Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[physics34]

I think the article in RAIL Magazine said that the introduction of Class 700s would be delayed and wouldn't be first introduced n 2017 as it hoped. One would hope that the issues would be sorted out by 2018, or there won't be any Thameslink Programme happening!

thought the 8 car ones will be on the Sutton loop services in 2016?

 

[A-driver]

thought the 8 car ones will be on the Sutton loop services in 2016?

The delays only affect the GN route at the northern extremities so won't affect them running on the Bedford or south of the Thames lines.

 

[Class377/5]

Appears there may be delays getting the 700s cleared on the GN route. Some of the platforms won't be long enough for the 12 car versions (including Finsbury Park as a 12car 700 is longer than a 12 365 and a 12 car 365 only just fits of the cab is off the end. Plus the 700s won't have retractable shoes so until various bridges north of St Neots and Royston have been altered to avoid ripping off shoe gear (the reason 313s can't go north of those places) 700s won't be going to Peterborough or Cambridge. According to an article in rail magazine (i can't find how to link to rail articles online so apologies) network rail have admitted they won't have the work completed by the 2018 deadline.

Thats the May 2018 deadline.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O15070/2015/07/30/advanced

Hopefully it'll make it into the UK tonight.

How long will it be (once they're in the UK) before they start testing?

Fairly soon.

A-driver has just stated an explanation above!

Trying to think how I can explain the Port Holme bridges (south of Huntingdon) as I've walked under them and travelled on them, I can picture where the problem is.

In any case I thought the Canal Tunnels wouldn't be ready for passenger service until 2018?

Canal Tunnels will be ready for train September but no planned passenger service until May 2018.

Is that with or without extra passengers

We hope

 

[insane_lewis]

Is there anyone else on here that works for Thameslink?

 

[Domh245]

As I speak, currently running about 40 minutes early and approaching Ashford

 

[acg5324]

66769 in charge


DOLNDMRGB 23:20 22:40M 40 EARLY
SALTWD JN 23:23 22:41A 42 EARLY
ASHFORDI 23:34H 22:56A 38 EARLY
HEADCORN 23:45H 23:07A 38 EARLY
PADDOCKWD 23:56H 23:22A 34 EARLY
TONBRIDGE 00:02 23:30A 32 EARLY
SEVENOAKS 00:19 23:50A 29 EARLY
OTFORDJN 00:24 23:57A 27 EARLY
SWANLEY 00:35 00:11A 24 EARLY
STMCRAYJN 00:41 00:18A 23 EARLY
BICKLEYJN 00:43H 00:19A 24 EARLY
SHORTLNDJ 00:47H 00:24A 23 EARLY
BELLINGHM 00:51 00:26A 25 EARLY
NUNHEAD 00:56 00:35A 21 EARLY
CROFTNRDJ 00:58 00:37A 21 EARLY
DENMARKHL 00:59 00:39A 20 EARLY
VOLTRRDJN 01:03H 00:43A 20 EARLY
FACTORYJN 01:04H N/R
LONGHDGJN 01:06 N/R
POUPPTSJN 01:07 N/R
CLAPHAMJN 01:13H 01:16A 3 LATE
BALHAM 01:22 01:21A 1 EARLY
STRETHMCM 01:28 01:25A 3 EARLY
SELHURST 01:36H N/R E
WINDMLBJN 01:40 01:31A 9 EARLY
E CROYDON 01:42 01:33A 9 EARLY
S CROYDON 01:43H
PURLEY 01:47 01:40A 7 EARLY
STOATSNJN 01:49 01:41A 8 EARLY
REDHILL 02:00H 01:50A 10 EARLY
EARLSWOOD 02:02 01:51A 11 EARLY
GATWICK 02:07 01:57A 10 EARLY
THREEBGES 02:11 02:13 02:03A N/R E 8 EARLY
TBGUPTLDE 02:19 N/R
TBGUPTLDT 02:24 02:15M 9 EARLY




I have my camera ready and work permitting will get some shots at Three Bridges.

 

[Tirov]

And its full of A Seekers so no passports so no border control!! It#ll probably let them off at Clapham J to meet their families

 

[ert47]

Just spotted in Croydon

 

[Starmill]

Platform 3 at Three Bridges looks fun right about now

 

[acg5324]

Just got back from the station its going to take a bit of shunting to put this all in order, expect it to be out in the open still in the morning.

Will upload the photos later.

 

[Yabbadabba]

Got about 38 pictures and a min video of it going into Three Bridges depot, must of been mad to stay up so late

 

[insane_lewis]

Morning.

Just about to head to TBD.

I'm apart of the shunt crew today.

I will get some pictures, the plan allows for 8 ish hours

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Don't know if this was posted by any forum member:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiRXE1D95vM

Can any of the testing done on the Thameslink units be "counted toward" the testing of SWTs Cities?

 

[D365]

Can any of the testing done on the Thameslink units be "counted toward" the testing of SWTs Cities?

I'm sure it will be beneficial towards Siemens but SWT will have their own requirements for mileage w/o fault stipulated in their contract.

***
Looking forward to seeing more of your photos

 

[neilm]

I saw the train this morning, although some of it was in the new train wash! But I think it was in there for shunting reasons.

 

[insane_lewis]

Yes apart from the main reception road. All birthing roads on the upside go through the wash
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And I can confirm the first section is in the shed

 

[Class377/5]

Here's pictures of the unit sat on the Reception Road at Three Bridges Depot..

Going south to north

700106 Delivery by Mackenzie Soley, on Flickr

View from the station

700106 Delivery by Mackenzie Soley, on Flickr

And going north to south

700106 Delivery by Mackenzie Soley, on Flickr

Don't know if this was posted by any forum member:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiRXE1D95vM

Can any of the testing done on the Thameslink units be "counted toward" the testing of SWTs Cities?

Nope. They have their own testing. Don't forget two 707s will go to Wildenrath with pans for 10 car AC testing.

 

[Minstral25]

Press release out now

http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/ab...ng-future-as-new-siemens-built-train-arrives/

 

[Clip]

Press release out now

http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/ab...ng-future-as-new-siemens-built-train-arrives/

ooh shiny and new!!

Though I know I am being thick here but why 106 and not 101?

 

[hwl]

ooh shiny and new!!

Though I know I am being thick here but why 106 and not 101?

The rest still in Germany for extensive testing and driver training / familiarisation???

Also the first few of units from any manufacturer (inc Bombardier and Hitachi too) always tend to be a bit non-standard (pre-series etc.) so they get modified to the standard condition at some point.

 

[BantamMenace]

Do the barrier wagons make a return trip back to Europe for use on the next delivery?
Do they go as a very short consist or do they tag on to a Europe bound freight train?

 

[Snapper]

Probably they will have brakes but they may not have approval to rely on them until they have done some testing with those units.

They're not RSL library listed, so until they are...

 

[Clip]

The rest still in Germany for extensive testing and driver training / familiarisation???

Also the first few of units from any manufacturer (inc Bombardier and Hitachi too) always tend to be a bit non-standard (pre-series etc.) so they get modified to the standard condition at some point.

Ahh nice one thanks for the info - kind of makes sense in a roundabout way.

 

[MCR247]

Ahh nice one thanks for the info - kind of makes sense in a roundabout way.

The last Class 387s to enter service were 101 and 102, for example

 

[Waddon]

Am I the only one still terrified of the design of these trains? 12 coaches long with interconnecting carriages so no apparent fire doors or safe havens in the event of smoke, fire, whatever, in the tight Victorian tunnels under London where there is practically no way to detrain in an emergency because they have no doors on the ends? Maybe 1200 passengers onboard in the rush hour and only one member of staff onboard?

Maybe I'm being paranoid, I hope so...

 

[physics34]

Am I the only one still terrified of the design of these trains? 12 coaches long with interconnecting carriages so no apparent fire doors or safe havens in the event of smoke, fire, whatever, in the tight Victorian tunnels under London where there is practically no way to detrain in an emergency because they have no doors on the ends? Maybe 1200 passengers onboard in the rush hour and only one member of staff onboard?

Maybe I'm being paranoid, I hope so...

no, very good points... actually are there any ways of sealing off each carriage?

UNfortunately we need a big incident like what you have described to prove to the people with the purse strings that conductors are required

 

[swt_passenger]

...in the event of smoke, fire, whatever, in the tight Victorian tunnels under London where there is practically no way to detrain in an emergency because they have no doors on the ends?

The problematic single bore 'tight tunnels' (to Barbican and Moorgate) are no longer used. This is why (according to a number of previous discussions) the trains were specified without the necessity for end doors.

 

[AM9]

Am I the only one still terrified of the design of these trains? 12 coaches long with interconnecting carriages so no apparent fire doors or safe havens in the event of smoke, fire, whatever, in the tight Victorian tunnels under London where there is practically no way to detrain in an emergency because they have no doors on the ends? Maybe 1200 passengers onboard in the rush hour and only one member of staff onboard?

Maybe I'm being paranoid, I hope so...

Probably yes. There have been walk through underground trains elsewhere in the world for over two decades and I haven't heard of any such incident. Even in London the S type SSL trains have been in use for 5 years now with no incident anything like that.
To get passenger safety certification, the design will have been checked to have non-flammable interior finishes and an emergency exit procedure may even have been physically demonstrated, (similar to the 90 seconds for a passenger aircraft).
Clear walkthrough cars speed passenger escape before any likely type of fire could spread. If you are thinking of the 7-7 bombs, well under those conditions, anything could happen although I suspect that the 'Aldgate or Edgware Road' scenarios would have been assessed.

 

[insane_lewis]

Hello everyone.

Just thought I would let you all know. That 700106 is nicely tucked away now. It's been a long day. We started movements at 0730 this morning and finished about an hour ago.

Didnt get many pictures as was in the 66 cab most of the day

Will upload a few pics later

 

[tsr]

no, very good points... actually are there any ways of sealing off each carriage?

UNfortunately we need a big incident like what you have described to prove to the people with the purse strings that conductors are required

They do indeed have barriers to block off gangways between coaches. They also have quite an advanced smoke extraction system. These wouldn't help in the event of a bomb (or, probably, a particularly hot and/or rapid spread of flames) but then that would apply to quite a lot of other trains in other ways anyway.

I really don't want to have to dig out the DOO debate on this thread - really, I don't - but despite the low overall likelihood, I wonder how quickly passengers could be shepherded by just the driver and potentially a handful of PTS-trained station staff, when they can see pretty much from one end of a train to the other, and thus quickly see any fire even if it doesn't immediately affect them, which could well induce more panic. Someone who does not have to walk from the driver's cab or a station would surely be better-placed to assist quickly in such a scenario (though I'd hope there would also be thought into providing equipment to protect the line at intermediate positions on the train, such as track circuit clips, in order that lines can be blocked before an emergency evacuation without heading to a cab). I also wonder how quickly the inter-coach barriers could be used in real-life operation. But on the plus side, I can see that passengers are probably less likely to exit onto the track and more likely to stay onboard and walk/run down the inside of the train if there are no gangway doors.