I'm not in the least bit surprised. With their current 2+3 seating and total lack of tables they're certainly a comfort downgrade. While the seats were retrimmed a few years ago, the interiors are untouched, including the carpets.
The layout has been another source of frustration. I think that users of the route have gone from HSTs-->Meridian's-->360s over the years - at least the changeover to Meridian's still left them with an Intercity train but I get the impression (and that is all it is as I've not travelled myself) from what I read that the 360s don't have that Intercity feel and are more of a commuter train
Yes, they're very much a commuter train in their current format. Without tables and only one toilet they are actually lower spec than the 350s and 450s.
With respect to the toilet thing that's accurate. 350/2s don't have tables either.
OK then - most 350s.
If it wasn’t for acceleration, fleet size and leasing costs, the 379s would’ve been a much better fit for the Corby service IMO (not that I hate the 360s, they just got stung by the lack of investment in them over the years...)
You're probably right about it that, it's a similar distance from London to Northampton.
By all accounts that's exactly what the refurbishment will achieve.
What do you mean by acceleration? Surely the 360/1 and 379 are very comparable.
The 360 outranks the 379 on acceleration I believe - 0.98ms/2 on a 360 compared to 0.72ms/2 on a 379. The 379 only has the advantage in that it’s newer and has a more appropriate interior.
I think the 360 might also have the advantage that it has scope for a significantly high MTIN under Siemens care, something which I think Bombardier would struggle, not that they have ever looked after their own EMU’s directly to provide a like for like comparison.
That is true - then again Electrostars have been maintained at Cauldwell in the past. Either that or seeing as they’re cleared through the Thameslink core, maintenance at Hornsey would’ve been reasonable also.
Neither is really an advantage - the interior in the 360 can be made appropriate - indeed if a refit is happening, it is better to use the train with the interior more in need of being updated - the problem is that it hasn't happened yet which is a shame. I dont think the age difference matters - the designs are broadly contemporary.
Off topic but completely right. 387s and 700s have near identical seats, although the 700 rides slightly better at speed.
The other advantage of the 379 over the 360 would have been end gangways.
However, I believe these cannot (or usually do not) open in service due to uncouplings in service
Certainly the last few times I've travelled on 379s the gangways have been closed.
What I was told by a source at Greater Anglia it is simply that they cannot be bothered to open and close the gangways when coupling/uncoupling due to the number of internal doors involved so decided to leave them closed. It's the 317s where a potential uncoupling issue was detected.
Guessing this is a DOO issue. But on TL we ran 377 and 387 is service with doors open.
Nothing to do with DOO. For a service with a significant travel time to the first stop, and platform access behind the buffer stops, it makes sense to have through gangways to allow passengers to distribute down the train and on-train staff to get to all the passengers. Especially if EMR continues the traditional practice of not letting people onto the platform at St Pancras until a few minutes before departure.
There are 455+456+456 formations on SWR (I caught one last week) so clearly not a problem there.
But yes, very good points.
