EMR Class 360's

[Trainman40083]

Tha ks everyone for the explanation. Seems far from ideal though, because Three Bridges would be south of St Pancras and therefore not accessible for the 360s. I knew about work being done at Northampton but there's no easy way of getting there - for example, a passenger wanting to travel from Wellingborough (on the MML) to Northampton would have to go via Leicester and Nuneaton, so I assume trains would have to take a similar route (or, as mentioned, going via a London spur). In either case, they can't go via their own traction.

The more concerning thing is, if EMR are keeping the 360s long term (instead of getting more bi-modes like the 80x) then I can't see a way of this situation improving, not whilst major maintenance facilities are not on the MML. I've also not heard of such low reliability figures before - 11 or less out of 21 is not good!

Class 360s going to Northampton for maintenance get dragged along the Bedford to Bletchley section, then up to Northampton

 

[westcoaster]

Anyone know what's up with 360111, it has been parked up at Cricklewood for months on end now (pan down). Last time I saw it in service was February.

 

[Supercoss]

111 waiting for a tow to a depot that has jacking facilities to allow part to be fitted, no Jacking facilities yet at Bedford Cauldwell

 

[Wyrleybart]

111 waiting for a tow to a depot that has jacking facilities to allow part to be fitted, no Jacking facilities yet at Bedford Cauldwell

Really ? Did they take away the kit that was used to maintain the 319s there, or were there never ever jacks at Cauldwell ? It seems odd that a unit sitting in the greater London area cannot be fettled. But there again, I don't suppose it would be route cleared to be hauled to Hornsey or Bounds Green or Old Oak.

 

[westcoaster]

Thameslink jacks/lifts were removed, EMR now have there own jacks in the depot.

 

[Supercoss]

360s are gauge cleared to be hauled via St Pancras low level to reverse then via Canal Tunnels, Belle Isle Finsbury Park , the only issue is the Canal Tunnels all 3/4 of a mile have not yet been gauge cleared for Locomotives !
( only 31 33/2 and 73 permitted at St Pancras low level With certain restrictions so a move hauled by another EMU would be necessary .

 

[Mikey C]

Had a couple of trips today on the 360s, and all the services seemed to have 8 cars. Is this normal now?

 

[Ladder23]

Had a couple of trips today on the 360s, and all the services seemed to have 8 cars. Is this normal now?

I had a 4 car yesterday.

 

[spotify95]

Had a couple of trips today on the 360s, and all the services seemed to have 8 cars. Is this normal now?

Most of the time it has been 8, but I have seen a couple of 4s recently.

I always check the EMR website and if it says on the London to Corby route, "changes to on train facilities", then something is being reduced to 4 car... which is not great when you need just 12 of 21 units for all 8 car operation!

 

[Trainman40083]

Most of the time it has been 8, but I have seen a couple of 4s recently.

I always check the EMR website and if it says on the London to Corby route, "changes to on train facilities", then something is being reduced to 4 car... which is not great when you need just 12 of 21 units for all 8 car operation!

If you need just 12 units out of 21 for all 8 car operation, it seems that 21 units is too high. Are they expecting to run 12 car trains or, eventually run them to Leicester?

 

[Trainbike46]

If you need just 12 units out of 21 for all 8 car operation, it seems that 21 units is too high. Are they expecting to run 12 car trains or, eventually run them to Leicester?

I believe the plan is for all 12-car operation in time, yes, so then you'd need 18 units in service, out of 21

 

[InTheEastMids]

I believe the plan is for all 12-car operation in time, yes, so then you'd need 18 units in service, out of 21

How much time? (Yes, I am being sarcastic)
But yes the original, pre-covid plan was for many of the EMR Connect services to be 12-car.

Are they expecting to run 12 car trains or, eventually run them to Leicester?

Leicester electrification still has no date; the wires will finish at Wigston junctions for now. Even if it extension was announced on day 1 of the new Government, it's hard to see it being finished before 2027 (and it seems Syston-Trent is the next bit to be done).

Whilst it's believable that the GB railway could lease a fleet around 2020 and not be able to fully utilise it until 2027 (given current issues like 807s/Liverpool power), it's not the case here.

The idea of running them to Leicester instead of / as well as 810s comes up every so often on here and - as far as I can tell - absolutely nowhere else.

 

[Starmill]

How much time? (Yes, I am being sarcastic)
But yes the original, pre-covid plan was for many of the EMR Connect services to be 12-car.


Leicester electrification still has no date; the wires will finish at Wigston junctions for now. Even if it extension was announced on day 1 of the new Government, it's hard to see it being finished before 2027 (and it seems Syston-Trent is the next bit to be done).

Whilst it's believable that the GB railway could lease a fleet around 2020 and not be able to fully utilise it until 2027 (given current issues like 807s/Liverpool power), it's not the case here.

The idea of running them to Leicester instead of / as well as 810s comes up every so often on here and - as far as I can tell - absolutely nowhere else.

Indeed - the key reason for leasing the fleet in this way was to reduce the gaps in service at Wellingborough, and to provide capacity for office commuters from Bedford and Luton, and in a smaller way serve the new passengers to Luton Airport, and gave some capacity back to EMR Intercity services in the AM peak. This also released fleet and capacity on Thameslink Bedford services, largely for the office commuters from Harpenden and southwards. That demand has changed so much it doesn't really require the fleet to do that job any more in the same way.

 

[Mikey C]

Yes the 360 services are faster and nicer than the 700 ones, but unless you are actually going to the STP area, the interchange to and from the Underground or Thameslink at STP is quite a faff (especially with the cramped and inconvenient EMR platforms) when compared to just getting a through Thameslink train, so I wonder how many people from Luton or Bedford actually switched?

 

[westcoaster]

360111 was at Bedford Cauldwell depot on Monday, so must have moved end of last week or over the weekend.

First time it's moved/ powered up in 4 1/2 months, all doors were opened so must be freshening it up. Can't imagine sitting idle, doors shut would be the best environment inside after all that time.

 

[Supercoss]

111 now back at Cricklewood out of use again