Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[John R]

Sorry if I'm being a bit dense here but once Crossrail is up and running what will be the purpose of the bay?  I thought I read that West Drayton was going to be the start/end of peak short workings. 

Perturbation, in the event the Heathrow branch is blocked it allows Heathrow trains to terminate and reverse.  Also if there is an incident further west on the Reliefs it will also allow Crossrail trains to terminate and reverse

Thanks to both you and II for the clarification. It appears a bit OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website) given there will be the ability to reverse just one station up the line, if its sole use (post 2019) will be as insurance against perturbation.

[ellendune]

Given how intensively the line will be used some insurance against perturbation would seem to be a necessity.

[paul7575]

Sorry if I'm being a bit dense here but once Crossrail is up and running what will be the purpose of the bay?  I thought I read that West Drayton was going to be the start/end of peak short workings. 

Perturbation, in the event the Heathrow branch is blocked it allows Heathrow trains to terminate and reverse.  Also if there is an incident further west on the Reliefs it will also allow Crossrail trains to terminate and reverse

Thanks to both you and II for the clarification. It appears a bit OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website) given there will be the ability to reverse just one station up the line, if its sole use (post 2019) will be as insurance against perturbation.

It seems a recent addition, the early Crossrail GW^▸ (Great Western) 'single line track diagram', that I downloaded quite a few years ago now, don't show any work at Hayes and Harlington station itself.  (Indeed it doesn't even show the 5th platform there at all.)

Paul

[W5tRailfinder]

I have added a topic on the Thames Valley branches board an item relating to the impact of the introduction of Class 387 on the Greenford Branch services.

[IndustryInsider]

I'm hearing that the plan is to operate four extra trains between Hayes and Paddington, using 387s, from the May timetable change.  One in the morning and three in the evening. 

I'm getting less and less confident that the May introduction will happen, given that we haven't received any of the trains yet and their is no agreement yet in place with the unions on a training programme which will allow the drivers to be trained on them and drive them.  Meetings this week I hear, but time is running out!

[The Tall Controller]

Talks are in progress with another operator to fill the void should the 387s be delayed. As it currently stands though, 387s are due to be running from May.

[Adelante_CCT]

Aren't the first of the class 700s starting passenger services from April 16th, I assumed that this would then free up a couple of 387s to head our way, giving them a month or so to practice with them and repaint (stick some GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) vinyls on)

[IndustryInsider]

The ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) training specials were due to start running as of tomorrow, so if that's delayed by long, or no training agreement is reached soon, then there won't be time.  There will have to be a pool of at least 10 drivers trained to operate the planned services from May, all of which will have to be released and trained for several days without causing too many cancellations as a result of the Rest Day ban.  As well as the staffing concerns there are presumably all sorts of safety/operational cases to make as well before GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are allowed to run them?  Like I say, time will quickly run out.

[paul7575]

The franchise agreement had six arriving by end of March, and four more by end of April.  They aren't significantly late on those dates yet.

GTR are already using unbranded red coloured Gat Ex 387/2s on their Thameslink routes vice 387/1s while some 387/1s are away being modified - it could be that there's a simple solution to their required numbers that involves retention of a few 442s for a few months longer than planned.

Paul

[Adelante_CCT]

They appear to be planning some running before the month is out:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V12179/2016/04/26/advanced

[Electric train]

The ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) training specials were due to start running as of tomorrow, so if that's delayed by long, or no training agreement is reached soon, then there won't be time.  There will have to be a pool of at least 10 drivers trained to operate the planned services from May, all of which will have to be released and trained for several days without causing too many cancellations as a result of the Rest Day ban.  As well as the staffing concerns there are presumably all sorts of safety/operational cases to make as well before GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are allowed to run them?  Like I say, time will quickly run out.

I would like to think the gauge clearance, platform stepping, signalling and traction power compatibility etc etc etc certificates oh and the Network Change will have been done by now, if it has not it can a protracted process not something that can be rushed,

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

On the assumption that enough Class 387/1^s will arrive to run the new Hayes stoppers from May, but GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) management will not be able to agree Driver training arrangements with ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about), is there a possibility that HEX traincrew will be used to run this service?  Presumably crossover training from HEX EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)^s is simpler than from GWR DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)^s.

[ChrisB]

Who then drives the Hex trains?

[ellendune]

Who then drives the Hex trains?

Presumably he means the ones that normally drive the ones that are stuck in the depot doing nothing while Siemens sorts out how to fix them. 

[ChrisB]

Aren't they back in service? Think they are....