Great Western Railway Heathrow Express Class 387 Refittment and Service Updates

[JN114]

That’s no different to a GWR 387 now

 

[absolutelymilk]

Via the blog Head For Points, Heathrow Express management are now saying that the 387s won't be in service until March 2020.

Do you have a link to the article itself? I can't find anything about the new date on there

 

[Gagravarr]

Looks like the Head For Points article has been subsequently edited to remove the bit on the HEX change. Possibly they hadn't meant that bit of the discussion to be published...

 

[sgraIRL]

Looks like the Head For Points article has been subsequently edited to remove the bit on the HEX change. Possibly they hadn't meant that bit of the discussion to be published...

I'm happy with the delay anyway, gives me a chance to catch the 3 HEx Class 332s that I am missing.

 

[fgwrich]

57305 + 387133 On the move today with the 5Q58 from Bombardier Ilford to Old Dalby.

 

[3973EXL]

5Q50 1052 Reading Depot - Ilford
57306 387136

 

[T-Karmel]

I'm happy with the delay anyway, gives me a chance to catch the 3 HEx Class 332s that I am missing.

Hope you're not missing on 332014? This one's dead and used for parts.

 

[317 forever]

I can't tell whether these will be refurbished and given a new moquette, or just keep current GWR seating.

 

[T-Karmel]

I can't tell whether these will be refurbished and given a new moquette, or just keep current GWR seating.

They already have removed the moquette from all the seats, I don't see the reason to put the same one back on them. Especially because HEX sees itself as a premium brand and wants to deliver a high quality product to a passenger. Which means a matching interior to its purple grey colours rather then mixing it up with some green.

 

[317 forever]

They already have removed the moquette from all the seats, I don't see the reason to put the same one back on them. Especially because HEX sees itself as a premium brand and wants to deliver a high quality product to a passenger. Which means a matching interior to its purple grey colours rather then mixing it up with some green.

OK thanks, and yes it does mean people get something extra for paying Heathrow Express fares. I do now plan to ride one after all.

 

[MatthewRead]

How long will it be before the first 387's are in service on Heathrow Express?

 

[JN114]

How long will it be before the first 387's are in service on Heathrow Express?

Spring at the earliest

 

[3973EXL]

5D74 Philips Marsh - Reading off Didcot 1413
57305 387131/132

 

[UnlimitedMagic]

They were due to come at the start of GWR’s December timetable change but I’m not seeing some
Maybe the date was postponed or something?

 

[Clarence Yard]

The ETCS position on the Heathrow branch has delayed driver training and service introduction. Looking like September now and that is if the ETCS testing and sign off goes well.

 

[Chris125]

The ETCS position on the Heathrow branch has delayed driver training and service introduction. Looking like September now and that is if the ETCS testing and sign off goes well.

Have any 387s had ETCS fitted yet?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

So with 345's now running the reading stoppers are there must be a fair few of these now sitting idle or at least released for there full conversion

 

[swt_passenger]

Have any 387s had ETCS fitted yet?

Please see this post (from October):
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...nd-service-updates.179590/page-4#post-4260205

edited following thread merge...

 

[the-man]

Hope you're not missing on 332014? This one's dead and used for parts.

Where is it ?...old oak ? Thanks

 

[cactustwirly]

So with 345's now running the reading stoppers are there must be a fair few of these now sitting idle or at least released for there full conversion

Not really, plenty of 387s are still needed for the residual stopping services, especially during the weekday peaks.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Not really, plenty of 387s are still needed for the residual stopping services, especially during the weekday peaks.

How they are going to free up the units then? More intensive diagraming?

 

[Energy]

How they are going to free up the units then? More intensive diagraming?

Purple Train services have taken over some 387 services, the ones which are now no longer needed are being used for HeX.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Purple Train services have taken over some 387 services, the ones which are now no longer needed are being used for HeX.

As i thought hence my observation in #167 that there must be a few sitting around now

 

[cactustwirly]

As i thought hence my observation in #167 that there must be a few sitting around now

The 345s only released like 10 of the 45 units

 

[Chris125]

Please see this post (from October):
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...nd-service-updates.179590/page-4#post-4260205

edited following thread merge...

Thanks for that, any idea if it's been tested anywhere yet?

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for that, any idea if it's been tested anywhere yet?

Haven’t been keeping up, sorry.

 

[Siemens Staines]

The 345s only released like 10 of the 45 units

I thought that it was 12 units that were being moved over to HEX duties (387130-141)? Only 387141 of this group still seems to be in active use with GWR. 387137 & 387138 are (or at least were a week or so ago) still in West Ealing sidings where they have been since the timetable change. I assumed that all were just awaiting their turn to be called to Ilford but perhaps I am wrong (again!)

 

[JN114]

387137 and 138 are “spare” sets at West Ealing until they need to go to Ilford - they can be used for traffic but thus far have not been called upon.

 

[T-Karmel]

Where is it ?...old oak ? Thanks

Yes, it stays in the depot for last who knows how many years. Usually by the fence next to relief line, but recently they moved it closer to the depot building. You can see it from any train passing by there and it's easy to realise which one it is - lights cover at the front, some panel next to the lights at the front, A/C above the cab and pantograph are removed. It's quite spooky train

 

[the-man]

Yes, it stays in the depot for last who knows how many years. Usually by the fence next to relief line, but recently they moved it closer to the depot building. You can see it from any train passing by there and it's easy to realise which one it is - lights cover at the front, some panel next to the lights at the front, A/C above the cab and pantograph are removed. It's quite spooky train

Thank you..