Scotrail Class 385 Discussion

[hexagon789]

It is a pain in the neck. A Queen St driver takes it via Bellgrove to Hyndland loop where a Yoker driver is picked up and route conducts via central low level and Rutherglen to Shields Depot. They then hang about until the new train is ready and do it all in reverse. It takes 4 hours all in and that's just one train. It's very wasteful of resources

Four hours? Wow, that's insane, what an utter waste of resources.

 

[Glenmutchkin]

It is a pain in the neck. A Queen St driver takes it via Bellgrove to Hyndland loop where a Yoker driver is picked up and route conducts via central low level and Rutherglen to Shields Depot. They then hang about until the new train is ready and do it all in reverse. It takes 4 hours all in and that's just one train. It's very wasteful of resources

That must be in contention for the understatement of the year.

There must be all sorts of people who read this forum now trying to work out how to stowaway on one of those movements.

 

[hexagon789]

There must be all sorts of people who read this forum now trying to work out how to stowaway on one of those movements.

There are other routes I'd rather travel

 

[fairliered]

Is there no way they could be sent back to Shields by swapping at Waverley with a 380 routed to Glasgow via Carstairs?

 

[hexagon789]

Is there no way they could be sent back to Shields by swapping at Waverley with a 380 routed to Glasgow via Carstairs?

I was wondering that, it would seem a bit more logical perhaps interworking with the Ayr-Glasgow-Carstairs-Edinburgh-North Berwick services.

 

[marks87]

I was wondering that...

Really? Or was that post the first time you saw it suggested?

I'm starting to learn a new definition of tedium.

 

[hexagon789]

Really? Or was that post the first time you saw it suggested?

I'm starting to learn a new definition of tedium.

Well someone asked about the routing I wondered what the routing might be. Then when the actual routing was mentioned I wondered if an alternative was possible. Then when someone suggested an alternative, I wondered if that alternative would be workable.

Does that answer your question?

 

[scotraildriver]

Is there no way they could be sent back to Shields by swapping at Waverley with a 380 routed to Glasgow via Carstairs?

Not unless you are going to run these services as 7 cars - more waste when the units are needed on the E & G.

 

[hexagon789]

Not unless you are going to run these services as 7 cars - more waste when the units are needed on the E & G.

Yeah, there's not much call for 7-cars via Carstairs.

 

[fairliered]

How often do the E-G 380s return to Shields?

 

[hexagon789]

How often do the E-G 380s return to Shields?

Every night presumably, unless Haymarket can stable them yet?

 

[scotraildriver]

Every night presumably, unless Haymarket can stable them yet?

It was every night for toilet tanking but that's done at Eastfield and Millerhill now. Still every few days for maintenance though as the mileage racks up very quickly on the E & G.

 

[hexagon789]

It was every night for toilet tanking but that's done at Eastfield and Millerhill now. Still every few days though as the mileage racks up very quickly on the E & G.

Are Eastfield and Millerhill going to handle the 385s as well?

 

[fairliered]

Would one 7 car Carstairs during the middle of the day or during the evening allow a swop, at a time when a 4 car E-G 380 would be acceptable? Could one set on the Carstairs trip could be locked out if necessary? It may require 1 fewer through train to/from Ayr, however.

 

[hexagon789]

Would one 7 car Carstairs during the middle of the day or during the evening allow a swop, at a time when a 4 car E-G 380 would be acceptable? Could one set on the Carstairs trip could be locked out if necessary? It may require 1 fewer through train to/from Ayr, however.

Are the through Ayr-Edinburghs even used by many though Ayr-Edinburgh passengers? I'm curious.

 

[MCR247]

Maybe they should lower the fares, if overcrowding gets worse then reduce them some more to apologise for that

 

[hexagon789]

Maybe they should lower the fares, if overcrowding gets worse then reduce them some more to apologise for that

I can see that becoming a vicious Circle until there are no fares left to reduce

 

[clc]

Maybe they should lower the fares, if overcrowding gets worse then reduce them some more to apologise for that

And keep going until Scotrail is paying the passengers.

 

[hexagon789]

And keep going until Scotrail is paying the passengers.

I like that idea!

 

[SC318250]

Would move from Glasgow QS to Shields not be better going:
Glasgow QS-Springburn-Stepps-Coatbridge-Bargeddie-Shields or is it down to route knowledge

 

[jayiscupid]

Pair of glasses bolted on the front to allow for a flat window in essentially the same frame like those Skoda locomotives in Czechia?

Would be pig-ugly but the things are hardly pretty to begin with.

Czech Skoda built locomotive with "a pair of glasses" for the windscreen, looking a bit like a Minion or something.

There's a reason that they're called "googles"

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It is a pain in the neck. A Queen St driver takes it via Bellgrove to Hyndland loop where a Yoker driver is picked up and route conducts via central low level and Rutherglen to Shields Depot. They then hang about until the new train is ready and do it all in reverse. It takes 4 hours all in and that's just one train. It's very wasteful of resources

What's wrong worth working back ECS direct from Edinburgh via Carstairs?

 

[Fleetwood Boy]

Four hours? Wow, that's insane, what an utter waste of resources.

The more I learn about current ScotRail E&G operations the less I understand. The obvious thing is to interwork with the via Carstairs services. Surely the “ cost” of a few over-long trains on that route (all of which would be running anyway albeit as 3 or 4 cars) would make more sense than what has been described, and could be expanded to cover more 380 diagrams on E&G as they become available? 7 car formations can’t be justified on off-peak E&G services at many times of day anyway.

And otherwise, yes run ECS via Carstairs, even if it means a quick bit of route learning (much of which will be required for the via Shotts services?).

It’s insane.

 

[hexagon789]

The more I learn about current ScotRail E&G operations the less I understand. The obvious thing is to interwork with the via Carstairs services. Surely the “ cost” of a few over-long trains on that route (all of which would be running anyway albeit as 3 or 4 cars) would make more sense than what has been described, and could be expanded to cover more 380 diagrams on E&G as they become available? 7 car formations can’t be justified on off-peak E&G services at many times of day anyway.

And otherwise, yes run ECS via Carstairs, even if it means a quick bit of route learning (much of which will be required for the via Shotts services?).

It’s insane.

When have the railways ever done the "obvious" thing though While running ECS via Carstairs is an obvious solution, somehow I think ScotRail will continue with the 'roundabout' manoeuvre they are currently using.

 

[gingertom]

When have the railways ever done the "obvious" thing though While running ECS via Carstairs is an obvious solution, somehow I think ScotRail will continue with the 'roundabout' manoeuvre they are currently using.

The obvious solution is to wire the union line from Bellgrove to Shields

 

[Altnabreac]

It is a pain in the neck. A Queen St driver takes it via Bellgrove to Hyndland loop where a Yoker driver is picked up and route conducts via central low level and Rutherglen to Shields Depot. They then hang about until the new train is ready and do it all in reverse. It takes 4 hours all in and that's just one train. It's very wasteful of resources

Another victory for the idiots at ORR who vetoed Network Rail's plan to wire the City Union line.

Network Rail proposed wiring it in 2011 saying "The City Union Line offers a shorter route for empty stock movements between the north and south Glasgow suburban rail network" but ORR said it wasn't necessary and prevented the work from being done.

 

[380101]

The more I learn about current ScotRail E&G operations the less I understand. The obvious thing is to interwork with the via Carstairs services. Surely the “ cost” of a few over-long trains on that route (all of which would be running anyway albeit as 3 or 4 cars) would make more sense than what has been described, and could be expanded to cover more 380 diagrams on E&G as they become available? 7 car formations can’t be justified on off-peak E&G services at many times of day anyway.

And otherwise, yes run ECS via Carstairs, even if it means a quick bit of route learning (much of which will be required for the via Shotts services?).

It’s insane.

They could only work ECS with 7 cars via Carstairs. Due to level crossings at some stations on this route 6 or 7 car 380 services cannot operate in passenger service. Notice in the Bothy at GLC reminding conductors and drivers of this.

 

[gingertom]

Another victory for the idiots at ORR who vetoed Network Rail's plan to wire the City Union line.

Network Rail proposed wiring it in 2011 saying "The City Union Line offers a shorter route for empty stock movements between the north and south Glasgow suburban rail network" but ORR said it wasn't necessary and prevented the work from being done.

the cost of this inefficient practice could be worked out. It wouldn't take long for the wires to pay for themselves. This needs revisited at a high level.

 

[marks87]

the cost of this inefficient practice could be worked out. It wouldn't take long for the wires to pay for themselves. This needs revisited at a high level.

Will the 380s still be used on E&G when (if?!) the 385s are fully in-service? If not, then it might work out even cheaper - not to mention easier - to just hire a loco (and necessary barrier vehicles) to drag along the City Union Line.

 

[Altnabreac]

Will the 380s still be used on E&G when (if?!) the 385s are fully in-service? If not, then it might work out even cheaper - not to mention easier - to just hire a loco (and necessary barrier vehicles) to drag along the City Union Line.

In theory there won't be an issue with stock transfers once the 385s are fully in service. In practice the flexibility of being able to move stock around on any routes around Glasgow would be worth what would be a fairly minor investment.

Apart from anything else it would force the railway to address the ridiculous amount of foliage growing on the City Union line viaducts which would be a place making benefit for the Gorbals area to have a smart, well maintained railway through the area instead of a semi-derelict disgrace.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.8...4!1sgGQdcFj9XUoUlonOPGbMfg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656