Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[RichmondCommu]

Why are they testing at all? Just put them into service, discover loads of faults and have them sent back for modifications. Simple.

That's the British way!

Perhaps the Germans do things differently. I guess that’s up to them.

 

[AM9]

Then listen to the continuous rants from users about them not being fit to run etc..

That's no way to deliver products and it's why Siemens is selling successfully around the world.

 

[Marklund]

All very well referring to Wildenrath, but the picture from Flickr is said to be taken at Velim in the Czech Republic...

 

[Class377/5]

Three carriages from 700001 currently on display at Innotrans.

http://www.siemens.co.uk/en/news_pr...-art-train-to-be-used-on-thameslink-route.htm

The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, today launched Siemens’ new state-of-the-art passenger train, the Class 700 Desiro City, which is set to transform journeys for millions of passengers across London and beyond.

Three fully-assembled cars for the new Class 700 train were unveiled for the first time by Siemens, alongside Cross London Trains and new operator Govia Thameslink Railway Limited, at Innotrans 2014 in Berlin. The trains will form the main rolling stock fleet for the Government sponsored £6.5bn Thameslink Programme, a series of fleet and infrastructure improvements on the north-south rail link across London.

The new electric Class 700 train will offer a much improved travel experience for passengers and, alongside the wider infrastructure improvements being delivered by Network Rail as part of the Thameslink Programme, will boost capacity and reliability on one of Europe’s busiest stretches of railway.

The first units, approximately 25% lighter than previous generations and up to 50% more energy efficient, will run on the Thameslink Bedford to Brighton service through central London in spring 2016 and on Peterborough and Cambridge Great Northern services a year later. By the end of 2018, when the Thameslink Programme is complete, the two services will join at St Pancras International, and run through central London every two to three minutes at the busiest times. This equates to 24 trains per hour in each direction between St Pancras International and London Blackfriars.

The trains will run on a newly-upgraded network, featuring a state-of-the-art signaling system and rebuilt stations at London Bridge and Blackfriars. The Thameslink network also provides an interchange with London’s new Crossrail line, due to open in 2018, via an expanded and upgraded station at Farringdon.

Many components for the Thameslink trains will be manufactured in the UK including for example at Siemens’ site in Hebburn, near Newcastle, creating around 300 local jobs. The Thameslink Programme will create around 8000 jobs in total, including up to 2000 in support of the new trains, across the UK supply chain.

The Desiro City train has also recently been chosen to provide additional capacity on the South West Trains franchise for passengers travelling into London Waterloo, the UK’s busiest station, as part of a £210m deal. The 150 new carriages will create capacity for more than 24,000 additional peak-time passengers every day, and will start running from 2017.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “A world-class rail network needs world-class trains, and it is fantastic to see the spacious and energy-efficient new carriages that passengers will soon be able to use.

“As part of our long-term economic plan, we are investing record amounts in transforming the rail network, providing more seats, better connections and improved journeys. The Thameslink Pro-gramme is central to this. These trains will provide real benefits to passengers when they come into operation.”

Dr. Jochen Eickholt, CEO Siemens-Division Rail Systems, said:

“Over 80 million Euros has been invested by Siemens in the design and development of the Class 700. This represents an investment in innovative rail design, leading technology and an improved passenger experience. We are delighted to have developed this train of the future and are thrilled that this has been recognised by both the Secretary of State and the international rail technology community”.

Andy Pitt, Executive Chairman, Cross London Trains, said:

“Cross London Trains is delighted to have financed these Class 700 trains and it is fantastic to see the state-of-the-art train showcased at such an industry leading event”.

Charles Horton, Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway Limited (GTR), which operates Thameslink and Great Northern services, said:

“The Class 700 will completely transform the travelling experience of our passengers, unlocking the potential of the Thameslink Programme to increase capacity and address the heavy crowding many experience on a daily basis.

“Acting as delivery agent for the Government, we will introduce this new fleet, with trains arriving first on Thameslink in 2016 and then on Great Northern a year later. When the two routes join in 2018 there will be fabulous new connections across the south east.”

And a few photos from Paul Bigland.

 

[physics34]

still a big problem with the window seats and the space for your feet, when the ducting takes up the room.

Hope they correct this.

 

[AM9]

still a big problem with the window seats and the space for your feet, when the ducting takes up the room.

Hope they correct this.

I doubt it as the ducting closely follows the body profile.

 

[Bigfoot]

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

still a big problem with the window seats and the space for your feet, when the ducting takes up the room.

Hope they correct this.

No different to a 20m dessy. Or a 455. Looks worse from the photo angle. Plus as these are finished coaches they aren't going to fix it are they!

 

[edwin_m]

Apparently the competitor design from Hitachi has adopted underfloor heating so doesn't need heating ducts.

Are the claims for 25% weight saving and 50% energy saving comparing with the 377s or the 319s?

 

[AM9]

Apparently the competitor design from Hitachi has adopted underfloor heating so doesn't need heating ducts.

Are the claims for 25% weight saving and 50% energy saving comparing with the 377s or the 319s?

Or existing Desiro designs. As I understand it, most of the weight saving comes from the new design lightweight bogies.

 

[asylumxl]

I truly hate those cyan doors. They just don't match with either the branding or the rest of the livery.

 

[SPADTrap]

It looks a bit dirty, and it's not even off the test track!

That's because it's a train that works outside?

 

[D6975]

Hmmm
Do they really believe that the seating arrangement is suitable for longer distance outer suburban routes?
Considerably inferior to a 377/5 IMHO.

 

[fgwrich]

still a big problem with the window seats and the space for your feet, when the ducting takes up the room.

Hope they correct this.

I think I'm going to stick to what I said about the Thameslink Desiro City from the mock up - It's going to be a good train, just let down by the (dft led) specification.

I truly hate those cyan doors. They just don't match with either the branding or the rest of the livery.

It really is an awful livery - The Grey / White / Grey band across the cab door looks ridiculous, those bright cyan doors as you say don't match with the livery, the stickering looks cheap, and the interior colour scheme makes me think of a re-invented Network SouthEast 20 years after the Networkers. Shame really, especially when you see how much better they looked in FCC.

 

[talldave]

Compared to the s**t 319s I have to suffer at the moment, these are going to be heaven. The external colour scheme maybe a bit dreary, but as long as the Thameslink logo is clearly visible, I'm happy.

 

[AM9]

Compared to the s**t 319s I have to suffer at the moment, these are going to be heaven. The external colour scheme maybe a bit dreary, but as long as the Thameslink logo is clearly visible, I'm happy.

Once they have been snagged in service, I'm sure that they'll do what they need to do. If cosmetic detail is the only fault of the design the passengers will at least get a more reliable service with more capacity.

 

[jon0844]

You can clearly see how much more capacity these trains will have, and I think there will be additional benefits that can't be truly appreciated yet in that the more open spaces, including aisles and gangways will mean people with bags and buggies will be able to get out of the way of others.

And of course there are bigger areas for wheelchairs and hopefully bikes too.

The downside will be more chance of standing, but off-peak I suspect there won't be any issues, and standing on one of these will still be preferable to a 319 with no room to breathe or let people through.

 

[talldave]

Will these new trains run quietly, or is the endless screeching southbound from Blackfriars a characteristic of the track and not the train?

 

[jon0844]

Track I'd think, just as immediately south of St Pancras.

 

[The Box Photter]

Compared to the s**t 319s I have to suffer at the moment, these are going to be heaven. The external colour scheme maybe a bit dreary, but as long as the Thameslink logo is clearly visible, I'm happy.

I agree. The 319s didn't exactly exude a cozy ambiance, especially when there were several days' worth of gunge trodden into the carpets next to the doors.

I like the idea of the "wipe-clean" floor and cantilevered seats so that the floor beneath them can be cleaned.

The seats are a bit on the snug side but reasonably comfortable with decent lumbar support. I had a good lounge on the seats in the mock-up at the Excel last year. Given the rather large windows, lets hope the climate control system is up to the job.

Only concern is the connections between carriages and the rearmost seats' proximity to them. I hope the connections are sufficiently robust to remain watertight and draught-proof, otherwise sitting in those seats in the winter or in a heavy summer downpour might become interesting.

 

[asylumxl]

Compared to the s**t 319s I have to suffer at the moment, these are going to be heaven. The external colour scheme maybe a bit dreary, but as long as the Thameslink logo is clearly visible, I'm happy.

Well I use TL everyday to commute and they certainly will be an improvement over the 319s, but it doesn't stop me cringing at the awful livery.

 

[hassaanhc]

Track I'd think, just as immediately south of St Pancras.

St Pancras is so annoying. That track screech is deafening!

 

[AM9]

St Pancras is so annoying. That track screech is deafening!

It should be a little better with the 700s as they have shorter bogie wheelbases so less flange contact.

 

[Class377/5]

Well I use TL everyday to commute and they certainly will be an improvement over the 319s, but it doesn't stop me cringing at the awful livery.

GTR confirm that 'awful' livery is staying put in the new Modern Railways.

Plus first public confirmation of five 700s in the UK by the end of next year. All 12 cars.

Few errors, as its part of 700001 that at Innotrans with 102-104/5 at Wildenrath.

All very well referring to Wildenrath, but the picture from Flickr is said to be taken at Velim in the Czech Republic...

700101 is visiting Velim at the moment.

 

[edwin_m]

It should be a little better with the 700s as they have shorter bogie wheelbases so less flange contact.

Siemens did a mod to the 450s to reduce bogie rotational stiffness, which should help with reducing flange contact too - assuming it also applies to the 700s.

 

[swt_passenger]

Siemens did a mod to the 450s to reduce bogie rotational stiffness, which should help with reducing flange contact too - assuming it also applies to the 700s.

I've seen somewhere recently that it hasn't made enough improvement and the fleet is to be retro-fitted with Desiro City style lightweight bogies. I'll see if I can find a reference to it.

 

[talldave]

Well I use TL everyday to commute and they certainly will be an improvement over the 319s, but it doesn't stop me cringing at the awful livery.

I saw a train today that had one unit with blue doors and one with purple doors - so is the plan that the door colour will indicate whether it's a Thameslink or Great Northern service?

 

[physics34]

I saw a train today that had one unit with blue doors and one with purple doors - so is the plan that the door colour will indicate whether it's a Thameslink or Great Northern service?

was that 319426 white with the purple doors?

Think its just a temporary job to cover up the FCC livery

 

[Class377/5]

was that 319426 white with the purple doors?

Think its just a temporary job to cover up the FCC livery

319426 was given white sides (7 initially) as there wasn't enough FCC viyals to get unit ready for end of franchise. Hence the pink doors as is standard on FCC units.

 

[asylumxl]

319426 was given white sides (7 initially) as there wasn't enough FCC viyals to get unit ready for end of franchise. Hence the pink doors as is standard on FCC units.

I personally think it looks better :P.

 

[physics34]

we need to somehow merge and then reorganise these threads somehow really as 3 conversations about similar things are being spread over the forums, and as a result the same points are being made over and over again

We have the class 387 thread, this thread, the GoVia thread and the 319s cascade to Northern thread.