Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[W230]

Odd then! So my review doesn't look too negative, delighted with the overhead racks (which were being used a lot on other parts of the train as I walked through). They are so much deeper than the useless Electrostar ones. Loos were like the ones I'm used to on other classes.

It's a much better train than an Electrostar. At every level. Loads more room inside and once passengers get used to it I think theyll like them more. Far nicer to drive than an Electrostar too. Better build quality etc etc. I do fear they'll be many a software issue creeping up over the next few weeks (and months) though... Just makes it more interesting!

 

[AM9]

I've been on 109 from East Croydon to Bedford,. Ow coming up to Leagrave. First impressions are good. They are as quiet as Electrostars which is good considering the through gangway design. At speed, I could hear voices in the next coach. The doors don't bang from the pressure wave of passing trains but hustle alarm is very loud. Non-accessible toilet better than other 'hole in the wall's types. Non-priority airline seats a bit short on legroom but firm seat OK with me. Acceleration definitely better than 387s. PIS good, (clear and so far, working well.
Driver slightly overshot at STP so lost five minutes opening doors.
If these are our trains for the next decades then they should be fine.

 

[Nic Robinson]

So that's what it was. No wonder he sounded flustered!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
One real negative: The jump seats are TERRIBLE. Top sticks in your upper back! To be honest I think the Electrostar wins...but only from this passenger's perspective. Cheers, Nic.

 

[Class2ldn]

Not much room to overshoot lol.
Even still you can do a manual release in less then 30 seconds.
May have been a while since he done it as I know it is lol.
Was there not a manager on board with him?

 

[Uzair]

Was quite funny as we heard the PA at St Pancras saying that they were trying to get the doors open and then in background hear "I've done it now". I like the 700. Definitely quieter than an Electrostar. Love the PIS and announcements. However I was hoping to see the diagram which shows how busy each carriage is .

 

[itfcfan]

Love the PIS and announcements. However I was hoping to see the diagram which shows how busy each carriage is .

I was on the train from Blackfriars to West Hampstead. As you say, I was waiting to see the loading diagram on the PIS - it wasn't until after St Pancras that I saw it. I guess the distances between stations in the core are too brief, so you're always seeing one station arrival routine or another. With the slightly longer run from St Pancras to West Hampstead I got to see the loading diagram (and the toilet status diagram).

Given the expected load density in the core is one of the reasons for the low-seating layout, its slightly perverse that the loading indicator isn't shown in this part of the journey (at least based on the initial setup)!

 

[AM9]

Not much room to overshoot lol.
Even still you can do a manual release in less then 30 seconds.
May have been a while since he done it as I know it is lol.
Was there not a manager on board with him?

I was in the front 1st class section. There were about three 'staff' in and out of the cab. There was also a Siemens guy and somebody involved in the PIS software.
When the door problem arose, the cab door was open and we could hear both the PA announcements and plenty of other utterances., (none obscene I might add, more expressions of frustration). When the doors eventually did release, the front set didn't at first.
There were the inevitable comments from passengers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was on the train from Blackfriars to West Hampstead. As you say, I was waiting to see the loading diagram on the PIS - it wasn't until after St Pancras that I saw it. I guess the distances between stations in the core are too brief, so you're always seeing one station arrival routine or another. With the slightly longer run from St Pancras to West Hampstead I got to see the loading diagram (and the toilet status diagram).

Given the expected load density in the core is one of the reasons for the low-seating layout, its slightly perverse that the loading indicator isn't shown in this part of the journey (at least based on the initial setup)!

The PIS guy did say that they were watching just how the software performed so it is early days.

 

[physics34]

i assume the DC to AC changeover went okay?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

i assume the DC to AC changeover went okay?

Do the internal lights go dim whilst the unit is re-configuring itself? I know they do on the Electrostars (seen in a vid on Youtube). Can't remember if they go dim on a 319, it's been many years since I last rode on a TL train!

 

[physics34]

Anybody else at ECR?

i couldnt make it in the end. Working uckfields tomorrow so i cant do tomorrow either.

 

[RobShipway]

I am thinking about seeing if I can get a ride on a class 700 on Monday as I have the day off. What times is any 700s likely to be stopping at Blackfriars?

 

[AM9]

I am thinking about seeing if I can get a ride on a class 700 on Monday as I have the day off. What times is any 700s likely to be stopping at Blackfriars?

If it is the same diagram as today then 12:21 northbound and 15:05 southbound.

 

[RobShipway]

If it is the same diagram as today then 12:21 northbound and 15:05 southbound.

Thanks.

 

[AM9]

Do the internal lights go dim whilst the unit is re-configuring itself? I know they do on the Electrostars (seen in a vid on Youtube). Can't remember if they go dim on a 319, it's been many years since I last rode on a TL train!

Not at all. The only way to tell was the slight flicker on the PIS (a sort of jump back to the base screen, and the a/c fans speed up for a couple of seconds, then fall back to almost silent. On that subject, the a/c is quite discreet and nothing like on other Desiros.

 

[Bald Rick]

I am thinking about seeing if I can get a ride on a class 700 on Monday as I have the day off. What times is any 700s likely to be stopping at Blackfriars?

Not sure they'll be at Blackfriars on Monday; I'd heard it was on a full diagram of London Bridge - Brightons. Class 377/5 will know.

 

[AM9]

On relection, (with the benefit of a proper keyboard at home), the day was quite interesting. As I boarded at East Croydon, travelled to Bedford, then back to Blackfriars, I had experience of ac & DC slow running in the core and moderate (well crawling actually) through Tulse Hill and Herne Hill with a lively performance north from West Hampstead. Acceleration on ac is quite stunning, reaching 98 before St Albans. Stability seemed fine even over the rough down line from Crcklewood to Mill Hill where even new 387s go all over the place.
Only heard one criticism from a passenger, getting on at St Albans on the up journey there were comments about the lack of tables. Heigh Ho, - maybe they will be on a packed train in the core at peak times soon.

 

[Class377/5]

Couple of things...

PIS loading screen not planned (at present IIRC) to be used in Core as by the time the train has worked out the loadings it's time to start announcing the next station meaning eople will shift and the data will be incorrect. Already happening on current stock so sensible move to provide correct info not timely. Hisorical data for loadings in Core to be used along with app notification in the future too.

As for changeover, all the times I've done it the systems been set to auto so train does it automatically. Don't forget shoes are always down so in touch with power supply.

As for next week, well if you want to catch one from Blackfrairs don't bother next week so there none planned. Wait until the week after when you'll have choices.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

PIS loading screen not planned (at present IIRC) to be used in Core as by the time the train has worked out the loadings it's time to start announcing the next station meaning eople will shift and the data will be incorrect. Already happening on current stock so sensible move to provide correct info not timely. Hisorical data for loadings in Core to be used along with app notification in the future too.

Do they have any way of sensing the overall weight of passengers onboard?

 

[Class377/5]

Do they have any way of sensing the overall weight of passengers onboard?

They have two. First is weight based on average weight (IIRC) plus sensors to monitor boarding.

 

[Uzair]

Perhaps a silly question, but why did the train start off so slowly from City Thameslink northbound?

 

[Class377/5]

Perhaps a silly question, but why did the train start off so slowly from City Thameslink northbound?

Normally I find trains move slow after departing a platform, especially when the next platform is very close

But seriously I *think* it's the point trains changeover or are manually told too.

 

[Bald Rick]

Perhaps a silly question, but why did the train start off so slowly from City Thameslink northbound?

If I was starting the first 700 in passenger service using AC for the first time, I'd have taken it a bit gently too!

 

[Nic Robinson]

Only heard one criticism from a passenger, getting on at St Albans on the up journey there were comments about the lack of tables. Heigh Ho, - maybe they will be on a packed train in the core at peak times soon.

Tables are jolly useful for people using a laptop to work. The seating on the 700 was generally very cramped - lack of legroom in the airline seats and hard/narrow seats. The units might be great to drive and technically better than Electrostars, but this customer was glad to settle into a 387 for the journey home.

 

[AM9]

Tables are jolly useful for people using a laptop to work. The seating on the 700 was generally very cramped - lack of legroom in the airline seats and hard/narrow seats. The units might be great to drive and technically better than Electrostars, but this customer was glad to settle into a 387 for the journey home.

The reasons for the seating arrangement, and the lack of tables have been discussed before in this thread and others. The role that the 700s have been designed for requires the absolute maximum capacity with the minimum dwells possible in the core. There is no alternative once all trains are at the maximum length that can be accomodated by an infrastructure that cannot just be expanded in any practicable way.
The suitability of the 700s will become apparent not in a few weeks when the most vociferous commuter groups get up a head of steam, but a few years into their 30-40 year life when passenger levels rise in accordance wit all the predictions.

 

[RobShipway]

Couple of things...

PIS loading screen not planned (at present IIRC) to be used in Core as by the time the train has worked out the loadings it's time to start announcing the next station meaning eople will shift and the data will be incorrect. Already happening on current stock so sensible move to provide correct info not timely. Hisorical data for loadings in Core to be used along with app notification in the future too.

As for changeover, all the times I've done it the systems been set to auto so train does it automatically. Don't forget shoes are always down so in touch with power supply.

As for next week, well if you want to catch one from Blackfrairs don't bother next week so there none planned. Wait until the week after when you'll have choices.

Okay, thank you 377/5.

 

[Nic Robinson]

The reasons for the seating arrangement, and the lack of tables have been discussed before in this thread and others. The role that the 700s have been designed for requires the absolute maximum capacity with the minimum dwells possible in the core. There is no alternative once all trains are at the maximum length that can be accomodated by an infrastructure that cannot just be expanded in any practicable way.
The suitability of the 700s will become apparent not in a few weeks when the most vociferous commuter groups get up a head of steam, but a few years into their 30-40 year life when passenger levels rise in accordance wit all the predictions.

Yes, read about this. Cold comfort if you travel coast to north core, are more than 5'8 and want to work in the train. :cry:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Don't forget shoes are always down so in touch with power supply.

Is dropping and raising the shoes unique to the Electrostars? It's interesting to watch them being lowered at Farringdon, but I can't recall seeing this on a 319 (doesn't mean it doesn't happen, of course).

 

[asylumxl]

Planning to try and hop on the service from Bedford (2W43). Can anyone confirm that the 700 is out today?

 

[absolutelymilk]

Yes, read about this. Cold comfort if you travel coast to north core, are more than 5'8 and want to work in the train. :cry:

For a laptop, you could always get a lap tray...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Padded-Chocolate-Cushion-Bean-Bag-Lap-Tray-Serving-Dinner-Xmas-Laptop-TV-Mat-/351493171621
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/bluebadgeco/product/blackwatch-lap-tray
(I tried to find one with a train on it but couldn't!)

 

[physics34]

Yes, read about this. Cold comfort if you travel coast to north core, are more than 5'8 and want to work in the train. :cry:

Like many have said, there won't be many people doing this long a journey on them
..but there will be a few.

The trains should be made to be comfortable for THE LONGEST possible journey on them.

I.know someone who is gonna travel from Cambridge to East Croydon on them.

 

[asylumxl]

I.know someone who is gonna travel from Cambridge to East Croydon on them.

They have my condolences... Nobody visits East Corydon by choice.