Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[jon0844]

Pretty sure I am always referred to as Traincrew. I even have my PNB in the "crew room" FYI. I'm one of the trained monkeys up the front pulling the levers and pressing the pretty buttons for peanuts and the yellow bendy fruit.

Traincrew or TrainCrew?

 

[Class377/5]

I suppose that is one way of spicing up commuting! :P

Oops typing error there!

I'm aware. They run on Engineering/Unit Diagrams (I think) They even list the individual unit diagram on the stock sheet every morning. However; I believe you know exactly what I'm talking about. We get our diagrams and they are split with unit type. Every diagram I work has a unit type listed by each service I run. Its part of how rosters and diagrams etc allocate work to my depot and my link. Again, I'm pretty sure you knew that already.

My guess is that they will run the same service each day too. You yourself listed a set of routes and train lengths.

Units have unit diagrams. Drivers have driver diagrams.

While it's true drivers diagrams have certain traction, train diagrams are not so limited on Thameslink. 319 and 377/387s can interchange where necessary due to all TL drivers and some SE drivers signing all the stock.

Initially not all the drivers will sign the 700s but there is going to be a pool of drivers at various depots to ensure there is a trained driver for the required services that are going over to 700s. To give some scale, within 12 months all Thameslink drivers will be required to sign 700s as most of the fleet will have gone over by that point.

As for unit diagrams, well its too early for that right now. We are still weeks away from 700s coming in. They can change right up to the last minute.

Pretty sure I am always referred to as Traincrew. I even have my PNB in the "crew room" FYI. I'm one of the trained monkeys up the front pulling the levers and pressing the pretty buttons for peanuts and the yellow bendy fruit.

Not sure the term peanuts is the term I'd use.

 

[ComUtoR]

To give some scale, within 12 months all Thameslink drivers will be required to sign 700s as most of the fleet will have gone over by that point.

As for unit diagrams, well its too early for that right now. We are still weeks away from 700s coming in. They can change right up to the last minute.

Thank you.

It's annoying that I can get more information out of this forum than my actual TOC

 

[JaJaWa]

Oh please don't put a capital L in ThamesLink . Without this it would be the same as the logo that has been applied to some of the 700s, minus the pink stripe.

It's bit strange to change the logo so soon into the franchise. Also, I wish they'd used this opportunity to revert Thameslink to it's traditional blue, and Great Northern to it's traditional pink.

 

[physics34]

The logo is genuine. It was in a staff briefing last week.

It's part of something bigger and making the brand count/stand for something.

Strange. Current logo is fine.

 

[Class377/5]

Thank you.

It's annoying that I can get more information out of this forum than my actual TOC

Glad to help.

Oh please don't put a capital L in ThamesLink . Without this it would be the same as the logo that has been applied to some of the 700s, minus the pink stripe.

It's bit strange to change the logo so soon into the franchise. Also, I wish they'd used this opportunity to revert Thameslink to it's traditional blue, and Great Northern to it's traditional pink.

The colour things bugs the hell out of me too. Going to get worse tho. Does make me think they are keeping the FCC colour scheme after trying to remove it on the trains.

 

[ert47]

Just thought, if the 377/5 get internally refreshed using the same colour scheme as the 365s, won't they basically look like SE's refurbed units?

 

[southern442]

Strange. Current logo is fine.

Plus nobody will care. Except of course, the people at the very top, who will keep telling themselves that they have done a good job with this lovely new logo representing a bright new future.

 

[bengley]

The capital L is going to bug the hell out of me. It basically turns it into two words - Thames Link.

No no no.

 

[physics34]

Plus nobody will care. Except of course, the people at the very top, who will keep telling themselves that they have done a good job with this lovely new logo representing a bright new future.

yep..so out of touch with what is really needed for the passengers and more money wasted.

 

[387star]

Interesting. Who's providing the new uniforms, Ann Summers? Prowler of Soho?

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

Glad to help.



The colour things bugs the hell out of me too. Going to get worse tho. Does make me think they are keeping the FCC colour scheme after trying to remove it on the trains.

Will there be a relaunch and doesmthis tie in with the gatwick express rebrand?

Will the trains be painted bright pink or something?

 

[jon0844]

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


Will there be a relaunch and doesmthis tie in with the gatwick express rebrand?

Will the trains be painted bright pink or something?

It's all getting weird. On a 365 tonight that was back to using the welcome to the West Anglia Great Northern service announcement! Haven't heard that in about ten years!

Is that the next surprise? Bringing back West Anglia to the GN side?

 

[Class377/5]

Will there be a relaunch and doesmthis tie in with the gatwick express rebrand?

Will the trains be painted bright pink or something?

Doesn't really tie in with GatEx regarding other then DfT instructions for new franchisees/concessions to develop netural brands.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will they do dummy runs along the whole Thameslink route at night (with the same stopping pattern as a genuine service) before they enter service?

 

[Hadders]

It's all getting weird. On a 365 tonight that was back to using the welcome to the West Anglia Great Northern service announcement! Haven't heard that in about ten years!

I've heard that recently too! Had to do a double take

 

[Skimble19]

Doesn't really tie in with GatEx regarding other then DfT instructions for new franchisees/concessions to develop netural brands.

The GatEx brand was already "neutral", it was made by National Express if I'm remembering correctly.. As for "DFT instructions", is there actually any proof of this occurring as all we have had on here is essentially hearsay and standard railway rumours claiming it for the past few years, with very little evidence of it actually happening.. (For instance, Greater Anglia have done the opposite by adding Abellio to the branding, and East Coast completely rebranding to Virgin)


Slightly more on topic, it'll be interesting to see how much the new logo stands out on the 700, seeing as it will be grey on grey.

 

[jon0844]

The GatEx brand was already "neutral", it was made by National Express if I'm remembering correctly.. As for "DFT instructions", is there actually any proof of this occurring as all we have had on here is essentially hearsay and standard railway rumours claiming it for the past few years, with very little evidence of it actually happening.. (For instance, Greater Anglia have done the opposite by adding Abellio to the branding, and East Coast completely rebranding to Virgin)


Slightly more on topic, it'll be interesting to see how much the new logo stands out on the 700, seeing as it will be grey on grey.

They can try it for a few months and change it again if it doesn't work...

 

[Class377/5]

The GatEx brand was already "neutral", it was made by National Express if I'm remembering correctly.. As for "DFT instructions", is there actually any proof of this occurring as all we have had on here is essentially hearsay and standard railway rumours claiming it for the past few years, with very little evidence of it actually happening.. (For instance, Greater Anglia have done the opposite by adding Abellio to the branding, and East Coast completely rebranding to Virgin)

Slightly more on topic, it'll be interesting to see how much the new logo stands out on the 700, seeing as it will be grey on grey.

Other than being reported by railway press and being iin staff briefs I'm not sure how much of it has been discussed in public.

 

[trainmania100]

Not long now until they start entering service

 

[JohnElliott]

Slightly more on topic, it'll be interesting to see how much the new logo stands out on the 700, seeing as it will be grey on grey.

Perhaps they should have painted them blue with grey doors, rather than the other way round. Rail Blue, of course

 

[JaJaWa]

Slightly more on topic, it'll be interesting to see how much the new logo stands out on the 700, seeing as it will be grey on grey.

The logo like this is perfectly readable on the original 700s.

It's all getting weird. On a 365 tonight that was back to using the welcome to the West Anglia Great Northern service announcement! Haven't heard that in about ten years!

Is that the next surprise? Bringing back West Anglia to the GN side?

I don't travel on GN but I'd heard that the 365 announcements were disabled ages ago because they were out of date and no-one could update them?

 

[jon0844]

The logo like this is perfectly readable on the original 700s.



I don't travel on GN but I'd heard that the 365 announcements were disabled ages ago because they were out of date and no-one could update them?

There's a welcome message saying Wagn and one without, and the latter has been used since Wagn ended, but perhaps someone at GTR has decided to restore it as it says Great Northern?

I think they're of a time when the recordings are on ROM and can't be edited, but weren't they going to be upgraded?

 

[GAFAAAAA]

----slightly off thread topic----
There is currently a class 700 sitting in the eurotunnel sidings in France, not exactly sure when it's coming through, likely tonight if anyone wants pics (absolutely no guarantee though, that is purely a guess. I take no responsibility for people being cold waiting haha).

 

[grid56126]

There is a 6X66 in the system for tomorrow AM, usual route from Dollands Moor via Maidstone East, Factory Junction, back of my house, Three Bridges arrive 06+20. Shall I set the alarm for 05.30?

 

[Class377/5]

There is a 6X66 in the system for tomorrow AM, usual route from Dollands Moor via Maidstone East, Factory Junction, back of my house, Three Bridges arrive 06+20. Shall I set the alarm for 05.30?

I'm expecting either 103 or 112 to be delivered in the morning.

 

[Hadders]

There's a welcome message saying Wagn and one without, and the latter has been used since Wagn ended, but perhaps someone at GTR has decided to restore it as it says Great Northern?

I think they're of a time when the recordings are on ROM and can't be edited, but weren't they going to be upgraded?

That's right, in WAGN days the announcement said 'Welcome aboard the West Anglia Great Northern service to [eg] Peterborough, calling at ....'

Once FCC took over it they became (and still say other than for the one rogue unit) 'This train is for Peterborough, calling at....'

It was mentioned on here that someone at Hornsey lost the original CD-ROMs that contained the software so they're not able to update what's already installed.

 

[grid56126]

That's right, in WAGN days the announcement said 'Welcome aboard the West Anglia Great Northern service to [eg] Peterborough, calling at ....'

Once FCC took over it they became (and still say other than for the one rogue unit) 'This train is for Peterborough, calling at....'

It was mentioned on here that someone at Hornsey lost the original CD-ROMs that contained the software so they're not able to update what's already installed.

Do they still say "Blondon Kings Cross" and does Huntingdon still have the pronounced "C" at the beginning?

 

[jon0844]

Do they still say "Blondon Kings Cross" and does Huntingdon still have the pronounced "C" at the beginning?

Yes, nothing has ever changed on them.

 

[Ianno87]

That's right, in WAGN days the announcement said 'Welcome aboard the West Anglia Great Northern service to [eg] Peterborough, calling at ....'

Once FCC took over it they became (and still say other than for the one rogue unit) 'This train is for Peterborough, calling at....'

It was mentioned on here that someone at Hornsey lost the original CD-ROMs that contained the software so they're not able to update what's already installed.

There is definitely one (and only one) of the refurbished 365s where the auto announcer still says "Welcome aboard this West Anglia Great Northern service to...". Also appears to have a slightly different wheelchair space and a different hustle alarm tone.

 

[AlexNL]

Maybe the neutral brand requirement only applies to TSGN as this franchise is essentially a management contract and not a regular franchise, to prevent the operator from taking all the credit for the work that has been funded by the taxpayer (TL Programme, Class 700, and so on)?