Why aren't there dedicated bike spaces or USB charging point on the 378?

[miklcct]

Most trains in the same era have bike spaces and USB charging point. Why don't the 378 have them?

 

[Davester50]

Most trains in the same era have bike spaces and USB charging point. Why don't the 378 have them?

Do other TfL trains of the same era have USB and bike spaces?

 

[Domh245]

Discount the TfL trains - what mainline trains from 2009 had USB charging?! It feels like USB charging only really started being included as standard from about mid/late 2010s

 

[NSE]

As a regular bike on train user, I tend to find the general wide berth given by the longitudinal seating gives plenty of room for my bike. Sure, it’s more a stand up and hold the bike type journey and not a strap it in place and relax like on others, but journeys on LO tend to be shorter and so that isn’t a problem (at least not for me).

Regarding USB’s, most Metro trains have only recently been getting these as standard. I tended to find the longer distance trains had them first.

 

[Bald Rick]

Most trains in the same era have bike spaces and USB charging point. Why don't the 378 have them?

Do other TfL trains of the same era have USB and bike spaces?

No trains of the same era as the 378s have USB points,

(and charge your phone before you leave home / work / etc., or buy a battery pack).

 

[Joe Paxton]

In time, I'd think that USB A plugs and sockets will eventually give way to USB C - which is a standard that is intended to be future proof (and the fact it's reversible makes them much less of a PITA!).

So USB A sockets for charging might eventually become obsolete - though the adoption of USB A is admittedly incredibly widespread.

 

[miklcct]

No trains of the same era as the 378s have USB points,

(and charge your phone before you leave home / work / etc., or buy a battery pack).

How about plug socket charging points? Even older trains such as 444 have them.

 

[miklcct]

Also, I have noticed that the 710 also lacks these despite being a much newer train. Are these never found on any TfL trains?

 

[Davester50]

Also, I have noticed that the 710 also lacks these despite being a much newer train. Are these never found on any TfL trains?

No trains of the same era as the 378s have USB points,

(and charge your phone before you leave home / work / etc., or buy a battery pack).

How about plug socket charging points? Even older trains such as 444 have them.

444 trains aren't really similar now, are they?

 

[43096]

How about plug socket charging points? Even older trains such as 444 have them.

444s have them because they were retro-fitted during fleet refurbishment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Most trains in the same era have bike spaces and USB charging point. Why don't the 378 have them?

Electrostars and Turbostars generally have multipurpose space for bikes and wheelchairs. That's no longer considered the right approach, but until they get a major refurb it is what it is.

 

[Benjwri]

Do other TfL trains of the same era have USB and bike spaces?

Maybe not TfL, but the GWR 387s don’t have them either, and their 165/166s have them installed

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Given the internal layout of 378s, do they need a dedicated bike space? Surely you'd just stand with one hand holding onto the bike and the other holding a grab pole?

 

[Benjwri]

Given the internal layout of 378s, do they need a dedicated bike space? Surely you'd just stand with one hand holding onto the bike and the other holding a grab pole?

I much prefer the 387s for bikes over GWRs 800s, they wheelchair spaces can easily take a bike, and there are plenty so you're not blocking them. The bike spaces always just become luggage storage spaces, and then you get ejected from the train due to the lack of space. People show more respect on 800s.

 

[The exile]

How long is the average journey time on a 378? Equally, with longitudinal seats and the expectation (pre-Covid) of frequent crush loading, where are you going to put USB ports?

 

[Goldfish62]

How about plug socket charging points? Even older trains such as 444 have them.

Only in 1st Class. They were retrofitted in Standard with the recent refurb.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2022 ==

Also, I have noticed that the 710 also lacks these despite being a much newer train. Are these never found on any TfL trains?

The 710s do have them because I've used them to charge my phone. They're only at the ends of each carriage.

 

[miklcct]

The bike spaces always just become luggage storage spaces, and then you get ejected from the train due to the lack of space.

Are you talking about the 387 or the 800s?

 

[cjmillsnun]

How about plug socket charging points? Even older trains such as 444 have them.

444s only had them in first class (and one half coach of standard IIRC) and are a regional express train rather than an inner suburban commuter train. In most stock today BS1363 sockets or USB sockets were fitted during refurbishment.

 

[ValleyLines142]

In time, I'd think that USB A plugs and sockets will eventually give way to USB C - which is a standard that is intended to be future proof (and the fact it's reversible makes them much less of a PITA!).

So USB A sockets for charging might eventually become obsolete - though the adoption of USB A is admittedly incredibly widespread.

Indeed. My Samsung charger for my Flip 3 only comes as USB-C.

Regarding USB ports only, as can be found on buses, I personally find that on my phone it does a slower charger compared to using the plug socket.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed. My Samsung charger for my Flip 3 only comes as USB-C.

USB-C is backward compatible if the device is implementing it properly - use an A-to-C cable to plug it in. Though for some devices e.g. laptops it won't be enough power to keep a charge, pretty much all phones and tablets will be fine with it.

 

[swt_passenger]

How about plug socket charging points? Even older trains such as 444 have them.

They didn’t have them throughout the trains as delivered, just like 450s they weren’t fitted generally in standard until their fairly recent refurbishments.

 

[mightyena]

The 710s do have them because I've used them to charge my phone. They're only at the ends of each carriage.

710s have them, but from my experience they're fairly pointless, as there are only 4 of them in each carriage, and none of them are really accessible from a seat, you have to stand in the gangway to use them

 

[Goldfish62]

710s have them, but from my experience they're fairly pointless, as there are only 4 of them in each carriage, and none of them are really accessible from a seat, you have to stand in the gangway to use them

Or have an extra long charging cable!

 

[mightyena]

If the train is busy I can see that being wrenched out the socket/your hand every time someone walks past

 

[NewClee153]

I’ve been asking myself the same question (about the USB charging points) about the 700s . A Class 350/2 from Smethwick Galton Bridge to Birmingham New Street, Pendolino to Euston and 700 from Farringdon to Brighton on 20% battery wasn’t fun