Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

... quite probable, I had thought about it being the 800s, although vaguely ruled it out with the near daily test runs they have been doing between North Pole and Bristol at the moment. Seems pointless to limit runs to such a short section when longer ones are currently being done, but makes sense if its for driver training purposes.

The test runs will at some stage start run during the day under electric power between Reading and Didcot possibly as part of Driver training.

[ChrisB]

he current 387 diagrams are thus -

Here are the diagrams:
 
 Diagram 1
 2S07 0718 HAY-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) 0740
 2S48 1718 PAD-HAY 1739
 5S52 1741 HAY-PAD 1841
 2S52 1848 PAD-HAY 1909
 2S53 1924 HAY-PAD 1944
 
 Diagram 2
 2S09 0715 PAD HAY 0733
 2S10 0748 HAY PAD 0810
 2S56 1915 PAD HAY 1936
 2S57 1954 HAY PAD 2014

[Electric train]

he current 387 diagrams are thus -

Here are the diagrams:
 
 Diagram 1
 2S07 0718 HAY-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) 0740
 2S48 1718 PAD-HAY 1739
 5S52 1741 HAY-PAD 1841
 2S52 1848 PAD-HAY 1909
 2S53 1924 HAY-PAD 1944
 
 Diagram 2
 2S09 0715 PAD HAY 0733
 2S10 0748 HAY PAD 0810
 2S56 1915 PAD HAY 1936
 2S57 1954 HAY PAD 2014

Steady on .......... with such an intensive diagrams as these the units will get worn out     

Did see them out and about today

[IndustryInsider]

Don't think enough drivers are passed out to run any more at the moment!

[Surrey 455]

Don't think enough drivers are passed out to run any more at the moment!

Do they have to be passed out? Wouldn't a healthy wide awake driver be better on this route?

[chuffed]

Think it is more likely to be the passengers who will 'pass out' at the sight of a shiny new train...but they will soon recover their equilibrium when they find out it's not long enough......

[BBM]

No danger tonight of anyone passing out at the sight of these trains as according to Realtimetrains both diagrams were cancelled.

[Electric train]

Don't think enough drivers are passed out to run any more at the moment!

Do they have to be passed out? Wouldn't a healthy wide awake driver be better on this route?

Totally different form of traction, the acceleration and breaking is totally different to the turbos. 
The drives need to know what ADD^▸ (Automatic Dropping Device) is,
What to do at Neutral Sections
The breaking is totally different to a turbo the 387 have regen breaking.   
All the emergency systems are different, the location of rests and equipment isolation are all different.
The coupling / uncoupling of units is very different. 
Also 387 have incab monitors for DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))


The drivers being trained are already highly skilled so will pick it up very quickly and I am sure are looking forward to the challenge of learning the new units

(ADD - automatic dropping device a safety system associated with the pantographs)

[Adelante_CCT]

Looks as if the Class 387 drags to Reading Depot using Class 57s have been pencilled in to be used when required as follows:
TWThO from December 13th onwards
0R87 09:09 OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) to West Ealing Loop (Class 57)
5R87 10:00 West Ealing Loop to Reading TD (Class 57/387)
5G87 12:21 Reading TD to West Ealing Loop (Class 57/387)
0G87 14:32 West Ealing Loop to OOC (Class 57)

[The Tall Controller]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have recently purchased a couple of additional 57s. Presumably to do 387 drags.

[ellendune]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have recently purchased a couple of additional 57s. Presumably to do 387 drags.

Can they also stand in when the Sleeper loco breaks down?

[The Tall Controller]

Providing the breakdown is in the London area and doesn't has an impact on getting the 387s out the next morning then it should be possible.

[paul7575]

New unit 387136 reported elsewhere delivered to North Pole last night.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Took my first trip today.  Very impressed with the trains, the best Class 377/387 interior in my opinion.

However I was very unimpressed to see several people left behind at West Ealing when the Greenford shuttle left on time despite people visibly running down the platform to try and connect with it having alighted from a slightly delayed Hayes service.  A 5 minute connection hold policy should be enforced as the goodwill of commuters from the Greenford branch needs to be maintained as they have ended up worse off as a result of these changes.

[Adelante_CCT]

I'm guessing you are referring to the 19:15 then II? as the 17:18/18:48 services aren't suppose to connect, if that is the case then yes, it really should wait, especially as it then has a 30 minute wait at West Ealing on its next trip back.