Southern spec (e.g. ASDO), they also have the new computer systems so the same issues as interworking between 377/1-5s and 6s/7s + 387s. The 379 ROSCO hasn't been as good as Porterbrook with the 377s/387s

IF they were kept on GatEx instead (cascading the 387s to coastal or mainline SN) then there wouldn't be too much of a need for ASDO.

 

[class387]

Heathrow Express over modding 387s.

Agreed. Don't see the point of refurbishing almost new stock where there are similar trains that are already suitable. Also gives a back up for if it turns out that the 769s are a disaster.

 

[D365]

Agreed. Don't see the point of refurbishing almost new stock where there are similar trains that are already suitable.

Unfortunately the 379s won't be available in time for when the 332s need to be out...

 

[class387]

Unfortunately the 379s won't be available in time for when the 332s need to be out...

It wouldn't be as simple, but would using 319s, 365s or 360s as cover, either on the mainline on directly replacing 332s on HEX services until the 379s become free work? Again it would still be easier than converting 387s and 769s.

 

[D365]

365s would require crew training and route clearance, and five 360/2s isn’t enough to support the HX operation. I think the idea behind bringing in the 769s was to free up the remaining Turbos to go west?

 

[SPADTrap]

379s for Corby to be maintained where? The practicality doesn't work.

 

[D365]

379s for Corby to be maintained where? The practicality doesn't work.

You'd better speak to the DfT then, an electric fleet for "CorPan" is very much proposed for the next franchise.

Bedford Cauldwell is assumed to be an option.

 

[cactustwirly]

365s would require crew training and route clearance, and five 360/2s isn’t enough to support the HX operation. I think the idea behind bringing in the 769s was to free up the remaining Turbos to go west?

Yes but Turbos will still be required for the Thames branchlines, so the 769s would create a micro fleet of turbos at Reading.
It makes more sense IMO to keep a load of turbos at Reading (a depot which has the most experience of maintaining them).

[off topic drivel]Controversial I know, I would then use redundant HSTs on some peak time Thames valley workings to free up the 387s (it was done prior to last July, and they are signed by some LTV drivers, so there would be less training involved.)[/off topic drivel]

 

[hexagon789]

Won’t be available in time for either of those.

I know, hence why I said: "if it was happening soon enough", if it was they'd be ideal

 

[InTheEastMids]

379s for Corby to be maintained where? The practicality doesn't work.

Bedford Cauldwell Road has been mentioned.
Plus there will be a stabling point at Kettering

 

[jopsuk]

At the moment the only certain future for the 379s (and the 360s, 707s etc) is "some storage sidings somewhere"

 

[43096]

Unfortunately the 379s won't be available in time for when the 332s need to be out...

Why would the 379s be of any interest for 332 replacement?

The whole exercise is using spare capacity in the existing GWR 387 fleet.

 

[D365]

Why are the 769s needed then?

 

[swt_passenger]

Why are the 769s needed then?

A few are required to release Turbos from routes that should have been electrified by now.
More are required to release further Turbos from the North Downs.
IMHO I don’t think either of those things are actually connected directly to the Heathrow changes, just that the news all came out at the same time, and it’s being wrongly treated as part of a single problem.

 

[Domh245]

A few are required to release Turbos from routes that should have been electrified by now.
More are required to release further Turbos from the North Downs.
IMHO I don’t think either of those things are actually connected directly to the Heathrow changes, just that the news all came out at the same time, and it’s being wrongly treated as part of a single problem.

Whilst strictly speaking they are separate, the 769s are needed to help provide the capacity to allow 387s to be released for their HEx upgrades, before then going on to the 16x replacement part.