Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Peter Mugridge]

700 001 apparently arrived this morning.

 

[JohnElliott]

GN using southerns green livery, thameslink using GN's blue livery, what next? are we gonna come full circle and have southern put with pink doors?

Just think how much trouble would be avoided if everything was painted Rail Blue with grey doors.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Rail blue, Grey doors, perhaps with a white vinal strip for easy visualisation with well marked FC and disabled areas and the opperaters logo on ends and boddysides. There you have it, BT's views on painting trains

 

[Deepgreen]

I have noticed that 377311 has received the updated Southern logo (with a more brighter green), saw it at Clapham Junction yesterday

Yes, it's been around for a few weeks now. GTR seem hell bent on logo re-designs - do they think this will distract from their performance, past and present?!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Yes, it's been around for a few weeks now. GTR seem hell bent on logo re-designs - do they think this will distract from their performance, past and present?!

Maybe they are experimenting with different sizes/designs?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

700 035 has apparently now arrived.

I've lost count; how many 700/0s have now been delivered?

 

[JonathanH]

700 035 has apparently now arrived.

I've lost count; how many 700/0s have now been delivered?

That is the last of the current batch of 700/0s to come so 46 now delivered. 30 700/1s to come next - 700116 to 700145.

Our previous correspondent has posted elsewhere that all 46 700/0s enter service on 41 Thameslink route diagrams before the extra 700/1s start taking over from Southern 377s on Brighton, then Horsham, then Littlehampton, then East Grinstead services. Then GN introduction later.

PS- I haven't noticed any information on further 700/0s entering service since 700044 last month. I have 700002/3/5-10/4-21/3/5/7/9-31/6/8/9/44-6 as having seen service so far. Any advance on that?

 

[Mordac]

It's also past the halfway mark for deliveries. I think with 700 035 it's 61 delivered, 54 to go?

 

[Deepgreen]

Maybe they are experimenting with different sizes/designs?

They have been ever since the brand was launched, it seems! The number of liveries and variations thereof that TL has employed is staggering - none of them attractive either, in my opinion.

 

[Deepgreen]

That is the last of the current batch of 700/0s to come so 46 now delivered. 30 700/1s to come next - 700116 to 700145.

Our previous correspondent has posted elsewhere that all 46 700/0s enter service on 41 Thameslink route diagrams before the extra 700/1s start taking over from Southern 377s on Brighton, then Horsham, then Littlehampton, then East Grinstead services. Then GN introduction later.

PS- I haven't noticed any information on further 700/0s entering service since 700044 last month. I have 700002/3/5-10/4-21/3/5/7/9-31/6/8/9/44-6 as having seen service so far. Any advance on that?

Presumably not until TL actually take over these, or part of these, routes?

 

[AM9]

They have been ever since the brand was launched, it seems! The number of liveries and variations thereof that TL has employed is staggering - none of them attractive either, in my opinion.

I'm inclined to agree with that, even allowing for the fact that all stock except the class 700s were never deemed to be permanently on TL services at the time of their introduction, so their liveries were whatever they came in (or whatever the DfT requested).
It's not as if Govia is style blind as the LM livery seems to me as quite attractive. GTR even managed to have a reasonably smart presentation with the Southern livery.
You may detect a theme here; - yes I regard green as a colour that looks good when new and generally survives well in service. I think that despite paints that didn't have the durability of modern laquer/vinyl finishes, the malachite and brunswick greens of BR days held up pretty well.

 

[spark001uk]

I was in and around town yesterday, and I boarded both a TL service with SN stock, and later a SN service with GX stock!
Also I noted some 319s (believe one of them was 319444) seem to have had all their logos removed, is this a sign of those units' imminent departure from TL?

 

[JonathanH]

Presumably not until TL actually take over these, or part of these, routes?

700/1s will need to operate into Victoria for a period until May 2018 - the diagrams and finding trains which don't split / join just don't work otherwise.

 

[physics34]

700/1s will need to operate into Victoria for a period until May 2018 - the diagrams and finding trains which don't split / join just don't work otherwise.

Which i guess is why TL stop marks have appeared at battersea park, wandsworth and balham (just incase they end up stopping there)

 

[tsr]

Some TL drivers also sign routes into Victoria as an emergency diversion anyway, not to mention both Fast and Slow lines from Windmill Bridge Junction to Clapham Junction, and then to Blackfriars via Pouparts Junction.

In fact, TL route knowledge, at certain depots, is really quite impressive. This week 5V57 0007 Sutton-Orpington is an ECS move via Tulse Hill, Crystal Palace and Beckenham Junction. I didn't even know they signed Bromley Junctions - Beckenham Junction... I've not heard anything about route conductors being used...

 

[physics34]

I was in and around town yesterday, and I boarded both a TL service with SN stock, and later a SN service with GX stock!
Also I noted some 319s (believe one of them was 319444) seem to have had all their logos removed, is this a sign of those units' imminent departure from TL?

Some London Bridge to Brighton services use southern 377s.... and in theory the 377/5s are SN stock anyway.

Im aware of a brighton to vic southern service using 387s in the evening i think.

And you are right about the 319s... ready to be heavily cleaned and to have northern vinyls added

 

[physics34]

Presumably not until TL actually take over these, or part of these, routes?

Later this summer i believe

 

[jon0844]

Seem to be a few more 700s by Hornsey and I saw one being dragged northbound through Potters Bar earlier this week (around 0600).

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Also I noted some 319s (believe one of them was 319444) seem to have had all their logos removed, is this a sign of those units' imminent departure from TL?

To my knowledge, and from what I've seen, all TL 319's have had their logos removed. Can't say precisely when I last saw a logo'd one but it was quite a few weeks ago

 

[EMD]

I'm so happy to see Govia testing their logos like that, at least I can see what they spend my money on. Painting grass green.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I'm so happy to see Govia testing their logos like that, at least I can see what they spend my money on. Painting grass green.

Worth the money if the grass is parched and brown

I'll get me coat

 

[387star]

New logos being affixed on . mass

700101 has them and a few other units

 

[westcoaster]

There should be a 12 car delivery next, might even be tomorrow

 

[JonathanH]

There should be a 12 car delivery next, might even be tomorrow

700121 suggested elsewhere as being in France.

 

[Deepgreen]

From NRE this morning. I assume this refers to 700s? Does anyone know what the problem is (possibly wheel flats from rain after a long dry spell giving poor adhesion?)?

"More trains than usual need repairs at the same time which means trains between Bedford and Brighton are being disrupted."

 

[Deepgreen]

Deleted - post repeated itself automatically!

 

[Deepgreen]

New logos being affixed on . mass

700101 has them and a few other units

'en masse'?

 

[physics34]

Have noticed a few coping stones have been "shaved" down at various stations and Dormans has had new ones installed on the down platform. Im guessing for Class 700 clearance

 

[Bald Rick]

From NRE this morning. I assume this refers to 700s? Does anyone know what the problem is (possibly wheel flats from rain after a long dry spell giving poor adhesion?)?

"More trains than usual need repairs at the same time which means trains between Bedford and Brighton are being disrupted."

According to RTT (on an all day line up at Blackfriars) It doesn't look there have been any cancellations of TL services today. So nothing to do with 700s.

There was however a problem at Selhurst depot, which meant that some units couldn't get out first thing this morning, and a few Southern cancellations. But this didn't affect TL.

 

[jon0844]

Have noticed a few coping stones have been "shaved" down at various stations and Dormans has had new ones installed on the down platform. Im guessing for Class 700 clearance

Is the new Thameslink vinyl that thick?