Thameslink/ Class 700 Progress

[EMD]

Fingers crossed Monday 4rd September. 0656 and 0733 ex PBO. 1742 and 1812 return.

Does this mean Canal Tunnels will now be regularly used for stock movement?

 

[swt_passenger]

Does this mean Canal Tunnels will now be regularly used for stock movement?

Can't really see why a couple of Peterborough services would directly affect the existing usage of the tunnels. Won't the stock be found from those at Hornsey?

 

[D365]

Fingers crossed Monday 4rd September.

I'm not aware of such a date

 

[Hadders]

Fingers crossed Monday 4rd September. 0656 and 0733 ex PBO. 1742 and 1812 return.

Oh dear :cry:

The 0656 and 1742 are regular trains of mine from/to Stevenage. I'll need to reassess my travel plans. You struggle to get a seat now on the 0656 service at Stevenage (calls 0736) so with fewer seats there'll be absolutely no chance.

 

[jon0844]

I'm not aware of such a date

It's just before Fridesday 21th Septober.

 

[MikePJ]

Fingers crossed Monday 4rd September. 0656 and 0733 ex PBO. 1742 and 1812 return.

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[spark001uk]

I know it's more track related than the 700s themselves, but can I just get a quick clarification on something? They say they're "constructing a new chord" from Blackfriars to London Bridge, except it's not really a new junction is it, it was always there in the first place, it's just being altered, am I right?

 

[LA50041]

I know it's more track related than the 700s themselves, but can I just get a quick clarification on something? They say they're "constructing a new chord" from Blackfriars to London Bridge, except it's not really a new junction is it, it was always there in the first place, it's just being altered, am I right?

Well the new alignment is a double tracked chord where is was at the Junction single tracked , so technically it's not a "new chord", but part used to exist

 

[AM9]

Well the new alignment is a double tracked chord where is was at the Junction single tracked , so technically it's not a "new chord", but part used to exist

Wasn't it always double tracked to halfway down the ramp. I can remember many times being on southbound trains waiting there whilst a northbound one passes over the single lead exit onto the ramp before it passed.
Looking at the formation on Saturday from the overbridge, it looked like relaid twin track all the way down the ramp now.

 

[swt_passenger]

AIUI the final layout has three tracks on a significant part of the overall chord distance, with the centre road of 3 being bi-directional. I expect someone will know the exact lengths, but maybe they will be able to hold a train on the chord during perturbation.

 

[spark001uk]

I know there were always 3 tracks as it leaves the blackfriars line, they're still in place now, all rusted up.

 

[ijmad]

Driver complaining about sensitive doors at Loughborough Junction this evening.

 

[hwl]

AIUI the final layout has three tracks on a significant part of the overall chord distance, with the centre road of 3 being bi-directional. I expect someone will know the exact lengths, but maybe they will be able to hold a train on the chord during perturbation.

They are long enough to hold a train but the centre track closer to Blackfriars is designed to hold a southbound via Elephant service while an up service from London Bridge crosses in front so it might not be that easy to do the later when there is a train held on the Down Snow Hill / Blackfriars Reversible (as the centre track is known) with route setting and other issues.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The latest posting reported from France is of 700 120 being seen en route to us here in the UK.

 

[spark001uk]

Driver complaining about sensitive doors at Loughborough Junction this evening.

Haha you were on that too were you!? He also said to stand away from the button areas didn't he, whatever difference that was meant to make!
2V17 was the service, always pretty rammed that one.

 

[ijmad]

Haha you were on that too were you!? He also said to stand away from the button areas didn't he, whatever difference that was meant to make!
2V17 was the service, always pretty rammed that one.

Yeah I guess we were on the same train! What is it about new trains and sensitive door edges anyway?

 

[John1975]

Wasn't it always double tracked to halfway down the ramp. I can remember many times being on southbound trains waiting there whilst a northbound one passes over the single lead exit onto the ramp before it passed.
Looking at the formation on Saturday from the overbridge, it looked like relaid twin track all the way down the ramp now.

The original alignment can be seen here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx0zVZppHkc&t=48s

 

[D365]

Just spotted 700015 (one of the eight car units) south of Hatfield, moving slowly on the Down Slow. Surprised to see it out on the Great Northern so soon after the morning peak.

EDIT: There's a lot of them parked up in the sidings on the Down side of Hornsey!

 

[urpert]

Currently standing in the vestibule of a 374 and it's just made the same 'tennis ball bouncing on roof' sound you get at the ends of a 700. Could have been caused by a neutral section (we're on a Belgian classic line).

 

[louis97]

AIUI the final layout has three tracks on a significant part of the overall chord distance, with the centre road of 3 being bi-directional. I expect someone will know the exact lengths, but maybe they will be able to hold a train on the chord during perturbation.

The final layout on the Chord is for three tracks, none are bidirectional. They are known as the Down Snow Hill Spur, Down Snow Hill and Up Snow Hill. The Down Snow Hill Spur is accessible straight after departure from Blackfriars and is the old train road. To access the Down Snow Hill you have to travel to Blackfriars Junction and then diverge.

For down traffic, towards London Bridge, the Down Snow Hill Spur will be the 'main' route.

 

[notverydeep]

Just spotted 700015 (one of the eight car units) south of Hatfield, moving slowly on the Down Slow. Surprised to see it out on the Great Northern so soon after the morning peak.

EDIT: There's a lot of them parked up in the sidings on the Down side of Hornsey!

I saw this pass me on the 08:25 from Welwyn Garden City (2T93 07:20 Cambridge North - King's Cross), which was a) running for once and b) actually stopping at WGC. 2T93 has been cancelled at WGC for three of the last five weekdays, the first two occasions non-stopping at its key traffic objective and running non stop from Hitchin instead, only 5 minutes after another train doing that and 5 minutes before the next one doing that (and Yesterday it was declared a failure in the platform at Hitchin holding everything up). Clearly service control are not entirely familiar with which services serve which passenger groups! Bad luck if you were at Welwyn North for that train last Thursday, or Monday or Tuesday of this week - at least WGC has the tediously slow 0844 (2V87 to King's Cross). Still might as well get used to the that as the trains from WGC will basically all be that slow from next May according to the draft timetable...

Anyway, enough moaning - here is the train the 700 was working: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N26021/2017/07/12/advanced

Its itinerary then takes it back to King's Cross, up to Letchworth, then supposedly on to Cambridge Carriage Sidings and finally back to Hornsey for mid afternoon, but there are no actual records after arriving at Letchworth at about 11:50...

I too was surprised to see one out in the peak, albeit in the counter peak direction. Does this mark the start of driver training on these in earnest? And if so, I wonder if it means we can expect months of trains being cancelled with no driver available as we had to endure during the 387 training at the end of 2016...?

 

[swt_passenger]

The final layout on the Chord is for three tracks, none are bidirectional.

The 2014 Infrarail presentation many of us are familiar with shows the middle road bi-di, but I expect that may be out of date by now...

 

[UpTheFront]

. Does this mark the start of driver training on these in earnest?

It does.We are driver training now on GN with them

 

[jopsuk]

so, platform 4 at Cambridge has (as long as I can remember it) had a 10 Car Stop at the north end. Which has always struck me as odd, or a relic from loco-hauled days? For a very long time the only trains operating in multiple normally here have been formed of 4x20m EMU stock (all the diesel services are booked for 1-3x23m DMU)

The same post now has an FLU placard, which is surprising to say the least- is the 10 car actually for 23m stock? In which case what stock? Is there really 240m of useable platform, especially as full length 700s will likely be terminating and thus the rear cab needs visibility for the signal at the other end.

I had wondered why the platform wasn't being extended- especially as I've seen empty stock waiting at the signals beyond the end of the platform, with 1-2 carriages clear and presumably the driver able to see the signal, so shouldn't be a sighting issue.

 

[trainmania100]

Hi
Not sure where else to post, does anyone know if tomorrow's 5Q15 clapham yard to Portsmouth and southsea is likely to run? It's VSTP and all the paths are there, to petersfield etc.
Many thanks

 

[swt_passenger]

Hi
Not sure where else to post, does anyone know if tomorrow's 5Q15 clapham yard to Portsmouth and southsea is likely to run? It's VSTP and all the paths are there, to petersfield etc.
Many thanks

I've no idea if they'll run either, but cannot see why you've raised the question in a thread about Class 700s?

Are you assuming these might be 707s?

 

[trainmania100]

Yes I mean 707s but cannot find the equivalent for 707 thread.
Hopefully they run before I buy my ticket to see them ahaha

 

[swt_passenger]

Yes I mean 707s but cannot find the equivalent for 707 thread.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=122552

 

[387star]

Remind me when tables will.will . be fitted this year or. .

 

[Hadders]

Remind me when tables will.will . be fitted this year or. .

Never, I suspect.

An interior dumbed down to the lowest possible level. Passengers really do deserve better.