Gatwick Express 387's used on Southern Services

[BingBong50]

When travelling from Brighton to East Croydon last night (10th March) I was surprised that the 19:58 Southern Service was formed of Gatwick Express 387 stock. Further puzzled that the on board passenger displays were able to show the correct stopping points (Burgess Hill, Gatwick, Clapham Junction, Victoria) but stated "Welcome aboard the Gatwick Express Service etc." If the software is able to display non GX routings why can't it also state it as actually being a Southern Service?

 

[GW43125]

When travelling from Brighton to East Croydon last night (10th March) I was surprised that the 19:58 Southern Service was formed of Gatwick Express 387 stock. Further puzzled that the on board passenger displays were able to show the correct stopping points (Burgess Hill, Gatwick, Clapham Junction, Victoria) but stated "Welcome aboard the Gatwick Express Service etc." If the software is able to display non GX routings why can't it also state it as actually being a Southern Service?

So they can fleece the tourists.

 

[tsr]

So they can fleece the tourists.

In this case, not so - this will likely be done to make sure that stock moves around the network in passenger service in the most efficient manner, and the Gatwick Express branded announcements are unfortunate but will largely be down to the software used.

GX and Southern stock is interchangeable at certain specific times of day, and it should be pointed out that Southern drivers sometimes work GX services. On the few routes where 377s are still regularly worked by conductors, 387s may also be substituted, as conductors are permitted to work them. It looks a bit messy but sure adds flexibility!

 

[wls1]

Also probably the same reason when SN 377s turn up on the TL LBG-BTN diagrams, the on train announcements still say a SN service to Brighton.

 

[JonathanH]

The use of 387s on Southern services has to happen. If it didn't there would be an imbalance between the peak services to Brighton run as Gatwick Express and the reverse flow run as Southern. There also wouldn't be enough 387s in Brighton for the morning.

The following are booked weekday Southern workings for 387s in conjunction with the quarter hourly Gatwick Express service to Brighton in the peak. Note that the 1830 from Victoria is a Southern train - there is a separate 1826 Gatwick Express service.

1A02 0606 London Victoria to Brighton 0705

1A13 1928 Brighton to London Victoria 2026
1A36 2050 London Victoria to Brighton 2148
1A39 2158 Brighton to London Victoria 2256
1A26 2307 London Victoria to Brighton 0003

1A06 1830 London Victoria to Brighton 1937
1A31 1958 Brighton to London Victoria 2056
1A38 2120 London Victoria to Brighton 2216

The following Gatwick Express services are booked 4-377.

1D26 0700 London Victoria to Gatwick Airport 0732
1U21 1905 Gatwick Airport to London Victoria 1936

A less desirable option would be for the 12-387 formation to go to Hove Yard and for the Southern trains to be formed of single 377s off 1B47 1757 London Bridge to Brighton.

Actually, come to think of it, now that the 442s have finished on 1B47 and it will be formed 12-377, maybe they could switch the workings round at Brighton in the evening and remove these Southern 387 workings. Seems easy enough and would keep people on this forum happy by the looks of things.

 

[BingBong50]

It certainly makes sense to share rolling stock between Southern and Gatwick Express (maybe even Thameslink as well) when needed but why not update the on board software so it announces the correct operator?

 

[IslandDweller]

Or just have an announcement saying "this train is operated by GoVia" and stop this farce of different brand names.....

 

[jon0844]

It certainly makes sense to share rolling stock between Southern and Gatwick Express (maybe even Thameslink as well) when needed but why not update the on board software so it announces the correct operator?

I assume the TOC name is fixed by Bombardier when the system is set up out of the factory. Of course it can be re-programmed, but not by the driver.

If true, it's a bit of a limitation if a TOC has multiple brands and can swap units around as needed. As it has the ability to confuse or even alarm passengers, it's not good to hear trains announce themselves as other services (even if they CAN do the correct stopping patterns). After all, we have tickets with restrictions and people being expected to travel on the right service.

Then a train with a different livery/name rolls in and people have to suddenly know that's okay. This time.