GTR Electrostar refurbishments: 377s and 387s

[david1212]

Strictly speaking, the 700s have 377/6 seats. They started it! Blame whoever in Southern specified them.

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The ironing board seats in the 387s are different to those in the 700s. Although they are of the same basic design the ones used in the 387s are wider, have arm rests and are positioned slightly away from the wall of the train. This makes them (a little) more comfortable for passengers.

I only travel very occasionally on the routes where 377/x, 387, 700 and 80x IEP are used.

I first came across the ' Ironing Board ' seats on a 387 when the GatEx services were extended to Brighton. The hourish from Victoria could not pass fast enough. That day the return was an earlier 377/x so much more comfortable. The last time again was a 387 from Victoria. The return was ironing board seats too plus there was disruption. The arrival in Victoria was not at the GatEx platforms but the normal Brighton platforms and barrier line though. It could have been 377/6, 377/7 or 378 unit(s). Whichever the 80 or so minutes was too long.

I've only had two short trips on a GWR 80x but enough to put me off a longer trip while just can't imagine Paddington to Plymouth and beyond into Cornwall.

Rail Magazine Issue 915 states for the Electrostar modernisation program

the project is designed to bring the trains up to the same standard

( my bold ).
Fine for the screens, power & USB sockets etc but if all 377's get ironing board seats in that respect a major downgrade.

 

[RichardKing]

Rail Magazine Issue 915 states for the Electrostar modernisation program
( my bold ).
Fine for the screens, power & USB sockets etc but if all 377's get ironing board seats in that respect a major downgrade.

Honestly, I really hope they don't ruin the earlier 377s by installing ironing board seating throughout. The first batch of 377/1s (101-109) and the 377/3s are so comfortable to travel on.

 

[Chiltern006]

they won't be getting ironing board, it's a massive refurbishment which involves cleaning of the seats but no seat changes

 

[RichardKing]

they won't be getting ironing board, it's a massive refurbishment which involves cleaning of the seats but no seat changes

Thank goodness for that!

 

[david1212]

they won't be getting ironing board, it's a massive refurbishment which involves cleaning of the seats but no seat changes

Thank goodness for that!

Back to my original post quoting Rail 915 stating that the objective was to bring all the 377 & 387 variants up to the same standard the earlier seats need retrofitting in the later 377s and all the 387s.

 

[Class455]

Are there any other units that have been stopped along with 377430 for overhaul or is it just the one?

 

[fgwrich]

The noise is, I think, the aircon for the cab. High pitched whine, similar to the noise you hear inside an Airbus. The smell is a cross between light sick and mouldy aircon.

Picking up on this point for a moment, it’s interesting that you should say that as the former FC compartments in the 166s are similarly as bad. Yes the seats are comfortable, but the whine from the air con fan can be particularly loud and irritating in some of the 166 fleet (201 aka Brian is one of them) and can make the journey rather unpleasant. The musty smell is also there too, so it must be a Networker thing. As for the doors into it, whether it is a maintenance related issue or not, but the ones on the Turdo’s are rather prone to sticking and often either stay fully open, or will get spooked by nothing and open themselves. A issue I didn’t tend to notice on the 365s with “exit” buttons.

 

[OTRail]

I just saw two 377s pass through the Thameslink core, does this have anything to do with the 377 refurbishment?

 

[RichardKing]

I just saw two 377s pass through the Thameslink core, does this have anything to do with the 377 refurbishment?

Sounds like it was this: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/71161/2020-11-10/detailed (5M01 Cricklewood South Sidings to Selhurst Depot). They worked 5M00 Selhurst Depot to Cricklewood South Sidings this morning (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/71158/2020-11-10/detailed), but I've got no idea why.

 

[OTRail]

Route retention?

 

[Fincra5]

I just saw two 377s pass through the Thameslink core, does this have anything to do with the 377 refurbishment?

More likely visiting the Wheel Lathe or something...

 

[Class455]

Route retention?

Sounds to me as if it would be a route retention trip

 

[Journeyman]

they won't be getting ironing board, it's a massive refurbishment which involves cleaning of the seats but no seat changes

Phew! The early Electrostars have just about the nicest seats of any post-privatisation train.

 

[Southern Dvr]

Believe it was 377215 and it needed to do some under the wires testing so Cricklewood was the best place available I gather.

 

[OTRail]

Believe it was 377215 and it needed to do some under the wires testing so Cricklewood was the best place available I gather.

What was the other unit with it? It was working in multiple when I passed it in the tunnels between Farringdon and Kings Cross.

 

[47444]

While we are on class 377s, is 377342 still running as such or has 78842 been reinserted to make it 377442 again?

 

[OTRail]

While we are on class 377s, is 377342 still running as such or has 78842 been reinserted to make it 377442 again?

Still running as a 3 car last time I saw it - I think that’s going to be it’s permanent formation, unless the TSO is planned to be added back at some point.

 

[47444]

Still running as a 3 car last time I saw it - I think that’s going to be it’s permanent formation, unless the TSO is planned to be added back at some point.

Thank you

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Still running as a 3 car last time I saw it - I think that’s going to be it’s permanent formation, unless the TSO is planned to be added back at some point.

I confirm that I saw 377 342 as such on Saturday while out for essential food shopping.

 

[47444]

I confirm that I saw 377 342 as such on Saturday while out for essential food shopping.

Thank you

 

[Southern Dvr]

Still running as a 3 car last time I saw it - I think that’s going to be it’s permanent formation, unless the TSO is planned to be added back at some point.

Pretty sure the MOSL from 377342 was scrapped.

 

[Journeyman]

Pretty sure the MOSL from 377342 was scrapped.

Note in this year's Platform 5 book is "377 342 was formerly 377 442. It had been reformed as a 3 car unit owing to fire damage to MS vehicle 78842 in 2016."

Given it's been renumbered into a 3-car subclass and the incident was 4 years ago, it sounds like a permanent reformation to me.

 

[JonathanH]

Pretty sure the MOSL from 377342 was scrapped.

The last report was that it was at Wolverton https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-377-442-becomes-377-342.142514/#post-4358185 although that was nearly a year ago. There have also been reports that having 29 3-car unit suits the operator at the moment. However the quoted message suggests that it is being rebuilt, not scrapped.

Given it's been renumbered into a 3-car subclass and the incident was 4 years ago, it sounds like a permanent reformation to me.

Renumbering to 377342 is for operational reasons and I don't think necessarily gives a clue to its long term status. Having said that, four years is a long time to rebuild a carriage.

 

[Metal_gee_man]

It's been all silent here and from Southern, has there been any work started or completed on this refit/refurb?

 

[physics34]

It's been all silent here and from Southern, has there been any work started or completed on this refit/refurb?

377430 (the first one) is still being worked on as far as i know

 

[foggy69]

I hope this refresh does not ruin the current PIS system on the 377 units.
Compared to the SWR Desiro units and the dreadful external displays on the class 700, the current 377 external and internal PIS is clear, concise and reasonably reliable.

 

[Chiltern006]

377430 (the first one) is still being worked on as far as i know

its going through its final checks now

 

[physics34]

I hope this refresh does not ruin the current PIS system on the 377 units.
Compared to the SWR Desiro units and the dreadful external displays on the class 700, the current 377 external and internal PIS is clear, concise and reasonably reliable.

Ive seen its got electronic advertising boards, but don't know about the PIS

 

[Fincra5]

I hope this refresh does not ruin the current PIS system on the 377 units.
Compared to the SWR Desiro units and the dreadful external displays on the class 700, the current 377 external and internal PIS is clear, concise and reasonably reliable.

I've never understood why the SWR Desiros have always shot through the announcements!

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its going through its final checks now

Finally! Autumn completion was a while ago!

 

[RichardKing]

I hope this refresh does not ruin the current PIS system on the 377 units.
Compared to the SWR Desiro units and the dreadful external displays on the class 700, the current 377 external and internal PIS is clear, concise and reasonably reliable.

Agreed. The 377s have very clear announcements and display systems currently, so hopefully the upgrade only improves this.