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Class 357 Refurbishment and repaints

fgwrich

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Some pics from Facebook
It's become a Pretendaventra!

What an odd looking front end - the *Star family already has a fairly curved front, so why they didn't make the pink work around that on these I don't know.
 
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wls1

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c2c have published an article on the refurbishment with details on the work done and how long each unit will take to complete. there is also a video on the process of the refurbishment:


the next unit to be finished will be 357005 which will be out in the next week or so
 

nctd2306

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So does this actually include an interior refurbishment? From what I can see here it's only the external paint being done. My last few journeys on C2C have been on units with very worn out interiors that are definitely in need of a facelift.
 

wls1

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So does this actually include an interior refurbishment? From what I can see here it's only the external paint being done. My last few journeys on C2C have been on units with very worn out interiors that are definitely in need of a facelift.
yes exterior only this refurbishment
 

JamesC357

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Shame, nice as the repainted units look, they could definitely have done with a spruce up internally.
 

boiledbeans2

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Doomotron

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The TPE paintwork on the Class 170 (diesel version of 357) made it look "toothy" around the headlights:

The original Class 170/357 yellow panel shape looks best:
4975353876_54d4bf7cce_o.jpg
This photoshop by Paul Burkitt-Gray on Flickr shows another possibility for the front. I quite like it, but I still prefer the original.
 

ChristopherJ

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Sigh. It's just an external refurbishment. You got some new vinyls, think yourselves lucky, peasants. <(

Why couldn't c2c have followed a GTR style 'Project Aurora' refurb with LED lights, plug sockets and LCD screens for their Electrostars. :rolleyes:

A race to the bottom.
 

Russel

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The TPE paintwork on the Class 170 (diesel version of 357) made it look "toothy" around the headlights:

The original Class 170/357 yellow panel shape looks best:

I remember seeing the TPE 170s around Hull back in the day, I always assumed they went for the adapted style of yellow to give them a bit more of a 185 look.
 
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Did they receive a full repaint back when the blue C2C vinyls were peeled off back in 2009ish or was that a reuse of the LTS white and green door base (with doors then changed to blue)
 

bramling

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Sigh. It's just an external refurbishment. You got some new vinyls, think yourselves lucky, peasants. <(

Why couldn't c2c have followed a GTR style 'Project Aurora' refurb with LED lights, plug sockets and LCD screens for their Electrostars. :rolleyes:

A race to the bottom.

I can't help but find the LCD screens and LED lights annoying, and would rather GTR hadn't bothered with these features, which essentially offer no actual value for the end-user. To be fair, the plug sockets *are* useful.
 

RUK

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This photoshop by Paul Burkitt-Gray on Flickr shows another possibility for the front. I quite like it, but I still prefer the original.
That Photoshop makes the yellow warning panel look “flatter” and makes the end look more similar to the Class 168/0 design which they were derived from, in my opinion. I also prefer the original.
 

Wivenswold

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I think expectations with regard to a mid-life refurbishment should be tempered somewhat.
Remember when Eversholt refurbished 30 Class 321s even after GA had announced a fleet renewal?
With a big factory in Derby in need of some work over the next few years, GBR's arrival and some pressure to bring jobs to the North, I expect that Aventras will be the only traction on the LTS in 5-6 years and this new C2C branding will be even more short-lived than the 357s.
 

Russel

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I expect that Aventras will be the only traction on the LTS in 5-6 years and this new C2C branding will be even more short-lived than the 357s.

Maybe in 10-15 years time.

The 357s still have a good 10 years left in them and even if they didn't, given how long it takes to get new stock into service in the UK, for the 357s to be gone in 5 years, the order for the replacement would probably need placing now.
 

Wivenswold

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Maybe in 10-15 years time.

The 357s still have a good 10 years left in them and even if they didn't, given how long it takes to get new stock into service in the UK, for the 357s to be gone in 5 years, the order for the replacement would probably need placing now.
They probably could soldier on for another 15 years but having a mixed fleet is an operational nightmare. Admittedly less so than when I was there with 302s/305s/308 that could work together and 310s and 312s that couldn't.
I agree the order would need placing very soon. But Alstom need orders soon to keep Derby operational. Once the BR era EMUs are gone from the South East, the early Electrostars will be next. The older they get, regardless of refurbs and overhauls, the more expensive and less reliable they become.
We don't want the LTS going back to the days when they had the oldest NSE area AC EMU fleet because them were dark days.
 

THC

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Stuck on the GEML
357207 out in the wild at Benfleet this afternoon.

THC
 

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nctd2306

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Do you have an exact date this week when 357005 will enter service ?
RTT showing 357005 in service today on the 15.48 Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness (1B62)
Presumably it has now lost its Union Jack vinyl that it had carried on one carriage?
 

720144

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RTT showing 357005 in service today on the 15.48 Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness (1B62)
Presumably it has now lost its Union Jack vinyl that it had carried on one carriage?
Yes it certainly has.

Do you know what unit is being next to be refurbished ?
 

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720144

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357323 latest to be done, and out today
Brilliant thanks.

What’s happened to 209 & 016 lately? they must be next on the list to be refurbished.

According to rtt, 328 will be next as last into Ilford on the 19th of feb.
 
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720144

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Update 01/05/25:

316 is the latest one done & back in service today.
 
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