Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

[F Great Eastern]

It kind of surprises me the GE drivers are trained on them given I don't think I've ever seen one this side. That would make for quite an interesting experience

Would be interesting alright - but probably a better fit for temp intercity replacements than 360s with 3+2.

 

[86246]

I thought I read somewhere that they were retaining a few hauled sets just in case ? Think 360's may have power issues north of Stowmarket if they run more than a 4 car ?

The only diagrammed 360 service north of Ipswich (7:03 Stowmarket - Liverpool Street) has been 321s since the power supply issues just before Christmas (not for the first time). I'm not sure that they will want to rely on these units between Ipswich and Norwich.

 

[lordbusiness]

I would (and do) take a 321 over a 360 any day. I wouldn't be too bothered if they hung on to the Renatus 321s for a while.
Not sure about 379s on NRW-LST, I'm not aware of them ever venturing to NRW and suspect the same power issues as 360s?.

 

[samuelmorris]

Did anyone get a chance to visit the "virtual reality" tour of the 720s at Colchester (or any other GA station) just before Christmas? See https://youtu.be/N6idcmnOpwg

If only the other train operators could also have consulted their passengers in this way before finalising their new train designs (especially the Voyagers, Pendolinos, Thameslink 700s, and IEPs/IETs)! Mind you, at least Northern did have three possible seat designs on display at some key stations on its network for public consultation.

No, I had a look round Liverpool Street on the day it was supposed to be there and could see no sign of it at all. I've looked around the VR segment of it online, just not obviously sat in a seat mockup. By the sound of things any comments I might have about the latter are likely to be ignored anyway, so let's just hope they're softer than 345 seats!

 

[Bungle965]

Did anyone get a chance to visit the "virtual reality" tour of the 720s at Colchester (or any other GA station) just before Christmas? See https://youtu.be/N6idcmnOpwg

If only the other train operators could also have consulted their passengers in this way before finalising their new train designs (especially the Voyagers, Pendolinos, Thameslink 700s, and IEPs/IETs)! Mind you, at least Northern did have three possible seat designs on display at some key stations on its network for public consultation.

Yes and following the 'seat roadshow' as I seem to remember them calling it, they decided to not choose any of the 3 that were put out to be tested.
Sam

 

[TheEdge]

Not sure about 379s on NRW-LST, I'm not aware of them ever venturing to NRW and suspect the same power issues as 360s?.

They've made it to Norwich on test, but never in service as far as I know. The 360s never come past Stow, and I believe it is due to power issues

 

[F Great Eastern]

I would (and do) take a 321 over a 360 any day. I wouldn't be too bothered if they hung on to the Renatus 321s for a while.
Not sure about 379s on NRW-LST, I'm not aware of them ever venturing to NRW and suspect the same power issues as 360s?.

Problems with the (original) 321s are their seats which are at a ridiculous angle that for someone tall are terrible and cause me back ache after a short time. They're not too bad off-peak, but at peak time when everyone is crammed in and you can't spread yourself out a little bit they are terrible when you are on them for more than an hour.

Whereas the 360s are much better for me, proper back support, more comfortable when busy during rush hour, good air conditioning, quieter, more smooth ride etc.

I've not been on a Renatus 321 yet though so can't comment on them but they certainly look better than the existing 321s.

 

[Wivenswold]

321308 has returned from Doncaster taking the number of refurbished Dusty Bins available for service to 11. Though some are without their AC upgrade at present. 312,313,314,316,448 are with Wabtec at present, though there must now be doubts as to whether 448 will actually return as it's been in bits with its new hopper windows outside the shop at Donny for months.

 

[dp21]

321308 has returned from Doncaster taking the number of refurbished Dusty Bins available for service to 11. Though some are without their AC upgrade at present. 312,313,314,316,448 are with Wabtec at present, though there must now be doubts as to whether 448 will actually return as it's been in bits with its new hopper windows outside the shop at Donny for months.

Nobody is quite sure about what to do with 448 yet hence why it's been rather ditched in Donny.

 

[lordbusiness]

I'd hazard a guess that GE (NRW, IPS, COL) drivers do not sign 379s. The only exception being those that drove the battery 379 that worked the HPQ branch a few years ago. Some of the LST drivers might sign them?

 

[dk1]

I'd hazard a guess that GE (NRW, IPS, COL) drivers do not sign 379s. The only exception being those that drove the battery 379 that worked the HPQ branch a few years ago. Some of the LST drivers might sign them?

Liverpool Street drivers never even signed the battery 379 hence why they where so keen on them being used on their Harwich branch diagram resulting in a lovely little cut out.

 

[dk1]

379s made it to Norwich on test in 2011 but that's all. It was often muted LST drivers would sign them as a pair would make a far more suitable alternative to a 321 when IC set substitution has to take place on the diagram starting 06:25 Liv St-Norwich. It was however never taken any further.

 

[jopsuk]

the 317/7s, soon to be released by LO, have been used on Norwich services before

 

[dk1]

the 317/7s, soon to be released by LO, have been used on Norwich services before

There has been booked 317 work on the GEML on/off since 1998. I can never keep up with the sub-classes. 322s where also once a familiar sight in Norwich.

 

[Class 170101]

Think 360's may have power issues north of Stowmarket if they run more than a 4 car ?

The only diagrammed 360 service north of Ipswich (7:03 Stowmarket - Liverpool Street) has been 321s since the power supply issues just before Christmas (not for the first time). I'm not sure that they will want to rely on these units between Ipswich and Norwich.

They've made it to Norwich on test, but never in service as far as I know. The 360s never come past Stow, and I believe it is due to power issues

Class 379s have made it to Norwich on test
Class 360s have made it to Norwich in 12 car formation in 2017 see

I don't expect to see Class 360s north of Ipswich Yard for a while due to the power issues at Stowmarket.

It kind of surprises me the GE drivers are trained on them given I don't think I've ever seen one this side. That would make for quite an interesting experience

Colchester drivers did learn them briefly for the Class 379 battery train but would be out of competency now.

 

[TheEdge]

Class 379s have made it to Norwich on test
Class 360s have made it to Norwich in 12 car formation in 2017 see

Now I've seen that I recall, down to the fact I was at work that day and thought how bizarre it was to see 360s in the platform at Norwich!!

 

[LAX54]

Class 379s have made it to Norwich on test
Class 360s have made it to Norwich in 12 car formation in 2017 see

I don't expect to see Class 360s north of Ipswich Yard for a while due to the power issues at Stowmarket.


Colchester drivers did learn them briefly for the Class 379 battery train but would be out of competency now.

Indeed 1 12 car 360 made the trip (on a Sunday) for timing runs for 'Norwich in 90' which in theory it did, although waiting at Ipswich for a suitable path for 20 / 30 mins or so ! in fact they did it on 2 Sundays after the first one did not work as planned

 

[MatthewRead]

I saw a rouge 317 on the Great Eastern Main line yesterday does anyone know where that was going?

 

[D365]

I saw a rouge 317 on the Great Eastern Main line yesterday does anyone know where that was going?

New livery?

 

[dk1]

I saw a rouge 317 on the Great Eastern Main line yesterday does anyone know where that was going?

Did a return trip to Ipswich vice a failed IC set.

 

[MatthewRead]

Did a return trip to Ipswich vice a failed IC set.

I t could have gone all the way to Norwich.

 

[Shunter_69]

Did a return trip to Ipswich vice a failed IC set.

Was that the one paired with a 321? I spotted it on its down and up journeys but assumed it was a trials trip (even though they don’t normally run weekends)

 

[MatthewRead]

Was that the one paired with a 321? I spotted it on its down and up journeys but assumed it was a trials trip (even though they don’t normally run weekends)

They have never worked in multiple with 321's except for when the first train arrived from York in 1988 it ran coupled to a 317.

 

[Shunter_69]

They’ve definitely been out in multiple since then but probably not in public service which was why I assumed it was a trials trip

 

[Mordac]

New livery?

I thought I was the only one who spotted it!

 

[rick_suffolk]

If 317s & 321s can work in multiple is there any reason why they are kept so segregated?

 

[Wivenswold]

They have never worked in multiple with 321's except for when the first train arrived from York in 1988 it ran coupled to a 317.

An often quoted fact there but 317s and 321s ran together in public service on the WCML in 1989 while the latter were being introduced and West Anglia desperately needed all the 317s it could lay its hands on to push out the last of the 305s.

I've seen a few lately as I try to have a look out of the office window in Chelmsford to see what's on the daily test run. Never seen a 321/360 combo though!

 

[dk1]

I t could have gone all the way to Norwich.

No as was scrambled using an Ilford driver & guards wouldn't sign 317s.

 

[D365]

Never seen a 321/360 combo though!

You won’t, virtually all post-privitisation EMUs use Dellner couplers as opposed to the BR-era Tightlock

 

[LAX54]

An often quoted fact there but 317s and 321s ran together in public service on the WCML in 1989 while the latter were being introduced and West Anglia desperately needed all the 317s it could lay its hands on to push out the last of the 305s.

I've seen a few lately as I try to have a look out of the office window in Chelmsford to see what's on the daily test run. Never seen a 321/360 combo though!

321s and 360s are not compatible, if there were, then when we had a failure we would assist each other, but a 321 has to assist a 321 and a 360, a 360.