Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[N228PF]

For anyone saying laptops should be in your lap, I'd advise you to google the dangers of such a practice. I'm not sure what to believe, but there's a fair number of articles about long-term issues caused by that, which is a why the term "notebook" started to pick up as a replacement. Of course with the iPad and all that, I'm sure any validity from the laptop paradox is probably ignored.

Some people also have leg issues or computers that heat up quite a bit. I'd hardly say telling some to deal with it (even in jest) will help the situation

 

[jon0844]

My new laptop is fan free and has a CPU that generates little heat, meaning it is far more efficient and can perform better before there's any thermal throttling.

It's not a power machine though, but anyone needing to do video editing or rendering is likely going to have a larger sized laptop that would always need a table.

I am sure most people working on the train have more modest needs.

 

[F Great Eastern]

I'm going to be in Kings Cross tomorrow around 4.20pm

Since I have a few hours before a 10.30pm flight out of Heathrow, can anyone tell me where my best chance of getting a 700 is during that time?

Happy to travel around a bit to sample one.

 

[D365]

Not at Kings Cross, sadly.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Not at Kings Cross, sadly.

Doesn't necessarily have to be Kings Cross / St Pancras international necessarily, I mean what is the closest station I can visit to come across a 700 during that evening if I am in London?

 

[Nic Robinson]

Jut nip down to the Thameslink platforms under Pancras and wait for one to rock up. My advice would be to pop along the road to Pizza Union which will satisfy your needs much more thoroughly.

 

[Marklund]

Comments such as this are not helping the situation and reinforce a paradigm held by some about rail insiders' attitudes to the public. I urge you to try using a laptop on a 700 with the airline seat legroom provided. Then be sure to get back to us.

Trouble is it's not a joking matter for anyone; we, the paying public, will have to endure the situation for many years to come.

Exactly. Round of applause from me.

 

[FlippyFF]

Currently on the already late running 1W11 (formed of 700104) at a stand between St Pancras and Farringdon with the driver reporting 'Yet again, problems with the pantograph".

Edit : Now terminated and cancelled at Farringdon but left southbound with pans lowered.

Simon

 

[F Great Eastern]

So I was told to hang out at St Pancras and wait for one to turn up. It was a long wait Almost an hour when I saw trains come and go in all directions, many electrostars and 319s but nowhere did I find the elusive class 700.

Until the 16.46 to Brighton, which just happened to pull in to St Pancras with another one pulling in the other direction about 10 seconds later.. The Brighton one had no interior or exterior PIS system, and I could see the train going in the other direction when onboard the Brighton that the other one had LED's outside but nothing in.

So my impressions

These things are SMOOTH. I was sitting in the window seat, and the doors shut and I saw another class 700 coming the other way and was looking inside to see if the PIS was working out of curiosity, I actually didn't notice us leave ST P, I assumed watching the other train that it was actually moving and not us, but i was very wrong. Never had that mistake made before by myself. The train is virtually silent, so smooth and soft, ride quality was amazing.

Other things I noticed, I was sitting in bank of four seats but found them comfortable enough, reading some stuff here I expected the seats to be far worse than they were. However I didn't sample someone sitting next to me or the airline seats to get a total view on this. The smell of the train getting on was very new train smell, it was nice and the train felt a big upgrade to what was there before even a few seconds after getting on.

The acceleration on these things is PHENOMENAL, as well as being smooth, there were quite a few occasions when we were waiting at stops for our time, they can easily keep up with the paths, in-fact I think the timetable is too slow for them. No issues with doors opening being delayed. And the Doors! How fast they open and how big they are, it's really very impressive, as is the ability for them to guzzle up huge numbers of people in just a few seconds and the general feeling of space.

I took a 319 back in the other direction (I never disliked them a lot, but now they are so bad compared to a 700 it's crazy) and also sampled an electrostar (Good, but doesn't have the fast doors, acceleration and ride quality of the 700) whilst there may be gripes about the interior layout and interior spec by some people, in terms of ride quality, quietness, ambiance, acceleration and passenger capacity the Desiro City is a seriously impressive product and appears very very well built and well specified for high capacity commuter services.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Any possibility of having tomorrow's 700 diagrams please?

 

[JonathanH]

My guess, using RTT to track trains which work in and out of Three Bridges depot are the following 2 all day workings and single balancing working (which ties up with the '2.5 workings that 'Class377/5' mentioned earlier in the week).

5W08 06+00 Three Bridges Tl Up Depot to Haywards Heath 06+14
2W08 0624 Haywards Heath to Bedford 0852
1W19 0906 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1127
1W20 1203 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1424
1W41 1436 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1657
1W42 1733 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1954
1W63 2006 Bedford to Haywards Heath 2227
2W76 2303 Haywards Heath to Bedford 0133
5Y76 01+46 Bedford to Bedford Jowett Sidings 02+02

5W14 07+30 Three Bridges Tl Up Depot to Haywards Heath 07+44
2W14 0754 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1022
1W25 1036 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1257
1W26 1333 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1554
1W47 1606 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1827
1W48 1903 Haywards Heath to Bedford 2124
2W77 2158 Bedford to Haywards Heath 0034
5W77 00+44 Haywards Heath to Three Bridges Tl Up Depot 00+58

5Y75 21+02 Bedford Jowett Sidings to Bedford 21+18
2W75 2128 Bedford to Haywards Heath 2357
5W75 00+09 Haywards Heath to Three Bridges Tl Up Depot 00+23

No Thameslink service south of Haywards Heath because of a block between Preston Park and Brighton forcing reversals at Hove.

If these are the correct workings, I would be interested to hear what is out working them.

I noted 700108 (1W52 1735 Brighton to Bedford), 700109 (1W60 1933 Brighton to Bedford) and 700113 (1W67 2110 Bedford to Brighton) amongst the 700s out today.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

My guess, using RTT to track trains which work in and out of Three Bridges depot are the following 2 all day workings and single balancing working (which ties up with the '2.5 workings that 'Class377/5' mentioned earlier in the week).

5W08 06+00 Three Bridges Tl Up Depot to Haywards Heath 06+14
2W08 0624 Haywards Heath to Bedford 0852
1W19 0906 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1127
1W20 1203 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1424
1W41 1436 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1657
1W42 1733 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1954
1W63 2006 Bedford to Haywards Heath 2227
2W76 2303 Haywards Heath to Bedford 0133
5Y76 01+46 Bedford to Bedford Jowett Sidings 02+02

5W14 07+30 Three Bridges Tl Up Depot to Haywards Heath 07+44
2W14 0754 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1022
1W25 1036 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1257
1W26 1333 Haywards Heath to Bedford 1554
1W47 1606 Bedford to Haywards Heath 1827
1W48 1903 Haywards Heath to Bedford 2124
2W77 2158 Bedford to Haywards Heath 0034
5W77 00+44 Haywards Heath to Three Bridges Tl Up Depot 00+58

5Y75 21+02 Bedford Jowett Sidings to Bedford 21+18
2W75 2128 Bedford to Haywards Heath 2357
5W75 00+09 Haywards Heath to Three Bridges Tl Up Depot 00+23

No Thameslink service south of Haywards Heath because of a block between Preston Park and Brighton forcing reversals at Hove.

If these are the correct workings, I would be interested to hear what is out working them.

I noted 700108 (1W52 1735 Brighton to Bedford), 700109 (1W60 1933 Brighton to Bedford) and 700113 (1W67 2110 Bedford to Brighton) amongst the 700s out today.

Thanks for this. 1W19 is 700102 and waiting for 1W25
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for this. 1W19 is 700102 and waiting for 1W25

1W25 is 700114

 

[JonathanH]

Thanks for this. 1W19 is 700102 and waiting for 1W25
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
1W25 is 700114

Thanks - good to see my guess at today's diagrams was right.

 

[Class377/5]

From tomorrow we have 9 diagrams out. The 8 car 700/0 are 4xx and 12 car 700/1 are 5xx.

Note this diagrams are only valid for the next two weeks.

TB401
5W84 01+04 Three Bridge Depot to Three Bridges (Monday only)
2W84 01.16 Three Bridges to Bedford
5G84 03+46 Bedford to Bedford CS
5G04 04+33 Bedford CS to Bedford
1W03 04.46 Bedford to Brighton
1W12 07.48 Brighton to Bedford
1W25 10.40 Bedford to Brighton
1W36 13.35 Brighton to Bedford
1W49 16.26 Bedford to Brighton
1W60 19.33 Brighton to Bedford
1W73 22.22 Bedford to Brighton
5W73 01+14 Brighton to Down Yard

TB402
5W01 05+20 Down Yard to Brighton
1W04 05.44 Brighton to Bedford
1W17 08.40 Bedford to Brighton
1W28 11.35 Brighton to Bedford
2W45 14.24 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W52 17.05 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W63 19.40 Bedford to Brighton
5W62 22+22 Brighton to Three Bridges Depot

TB501 SX
5Y91 02+14 Jowett Sidings to Bedford
2W91 02.40 Bedford to Brighton
1B00 05.47 Brighton to London Bridge
1B05 07.12 London Bridge to Brighton
1B10 08.27 Brighton to London Bridge
1B15 09.42 London Bridge to Brighton
1B22 11.02 Brighton to London Bridge
1B25 12.12 London Bridge to Brighton
5B25 13+29 Brighton to Down Yard
5B38 14+42 Down Yard to Brighton
1B38 15.02 Brighton to London Bridge
1B41 16.12 London Bridge to Brighton
1B48 17.32 Brighton to London Bridge
1B51 18.42 London Bridge to Brighton
5W51 20+06 Brighton to Three Bridges Depot

TB502
5W93 05+10 Three Bridges Depot to Three Bridges
2W94 05.20 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W13 07.34 Bedford to Brighton
1W24 10.35 Brighton to Bedford
2W41 13.24 Bedford to Three Bridges
5W92 15+41 Three Bridges to Three Bridges Depot
5W92 15+56 Three Bridges Depot to Three Bridges
1W92 15.59 Three Bridges to Bedford
2W61 18.24 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W66 20.43 Three Bridges to Bedford
5Y68 23+00 Bedford to Jowett Sidings

TB503
5Y11 06+32 Jowett Sidings to Bedford
1W11 06.58 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W22 09.11 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W29 11.40 Bedford to Brighton
1W40 14.35 Brighton to Bedford
2W57 17.20 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W62 19.43 Three Bridges to Bedford
5Y62 22+00 Bedford to Jowett Sidings

TB504
5W02 05+07 Brighton Down Yard to Brighton
1W02 05.30 Brighton to Bedford
2W21 08.24 Bedford to Three Bridges
5W30 10+41 Three Bridges to Three Bridges Depot
5W30 10+56 Three Bridges Depot to Three Bridges
2W30 10.59 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W37 13.40 Bedford to Brighton
1W96 16.35 Brighton to Bedford
5Y96 19+03 Bedford to Jowett Sidings

TB505
5Y01 03+47 Jowett Siding to Bedford
1W01 04.16 Bedford to Brighton
1W82 07.22 Brighton to Bedford
1W23 10.10 Bedford to Brighton
1W34 13.05 Brighton to Bedford
1W45 15.50 Bedford to Brighton
1W56 18.35 Brighton to Bedford
5Y69 21+14 Bedford to Jowett Sidings
5Y69 21+27 Jowett Sidings to Bedford
1W69 21.40 Bedford to Brighton
5W69 00+25 Brighton to Down Yard

TB506
5W06 05+10 Three Bridges Depot to Brighton
1W06 06.06 Brighton to Bedford
2W23 08.54 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W32 11.29 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W39 14.10 Bedford to Brighton
1W80 17.01 Brighton to Bedford
5Y80 19+33 Bedford to Jowett

TB507
5Y93 07+04 Jowett to Bedford
1W93 07.30 Bedford to Brighton
1W22 10.05 Brighton to Bedford
2W39 12.54 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W48 15.29 Three Bridges to Bedford
2W59 18.00 Bedford to Gatwick
2W64 20.18 Gatwick to Bedford
2W81 23.10 Bedford to Three Bridges
5W81 01+36 Three Bridges to Three Bridges Depot

 

[The passenger]

Hello,

thanks a lot. Are these diagrams valid from Monday to Sunday or are there restricted diagrams on weekends?

Regards
The passenger aka Phil

 

[JonathanH]

Hello,

thanks a lot. Are these diagrams valid from Monday to Sunday or are there restricted diagrams on weekends?

Regards
The passenger aka Phil

The diagrams posted by Class377/5 today are those applying Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday diagrams are different, not least because the timetable is different. There have been 6 or 7 working on Saturdays depending on engineering work and Sunday changes every week.

Looking at today, there is engineering work between Brighton and Preston Park so the unit at Brighton Down Yard isn't available. There was also engineering work between Bedford and Luton early on this morning so they can't use as many 700s as they could during the week. Also, they have to make sure there are enough units in the right place on Monday morning.

Indeed, if you look at RTT for tomorrow morning, the two diagrams that are shown as starting at Brighton Down Yard both come from Three Bridges Depot instead due to today's engineering work.

 

[Class2ldn]

Il be doing one of the 8 cars tomorrow, let's hope it behaves itself or at least breaks down before I drive it lol

 

[asylumxl]

Il be doing one of the 8 cars tomorrow, let's hope it behaves itself or at least breaks down before I drive it lol

Fingers crossed.

 

[Sunset route]

The diagrams posted by Class377/5 today are those applying Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday diagrams are different, not least because the timetable is different. There have been 6 or 7 working on Saturdays depending on engineering work and Sunday changes every week.

Looking at today, there is engineering work between Brighton and Preston Park so the unit at Brighton Down Yard isn't available. There was also engineering work between Bedford and Luton early on this morning so they can't use as many 700s as they could during the week. Also, they have to make sure there are enough units in the right place on Monday morning.

Indeed, if you look at RTT for tomorrow morning, the two diagrams that are shown as starting at Brighton Down Yard both come from Three Bridges Depot instead due to today's engineering work.

The unit that would of stabled in Brighton Down Main Sidings went back to Three Bridges depot before the block went on. There are no class 700s in Brighton at the moment.

 

[Starmill]

Please tell me more about how unnecessary tables and sockets are on peak time Thameslink services?

View attachment 28755
[Image depicts three laptops on a class 387 table]

I've just received a small deluge of messages about the attachment in post not being visible.

As this is seems to be such an important issue to members, I have reproduced it below for the convenience of all:

 

[jon0844]

So the tables aren't good enough either. What if all four wanted to use laptops?

 

[JMGPannal]

On 700112 from SAC to LEA and no PIS throughout. Helpfully we did get an announcement through a rather sketchy PA from the driver on approach to Luton Airport.

Left Brighton on time but was 12 late by the time I got it at SAC.

Saw 700008 going the other way whilst waiting, so not completely wasted.

Jon

 

[F Great Eastern]

On 700112 from SAC to LEA and no PIS throughout. Helpfully we did get an announcement through a rather sketchy PA from the driver on approach to Luton Airport.

Left Brighton on time but was 12 late by the time I got it at SAC.

Saw 700008 going the other way whilst waiting, so not completely wasted.

Jon

That was one of the units I was on, on Friday. It was the same then, no PIS outside either.

Was running ahead of time virtually every stop though.

 

[gazr]

The PIS system seems to be working on about 50% of the trains in service. The best one was when I boarded a 700/1 @ East Croydon and the whole length of the train displayed "Not In Service" with a warning symbol on the smaller display.

On the 700/0 today, the display actually showed some new information not seen on the /1's: a) full 8 carriage diagram with location of toilets, and b) same diagram showing passenger loads in each carriage!! Train wasn't that busy, so all carriages were lit green. Pretty impressive.

Also very impressed with the toilets...no automated doors or locks...back to the old school way of doing things

 

[jon0844]

The 12 car trains also show a screen with toilets, and a screen showing passenger loading. It's just that I can't remember the last time I've been on one with PIS working.

There is DEFINITELY a problem here.

On my last trip, a lady pretty much asked me every stop from Blackfriars if we were at Brighton. I kept saying it was some way off, trying to say how many stops and even our estimated arrival time - as well as the fact it was the last stop, but she kept asking.

This is one reason screens are important, as occasional travellers or even nervous travellers really need information. Forget saying people survived in the old days, as this isn't the old days!

Plus, some stations when you're in the rear coach of a 12 car train don't have signs you can see to tell you where you are on the platform, so how the hell are you meant to know?!

 

[asylumxl]

On my last trip, a lady pretty much asked me every stop from Blackfriars if we were at Brighton. I kept saying it was some way off, trying to say how many stops and even our estimated arrival time - as well as the fact it was the last stop, but she kept asking.

That's why 700s are great. You can say you're getting off and walk down the train with ease. She won't be none the wiser.

 

[jon0844]

I rather liked it in 'first class' so rather hoped she would decide to go wander!

When we approached Brighton, we did walk two coaches down so we could be out before she was! Didn't fancy being a tour guide for the afternoon.

 

[Deepgreen]

The 12 car trains also show a screen with toilets, and a screen showing passenger loading. It's just that I can't remember the last time I've been on one with PIS working.

There is DEFINITELY a problem here.

On my last trip, a lady pretty much asked me every stop from Blackfriars if we were at Brighton. I kept saying it was some way off, trying to say how many stops and even our estimated arrival time - as well as the fact it was the last stop, but she kept asking.

This is one reason screens are important, as occasional travellers or even nervous travellers really need information. Forget saying people survived in the old days, as this isn't the old days!

Plus, some stations when you're in the rear coach of a 12 car train don't have signs you can see to tell you where you are on the platform, so how the hell are you meant to know?!

It seems that, despite all the testing in Germany, mileage accumulation runs here, etc., we still can't introduce trains to service with their functions working properly. Very depressing. I saw 700008 at Redhill in service yesterday with no external information working. Considering the requirements of the erstwhile RVAR information regime (quite apart from actually providing good information to everyone), an amazing number of trains are running around the network with either no, or wrong, information being displayed. SWT's 456s still have no information displays on any unit well over a year since their refurbishment, which is scandalous.

With one voice, however, the TOCs continue to trot out the same "we understand how important good information is..." nonsense every time a complaint is made.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 12 car trains also show a screen with toilets, and a screen showing passenger loading. It's just that I can't remember the last time I've been on one with PIS working.

There is DEFINITELY a problem here.

On my last trip, a lady pretty much asked me every stop from Blackfriars if we were at Brighton. I kept saying it was some way off, trying to say how many stops and even our estimated arrival time - as well as the fact it was the last stop, but she kept asking.

This is one reason screens are important, as occasional travellers or even nervous travellers really need information. Forget saying people survived in the old days, as this isn't the old days!

Plus, some stations when you're in the rear coach of a 12 car train don't have signs you can see to tell you where you are on the platform, so how the hell are you meant to know?!

While absolutely agreeing that on-train information is both vital and lacking, was she blind/partially-sighted? If not, what was wrong with looking out of the windows as a last resort?!

 

[Nic Robinson]

Aboard 103 as I type. Pis working fine and I'm very impressed with the 1st accommodation. The windows are also HUGE!

 

[jon0844]

While absolutely agreeing that on-train information is both vital and lacking, was she blind/partially-sighted? If not, what was wrong with looking out of the windows as a last resort?!

Given her actions on the train (going from trying to sleep, to crying, to talking to herself) I'd say she wasn't quite with it.

But public transport is for all, and as I said, from being at the back of the train, even I wasn't always sure what station we were at because not all platforms have signs you can see from the far end.

It is unacceptable to have so many trains running without adequate information, and while the usual counter argument is that surely I wouldn't want a train cancelled over faulty screens, but I would say that someone should be taking a financial penalty for it EVERY time.

Look at AGA which took no interest in fixing the problem with the 379s having more than 50% of the buttons broken, and near impossible to use by anyone with poor eyesight, or even being unable to accurately press a button with a diameter of some 5mm!

They too said on social media over and over how much they care, yada yada. I think it took AGA/Bombardier some two years to fix!