Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Minstral25]

1) 2017
2) Passenger services May-June 2018
3) Soon
4) early 2017
5) May 2018 with 4tph increased to 8tph IIRC Dec 2018



Horsham should be fmd 2017.

All subject to change.

I take that to mean from 2017 on Horsham - appreciate it may change but is that early or late 2017 or gradual through the year.

Thank you for the information as always

 

[Class377/5]

The 1612 from London Bridge has been cancelled I'm on a 10-car Turbostar to East Croydon though.

Cancelled due to points issue at Earlswood.

I take that to mean from 2017 on Horsham - appreciate it may change but is that early or late 2017 or gradual through the year.

Thank you for the information as always

I'd say (but not 100% sure) mid 2017

 

[Bishopstone]

The 1612 from London Bridge has been cancelled I'm on a 10-car Turbostar to East Croydon though.

London Bridge - Brighton Thameslink services are cancelled with great regularity, because GTR consider there are suitable alternatives available with a change at East Croydon.

When these services start working through the core, will they remain the favourite candidates for the chop in times of disruption, or will another service group be alighted upon as victim?

 

[JonathanH]

London Bridge - Brighton Thameslink services are cancelled with great regularity, because GTR consider there are suitable alternatives available with a change at East Croydon.

When these services start working through the core, will they remain the favourite candidates for the chop in times of disruption, or will another service group be alighted upon as victim?

There has to be a contingency plan for when one of the Redhill / Quarry routes are not available. That takes out half the Gatwick Express service and the London Bridge to Brighton services run south of Gatwick only. That suggests that these are a low priority at the moment. Clearly something needs to be the contingency cancellation but you'd guess that it should be the service which can be most easily turned from the north at East Croydon.

 

[387star]

1) when will we see units arrived with tables fitted as standard
2) when will the new thameslink logos be affixed

 

[J-2739]

1) when will we see units arrived with tables fitted as standard
2) when will the new thameslink logos be affixed

1) NEVER!!
2) Probably mid-life refurbishment.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

1) when will we see units arrived with tables fitted as standard
2) when will the new thameslink logos be affixed

1) If at all...probably not before first major classified overhaul (and these might only be small tables affixed to the side panels for window seats in the 4-bays) - the real answer is probably - who knows?

2) Does this really matter? Probably when time at the depot allows and enough transfers become available

 

[Class377/5]

1) when will we see units arrived with tables fitted as standard
2) when will the new thameslink logos be affixed

1) there's no agreement to put tables in. All that has been said is its being discussed

2) er, when some works out whose to pay for it

 

[asylumxl]

1) there's no agreement to put tables in. All that has been said is its being discussed

2) er, when some works out whose to pay for it

For the latter, I'm sure the DfT could scrape together some more money from the taxpayers to supplement the £20M going to GTR in the near future. Probably the only way it'll ever get done :P.

 

[Minstral25]

I'd say (but not 100% sure) mid 2017

Thank You

 

[Fincra5]

1) there's no agreement to put tables in. All that has been said is its being discussed

2) er, when some works out whose to pay for it

Surely GTR as it was their rebrand/ new logo.

 

[Alteran Ancient]

2) when will the new thameslink logos be affixed

Thameslink's policy on this, in line with their "new" corporate mentality of "being transparent and minimalist" means that the new branding will only appear on new things, and that they won't bother spending excessively to replace the previous branding where un-necessary.

I don't know whether this means they'll retain the ribbon-style logos on all the 700 fleet for consistency, or if any that are yet to be delivered will have the new logo applied and the ones that were already delivered just keep the status quo until some time in the future.

It's not as if the new "lighter" logo will make the train go any faster. :P

 

[asylumxl]

Thameslink's policy on this, in line with their "new" corporate mentality of "being transparent and minimalist" means that the new branding will only appear on new things, and that they won't bother spending excessively to replace the previous branding where un-necessary.

Surely the best solution would have been not to spend excessively on new branding and not change the branding unnecessarily? Minimalist is also a good way to describe the service, particularly when staff shortages are involved.

Also, +1 for the Stargate reference.

 

[Class2ldn]

Well seeing as some of the 377s have got the new branding I'd say it won't be too long before the 700s do.
Stranger things have happened though and this is GTR lol

 

[Bishopstone]

1) there's no agreement to put tables in. All that has been said is its being discussed

The Thameslink social media team have been telling moaners, for several weeks, that tables WILL be fitted/retro-fitted. Literally dozens of tweets to evidence this, if you trawl back through their feed. If it doesn't happen, there will be whole omelettes on faces at GTR.

It's plug sockets that they claim is up for discussion with DfT.

 

[cyclebytrain]

I saw a 700 in service at St Pancras yesterday (I was going the other way, so didn't get to try travelling on it unfortunately Maybe next time I'm in London).

I thought I'd read in this thread that the doors (once released) opened very fast, so was watching closely, but I didn't think they looked any faster than the 377 just behind it. Am I misremembering, or was it something else?

 

[asylumxl]

I saw a 700 in service at St Pancras yesterday (I was going the other way, so didn't get to try travelling on it unfortunately Maybe next time I'm in London).

I thought I'd read in this thread that the doors (once released) opened very fast, so was watching closely, but I didn't think they looked any faster than the 377 just behind it. Am I misremembering, or was it something else?

Don't know about in the core, but in my experience the sliding doors are much quicker to open when you press the button.

 

[cyclebytrain]

That's what I was expecting to see! Maybe it was an optical illusion from where I was standing?

 

[jon0844]

1) when will we see units arrived with tables fitted as standard
2) when will the new thameslink logos be affixed

1. Not anytime soon.
2. A week before they change logo again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Don't know about in the core, but in my experience the sliding doors are much quicker to open when you press the button.

In the core they're so quick they open even if you don't press the button!

 

[Class2ldn]

1. Not anytime soon.
2. A week before they change logo again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In the core they're so quick they open even if you don't press the button!

Only if we stop in the right place haha

 

[jon0844]

Only if we stop in the right place haha

True. Or it takes a fortnight.

 

[Class377/5]

Surely GTR as it was their rebrand/ new logo.

GTR are on a management contract. They have to get DfT to cough up. Dont forget right now GTR is a loss making for Govia.

And for the record the current logos have already been ordered so replacing them means the current logo provide still has to be paid.

The Thameslink social media team have been telling moaners, for several weeks, that tables WILL be fitted/retro-fitted. Literally dozens of tweets to evidence this, if you trawl back through their feed. If it doesn't happen, there will be whole omelettes on faces at GTR.

It's plug sockets that they claim is up for discussion with DfT.

And there's been no agreement. Everyone expects there to be agreement but until that happens there is NO official timeline. So my comments are correct, there is currently NO time frame as nothing been agreed. Doesn't mean this is ALWAYS the case. Sure once a deal is made it'll be announced.

 

[Skimble19]

GTR are on a management contract. They have to get DfT to cough up. Dont forget right now GTR is a loss making for Govia.

And for the record the current logos have already been ordered so replacing them means the current logo provide still has to be paid.



And there's been no agreement. Everyone expects there to be agreement but until that happens there is NO official timeline. So my comments are correct, there is currently NO time frame as nothing been agreed. Doesn't mean this is ALWAYS the case. Sure once a deal is made it'll be announced.

In that case Govia should never have rebranded it.. If they knew the entire new fleet would be delivered with the old logo and weren't willing to pay for new ones (after already issuing full staff uniforms in the old branding, as well as all sorts of other things!) one has to wonder what on earth they were thinking of when the rebrand was agreed.

Anyway, back to the 700s.. I do hope seat back tables are fitted, and whilst I would find plugs useful I can't see it happening - there's simply too much work needed and I can't see Govia or DfT paying for it!

 

[387star]

Replies to people on twitter about tables stated they would be retrofitted so I assumed it was a given *

I wonder if southern will bother repainting the 377/5s or if they will continue in purple

*edit: just read above

 

[Class377/5]

Replies to people on twitter about tables stated they would be retrofitted so I assumed it was a given *

I wonder if southern will bother repainting the 377/5s or if they will continue in purple

*edit: just read above

Side point, Southern (which technically doesn't exist, it's a brand, GTR are the company) don't have any painting facilities at present. All that is being done is a form of acid wash to remove the crap and expose the original paint job.

Now back to topic at hand....

 

[James H]

On the matter of plugs and tables, Claire Perry answered this parliamentary question just before she ceased to be rail minister

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2016-06-27.41259.h

Contract variations have been proposed by my Department to introduce seat back tables and WiFi infrastructure throughout the new Class 700 Thameslink trains and officials are negotiating the details with the other contractual parties. My officials are also exploring with Siemens, the manufacturer of the new Class 700 Thameslink trains, the scope for increasing the number of plug sockets.

The form of words certainly makes it sound as if the tables and wifi have been agreed in principle.

 

[asylumxl]

On the matter of plugs and tables, Claire Perry answered this parliamentary question just before she ceased to be rail minister

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2016-06-27.41259.h



The form of words certainly makes it sound as if the tables and wifi have been agreed in principle.

I find it kind of sad such an issue is even discussed in parliament. There are far more important issues to discuss in my opinion.

 

[AM9]

On the matter of plugs and tables, Claire Perry answered this parliamentary question just before she ceased to be rail minister

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2016-06-27.41259.h



The form of words certainly makes it sound as if the tables and wifi have been agreed in principle.

Put the words 'proposed', 'exploring' and 'the scope' together with the fact that they were tweeted by an ex S of S and it doesn't look anywhere near an agreement in principle, let alone a commitment!

 

[bramling]

Put the words 'proposed', 'exploring' and 'the scope' together with the fact that they were tweeted by an ex S of S and it doesn't look anywhere near an agreement in principle, let alone a commitment!

It's a mess-up that tables in some form or another weren't specified in the first place, on the 12-car trains at least. Even the 317s and 321s have something.

 

[Goldfish62]

I find it kind of sad such an issue is even discussed in parliament. There are far more important issues to discuss in my opinion.

How do you know that the "far more important issues" aren't discussed as well? People complain that MPs are too remote yet if they take issues such as this which are obviously bothering their constituents they're apparently wasting time. They can't win.