Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

One more unit, 387174, to be accepted I believe.  Plus four more should become available from May when the Hayes trains become Heathrow trains operated by 345s.  That’s assuming 345s are available in enough numbers by then as they have had more than their fair share of issues.

[a-driver]

Class 345 fleet is really struggling. Even a petition up and running asking for them to be withdrawn until they are fit for service!
https://www.change.org/p/bombardier-force-bombardier-to-re-call-the-brand-new-class-345-trains-until-they-are-fit-for-service

[Thatcham Crossing]

Lets all hope they get fixed before Crossrail starts in our part of the world then!

[a-driver]

Lets all hope they get fixed before Crossrail starts in our part of the world then!

Yep. You don’t want a Cl 345 blocking the relief and a failed IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) on the main. 

That sort of availability on the 387’s is pretty much what the whole fleet is like.

[lordgoata]

Class 345 fleet is really struggling. Even a petition up and running asking for them to be withdrawn until they are fit for service!
https://www.change.org/p/bombardier-force-bombardier-to-re-call-the-brand-new-class-345-trains-until-they-are-fit-for-service

"the air conditioning is never on", ah bliss, will be just like being back on the turbos then ...

Oh I can't wait for Crossrail to reach Reading, it will so much improve my journey to work

[Electric train]

One more unit, 387174, to be accepted I believe.  Plus four more should become available from May when the Hayes trains become Heathrow trains operated by 345s.  That’s assuming 345s are available in enough numbers by then as they have had more than their fair share of issues.

Don't forget the Newbury services are still to be added.   

I forecast more 4 car services than the hype lead folk to believe in the short term until full the Crossrail introduction 

[NickB]

First time on the 12 carriage 18.19 to Didcot tonight.
Why does it feel like there is less capacity than on the always overcrowded 6 car 18.18?

Unable to board the front 4 cars due to overcrowding. Next 4 are standing through the aisles 9mins before departure.

[ITGuy]

First time on the 12 carriage 18.19 to Didcot tonight.
Why does it feel like there is less capacity than on the always overcrowded 6 car 18.18?

Unable to board the front 4 cars due to overcrowding. Next 4 are standing through the aisles 9mins before departure.

It was only 8 cars tonight

[IndustryInsider]

One more unit, 387174, to be accepted I believe.  Plus four more should become available from May when the Hayes trains become Heathrow trains operated by 345s.  That’s assuming 345s are available in enough numbers by then as they have had more than their fair share of issues.

Don't forget the Newbury services are still to be added.   

I forecast more 4 car services than the hype lead folk to believe in the short term until full the Crossrail introduction 

Yes, although Newbury won’t be until the end of the year at the earliest, by which time it’s quite possible that IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)’s will operate some  of the semi-fasts.  It’ll be a very fluid situation until Crossrail starts at the end of 2019.

[NickB]

First time on the 12 carriage 18.19 to Didcot tonight.
Why does it feel like there is less capacity than on the always overcrowded 6 car 18.18?

Unable to board the front 4 cars due to overcrowding. Next 4 are standing through the aisles 9mins before departure.

It was only 8 cars tonight

Really? We were still being told about it being split at Reading.
It felt like I did a lot of walking up and down the platform looking for a carriage I could join too.

[Sixty3Closure]

First time on the 12 carriage 18.19 to Didcot tonight.
Why does it feel like there is less capacity than on the always overcrowded 6 car 18.18?

Unable to board the front 4 cars due to overcrowding. Next 4 are standing through the aisles 9mins before departure.

I wonder if some of that is due to timetable changes that don't quite seem to match requirements? Loss of Henley trains, changes to services to Maidenhead/Twyford and some fast services still being Turbos and so quite often shrinking/being cancelled means I'm now more likely to get that train than I was in the past.

[SandTEngineer]

One more unit, 387174, to be accepted I believe.  Plus four more should become available from May when the Hayes trains become Heathrow trains operated by 345s.  That’s assuming 345s are available in enough numbers by then as they have had more than their fair share of issues.

....and if the new Crossrail Old Oak Common depot is open (its already 9 months late) 

[Thatcham Crossing]

by which time it’s quite possible that IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)’s will operate some  of the semi-fasts.

I don't think that can happen until the turnback siding at Bedwyn is extended, and don't know what the timeline is for that?

[grahame]

by which time it’s quite possible that IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)’s will operate some  of the semi-fasts.

I don't think that can happen until the turnback siding at Bedwyn is extended, and don't know what the timeline is for that?

Or until the semi-fasts are extend to Westbury  ...

[IndustryInsider]

by which time it’s quite possible that IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)’s will operate some  of the semi-fasts.

I don't think that can happen until the turnback siding at Bedwyn is extended, and don't know what the timeline is for that?

I meant some of the semi-fasts currently operated by 387s rather than B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) services, though I would expect many of those serving Bedwyn in the peaks to be IETs coming through from further afield like they do now.  A few Turbos will also probably remain until at least mid-2019.

The current off-peak Reading to Newbury service utilises two Turbo units very inefficiency (30 minute turnarounds at both ends).  I wonder whether the improved performance of the EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) will make operating it with one unit possible?  I suspect not quite as you’d probably need to save 5 minutes on the journey times to make it robust enough, but that would be highly desirable operationally if it could be done.