Class 387

[Wolfie]

I think we can officially add "387 seats" to the RailUK Forums bingo card, alongside LHCS 442s, AC 444s, North vs South, and Voyager toilets.

...and Pendolino windows...

 

[Aictos]

Currently on 387108 and 387109 and wonder if I should make a former complaint to Derby for making a fairly comfy train

So very disappointed here, there was me thinking the likes of Bald Rick be wrong....

 

[jon0844]

After how many years of making these trains (or variants thereof), it seems Bombardier has finally nailed it.

Even the buttons are still there.

 

[hassaanhc]

After how many years of making these trains (or variants thereof), it seems Bombardier has finally nailed it.

Even the buttons are still there.

But for how long?
Yesterday I found a 377/7 with a missing button!

 

[Aictos]

After how many years of making these trains (or variants thereof), it seems Bombardier has finally nailed it.

Even the buttons are still there.

From overhearing the drivers at Bedford, seems they are very happy with them - and yes the train made it to Bedford in one piece

 

[Fincra5]

After how many years of making these trains (or variants thereof), it seems Bombardier has finally nailed it.

Even the buttons are still there.

Dunno the PIS screens seem to be temperamental But thats the same with any Electrostar it seems!

 

[jon0844]

But at least someone changed Electrostar to Welcome!

Goodness knows why when the power is changed, the CIS has to restart. Surely the batteries could keep it going for a few seconds?

 

[physics34]

Dunno the PIS screens seem to be temperamental But thats the same with any Electrostar it seems!

the PIS is very unpredictable and just get stuck/goes to sleep for no reason. Same on the 377/6s and /7s.

This was a feature on the early 377s when they were new but a fix was found.

Very surprised that these new trains have appeared 10 years later with the same fault! They are quite important considering the short platform announcements needed on 10 car trains using the 377/6 and /7s

 

[Class377/5]

387123 is now on route to Bletchley. That's two third of the fleet have now left Derby for commissioning.

 

[LeeLivery]

Just read from a GTR publication that they are looking at the "feasibility of running Class 387s at 110mph" on the MML to get catch up time when late.

One question - in what way is it unfeasible to run a 110mph train at 110mph on a 110mph-125mph route? I'm honestly baffled.

GTR publication from Network Rail website found here: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2015/feb/improving-performance-thameslink-and-southern-services/

 

[joeykins82]

An uninformed guess: maybe this is 110mph on the slow lines, or maybe EMUs are limited to 110mph because that's all the OHLE is rated for?

 

[Class377/5]

Just read from a GTR publication that they are looking at the "feasibility of running Class 387s at 110mph" on the MML to get catch up time when late.

One question - in what way is it unfeasible to run a 110mph train at 110mph on a 110mph-125mph route? I'm honestly baffled.

GTR publication from Network Rail website found here: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2015/feb/improving-performance-thameslink-and-southern-services/

The track is suitable for 110mph South of Bedford not 125mph. The wires however were built for 100mph. The increased speed along with the multiple pans means the wires may not cope with the extra pressure. One pan creates a ripple, the second creates another. A third can cause the wires to move to far. To counter this the wiring set up must be different. One reason for the cost increases on the GWML is making the current OHLE suitable for trains up to 125mph and multiple pans up (ie 12 car Suburban train) at the same time.

 

[21C101]

The track is suitable for 110mph South of Bedford not 125mph. The wires however were built for 100mph. The increased speed along with the multiple pans means the wires may not cope with the extra pressure. One pan creates a ripple, the second creates another. A third can cause the wires to move to far. To counter this the wiring set up must be different. One reason for the cost increases on the GWML is making the current OHLE suitable for trains up to 125mph and multiple pans up (ie 12 car Suburban train) at the same time.

Are all the 125mph signs along it just ornamental then? Do you mean that only "HST"s are allowed to go above 110mph. In that case its the trains that are not suitable for 125mph not the track.

I can't see the point in putting in extra work on the OHLE to allow 110mph running when the Torquemadas will be replaced with Class 700s that can only go at 100mph soon.

Or will we see an uprating announcements for those soon as well?

 

[Mike395]

The slow lines don't have 125 signs anywhere as far as I know!

 

[21C101]

The slow lines don't have 125 signs anywhere as far as I know!

Thameslinks run on the fastlines; all the way to Bedford in the peaks.

 

[asylumxl]

Will the 387s ever announce Parkway properly?

You'd think Bombardier could have at least managed that before they went in to service...

 

[jon0844]

Wouldn't the wires be upgraded for 140mph?

 

[mrmatt]

113 (and whatever it was coupled with) this morning decided it wouldn't open the doors at any station in the core (St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink or Blackfriars).

I know the 377s and 378s sometimes get in a tis at St Pancras but this was a new kind of awkward. Given it has been mostly resolved on the 377s do we know if there is a quick fix to get the 378s running equally as reliably?

 

[jon0844]

Not opening at all IS a problem, but the others are slow enough that they cause frustration and I dare say confusion/panic with some unfamiliar passengers (especially tourists).

This problem needs to be fixed, somehow, for good.

 

[Bald Rick]

113 (and whatever it was coupled with) this morning decided it wouldn't open the doors at any station in the core (St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink or Blackfriars).

I know the 377s and 378s sometimes get in a tis at St Pancras but this was a new kind of awkward. Given it has been mostly resolved on the 377s do we know if there is a quick fix to get the 378s running equally as reliably?

Presumably you mean 'wouldn't open the doors until the driver fiddled with the computer, delaying us for 5 seconds or so'

 

[asylumxl]

Presumably you mean 'wouldn't open the doors until the driver fiddled with the computer, delaying us for 5 seconds or so'

While I agree that it doesn't cause a massive delay, 5 seconds is a tad optimistic.

 

[westcoaster]

While I agree that it doesn't cause a massive delay, 5 seconds is a tad optimistic.

Depends on the driver, I can do it in about 5 seconds it really depends if the idu is playing ball or not.

 

[Aictos]

Not sure if I'm right in believing this but when I see anything built by Derby arrive in the platforms at St Pancras I immediately resign myself to the fact that the doors won't open straight away and there's going to be a delay in them opening compared to the 319s that trundle over that route.

That said, I did appreciate how nice the train was when I got one on Monday

 

[Skimble19]

Funnily enough I got a 387 today from St Pancras that sat there for a good 20-30 seconds before the doors were released.. Was wondering why but this explains it!

Got a 377/5 on the way back and oddly enough they seem seriously dated compared to the 387s despite being "more or less" the same thing!!

 

[jon0844]

The interior is a lot brighter. I think that's what makes the difference.

 

[sarahj]

There used to be an issue with the 377's at Victoria with delays in opening the doors. The problem was the GPS system did not know where it was, so the driver had to over ride the system. Then some beacons were fitted and voila, doors open nice and fast.
Perhaps someone has worked out that since the 700's are coming soon, not worth fitting the beacons for the 387's. The workings out will be on the back of some fag packet somewhere.:roll:

 

[Class377/5]

There used to be an issue with the 377's at Victoria with delays in opening the doors. The problem was the GPS system did not know where it was, so the driver had to over ride the system. Then some beacons were fitted and voila, doors open nice and fast.
Perhaps someone has worked out that since the 700's are coming soon, not worth fitting the beacons for the 387's. The workings out will be on the back of some fag packet somewhere.:roll:

Same beacons for the 377/387s as the 700s.

And 387121 in service today.

 

[mrmatt]

Presumably you mean 'wouldn't open the doors until the driver fiddled with the computer, delaying us for 5 seconds or so'

Often it is that quick yes (although I still think that is a design flaw) but it was more like 20-30 seconds and happened at St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink and Black friars which is not normal.

Given this seems to be a fairly widespread issue on electrostars I'm surprised it hasn't been resolved. When I commuted from Tonbridge we often had the same issue on 375s at Canon Street so its hardly a new problem.

 

[AM9]

I will be using the Daysave ticket today. Can anyone tell me which BED-BTN runs should be using 387s today please.

 

[Class377/5]

Will the 387s ever announce Parkway properly?

You'd think Bombardier could have at least managed that before they went in to service...

What's wrong with the announcement?

I will be using the Daysave ticket today. Can anyone tell me which BED-BTN runs should be using 387s today please.

Look out for new train smell on 387121 on its first day.

301 387116/302 387118
1W04 05:44 Brighton to Bedford
2W23 08:40 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W30 11:14 Three Bridges to Bedford
2W43 13:40 Bedford to Three Bridges
1W92 16:14 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W57 18:24 Bedford to Brighton
1W68 21:30 Brighton to Bedford

303 387108/304 387106
1H83 06:34 Bedford to Beckenham Junction
1G63 08:02 Beckenham Junction to Bedford
1W21 09:54 Bedford to Brighton
1W32 12:38 Brighton to Bedford
1W43 15:24 Bedford to Brighton
1B50 18:28 Brighton to London Bridge
1B55 19:42 London Bridge to Brighton
1W66 21:02 Brighton to Bedford

305 387109/306 387112
1W01 04:16 Bedford to Brighton
1W83 07:24 Brighton to Bedford
1W23 10:24 Bedford to Brighton
1W34 13:08 Brighton to Bedford
1W45 15:50 Bedford to Brighton
1W56 18:38 Brighton to Bedford
1W69 21:22 Bedford to Brighton

307 387121/308 387110
1W00 05:10 Brighton to Bedford
1J88 07:58 Bedford to Elephant & Castle
1G69 10:04 Elephant & Castle to Bedford
1W29 11:54 Bedford to Brighton
1W40 14:38 Brighton to Bedford
2W61 17:20 Bedford to Three Bridges
2W62 19:44 Three Bridges to Bedford
1W73 22:22 Bedford to Brighton

309 387109/310 387113
1W84 06:54 Bedford to Brighton
1B14 09:28 Brighton to London Bridge
1B19 10:42 London Bridge to Brighton
1B24 11:56 Brighton to London Bridge
1B29 13:12 London Bridge to Brighton
1B36 14:56 Brighton to London Bridge
1B41 16:12 London Bridge to Brighton
1W97 17:38 Brighton to Bedford