Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Class377/5]

So, when do the trains arrive in the UK for testing?

Auguest time, around a month after Three Bridges depot is completed (required fir commissioning).

What's the progres of the construction? When is the first set due for testing on the route itself? How many complete sets are there?

Are the 12 and 8 car sets getting different sub class numbers?

Progress is good tho I don't have full details.

I can't talk too much about testing at the moment but have heard that the later phases have changed.

I actually got an update today and its all very exciting and good news.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

So, when do the trains arrive in the UK for testing?

I think most of the testing will be done at Siemens test track, if I remember correctly from a tv program Siemens do a load of testing then the TOC (in this case TL) do their testing then once both a happy a unit gets signed off and delivered via the channel tunnel

 

[Class377/5]

I think most of the testing will be done at Siemens test track, if I remember correctly from a tv program Siemens do a load of testing then the TOC (in this case TL) do their testing then once both a happy a unit gets signed off and delivered via the channel tunnel

There is still a lot initial testing that will be required. August until Aprill IIRC.

 

[jopsuk]

Individual unit testing can be done on the test track, but the class must be tested on the route to ensure all the calculations and simulations regarding performance, clearance etc- for example signal sighting and stopping positions. Just look at the mess that TER in France got into!

 

[AM9]

I believe the seats should be wider at with armrests, even the odd fold down table for some mod-cons. There is far too much standing space, it's as if the DFt panicked. But that if only the mockup from 1 Coach is it not?

Maybe they should have 1+2 seating in standard class with full relininng seats and individual full sized tables for the privileged few that board at the start of each run.
Serriously though, the standing room may seem a little generous now, but in 20 years time, (about halfway through the stock's life) floor space may be quite precious. Just look at the clamour there has been recently for removal of the third seat on 2+3 seat arrangment on 319s to make more room for standing. Nobody said much about that twenty five years ago when the stock was new..

 

[physics34]

Maybe they should have 1+2 seating in standard class with full relininng seats and individual full sized tables for the privileged few that board at the start of each run.
Serriously though, the standing room may seem a little generous now, but in 20 years time, (about halfway through the stock's life) floor space may be quite precious. Just look at the clamour there has been recently for removal of the third seat on 2+3 seat arrangment on 319s to make more room for standing. Nobody said much about that twenty five years ago when the stock was new..

i fear those days. If the london/southeast birth rate continues the way it is, we wont be able to move.

16 coach trains from 2030

 

[AM9]

The south-east and the east where most of the Thameslink commuters live have birthrates slightly below the England and England and Wales figure. London is quite a lot higher but that population is more likely to be using the Underground and the Overground (i.e. as per the Wombles ) than Thameslink.

As has been said many times here, 16 coach trains won't really help. But Crossrail 3, 4 &5 will! Still, we can't blame the DfT for thinking ahead when they get slaughtered every time a train gets overcrowded with so little standing room.

 

[thelem]

Nobody said much about (removing 5th 319 seat) twenty five years ago when the stock was new..

Seats can be replaced fairly cheaply, if the needs of the stock change.

 

[Fincra5]

Maybe they should have 1+2 seating in standard class with full relininng seats and individual full sized tables for the privileged few that board at the start of each run.
Serriously though, the standing room may seem a little generous now, but in 20 years time, (about halfway through the stock's life) floor space may be quite precious. Just look at the clamour there has been recently for removal of the third seat on 2+3 seat arrangment on 319s to make more room for standing. Nobody said much about that twenty five years ago when the stock was new..

Yes that would be much better.... :roll:

 

[jon0844]

All seating should be like first class on Heathrow Express! Extreme comfort for some, loads of standing room for the many.

 

[physics34]

All seating should be like first class on Heathrow Express! Extreme comfort for some, loads of standing room for the many.

ANYTHING will do. Its all down to a extra inch or so of memory foam. Not much to ask for, i dont really expect seats to be as comfy as CIG seats for example, as I doubt they would get through the fire regs.

 

[RobShipway]

I am confused at the current official start year fro the Class 700's. I know that Wikipedia cannot be trusted, but it has it's Class 319 page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_319 states the the Class 700 will start in service between 2015 - 18. Whereas as the Class 700 page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_700 state sthe trains to be service 2016 - 2018 which seems more feasible?

 

[Via Bank]

The units begin arriving this year to begin acceptance testing and training, revenue service in 2016. Full fleet in service by 2018.

 

[Class377/5]

Full fleet will be ready for service in May 2018, not by 2018.

 

[AM9]

The units begin arriving this year to begin acceptance testing and training, revenue service in 2016. Full fleet in service by 2018.

I wonder how long before the milestone event of the first one passing through the core happens. Presumably such a test would be needed fairly early in the testing regime. Somebody will need to check the beacons.

 

[jon0844]

With the way things are going, it's a miracle if any train makes it through the core without problems!

 

[RobShipway]

The units begin arriving this year to begin acceptance testing and training, revenue service in 2016. Full fleet in service by 2018.

Thank you for making that point clear.

 

[Class377/5]

I wonder how long before the milestone event of the first one passing through the core happens. Presumably such a test would be needed fairly early in the testing regime. Somebody will need to check the beacons.

August/September I reckon, tho I haven't seen the testing plan. Initial testing includes the Core on overnight testing.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The units begin arriving this year to begin acceptance testing and training, revenue service in 2016. Full fleet in service by 2018.

Any idea approx when the acceptance testing in the UK starts? Just had a quick look on google for "Class 700", didn't get any vids of them running

 

[Class377/5]

Any idea approx when the acceptance testing in the UK starts? Just had a quick look on google for "Class 700", didn't get any vids of them running

Despite the fact you can easily take videos, there's none on line strangely. They do look good on the move with their pan light on in the dark.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Despite the fact you can easily take videos, there's none on line strangely. They do look good on the move with their pan light on in the dark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZpvfYoAxI

Found that vid of an SNCB Desiro, no idea how old the unit is but the traction motors sound different from the UK Desiros, I wonder if the City's will use the same traction motors (unless SNCB specified the traction motors to be used perhaps)

 

[edwin_m]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZpvfYoAxI

Found that vid of an SNCB Desiro, no idea how old the unit is but the traction motors sound different from the UK Desiros, I wonder if the City's will use the same traction motors (unless SNCB specified the traction motors to be used perhaps)

The sound is to a large extent down to the way the traction electronics are programmed, since they generate the AC frequencies that power the motors. It is possible that the motors and even the electronics are identical in Belgium, but the software uses different algorithms, for example to avoid interference with particular signalling equipment.

 

[Class377/5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZpvfYoAxI

Found that vid of an SNCB Desiro, no idea how old the unit is but the traction motors sound different from the UK Desiros, I wonder if the City's will use the same traction motors (unless SNCB specified the traction motors to be used perhaps)

The Desiro City sounds the same as a Desiro UK in video I've seen.

 

[Minstral25]

I'm looking for a Coach by Coach Seating plan for the Class 700's - there's 52 pages of posts here but I can't find one with a quick review. Can anyone please point me in the direction of one - either online or in forum. Cheers

 

[physics34]

I'm looking for a Coach by Coach Seating plan for the Class 700's - there's 52 pages of posts here but I can't find one with a quick review. Can anyone please point me in the direction of one - either online or in forum. Cheers

closest thing ive found:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbuck007/12837538835/sizes/o/

 

[swt_passenger]

I'm looking for a Coach by Coach Seating plan for the Class 700's - there's 52 pages of posts here but I can't find one with a quick review. Can anyone please point me in the direction of one - either online or in forum. Cheers

It was in post #204 here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1693558&postcount=204

 

[physics34]

less toilets than current stock, less seats, worse seats, no tables...... here i go again.........

 

[Hadders]

less toilets than current stock, less seats, worse seats, no tables...... here i go again.........

But more room for standing.....

 

[physics34]

But more room for standing.....

just what we need

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The cycle storage area is the only iffy bit of the layout that I can see if people are already sat in the tip-up seats when someone with a bike wants to board the train or if people have got their luggage there