Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[samuelmorris]

must have made a mistake
They must be entering service this year at some point, theyve been doing driver training and testing, paths are already in for them

but presumably on Bedford-Brighton or London Bridge-Brighton services - that article is referring to the Great Northern route.

 

[Domh245]

must have made a mistake
They must be entering service this year at some point, theyve been doing driver training and testing, paths are already in for them

Picture of new Class 700 train that will enter service on the Great Northern route early next year

My bold.

 

[trainmania100]

my bad
forgive my mistake

 

[Class377/5]

Indeed, but have the TUs accepted this intention for the 12 car units, as it would seem to contradict their stance that no more DOO is to be countenanced?

Those TU have been involved with the 700 for several years and thier use for 12 car DOO. It was always know that the 700s would be rolled out in DOO 12 car on new routes. However the unions decided not to act when it was not in contracts. They awaited until all the deals were signed and then started on the TOCs.

 

[trainmania100]

I have heard they will come in to service later this month after a passenger presentation?
This has come from various sources as well as southern electric group

Does anyone have any updates whatsoever about the 700 entry?
Thanks

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Deleted

 

[Pumbaa]

I don't believe this has been asked/answered before so does anyone know who voices the DVA on the 700's.

Julie Berry.

It's a new Televic system. It's the dogs danglies.

 

[philjo]

I saw 700010 moving north over the Hornsey flyover about 08:20 yesterday morning while I passed underneath my journey to KX - presumably off for another trip to the Hertford Loop.

I assume that the first 12 few coach units would replace a current 8-car diagram when they come into service to help add extra capacity, or will they just replace an existing 12 coach diagram? (considering that the 12 coach units don't have many more seats than a current 8-coach 377)

 

[Bald Rick]

I saw 700010 moving north over the Hornsey flyover about 08:20 yesterday morning while I passed underneath my journey to KX - presumably off for another trip to the Hertford Loop.

I assume that the first 12 few coach units would replace a current 8-car diagram when they come into service to help add extra capacity, or will they just replace an existing 12 coach diagram? (considering that the 12 coach units don't have many more seats than a current 8-coach 377)

Stressing "I don't know", but given that the current 12 car diagrams are in the high peak, there is much potential unpleasantness if the train fails. Also, IIRC the 12 car diagrams require splitting and joining during the day, which rather makes things difficult for a fixed formation train.

So my money is on an 8 car diagram captive to the Bedford - Brighton route that manages to avoid the heights of the peak. At least for the first few weeks. Those that can remember the Class 387 introduction will know what I mean.

 

[Minstral25]

Stressing "I don't know", but given that the current 12 car diagrams are in the high peak, there is much potential unpleasantness if the train fails. Also, IIRC the 12 car diagrams require splitting and joining during the day, which rather makes things difficult for a fixed formation train.

So my money is on an 8 car diagram captive to the Bedford - Brighton route that manages to avoid the heights of the peak. At least for the first few weeks. Those that can remember the Class 387 introduction will know what I mean.

My bet is on the Brighton to London Bridge runs, to avoid messing everything up in the core or around Tulse Hill for the early runs

 

[Bald Rick]

My bet is on the Brighton to London Bridge runs, to avoid messing everything up in the core or around Tulse Hill for the early runs

That's not what was done for the 387s, and both GTR and DfT will be wanting to show off the new trains to the good folk of St Albans* ASAP.

* vested interest

 

[AM9]

That's not what was done for the 387s, and both GTR and DfT will be wanting to show off the new trains to the good folk of St Albans* ASAP.

* vested interest

Well that is where most of the passengers board/alight north of London. Might as well get the local rag's whinges over asap.

 

[physics34]

Well that is where most of the passengers board/alight north of London. Might as well get the local rag's whinges over asap.

....with their complaints about hard seats, no armrests or tables loooooool

 

[hwl]

Based on low risk I think they will probably go for a less critical Brighton - LBG like 1B00 which is 7am arrival, but you could easily substitute"spare" 377s or 387s (or 700s*) at Brighton, Three Bridges or Selhurst for the next service if something goes wrong. (they will keep spare units for 4-8 weeks till stuff beds down).
My second choice would be an early peak Brighton - Bedford with the unit coming from Three Bridge to Brighton in the morning and could be left at Bedford if it goes wrong and substituted there for a 377/387 so 1W02 arriving at Blackfriars 0650 ish.

I suspect early on all 700 services will be kept indoors at 3 bridges then baby sat on ECS to Brighton before being let out to play.

Gut feeling says strengthening of key southbound services may initially be adding an extra 4 cars from the potentially spare till released/ cascaded pool.

* though if a 700 isn't behaving I suspect they may not want to send another out to substitute to begin with?

 

[Bald Rick]

....with their complaints about hard seats, no armrests or tables loooooool

St Albans commuters very rarely get a seat, so there won't be complaints about that.

 

[grid56126]

No mention of the 8 car delivery yesterday, saw it arriving but no number. . .

 

[Class 466]

No mention of the 8 car delivery yesterday, saw it arriving but no number. . .

700005 was the unit I believe...

 

[Class377/5]

Stressing "I don't know", but given that the current 12 car diagrams are in the high peak, there is much potential unpleasantness if the train fails. Also, IIRC the 12 car diagrams require splitting and joining during the day, which rather makes things difficult for a fixed formation train.

So my money is on an 8 car diagram captive to the Bedford - Brighton route that manages to avoid the heights of the peak. At least for the first few weeks. Those that can remember the Class 387 introduction will know what I mean.

My bet is on the Brighton to London Bridge runs, to avoid messing everything up in the core or around Tulse Hill for the early runs

The initial diagrams are for all three TL BML Services (to be clear Bedford to Brighton, Bedford to Three Bridges and Brighton to London Bridge (until May 2018 where it'll be extended to Cambridge)).

The height of peak will see 700s for main service introduction.

Based on low risk I think they will probably go for a less critical Brighton - LBG like 1B00 which is 7am arrival, but you could easily substitute"spare" 377s or 387s (or 700s*) at Brighton, Three Bridges or Selhurst for the next service if something goes wrong. (they will keep spare units for 4-8 weeks till stuff beds down).
My second choice would be an early peak Brighton - Bedford with the unit coming from Three Bridge to Brighton in the morning and could be left at Bedford if it goes wrong and substituted there for a 377/387 so 1W02 arriving at Blackfriars 0650 ish.

I suspect early on all 700 services will be kept indoors at 3 bridges then baby sat on ECS to Brighton before being let out to play.

Gut feeling says strengthening of key southbound services may initially be adding an extra 4 cars from the potentially spare till released/ cascaded pool.

* though if a 700 isn't behaving I suspect they may not want to send another out to substitute to begin with?

GTR are supposed to keep units for around a month after their replacements come into service. There will be no baby sitting however.

No mention of the 8 car delivery yesterday, saw it arriving but no number. . .

700005 was the unit I believe...

I'm sure that it was 005 coming as that what Siemens were expecting. I haven't had it confirmed yet however but once I do I'll will update. The less noticed delivery yet for a 700.

 

[Starmill]

Julie Berry.

It's a new Televic system. It's the dogs danglies.

Sticking with proud Southern tradition then. Good, better than one of these awful new voices.

 

[class387]

The initial diagrams are for all three TL BML Services (to be clear Bedford to Brighton, Bedford to Three Bridges and Brighton to London Bridge (until May 2018 where it'll be extended to Cambridge)).

The height of peak will see 700s for main service introduction.

But when will they be introduced (as soon or not yet)?

 

[D365]

But when will they be introduced (as soon or not yet)?

Nooooooooooooo

[Oh, how many people have asked]

 

[asylumxl]

But when will they be introduced (as soon or not yet)?

If we are to assume they'll be late like Thameslink 2000, probably around 2032-34.

 

[phoenixcronin]

Sticking with proud Southern tradition then. Good, better than one of these awful new voices.

Indeed her voice is arguably the best.

I think the worst would have to be Emma Hignett's (the London Buses/iBus woman) on the Overground, as her announcements are extremely monotone, dull, lack emphasis on key words and overall just jarring to listen to.

 

[Class377/5]

But when will they be introduced (as soon or not yet)?

Every time someone asked that question it gets puts back a week

 

[southern442]

Indeed her voice is arguably the best.

I think the worst would have to be Emma Hignett's (the London Buses/iBus woman) on the Overground, as her announcements are extremely monotone, dull, lack emphasis on key words and overall just jarring to listen to.

You don't have to listen to her at Norwood Junction and West Croydon on the station! Mispronunciations, an apparent allergy to 'Banstead' and don't even get me started on when she is faced with a dividing train!

 

[phoenixcronin]

You don't have to listen to her at Norwood Junction and West Croydon on the station! Mispronunciations, an apparent allergy to 'Banstead' and don't even get me started on when she is faced with a dividing train!

Not to mention the fact that the on train announcements haven't been updated for years, still mentioning Earls Court Exhibition Centre and the "Docklands Light Railway" when the rest of TFL services refer to the DLR.

Also not to mention that the info screens throughout the train all scroll at different speeds, so that are all displaying different text at the same time, vastly out of sync with the audio.

Awful and glitchy system.

Hopefully the 700s are better

 

[samuelmorris]

Indeed her voice is arguably the best.

I think the worst would have to be Emma Hignett's (the London Buses/iBus woman) on the Overground, as her announcements are extremely monotone, dull, lack emphasis on key words and overall just jarring to listen to.

A little off-topic but I would vote the worst as being those on the DLR, until I heard this that is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOJxX6FirkQ
what have they done...

Julie Berry is a fair choice, although it is the voice used by all the TOCs I travel on regularly these days, so gets a bit samey. Nonetheless very professional sounding (if perhaps a little too professional).

 

[Class377/5]

Not to mention the fact that the on train announcements haven't been updated for years, still mentioning Earls Court Exhibition Centre and the "Docklands Light Railway" when the rest of TFL services refer to the DLR.

Also not to mention that the info screens throughout the train all scroll at different speeds, so that are all displaying different text at the same time, vastly out of sync with the audio.

Awful and glitchy system.

Hopefully the 700s are better

You can watch multiple screens on the 700s as they scroll through the calling pattern. A lot of effort has gone into getting them right with the ability to update being done fairly quickly compared to existing systems.

 

[hassaanhc]

Not to mention the fact that the on train announcements haven't been updated for years, still mentioning Earls Court Exhibition Centre and the "Docklands Light Railway" when the rest of TFL services refer to the DLR.

Also not to mention that the info screens throughout the train all scroll at different speeds, so that are all displaying different text at the same time, vastly out of sync with the audio.

Awful and glitchy system.

Hopefully the 700s are better

I thought that was a DLR B90/92/00 stock trademark always find screens in the same car scrolling at different speeds and showing different things to each other.

 

[southern442]

You can watch multiple screens on the 700s as they scroll through the calling pattern. A lot of effort has gone into getting them right with the ability to update being done fairly quickly compared to existing systems.

Are there any plans for these sort of screens on other new trains? Or could they be retrofitted to 377's maybe? Just a thought as the 700 screens are very good.