Class 171 future

[thealm]

There is a lot of rumours around that Southern could lose the Class 171s at the end of the franchise. What are the chances of this happening and would they go to EMR should they leave.

 

[swt_passenger]

There is a lot of rumours around that Southern could lose the Class 171s at the end of the franchise. What are the chances of this happening and would they go to EMR should they leave.

This is already covered at length in the main EMR rolling stock thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/new-trains-for-east-midlands-franchise.180920/page-63

 

[sussexbythesea]

If they go, then what would replace them? Class 769 would be fine for Marshlink but a step down in comfort (but improvement in capacity), however class 769s (or any Mk3 derived stock) cannot fit through Oxted Tunnel, which makes them unsuitable for Uckfield - London Bridge services. Electrification would be ideal, but doubt that will happen. Would be sceptical about them going for that reason - what would be a suitable replacement?

 

[swt_passenger]

If they go, then what would replace them? Class 769 would be fine for Marshlink but a step down in comfort (but improvement in capacity), however class 769s (or any Mk3 derived stock) cannot fit through Oxted Tunnel, which makes them unsuitable for Uckfield - London Bridge services. Electrification would be ideal, but doubt that will happen. Would be sceptical about them going for that reason - what would be a suitable replacement?

The possibility of 769s to Southern, including difficulties with Oxted tunnel, is already speculated about here:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-769s-for-southern.190250/

 

[JonathanH]

The possibility of 769s to Southern, including difficulties with Oxted tunnel, is already speculated about here:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-769s-for-southern.190250/

...and chat about class 376s getting batteries here https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-376-looking-rather-tired.189735/
and https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/southern-for-class-376.182156/
but still no explanation as to the scope of the rebuild necessary or how the passenger environment on a class 376 could be made appropriate for longer distance services.

 

[RichJF]

Given that the 379 did a battery trial in the past, I actually think we'll see a class 387 based battery EMU solution in the mid-future (given the 387 have 3rd rail shoes).

I can forsee the 387s coming back down south for this purpose & redundant 379s/350s going to Great Northern.

 

[Journeyman]

Marshlink would probably be a good candidate for D-Trains.

 

[swt_passenger]

A copy of a Today’s Railways article (posted in the main EMR rolling stock thread) suggests only the 4 Eversholt owned units will be transferred out to EMR, ie a 9 unit contribution including the 5 still with Scotrail:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...idlands-franchise.180920/page-65#post-4192272
So Southern won’t necessarily need a major influx of bimode units, perhaps there’ll be enough 171s remaining for the Uckfield services anyway, and some other solution will be found just for the Marshlink trains.

 

[Terry Tait]

Marshlink, 317s with Ford Transit engines?

 

[MatthewRead]

Marshlink, 317s with Ford Transit engines?

You serious

 

[43096]

A copy of a Today’s Railways article (posted in the main EMR rolling stock thread) suggests only the 4 Eversholt owned units will be transferred out to EMR, ie a 9 unit contribution including the 5 still with Scotrail:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...idlands-franchise.180920/page-65#post-4192272
So Southern won’t necessarily need a major influx of bimode units, perhaps there’ll be enough 171s remaining for the Uckfield services anyway, and some other solution will be found just for the Marshlink trains.

Tony Miles on WNXX states that all the 171s are going to EMR - full details in the next Modern Railways.

 

[swt_passenger]

Tony Miles on WNXX states that all the 171s are going to EMR - full details in the next Modern Railways.

Yes, I’ve written the same in another of the various threads discussing this Todays Railways piece.

 

[bussnapperwm]

A copy of a Today’s Railways article (posted in the main EMR rolling stock thread) suggests only the 4 Eversholt owned units will be transferred out to EMR, ie a 9 unit contribution including the 5 still with Scotrail:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...idlands-franchise.180920/page-65#post-4192272
So Southern won’t necessarily need a major influx of bimode units, perhaps there’ll be enough 171s remaining for the Uckfield services anyway, and some other solution will be found just for the Marshlink trains.

They could always nick the 168/0s from Chiltern for Marshlink and swap them for mk3/mk4+68 for operation on Snow Hill

 

[swt_passenger]

They could always nick the 168/0s from Chiltern for Marshlink and swap them for mk3/mk4+68 for operation on Snow Hill

Of course that quoted article now seems to have been completely wrong, so I think we’re back to the whole fleet going again...