Heathrow Connect Unit 360 205

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

Caught this unit form Ealing to Hayes last night on a Connect service.

Only one genuine passenger to LHR plus I think an overcarry who was desparately looking out as it left Hayes.

Was suprised to find it branded in Heathrow Express colours! Minus internal TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) screens. Whereas 204 still in Connect colours.

Also if it's branded Heathrow Express has it been ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) fitted?

[IndustryInsider]

It's used almost exclusively on the Heathrow Express shuttle service from Terminals 1/2 to Terminal 4, though if there's a shortage of availability on the Connect Class 360's then it can occasionally turn up on one of them.  It's fitted with ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection), as are the other 4 trains used on the Connect service - ATP is fitted to both main and relief lines as far as Airport Junction.

[inspector_blakey]

They must have to take some serious precauations to stop the driver on the T123 to T4 shuttle going absolutely stir-crazy! Bumbling between Paddington and Heathrow all day would be bad enough, but I can't imagine what it must be like to go back and forth on a journey of a couple of minutes underground for an entire shift. I wonder if they borrowed some rostering patterns from the Waterloo and City drivers on LUL^▸ (London Underground Ltd)...

[ChrisB]

There's usually an agreed number of trips that any driver can do on the trip like that....similar to the 2 or 3 round trips Reading / Basingstoke before they (usually) go off on a Gatwick run.

[eightf48544]

Thanks for the info Industry Insider that's one puzzle solved.

Should have realised the 360s would have ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) fitted. Didn't realise the Reliefs were fitted to Airport Jnction.

[Surrey 455]

It's used almost exclusively on the Heathrow Express shuttle service from Terminals 1/2 to Terminal 4

They must have to take some serious precauations to stop the driver on the T123 to T4 shuttle going absolutely stir-crazy!

Heathrow Connect services PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) currently announces this station as something like "Heathrow Terminals 1 and 3" or "Heathrow Central for Terminals 1 and 3". Can't remember which one they use but this is because Terminal 2 closed  a year or 2 ago, has been demolished, but will be rebuilt as a larger terminal. Terminal 1 will eventually close. Can't remember if T2 will expand into where T1 is now or if it just takes over the existing T1 piers and stands.

[IndustryInsider]

Yep, sorry, I meant Terminals 1 & 3.

[HexDriver]

Maximum amount of trips are blocks of 6 round trips which means that drivers get lots of breaks and as theres two drivers (one at each end) its seen as a good opportunity to read a book or should i say almost essential.

Interestingly 360205 has seats in a 2 2 configuration which gives the impression of having a lot more space compared to the other units

[IndustryInsider]

Thanks for that, HexDriver - I didn't realise they'd altered the seating as well.  Is there any reason why they chose to convert a Class 360 over using one of their Class 332's?  There's 14 of them, and by all accounts always seems to be a fair few sitting spare in the depot.

[HexDriver]

At the depot they always have at least one spare should something happen to a hex unit in service while the others are having their various exams done because the units are used a lot more intensively than say fgw units