Gatwick Express spotted at odd locations....

[BobUK45]

Over the last few weeks I have been using West Penge on the London Overground.

In the last few weeks about 8.30 am one Gatwick Express will pass through, then about 10 mins later another will pass throught at full speed.

Using Crystal Palace station today, once passed through at slow speed, again about 9am. I know that the line West Penge is on also connects to the London Overground lines from Crystal Palace.

Just wondering why they would be on that side of the Southern Network?

 

[yorkie]

Are you sure these Southern 'Express' Class 442 trains are on Southern's Gatwick Express route? They are used for the Gatwick Express and Brighton Express routes (red & green routes on this map) throughout the day, but also additionally on an Eastbourne-London Bridge working and a Brighton-London Bridge working, both of which have return workings in the evening.

See Frequently Requested Diagrams - Southern Class 442

 

[Antman]

Over the last few weeks I have been using West Penge on the London Overground.

In the last few weeks about 8.30 am one Gatwick Express will pass through, then about 10 mins later another will pass throught at full speed.

Using Crystal Palace station today, once passed through at slow speed, again about 9am. I know that the line West Penge is on also connects to the London Overground lines from Crystal Palace.

Just wondering why they would be on that side of the Southern Network?

It's actually Penge West

I have also seen one at Crystal Palace and I assumed it was an empty stock movement, doesn't one run empty from London Bridge to Stewarts Lane?

 

[berneyarms]

There are two Class 442 workings into London Bridge each morning.

One is the 07:32 Brighton - London Bridge (which passes Penge West at 08:34).
The second is the 07:14 Eastbourne - London Bridge (which passes Penge West at 08:38).

The first then returns ECS to Lovers Walk Depot at 08:55 from London Bridge, and the second goes to Streatham Hill via Crystal Palace at 09:08.

Both of these, and other non-Gatwick Express workings are listed in the frequently requested diagrams thread here:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84997

As with any such query you can find this out relatively easily using Real Time Trains.

 

[otomous]

They also go empty from London Bridge to Streatham Hill Depot in the morning and do the return journey for the Eastbourne etc in the evening. These are the ones you see at Palace, taking FOREVER to go over the junction at 15.

 

[VisualAcid]

There's an old one at Barry last time I checked.

 

[yorkie]

There's an old one at Barry last time I checked.

Are all of the Class 442 'Express' trains not on lease to Southern?

Or are you talking about a different type of train, formerly used by a now defunct operator?

 

[VisualAcid]

Are all of the Class 442 'Express' trains not on lease to Southern?

Or are you talking about a different type of train, formerly used by a now defunct operator?

Oh possibly! It's in swallow livery, still an odd location by any means I think!

 

[richw]

Oh possibly! It's in swallow livery, still an odd location by any means I think!

I know the one you mean, and recall wondering why it was there when I saw it.

 

[BobUK45]

Hi, thank you for the replies.

I thought it was a new service from Gatwick to London Bridge. Thank you it all matches the same as what I have seen.

Just strange to see those trains coming through those lines at that time.

Didn't know they use Gatwick Express rolling stock for the Southern network trains from Eastbourne.


Thanks.

 

[user15681]

442s have also recently done some driver training. Done Victoria Eastern (platforms 1-7) to Stewarts Lane and also Victoria Eastern to East Croydon via Herne Hill.

 

[BobUK45]

They also go empty from London Bridge to Streatham Hill Depot in the morning and do the return journey for the Eastbourne etc in the evening. These are the ones you see at Palace, taking FOREVER to go over the junction at 15.

Yes I did see them crawling along, behind a London Overground train going in to the siding. Then carrying on passed into the tunnel I guess to the depot.