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Post by snoggle on Feb 11, 2016 15:19:50 GMT
700 109 was out for testing this afternoon. Seen as East Croydon  108 is also out and about (according to Twitter). There have snaps of the new trains popping up all week so the testing and driving training is obviously ramping up. Apparently the drivers like the new trains and the central driving position. |
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Post by Nathan on Feb 19, 2016 15:53:12 GMT
I just saw 700108 passing through West Norwood a few mins ago. These trains are looking pretty slick  I look forward to being able to board one soon. And I'm just wondering...how do you pronounce 'Govia'? Is it 'go-vee-ah' or 'go-via'? Sorry for the newbie question lol. |
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Post by snoggle on Feb 19, 2016 16:16:17 GMT
I just saw 700108 passing through West Norwood a few mins ago. These trains are looking pretty slick I look forward to being able to board one soon. And I'm just wondering...how do you pronounce 'Govia'? Is it 'go-vee-ah' or 'go-via'? Sorry for the newbie question lol. Is how I say it. |
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Post by T.R. on Feb 19, 2016 16:16:32 GMT
I just saw 700108 passing through West Norwood a few mins ago. These trains are looking pretty slick I look forward to being able to board one soon. And I'm just wondering...how do you pronounce 'Govia'? Is it 'go-vee-ah' or 'go-via'? Sorry for the newbie question lol. I've heard "go-vee-ah" most places. |
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Post by Nathan on Feb 19, 2016 16:37:47 GMT
I just saw 700108 passing through West Norwood a few mins ago. These trains are looking pretty slick I look forward to being able to board one soon. And I'm just wondering...how do you pronounce 'Govia'? Is it 'go-vee-ah' or 'go-via'? Sorry for the newbie question lol. Is how I say it. Hmm...I figured it might be this, as it sounds more...correct. I just saw 700108 passing through West Norwood a few mins ago. These trains are looking pretty slick I look forward to being able to board one soon. And I'm just wondering...how do you pronounce 'Govia'? Is it 'go-vee-ah' or 'go-via'? Sorry for the newbie question lol. I've heard "go-vee-ah" most places. On the other hand, this one doesn't quite sound right. |
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Post by rmz19 on Feb 19, 2016 16:38:40 GMT
I just saw 700108 passing through West Norwood a few mins ago. These trains are looking pretty slick I look forward to being able to board one soon. And I'm just wondering...how do you pronounce 'Govia'? Is it 'go-vee-ah' or 'go-via'? Sorry for the newbie question lol. I've heard "go-vee-ah" most places. I pronounce it 'go-via', it's a nice name but it doesn't beat Desiro and Adelante  |
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Post by TA1 on Feb 19, 2016 18:33:13 GMT
Go-via is how it's prounounced at work.
As aforementioned the 700/1 testing has intensified in preparation for their introduction later on in the spring.
A few of the class 387/2's have entered service on the thameslink route, to enable the existing the class 387/1's to receive modifications prior to transferring to GWR.
Govia are proposing to close a mass number of ticket offices and reconfigure station based roles. All in consultation stages at present
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Post by routew15 on Feb 25, 2016 9:11:05 GMT
The aesthetic of the exterior of the Class 700 are really impressive. i just hope the interior doesn't not let it down. From what I remember of the mock up it felt squashed/cramped and it could of been brighter. I look forward to catching a ride on the real thing.
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Post by YY13VKP on Mar 24, 2016 20:48:01 GMT
I wonder if GTR will keep their Class 455's beyond 2020. They are quite old, but they are still going strong, but could do with new traction equipment like the SWT ones are getting, and they could modify the interior like their owners (Eversholt) did with a similar build unit (a Class 321). I'd be really sad to see these go, as I've grown up around them, and one of the batch of 46 was the first train I ever travelled on.
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Post by snoggle on Mar 24, 2016 22:28:09 GMT
I wonder if GTR will keep their Class 455's beyond 2020. They are quite old, but they are still going strong, but could do with new traction equipment like the SWT ones are getting, and they could modify the interior like their owners (Eversholt) did with a similar build unit (a Class 321). I'd be really sad to see these go, as I've grown up around them, and one of the batch of 46 was the first train I ever travelled on. I doubt they will be replaced before then but this depends on DDA compliance and what if anything needs doing. There is no plan in the franchise for their replacement and I'm not aware of any cascade that would happen to shove them all out. Any replacement will depend on what decisions are taken with regard to a TfL takeover of inner area services. If they were to gain Southern's services then they'll be replaced pretty quickly. If a clear programme of TfL takeovers is agreed with the DfT then a big rolling programme of trains is likely to be ordered by TfL to replace all old stock on South Eastern, SWT and then Southern. This would be a very large order and would roll on over many years - that's my guess anyway. |
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Post by TA1 on Apr 26, 2016 10:38:17 GMT
@david21
I can't comment to much on GTR as they're my employer, As i've previously stated there is so much uncertainty in the air around the company. As per the conductors strike which I firmly support as TSGN is a management franchise, thus they don't directly receive profit and are evidently 'attempting' to cost cut and restructure jobs. A main incentive to Govia is reducing the amount of Ticketless travel in turn Govia will receive money from the DFT if they meet the amount.
Yes, the operating area is too big. I personally don't think Thameslink Programme will be very successful as if you travel with Thameslink, you'll understand that if an incident occurs south of the core for instance a Bridge Strike at Tulse or Herne hill which of course is a regular occurrence, It's very difficult to run a service north of STP, Alot of Passengers nowadays a rather impatient and we should count ourselves lucky in London of how frequent our trains are, you get many who like to get their bags and coats trapped in doors and assume they're superman and women and try crank the doors open, which in turn f**k up the doors interlock. As the 700's are still in testing I can't comment on how sensitive the doors are, but if the 09 stock introduction is anything to go by, all it really takes is for an obstruction with a FLU 700 through the core at the height of peak service with 24tph running through it and that spells disaster, the potential of lost paths spring to mind and blocking back.
Ideally, If money and space weren't an issue I would have quadrupled to the track from BFR to STP, obviously Bi-di workings can help, but cause delays a la what's currently ongoing at BFR with a hard TCF NB.
What a lot of people don't realise is that on The ECML, we may have on time GN train at FPK correct to time to depart and a late running FHT,GC or VTEC train travelling on the DF, the latter LDO have priority over GN thus our trains have to wait.
In other news Class 700110 made its way from Three Bridges (TB) to Hornsey EMUD (XHE) via BML, WLL, NLL, Kings Cross Incline, ECML to AAP, HFN Loop to Bowes Park RRL where it reversed back to XHE, i'm off after breaking hidden but it was still at XHE yesterday. The move took place on Saturday evening under the headcode 5X01.
EDIT: Abbreviation Index
TSGN = Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern
STP = St Pancras International
700' = New Thameslink/Great Northern Stock
BFR = Blackfriars
FLU = Full length Unit (12 car)/ RLU = Reduced Length Unit (8 car)
BI-DI = Bi-directional workings
TCF = Track Circuit Failure
NB = Northbound
DF = Down Fast
LDO = Long Distance Operators
FHT = First Hull Trains
GC = Grand Central
VTEC = Virgin Trains East Coast
BML = Brighton Main line
NLL = North London Line
WLL = West london line.
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Post by snoggle on Apr 26, 2016 13:28:01 GMT
A few comments on TA1's post.
1. I believe Govia certainly do have the prospect of earning a profit. They just have less control because they don't keep the revenue. Therefore they have to meet or improve upon the contracted service level to earn bonusses, they have to get costs down as far and as fast as possible, they need to get revenue losses down as there is a gain share arrangement under the management contract. This last point is similar to the Overground concession.
2. I am increasingly sceptical about the role of the DfT in TSGN's management of industrial relations. We had the outrageous statements made by the Franchising Director about wanting to "take on" ASLEF and defeat them. We now have RMT on strike and ASLEF about to have industrial action (legal action depending). I think this is going to get worse and worse as DfT collude with Govia to break agreements off the back of introducing new trains and new technology.
3. People criticise the size of TSGN but there is a pretty big question that people rarely answer. That is "how do you a cross London service on complex networks without integrating the management of the train service?". Obviously franchises can be cut into all sorts of different shapes but Thameslink has been a struggle for years when it "competed" with Southern on the BML. There were terrible problems in getting enough train paths and it meant a sub optimal timetable. Some of that has now started to be fixed but there are winners and losers (as you'd expect).
4. I think there will be very big issues with getting the class 700s into squadron service and I fear the service will struggle very badly if you start to get a lot of breakdowns. I think the service quality may improve once the tracks through London Bridge reopen but the dependency will be whether the new signalling and control system works as expected. That's another big challenge for Network Rail and its contractors although the physical works on Thameslink seem to be proceeding pretty well which is to NR's credit.
5. I think people may come to rue the day that St Pancras low level was not built with 4 tracks and platforms to allow MML and ECML trains to be on separate tracks, to allow reversal if there's blockage further south and to have "holding" space for trains heading south so trains can slotted in properly. Some RER stations in Paris are built like this. Crossrail is rather simpler in its route structure so its infrastructure is simpler although I suspect a third track and platform at Paddington would have been helpful to split terminating / through services.
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Post by YY13VKP on Apr 28, 2016 17:49:09 GMT
When will the first Class 700's enter service? I heard somewhere that it was supposed to be April 16th, but this hasn't happened as far as I know. Also, those 4 Class 170's have spent nearly a year out of passenger use. When will they enter service? I know that one of them went to Wolverton in March.
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Post by 700101 on Apr 28, 2016 19:48:15 GMT
When will the first Class 700's enter service? I heard somewhere that it was supposed to be April 16th, but this hasn't happened as far as I know. Also, those 4 Class 170's have spent nearly a year out of passenger use. When will they enter service? I know that one of them went to Wolverton in March. Think that date was just a estimate, should be sometime in May as a third of the TL route drivers have been trained also the 4 class 170's and been rewired in the drivers cab, corrosion repairs done, new wheel sets added and new software to be completely compatible with the current 171 fleet |
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Post by YY13VKP on Apr 29, 2016 17:37:39 GMT
When will the first Class 700's enter service? I heard somewhere that it was supposed to be April 16th, but this hasn't happened as far as I know. Also, those 4 Class 170's have spent nearly a year out of passenger use. When will they enter service? I know that one of them went to Wolverton in March. Think that date was just a estimate, should be sometime in May as a third of the TL route drivers have been trained also the 4 class 170's and been rewired in the drivers cab, corrosion repairs done, new wheel sets added and new software to be completely compatible with the current 171 fleet 170421 is still at Selhurst. The other three are at Wolverton. |
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I look forward to being able to board one soon.
