Heathrow Express 332s

[whole diary]

[paul7755]

Seems to be hard to track down previous stuff about this, (the upcoming operation of HEx by GWR 387s is covered in the TfL section for some strange reason), but this morning saw two 332 units hauled to Sims at Newport for scrap.  Another was taken by road to be scrapped a few weeks ago.

I?d anticipate they?ll all be gone by Christmas.

Paul

[grahame]

Seems to be hard to track down previous stuff about this, (the upcoming operation of HEx by GWR 387s is covered in the TfL section for some strange reason), but this morning saw two 332 units hauled to Sims at Newport for scrap.  Another was taken by road to be scrapped a few weeks ago.

I?d anticipate they?ll all be gone by Christmas.

Paul

Noting the potential need for a thread move. Hands full at the moment but will take a look afterwards.

Going wider, noting pictures of class 153 units (? carriages) in "long term store" in Burton-on-Trent; reminds me off where we started with 153s in store at Eastleigh while there was a cry for more services in certain places.   

[IndustryInsider]

I think they're keeping a few until early next year to allow for any cock-ups during the transition phase, but training and testing of the 387s is largely complete I believe.  Complete enough to run a full service at least.

Obviously a young age to send a train for scrap at just over 20 years, especially an EMU, but they are in a pretty knackered state. 

[rogerw]

Parts are being recovered for use in the similar west Yorkshire units

[stuving]

Seems to be hard to track down previous stuff about this, (the upcoming operation of HEx by GWR 387s is covered in the TfL section for some strange reason), but this morning saw two 332 units hauled to Sims at Newport for scrap.  Another was taken by road to be scrapped a few weeks ago.

I?d anticipate they?ll all be gone by Christmas.

Paul

Noting the potential need for a thread move. Hands full at the moment but will take a look afterwards.

The other board was renamed less than to years ago  see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=21106.0. Grahame's rationale was:

As of 24th February (2019 for anyone finding this is the archive), some Coffee Shop boards have been re-arranged.  This board which was formerly Heathrow Express, Connect etc has been widened to cover any and all Transport for London services ... bearing in mind just how many of our members connect onwards to TfL services, and how TfL services are coming onto the lines out from Paddington too.   Heathrow services which are moving or have moved to GWR will be rehomed under Thames Valley Branches

So should it have been transport in London, rather than Transport For London? Heathrow is at least in Greater London ...

[eightonedee]

It does seem a little daft bearing in mind that a lot of money is being spent on the considerably 319s turning them (very slowly!) into 769s.

I have no doubt there is a practical reason why they could not have been converted, or indeed why someone could not add ancillary diesel engines to 387s to fill the same need. I'll let those who understand these things explain!

[stuving]

It does seem a little daft bearing in mind that a lot of money is being spent on the considerably 319s turning them (very slowly!) into 769s.

I have no doubt there is a practical reason why they could not have been converted, or indeed why someone could not add ancillary diesel engines to 387s to fill the same need. I'll let those who understand these things explain!

Perhaps the main reason is that there are too few of them (14), with too little in common with other fleets to make them a good prospect for maintenance.

[4064ReadingAbbey]

It does seem a little daft bearing in mind that a lot of money is being spent on the considerably 319s turning them (very slowly!) into 769s.

I have no doubt there is a practical reason why they could not have been converted, or indeed why someone could not add ancillary diesel engines to 387s to fill the same need. I'll let those who understand these things explain!

Perhaps the main reason is that there are too few of them (14), with too little in common with other fleets to make them a good prospect for maintenance.

Also they are only equipped with the Western's version of ATP. If they were to be used anywhere else then that would have to be stripped out and replaced by AWS/TPWS. For only 14 units would that be worth it?

[Electric train]

It does seem a little daft bearing in mind that a lot of money is being spent on the considerably 319s turning them (very slowly!) into 769s.

I have no doubt there is a practical reason why they could not have been converted, or indeed why someone could not add ancillary diesel engines to 387s to fill the same need. I'll let those who understand these things explain!

Perhaps the main reason is that there are too few of them (14), with too little in common with other fleets to make them a good prospect for maintenance.

The units have had problems with the bogies, the body shells are quite badly corroded.  At 20 years old hey would be due for a half life overhaul about now which BAA perhaps do not wish to fund, also the depot at OOC has to go to make way for HS2 which BAA would have to part fund the build of a new depot plus all the route clearance involved.  Whereas the 387 operated by GWR for BAA is a much more cost effective option

[IndustryInsider]

Also they are only equipped with the Western's version of ATP. If they were to be used anywhere else then that would have to be stripped out and replaced by AWS/TPWS. For only 14 units would that be worth it?

Given the likelihood of many other EMUs being surplus to requirements in the next couple of years that are younger, in better condition and more suitable, I think the answer is definitely no.