Great Northern Fleet - 379s introduction

[St. Paddy]

Does anybody know for certain that the 379s ran ecs?? RTT shows that 1L48, 1L50 and 1L52 all ran last night so perhaps the 379s worked 1L48 as diagrammed. Otherwise why would the 379s have run ecs when there was already 3 sets at Letchworth overnight for this morning's trains?

I only guessed that when replying to the post about the 700 failure

 

[Dranyam377]

Hi all, just wondered if great northern were planning on keeping the 379's legendary first class or replacing them with ironing boards

 

[bramling]

Hi all, just wondered if great northern were planning on keeping the 379's legendary first class or replacing them with ironing boards

I think the view is there isn’t the money to do anything at the moment.

However it’s a fair bet that something will happen in the future, especially as there’s essentially an over-provision of first on these trains. What that means in practice is probably going to be either first disappearing completely (as has happened on comparable operators), or I suspect they will eventually swap first to be where it is on the 387s - though to do this wouldn’t be straightforward due to the seats not matching up.

 

[Dranyam377]

Thanks very much, so basically, should I make the most of first then whilst it's here.

 

[jon0844]

The curtains have gone I believe but everything else is as it was and I don't believe there's any plan to change this.

When they get the 377/387 upgrades perhaps it might happen then, but I see it as unlikely because first class is still a thing on Great Northern and the 387 provision was/is terrible so at least now there's something worth the money.

Indeed it's the best first class on any GTR rolling stock IMO.

 

[RailWonderer]

When they get the 377/387 upgrades perhaps it might happen then, but I see it as unlikely because first class is still a thing on Great Northern and the 387 provision was/is terrible so at least now there's something worth the money.

Indeed it's the best first class on any GTR rolling stock IMO.

I'd say it's some of the finest first class seating in the country, up there with the SWR 159s, the Avanti Pendolinos and the mk3/4 first class seating remaining.

 

[Failed Unit]

The curtains have gone I believe but everything else is as it was and I don't believe there's any plan to change this.

When they get the 377/387 upgrades perhaps it might happen then, but I see it as unlikely because first class is still a thing on Great Northern and the 387 provision was/is terrible so at least now there's something worth the money.

Indeed it's the best first class on any GTR rolling stock IMO.

Yes the curtain are gone, they 1st class is at the London end (at least for now)

Is the disabled area in coach 2 (if you take coach 1 at the London end with the first class) - Not sure if they will try and keep the disabled area in the place.

So we have for trains heading to London.
379
Coach 1 (first & Standard), Coach 2 (accessible standard), Coach 3 (Standard), Coach 4(Standard)
387
Coach 1 (standard), Coach 2 (accessible standard), Coach 3 (standard), Coach 4 (First and Standard)

Hard to tell if they will do anything with the seating, the 321s were never touched, however GTR Have put ironing boards in some of the 377s. I would also be amazed if 1st isn’t reduced, but they never did on the 321s

 

[Dranyam377]

does anyone know which ones are operating which service

 

[Intercity_225]

does anyone know which ones are operating which service

002 and 022 have been on the 1R09/1L48 diagrams recently..

 

[Dranyam377]

what time r these services?

 

[jon0844]

Yes the curtain are gone, they 1st class is at the London end (at least for now)

Is the disabled area in coach 2 (if you take coach 1 at the London end with the first class) - Not sure if they will try and keep the disabled area in the place.

So we have for trains heading to London.
379
Coach 1 (first & Standard), Coach 2 (accessible standard), Coach 3 (Standard), Coach 4(Standard)
387
Coach 1 (standard), Coach 2 (accessible standard), Coach 3 (standard), Coach 4 (First and Standard)

Hard to tell if they will do anything with the seating, the 321s were never touched, however GTR Have put ironing boards in some of the 377s. I would also be amazed if 1st isn’t reduced, but they never did on the 321s

First class has to stay at that end for both units on account of the accessible sections needing to match that of the 387s. Plus with units being split and joined, if one was reversed to mimic the 700s it would soon end up all over the place. The only solution is to ensure every 379 is the same way around.

 

[JonathanH]

what time r these services?

1R09 0745 Letchworth to London Kings Cross
1L48 1724 London Kings Cross to Letchworth

The only solution is to ensure every 379 is the same way around.

Great Northern have successfully run their trains the same way round for many years. I guess it will be important for them to be delivered that way, or turned before service.

however GTR Have put ironing boards in some of the 377s

No 377 has ever had its seat frames changed. One key point about the 379s is that any change in seats would need new seats to be fabricated. I can't imagine there are sufficient 379-type seats sitting around to reseat the units. However, it may be noted that they do represent a reduction in seating capacity relative to a 387.

 

[Failed Unit]

First class has to stay at that end for both units on account of the accessible sections needing to match that of the 387s. Plus with units being split and joined, if one was reversed to mimic the 700s it would soon end up all over the place. The only solution is to ensure every 379 is the same way around.

That is good news, from someone that does a lot of travelling with someone in a wheelchair. We are beginning to know where to stand for each type of unit. I don’t know if i can spot the difference as a train approaches between a 379 and a 387.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Feb 2025 ==

No 377 has ever had its seat frames changed. One key point about the 379s is that any change in seats would need new seats to be fabricated. I can't imagine there are sufficient 379-type seats sitting around to reseat the units. However, it may be noted that they do represent a reduction in seating capacity relative to a 387.

Did some of them have ironing boards as new? I am sure that I have seen some 377s with ironing boards. (although it could be a different class it was definitely southern colours)

 

[JonathanH]

Did some of them have ironing boards as new? I am sure that I have seen some 377s with ironing boards. (although it could be a different class it was definitely southern colours)

Yes, from new.

Do people regard the standard class seats in 379s as 'ironing boards', or is the padding enough to make them acceptable?

 

[Failed Unit]

Yes, from new.

Do people regard the standard class seats in 379s as 'ironing boards', or is the padding enough to make them acceptable?

They have better padding in my opinion. To be honest I have got used to the seats on the 387s, but the 379s are more comfortable. The 700 / 717s my only main issue is the closeness to the side rather then the seat.

 

[southern442]

Did some of them have ironing boards as new? I am sure that I have seen some 377s with ironing boards. (although it could be a different class it was definitely southern colours)

Every 377 in service has had exactly the same type of seats in the same places (more or less) as when they were delivered. Many have a mix of the older, smaller more padded seat design with armrests and tables, and the taller seats that are a bit like ironing boards but more padded (the 379s have a variant of these with better padding). 377/6s and /7s, as well as the 387s, have had the newer fainsa seats which are known as 'ironing boards' from when they were first built.

 

[kacper]

The 2nd diagram is hoped to start w/c 23 February will be a Peterborough diagram with the passenger workings being -
1P85 0635 Peterborough - Kings X and 1P82 1642 Kings X - Peterborough

Any hope of this tomorrow?

 

[Failed Unit]

Any hope of this tomorrow?

Gut feeling is no Southbound, unless the stock us already in Peterborough,

 

[physics34]

The curtains have gone I believe but everything else is as it was and I don't believe there's any plan to change this.

When they get the 377/387 upgrades perhaps it might happen then, but I see it as unlikely because first class is still a thing on Great Northern and the 387 provision was/is terrible so at least now there's something worth the money.

Indeed it's the best first class on any GTR rolling stock IMO.

The first class seats are the same type that was fitted to Gat Ex 442s. It's a shame that seating wasn't rescued and maybe installed on a number of other units.

 

[Intercity_225]

Any idea of whether 1P85 is a 379 today?

 

[Azuma800]

Any idea of whether 1P85 is a 379 today?

It is 700013

 

[Intercity_225]

Any ideas of whether 1P82 is a 379 tonight?

 

[Skimble19]

Any ideas of whether 1P82 is a 379 tonight?

Not tonight, it’s 700017.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Great Northern have successfully run their trains the same way round for many years. I guess it will be important for them to be delivered that way, or turned before service.

Yes - I don't think there's any way to turn them around on the GN network.
They have to go to Stratford to turn around (and a few have recently)

 

[wickham]

5Q45 1511 Hornsey to Brighton Lovers Walk has run today (Mon 24.01.25) presumably with displaced 387s, can anyone say which ones please.

 

[aftv]

5Q45 1511 Hornsey to Brighton Lovers Walk has run today (Mon 24.01.25) presumably with displaced 387s, can anyone say which ones please.

It was a pair of 387/2s returning from the Wheel Lathe at Hornsey. 387207 and 223 to be accurate.

 

[TSGN Spotter]

5Q91 may be the 379s used for driver train at Kings Lynn heading back to Hornsey.

Any ideas.
5Q91 1408 Kings Lynn to Hornsey E.M.U.D.
Departing today
Great Northern

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Feb 2025 ==

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X03933/2025-02-25/detailed

 

[RailwayRookie]

There's a 5T90 due in to King's Lynn at 1300 today consisting of two units

 

[windjabbers]

There's a 5T90 due in to King's Lynn at 1300 today consisting of two units

Its running :- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X03932/2025-02-25/detailed

what is this are they swapping the 379 over as arent 023 and 029 at KL at the moment?

BW DC

 

[RailwayRookie]

I would hazard a guess it's a stock swap, 023 and 029 are still there but there is a 5Q91 booked out at 1408 back to Hornsey