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Post by snoggle on Feb 26, 2018 17:15:04 GMT
Looks like the first two trains through the Canal Tunnels have got through successfully complete with cup cakes for the lucky passengers. I had hoped to make it but couldn't in the end. There are two more planned from the north leaving Finsbury Park at 14:29 to Horsham and 15:11 to brighton. I know the novelty isn’t there being on the first trains but for reference. I took the somewhat delayed 1429 from Finsbury Park to New X Gate. The train was running 15 late from Peterborough. The GTR staff bearing cakes and leaflets duly turned up just before the train. All in all a little uneventful once on the move which is what you'd ideally want. Nice smooth run down from FP and into the tunnels with no delays. Obviously a lot of people alighted at St Pancras and not many boarded. As the cakes were being walked through the poor chap handing them out was berated by a passenger whose train had been told to run fast so he missed the train as it zoomed through where he was waiting. Based on his comments this seems to be standard practice. We got through the core OK but were held just outside London Bridge. Looking at realtimetrains it seems we were right behind the 1502 to Brighton. On arrival a decent number of people boarded the train as it clearly replaces a normal Horsham train. Once we left the 700 moved at a very decent pace and went over and through the flyover very smartly. I got off at NXG where 1/3 of the train was hanging off the end of the platform. It was my first ride on a 700. Not impressed with the legroom or footwell intrusion at a window seat. While I didn't find the seat agonising it wasn't exactly comfortable either. The trains themselves are very smooth, quiet and fast where the line speed allows. Oh and the cake was decent - just ate it while composing this. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2018 17:20:40 GMT
I went through the Canal Tunnels this afternoon. Thameslink staff handing out leaflets and free cupcakes on the first trains. Cupcakes: Departing Finsbury Park: Inside the Canal Tunnels:
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Post by TA1 on Feb 26, 2018 22:07:14 GMT
There are two more planned from the north leaving Finsbury Park at 14:29 to Horsham and 15:11 to brighton. I know the novelty isn’t there being on the first trains but for reference. I took the somewhat delayed 1429 from Finsbury Park to New X Gate. The train was running 15 late from Peterborough. The GTR staff bearing cakes and leaflets duly turned up just before the train. All in all a little uneventful once on the move which is what you'd ideally want. Nice smooth run down from FP and into the tunnels with no delays. Obviously a lot of people alighted at St Pancras and not many boarded. As the cakes were being walked through the poor chap handing them out was berated by a passenger whose train had been told to run fast so he missed the train as it zoomed through where he was waiting. Based on his comments this seems to be standard practice. We got through the core OK but were held just outside London Bridge. Looking at realtimetrains it seems we were right behind the 1502 to Brighton. On arrival a decent number of people boarded the train as it clearly replaces a normal Horsham train. Once we left the 700 moved at a very decent pace and we over and through the flyover very smartly. I got off at NXG where 1/3 of the train was hanging off the end of the platform. It was my first ride on a 700. Not impressed with the legroom or footwell intrusion at a window seat. While I didn't find the seat agonising it wasn't exactly comfortable either. The trains themselves are very smooth, quiet and fast where the line speed allows. Oh and the cake was decent - just ate it while composing this. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) I was on the same train as you, but Only did it from FPK to STP. The plan was for the GTR staff to ride all trains through the Canal tunnels and had out the leaflets and cupcakes as you saw. The run was smooth because of the delays the service incurred on it's Peterborough bound journey due to a speed restriction implemented in the Welwyn GC area hence the signallers and control attempted to recover as much time as possible. Yes, It's a very common working to omit stops to provide a RT backworking in some cases. Like I had today with the 0634 KGX-PBO a RLU 700 which suffered a unit fault. I still work at FPK for the next few months and it's a frequent practice to write Special Stop/Do no stop orders etc. I don't mind the 700's don't get to travel on them frequently, I will look forward to driving the 313's in their last few months and there replacements in due course ![(puke)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sick.png) , and you took only one cupcake? As I sit staring at my three remaining. Glad you enjoyed the trip. All in all was a great success to the Thameslink2000 programme, albeit 18 years late.
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Post by Connor on Feb 26, 2018 22:19:19 GMT
I don't mind the 700's don't get to travel on them frequently, I will look forward to driving the 313's in their last few months and there replacements in due course ![(puke)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sick.png) , and you took only one cupcake? As I sit staring at my three remaining. Glad you enjoyed the trip. All in all was a great success to the Thameslink2000 programme, albeit 18 years late. Cannot wait for the 717's to arrive, the new semi fastish WGC-Moorgate services and the life expired 313 to leave! Long overdue IMO. And there seems to be some delay with GTR releasing the new May 2018 timetables, I understand that they were supposed to be online by Saturday?
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Post by snoggle on Feb 26, 2018 22:42:29 GMT
I don't mind the 700's don't get to travel on them frequently, I will look forward to driving the 313's in their last few months and there replacements in due course ![(puke)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sick.png) , and you took only one cupcake? As I sit staring at my three remaining. Glad you enjoyed the trip. All in all was a great success to the Thameslink2000 programme, albeit 18 years late. I guess you were on the platform at F Pk but nearer to the stairs. I saw a couple of 313s come in and the notable thing is how very lightly loaded they were. I can't help but think that if those lines were on the Overground and better publicised that they'd see much better off peak usage. I know they're busy in the peaks - always have been. Although I have a bit of a sweet tooth I am not a fan of cup cakes. They have become a dreadful, overpriced "mucked about" product where too many people try to be oh so clever with flavours and just end up creating a mess. For what is a very basic sponge base and a topping that is butter and icing sugar people charge outrageous prices. The Thameslink one was nice enough but not sure I'd want a load of them. It never crossed my mind to pick more than one.
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Post by snowman on Mar 9, 2018 13:21:11 GMT
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Post by 700101 on Mar 11, 2018 17:53:44 GMT
2 extra Thameslink services will operate through the Canal Tunnels from tomorrow
9S27 - 1124 - Cambridge - Brighton via LBG 9S36 - 1432 - Brighton - Cambridge via LBG
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Post by TNL33036 on Mar 13, 2018 12:55:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2018 15:16:35 GMT
Seven-One-Sevens.
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Post by snoggle on Mar 20, 2018 17:05:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2018 17:09:20 GMT
(Snoggle and me posted at the same time!) Thameslink first with ATO over ETCS www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/thameslink-first-with-ato-over-etcs.html "UK: Working with Network Rail and Siemens,commuter operator Govia Thameslink Railway has successfully operated its first passenger-carrying train using ATO over ETCS Level 2. On March 17 a southbound eight-car Thameslink train to Three Bridges operated automatically through the cross-city core between St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink and London Blackfriars, transitioning into ETCS Level 2 on its approach from Kentish Town and back to conventional signalling between Blackfriars and Elephant & Castle. GTR is using Grade of Operation 2, with the driver checking the platforms, closing the doors and initiating departure from each station. The Siemens-built Class 700 EMU ran between stops using the ATO and cab signalling, opening the doors automatically at the next station. ‘This is a real “world first” and I’m delighted’, said GTR’s Systems Integration Manager Jim Doughty. ‘It is the culmination of a programme which has been running continuously since the start of the £7bn Thameslink Programme. This cutting-edge system will allow us to run our high-intensity Thameslink service of up to 24 trains/h each way, offering 70% more seats through the centre of London’. The project partners have run nearly 200 night and day shifts of testing since April 2016 when dynamic proving trials began at Network Rail’s ETCS National Integration Facility at Hertford North. Testing of ATO over ETCS started in November of that year. ETCS Level 2 has been overlaid on the conventional lineside signalling through the Thameslink core, with short blocks allowing trains to operate at closer headways. GTR has had to demonstrate to regulator ORR that it has amended its Health & Safety Management System to operate trains in passenger service using both ETCS and ATO. It has also started a comprehensive driver training programme ready for the launch of full ATO working between St Pancras and Blackfriars at 22 trains/h from May 2019 and through to London Bridge from December 2019. Network Rail’s Project Director for High Capacity Infrastructure, Martin Chatfield, said ‘seeing the first UK mainline train running in ATO for passenger services is a truly momentous day for the Thameslink Programme and the wider industry teams involved. This underlines the combined efforts of NR, the supply chain, and the train operators over the past five years."
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Post by 700101 on Mar 26, 2018 15:52:49 GMT
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Post by ADH45258 on Apr 4, 2018 21:02:37 GMT
With ThamesLink (and therefore class 700s) due to take over more services from Southern and Great Northern, will this free up enough 377s and 387s to withdrawn the remaining 313s and 365s?
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Post by snoggle on Apr 4, 2018 22:12:39 GMT
With ThamesLink (and therefore class 700s) due to take over more services from Southern and Great Northern, will this free up enough 377s and 387s to withdrawn the remaining 313s and 365s? 313s will remain on Great Northern until replaced by new 717s - due later this year I believe. I thought some 365s were remaining with Great Northern but not 100% sure on that. Don't know what is happening on the Coastway and whether the 313s will remain there or not.
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Post by TA1 on Apr 4, 2018 22:52:05 GMT
With ThamesLink (and therefore class 700s) due to take over more services from Southern and Great Northern, will this free up enough 377s and 387s to withdrawn the remaining 313s and 365s? 313s will remain on Great Northern until replaced by new 717s - due later this year I believe. I thought some 365s were remaining with Great Northern but not 100% sure on that. Don't know what is happening on the Coastway and whether the 313s will remain there or not. To clarify, 25x6 car 717's are due to replace the 313/0 & 313/1 fleet operating in and out of London Moorgate from the Summer until next year. 19 x 4car 365's will be retained to operate peak hour services to Peterborough and Baldock out of London King's Cross and will not run through the core. The 387's will continue to run King's Cross - Ely & King's Lynn services. The 313's on the coastway are being retained until the end of the franchise at the moment, but things often change.
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