Class 745 Stadler FLIRTs

[Abbo]

Yes good old bimodes holding up the fort. Operating faultlessly on the Norwich-Colchester shuttles at 60mph max.

Understand 745003 ran a 1550 NR - Ipswich and return Test train. Has some modification been made that was being tested ? Has any modification been made to the gaping hole at the front where the coupling lives ?

 

[dk1]

Understand 745003 ran a 1550 NR - Ipswich and return Test train. Has some modification been made that was being tested ? Has any modification been made to the gaping hole at the front where the coupling lives ?

You've lost me. What modification?

100mph ice testing to happen shortly 745010.

 

[20atthemagnet]

Understand 745003 ran a 1550 NR - Ipswich and return Test train. Has some modification been made that was being tested ? Has any modification been made to the gaping hole at the front where the coupling lives ?

Why would they modify that? It was never an issue

 

[Abbo]

Why would they modify that? It was never an issue

Not trying to be facetious but something must be an issue in the cold / snow. I was trying to consider all openings/options.

 

[RailWonderer]

If snow is building up on the underframe then a fleet upgrade will be required to close any openings in the bodywork. The most obvious one is up front, where it is clear from photos that snow has gathered but it isn't likely that area is responsible.

 

[20atthemagnet]

Not trying to be facetious but something must be an issue in the cold / snow. I was trying to consider all openings/options.

Indeed. However the main issue they are worried about is the sections between the intermediate bogies from platform level upwards. They have quite a large recessed area. Most units were filled with snow from platform level all the way up to the roof of the train in this section.

 

[dk1]

If snow is building up on the underframe then a fleet upgrade will be required to close any openings in the bodywork. The most obvious one is up front, where it is clear from photos that snow has gathered but it isn't likely that area is responsible.

Possibly looking at triangular deflectors underneath each vehicle to combat the build up of the ice,

 

[Class 170101]

just seen that the 2200 ex Norwich terminated at Colchester with no service forward to Liverpool street.
hope no one wanted stations beyond Colchester

Open stops as far as Shenfield and connections for Braintree and Southend branches plus intermediate stations between Shenfield and London as well. Being the last train it has a lot of connections from it.

 

[robert west]

Open stops as far as Shenfield and connections for Braintree and Southend branches plus intermediate stations between Shenfield and London as well. Being the last train it has a lot of connections from it.

see 2200 ex Norwich ran through to Liverpool street tonight al be it with a change of unit at Colchester

 

[samuelmorris]

Just seen a 37 carry a 745 through Gidea Park. Failed unit being dragged back to Norwich?

 

[47584Suffolk]

Just seen a 37 carry a 745 through Gidea Park. Failed unit being dragged back to Norwich?

Reported as 37601 + 745102

Just seen a 37 carry a 745 through Gidea Park. Failed unit being dragged back to Norwich?

Reported as 37601 (the current Orient Way T/bird) + 745102.

 

[SPADTrap]

Is it me or is the door opening sound the same as the GSM-R Emergency Call sound when receiving one in an active cab?

 

[20atthemagnet]

Is it me or is the door opening sound the same as the GSM-R Emergency Call sound when receiving one in an active cab?

Definitely not you. Almost identical minus the bloke shouting emergency

 

[SPADTrap]

Definitely not you. Almost identical minus the bloke shouting emergency

I thought as much, quite a strange sound to use!

 

[rdlover777]

Indeed. However the main issue they are worried about is the sections between the intermediate bogies from platform level upwards. They have quite a large recessed area. Most units were filled with snow from platform level all the way up to the roof of the train in this section.

Forgive my ignorance but can't they just put some sort of rubber plating in those sections like what LNER did to make there A4 hauled Expresses (Like the Silver Jubilee) more streamlined?

 

[Abbo]

Now that the snow and ice have gone away have the 745s returned to play ?

 

[robert west]

Now that the snow and ice have gone away have the 745s returned to play ?

yes back in service

 

[Railperf]

yes back in service

Tiger been reporting 12-cars back on Norwich and Stansted services

 

[dk1]

Now that the snow and ice have gone away have the 745s returned to play ?

All back in traffic and at line speed.

 

[Abbo]

All back in traffic and at line speed.

Thanks DK1
Have any modifications been undertaken or just praying ' no more snow' ?

 

[dk1]

Thanks DK1
Have any modifications been undertaken or just praying ' no more snow' ?

The latter at the moment.

 

[Railperf]

Still the usual mix of 745/0 and 745/1 on both routes. Is it really that difficult to diagram the right units on the right service - on a COVID timetable where only half the trains are required?

 

[dk1]

Still the usual mix of 745/0 and 745/1 on both routes. Is it really that difficult to diagram the right units on the right service - on a COVID timetable where only half the trains are required?

To be honest yes. It’s only first class that needs worrying about & precious little of that going on.

 

[Bikeman78]

Still the usual mix of 745/0 and 745/1 on both routes. Is it really that difficult to diagram the right units on the right service - on a COVID timetable where only half the trains are required?

Doesn't surprise me at all. Thameslink were hopeless at putting the 319/3 and 319/4 on the correct diagrams for over a decade. I'm fairly convinced that they didn't even try.

 

[Energy]

Doesn't surprise me at all. Thameslink were hopeless at putting the 319/3 and 319/4 on the correct diagrams for over a decade. I'm fairly convinced that they didn't even try.

London Midland had a 350 random allocation machine, it was pretty common for 3+2 seated /2 units to be on the long distance routes and the 2+2 seated units on the shorter routes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

London Midland had a 350 random allocation machine, it was pretty common for 3+2 seated /2 units to be on the long distance routes and the 2+2 seated units on the shorter routes.

They even upgraded the /2s to 110mph because they could then consider to have only one type of unit to make diagramming easier, I believe. Before that you still got /2s on Crewe services but they would lose time.

That said, there were some services on which it was fairly consistent what you got.

 

[py_megapixel]

Where are the depots for these - do the 745s all have to go to Norwich for maintenance or is there somewhere in the London area where this can be carried out?

Doesn't surprise me at all. Thameslink were hopeless at putting the 319/3 and 319/4 on the correct diagrams for over a decade. I'm fairly convinced that they didn't even try.

London Midland had a 350 random allocation machine, it was pretty common for 3+2 seated /2 units to be on the long distance routes and the 2+2 seated units on the shorter routes.

They even upgraded the /2s to 110mph because they could then consider to have only one type of unit to make diagramming easier, I believe. Before that you still got /2s on Crewe services but they would lose time.

That said, there were some services on which it was fairly consistent what you got.

All of this reminds me of the 323 interior spec, where some units had additional luggage racks for serving Manchester Airport. Apparently nobody told them that the Airport runs share their diagrams with the Stockport ones.

The 323s are now having a mid life refurbishment and they're all being rearranged to have the same interior layout. I will be exceptionally unsurprised if something similar happens to the 745s.

 

[Bikeman78]

London Midland had a 350 random allocation machine, it was pretty common for 3+2 seated /2 units to be on the long distance routes and the 2+2 seated units on the shorter routes.

Granted but at least all of the 350s have first class.

 

[dk1]

Where are the depots for these - do the 745s all have to go to Norwich for maintenance or is there somewhere in the London area where this can be carried out?

There is nowhere else other than Crown Point that can maintain the Stadler fleet. That is the whole reason that Stansted units have to cycle onto GEML diagrams to return. Even with the current reduced timetable 745 availability has at times been such that 755 single units (multiple working in passenger service is still not permitted) have to substitute.

 

[Bikeman78]

There is nowhere else other than Crown Point that can maintain the Stadler fleet. That is the whole reason that Stansted units have to cycle onto GEML diagrams to return. Even with the current reduced timetable 745 availability has at times been such that 755 single units (multiple working in passenger service is still not permitted) have to substitute.

Is it fair to say that AGA would be utterly stuffed if Covid had not happened? Or is Covid causing a major staff shortage at Crown Point which translates to a shortage of 745s?