Great Western Railway Heathrow Express Class 387 Refittment and Service Updates

[Reliablebeam]

It’s only short term until December when Crossrail takes over the Readings, seating capacity is theoretically almost the same between a 6 car 165 and an 8 car 387.

Turbo should be on:-
0712 Reading - Paddington
0821 Paddington - Didcot
1003 Didcot - Paddington
1142 Paddington - Reading
1248 Reading - Paddington
1357 Paddington - Didcot
1532 Didcot - Paddington
1712 Paddington - Reading

The current PM Peak Turbo stopper (1755 Paddington - Reading) goes over to 8 car 387 operation.

Cheers, JN114.

I take your point about passenger capacity but I object to diesel units taking over electric working 100% under the wires. I guess we'll see how it pans out.

 

[185143]

I guess we'll see how it pans out.

Quite literally.

 

[Beemax]

It’s scheduled to be a 6 car (2x3) - with no Bedwyns the Turbo fleet should have an easier time of things from next week. 2 vice 3 happens occasionally; but really not as often as you’re inferring.

First day out and it's a 3 car

 

[JN114]

First day out and it's a 3 car

Bad Day for Turbo fleet yesterday, not enough units for traffic then further failures in the day. Stopper is a 6 car today.

 

[3973EXL]

5Q50 Reading - Ilford
57305 + 387132

 

[JN114]

387130+387140 should be being dragged back this afternoon.

 

[3973EXL]

5Q75 Ilford - Reading
both units as planned.

 

[superalbs]

The units have retained ironing boards for now, they just decided to remove the cushions. Makes you wonder what they spent all that time doing (I thought ETCS was to come later)?

 

[TheWalrus]

Yes very true, considering it’s my old TOC I’d like to see how these turn out. But usually Hex related threads always turns into rants hoping for its demise due to its cost, hard selling, Underground/TfL Rail is cheaper etc.....

IMO I think it’s a utilisation of 4 fast paths in and out of Paddington each hour which maybe are not necessary, and these paths could be used for new services?

 

[Mordac]

The units have retained ironing boards for now, they just decided to remove the cushions. Makes you wonder what they spent all that time doing (I thought ETCS was to come later)?

Wow, that's going to make the seats even harder.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

5Q75 Ilford - Reading

Saw this on the move near Slough yesterday afternoon, had a bit of a double-take seeing 387's in silvery HEx colours and logos.
Towing loco was in ex-Northern Belle colours.

 

[Mag_seven]

There are two HEX liveried class 387s at the east end of Reading depot - sorry didn't get the numbers.

 

[JN114]

There are two HEX liveried class 387s at the east end of Reading depot - sorry didn't get the numbers.

387130 and 387140; as has been being discussed in the seven posts immediately before yours.

 

[swt_passenger]

The units have retained ironing boards for now, they just decided to remove the cushions. Makes you wonder what they spent all that time doing (I thought ETCS was to come later)?

The ETCS has also to be fitted by Dec 2019, it was discussed in the main 387 thread. I think ordering of the physical equipment was a separate contract, but fitting it is concurrent with the interior work.

 

[reddragon]

Will they be used in service or sit OOU until December?

 

[JN114]

Will they be used in service or sit OOU until December?

They won’t see service with GWR (proper) now, nor are they needed to; with fewer units needed for peak traffic and another round of diagram tightening to come, which should release another 4 units.

They’ll be used to support ETCS Testing (once fitted) and HEX crew training until entry into service in December; as well as having other outstanding modifications still completed - interior fit out and ETCS fitment.

 

[JonathanH]

IMO I think it’s a utilisation of 4 fast paths in and out of Paddington each hour which maybe are not necessary, and these paths could be used for new services?

No, Heathrow Express enables fast line calls at Slough and the peak fast services at Maidenhead and Twyford - the path isn't better used for new services.

 

[Trailfinder]

And if BAA/HAL had not funded and built the Heathrow branch, would anyone else have?
Would Crossrail actually have been built, since in the 2000s it was almost cancelled and going to Heathrow was one of its positives?

 

[pdeaves]

Picture of the new livery here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pdeaves/47929913333/

Edit: same link but I uploaded a closer view.

 

[jimm]

And if BAA/HAL had not funded and built the Heathrow branch, would anyone else have?
Would Crossrail actually have been built, since in the 2000s it was almost cancelled and going to Heathrow was one of its positives?

The Heathrow project began life in the late 1980s as a public-private joint venture between British Rail and BAA - BAA bought out the BR stake in 1996 as part of the rail privatisation process.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/baa-buys-heathrow-rail-link-1330080.html?amp

 

[TRAX]

Two more pics of 378 140 here: https://twitter.com/cmajrail/status/1133028510203830272?s=21

 

[Owen]

Very nice!

 

[Prestige15]

 

[Bletchleyite]

Two more pics of 378 140 here: https://twitter.com/cmajrail/status/1133028510203830272?s=21

What's with the lines on the windows in 1st? If I pay more I want a better view!

 

[JN114]

What's with the lines on the windows in 1st? If I pay more I want a better view!

No different from the current 332 fleet, the lines aren’t noticeable from the inside, it’s a perforated vinyl.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No different from the current 332 fleet, the lines aren’t noticeable from the inside, it’s a perforated vinyl.

Still a stupid idea. By the way, contravision *is* noticeable from the inside.

Any design that puts "stuff" on the windows is a poor design. Windows are for looking out of, not sticking things to.

 

[JN114]

Still a stupid idea. By the way, contravision *is* noticeable from the inside.

Any design that puts "stuff" on the windows is a poor design. Windows are for looking out of, not sticking things to.

Stupid or not it’s been part of Heathrow Express’ brand since the late 1990s. They want stickers on the windows; they can have them. If it really bothers you that much save your pennies and travel standard class on HX, which doesn’t have the window striping - it’s only a 15 minute journey; half of which is in uninspiring suburban West London; the other half in a Tunnel.

 

[Trailfinder]

And if you installed longitudinal seating you could do away with windows altogether!!

 

[Mikey C]

Stupid or not it’s been part of Heathrow Express’ brand since the late 1990s. They want stickers on the windows; they can have them. If it really bothers you that much save your pennies and travel standard class on HX, which doesn’t have the window striping - it’s only a 15 minute journey; half of which is in uninspiring suburban West London; the other half in a Tunnel.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have the window striping on Standard then...

 

[AM9]

Wouldn't it make more sense to have the window striping on Standard then...

Not really as there are about 6 times the number of windows to do then.