Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[Sunset route]

The list of do's and don'ts is a bit longer than what I thought would be the case with a train coming into passenger service. Yesterday's trip nearly got put into a prohibited platform at Brighton until the driver contracted the signaller and got the road put back. I still maintain that all the time there are selective restrictions on these trains then they should run with a distinctive WTT IDs.

 

[Class377/5]

The list of do's and don'ts is a bit longer than what I thought would be the case with a train coming into passenger service. Yesterday's trip nearly got put into a prohibited platform at Brighton until the driver contracted the signaller and got the road put back. I still maintain that all the time there are selective restrictions on these trains then they should run with a distinctive WTT IDs.

Like it's planned to do so next year?

 

[03_179]

700108 is currently on 1T01

looks like it started from Three Bridges ia is apprx 25 late.

@ 09:06 at Gatwick Airport platform 4

 

[ctom_s]

Slight alteration to what I put eariler, 700108 will work the following tomorrow...

5T01 07+05 Three Bridges Depot to Brighton
1T01 08:11 Brighton to London Bridge
1T02 09:32 London Bridge to Brighton
1T03 11:45 Brighton to London Bridge
1T04 13:08 London Bridge to Brighton
1T05 14:45 Brighton to London Bridge
1T06 16:08 London Bridge to Haywards Heath
26mins wait
1T96 17:18 Haywards Heath to Brighton
1T07 18:21 Brighton to London Bridge
1T08 19:31 London Bridge to Brighton
5T08 20+43 Brighton to Three Bridges Depot

Sorry I'm so confused about this I can find these trains on RTT but they're not on the national rail website? (unless I'm going crazy). What gives?

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LBG/Brighton/today/1930/dep

 

[Class 466]

Sorry I'm so confused about this I can find these trains on RTT but they're not on the national rail website? (unless I'm going crazy). What gives?

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LBG/Brighton/today/1930/dep

They're not advertised until they are activated, everything up to the 1553 arrival at LBG has now been activated and should show in NRES.

 

[GodAtum]

Will the train loading be tied to the platform announcements?

 

[radamfi]

I think I'm on the first *punctual* 700 service!

One 'quirk' is if you press the door opening button before the light goes on you have to let go and press it again when the light goes on. Most 377s are like that, but the 377/6 and 387 allow you to press the button before the light goes on.

 

[jon0844]

I made it on to one and it's very smooth, but so slow going! Can't wait for these to run north of the core.

I also think these trains can easily justify a trolley service. It's really easy to get them through and with 12 cars I am sure they'd make enough money if run on the longer distance services.

Wouldn't it also be great if the screens could show there was a trolley service and where it was!!

 

[Deepgreen]

I made it on to one and it's very smooth, but so slow going! Can't wait for these to run north of the core.

I also think these trains can easily justify a trolley service. It's really easy to get them through and with 12 cars I am sure they'd make enough money if run on the longer distance services.

Wouldn't it also be great if the screens could show there was a trolley service and where it was!!

Given that only a small proportion of passengers will use Thameslink right through London, a catering service probably would be little used. Most of the traffic simply travels to the core from either south or north. Without seat back tables, it could get messy, too!

 

[itfcfan]

Given that only a small proportion of passengers will use Thameslink right through London, a catering service probably would be little used. Most of the traffic simply travels to the core from either south or north. Without seat back tables, it could get messy, too!

Back in 1995, on my first trip from Bedford to Brighton, a trolley service *was* provided (on the part of the service between London Bridge and Brighton, not the Bedford - Kings Cross Thameslink part). I believe it stopped shortly after 1995. This was on 319s with no tables (seat back or otherwise), so it was feasible then.

Given the increase in passenger numbers since then, maybe its viable again. The problem I can see is that you'd need to keep the trolleys off the busiest services because of overcrowding - but the quieter off-peak services would have less custom to provide a worthwhile income. Anyhow, trolleys are not that common a sight on services in the south-east these days (do some run on SWT?).

 

[jon0844]

I would have this that you could provide them on off peak leisure services, and the best thing is that these trains must show exactly what services are worth operating them on. Busy, but not too busy... Even where people choose to congregate.

I do hope the data collected can be used for stuff like this.

And also, how long until someone boards as a large group and then runs through the train to see if the screens update in real time?!

 

[MikePJ]

Catering: the GN passenger survey, which I've completed at least twice now, asks passengers if they'd be interested in a vending machine service on board, selling drinks and snacks. I would be, if it could be made to work reliably!

 

[Deepgreen]

Will the train loading be tied to the platform announcements?

You surely don't expect this sort of co-ordination do you?

 

[skyhigh]

I would love to have a go on one of these now they're in service - the information on board and walk-through carriages look great. I'll just have to wait until one comes further north!

And also, how long until someone boards as a large group and then runs through the train to see if the screens update in real time?!

Forum outing?

 

[D365]

I would love to have a go on one of these now they're in service - the information on board and walk-through carriages look great. I'll just have to wait until one comes further north!

Same here, I'm looking forward to the possibility of a 12-car unit all to myself on a Sunday!

Forum outing?

Absolutely!

 

[jon0844]

My walk through. Sorry, had an old camera!

https://youtu.be/PDiLgkJ-e2c

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

Just arriving at London Bridge and had a ticket check. RPI didn't realise first class had been declassified and was surprised when another passenger pointed to the display saying standard class ticket holders can sit here.

As it happened, I paid for first class so have now been told I can get a refund as all trains were declassified today (odd the RPI then remembered!).

 

[asylumxl]

My walk through. Sorry, had an old camera!

https://youtu.be/PDiLgkJ-e2c

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

Just arriving at London Bridge and had a ticket check. RPI didn't realise first class had been declassified and was surprised when another passenger pointed to the display saying standard class ticket holders can sit here.

As it happened, I paid for first class so have now been told I can get a refund as all trains were declassified today (odd the RPI then remembered!).

Not going to lie, I've seen some opportunist RPIs on TL before. Majority are fine, some chance it, though they usually don't seem to stay in the job long.

 

[jon0844]

Apparently the driving end was the one showing as declassified, not the other (in other words it was the Brighton end going down to BTN, London Bridge end going to LBG), so in the event that one end will be declassified is that how it will work? You always walk to the front for standard?

If so, that's a sensible way to do it given it takes 2-3 minutes to walk the train length!!

 

[Bishopstone]

Apparently the driving end was the one showing as declassified, not the other (in other words it was the Brighton end going down to BTN, London Bridge end going to LBG), so in the event that one end will be declassified is that how it will work? You always walk to the front for standard?

Any First Class accommodation adjacent to the London barriers tends to fill up with the last minute 'I'm only going one stop, so it's okay to stay here!' brigade with Standard tickets.

Personally, I would prefer to walk to First Class on the basis 75% of chancers and rogues don't like walking.

Obviously, these comments are irrelevant to the majority of TL services, which run through the core. And I agree, there needs to be a consistent system understood by all.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Had a run out on it from LB - GTW on the 1308.

Overall impressed - a long walk through the train - rides well , great acceleration and clever on board information systems. Seats line up reasonably with windows - but look a bit tight in standard for legroom.

Only negative comment is the lack of colour inside , no reading lights in first and the hardest seats in 1st known to humanity.

There were a few enthusiast types on board - as opposed to retired senior rail managers - and a couple of hundred "ordinaries"

 

[jon0844]

I didn't realise that many people got on during the journey.

I think they're fine. Even sat in a window seat the stuff on the floor didn't really cause much concern. And the seats in standard won't seem too out of the ordinary when we get the 387/1s on the GN side.

These layouts are the future!

I walked up to 'first class' from half way or more down the train after Gatwick and it was interesting to see only a few people putting cases in the luggage areas. Most opted to keep their bags at the seat.

 

[Blamethrower]

My walk through. Sorry, had an old camera!

https://youtu.be/PDiLgkJ-e2c

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

Just arriving at London Bridge and had a ticket check. RPI didn't realise first class had been declassified and was surprised when another passenger pointed to the display saying standard class ticket holders can sit here.

As it happened, I paid for first class so have now been told I can get a refund as all trains were declassified today (odd the RPI then remembered!).

Nice walk-through.

For the first time it occurred to me that the seat configuration is 3+2-1. They've just removed the third seat.

I can imagine the seats being as hard as a 387, but much thinner. A medium sized bloke like me would have to sit in the seat by the window and anyone sitting next to me will have to perch a little.

The illusion of space has been achieved well but to me, a new cattle class has been created as the first class seats are what you would expect in standard

 

[Class377/5]

I would have this that you could provide them on off peak leisure services, and the best thing is that these trains must show exactly what services are worth operating them on. Busy, but not too busy... Even where people choose to congregate.

I do hope the data collected can be used for stuff like this.

And also, how long until someone boards as a large group and then runs through the train to see if the screens update in real time?!

Watch the load stats before and after Gatwick. I was surprised on the first trip just how much it emptied out (ok we were fast to Brighton).

I believe data will be used in future for advising passenger loads in the app at some point which would be cool.

You surely don't expect this sort of co-ordination do you?

Why not? The PIS system is actually linked to a server so no reason it can't be. That's part of the plan anyway.

 

[class387]

Any chance of services this weekend?

 

[jon0844]

Any chance of services this weekend?

That'll be a big thing as I can then take the family to Brighton (and actually get off the train!)

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The smoothness of the ride is excellent - and the external noise as it pulled away from GTW was impressive in its quietness.

Technically a very , very good train. Impressed on most counts.

(However the passengers, London bound on a 5 car 442 ex Brighton were not - they were 3 deep and the train left folk behind .....)

 

[ctom_s]

Got on the 1623 at East Croydon to Gatwick, thought the new screens were great. Did get a few snaps but probably nothing that isn't on here already.

Here:http://imgur.com/a/RtOkm

Got some weird looks from people that I had my phone out on the train, but they were probably more concerned about making their flights.

Told the platform staff at Gatwick that the new trains were "nifty", but only got a grunt of approval in return. Probably not in the best of moods today maybe lol.

Thanks for providing the train times

 

[jon0844]

Some of the onboard staff, especially those wearing Siemens overalls, looked a bit bored - but still happy to talk to some others who engaged with them. Boredom from being there presumably only if something goes wrong. Which didn't happen.

 

[trainmania100]

Can someone confirm whether the 1T08 later is going to Brighton or will terminate at three bridges, like this morning one started from TBD instead of btn
I would like to see it at Brighton, and don't want to pay and display , to find it has been cancelled
Many thankw

 

[ctom_s]

It's on the national rail website as going to Brighton (not just listed on RTT) so can only assume it's going there unless there's some strike related issue later.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LBG/Brighton/today/1930/dep#outwardJump