Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

I thought it'd be useful to provide a summary of the trains due to be formed by Class 387s coming from further afield than Hayes & Harlington from 22nd May onwards:

Services towards London Paddington:
2P14, 06:56 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (06:59), Burnham (07:02), Slough (07:07), Langley (07:11), Iver (07:14), West Drayton (07:18), Hayes & Harlington (07:23), Southall (07:27), Ealing Broadway (07:33) and London Paddington (07:46).
1P93, 07:33 Maidenhead to Paddington, non-stop to London Paddington (08:04).
1P94, 07:42 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (07:45), Slough (07:51) and London Paddington (08:21).
2P25, 08:29 Slough to Paddington, calling Langley (08:32), West Drayton (08:39), Hayes & Harlington (08:43), Southall (08:47), Ealing Broadway (08:53) and London Paddington (09:04).
1P97, 08:42 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (08:46), Slough (08:51), Southall (09:01) and London Paddington (09:22).
2P32, 09:07 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Slough (09:14), West Drayton (09:21), Hayes & Harlington (09:28), Southall (09:32), Ealing Broadway (09:38) and London Paddington (09:49).
1P98, 09:43 Slough to Paddington, non-stop to London Paddington (10:13).
2P73, 18:18 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Slough (18:25), Langley (18:29), Iver (18:32), West Drayton (18:37), Hayes & Harlington (18:41), Ealing Broadway (18:48) and London Paddington (18:59).


Services from London Paddington:
2S80, 09:09 Paddington to Slough, non-stop to Slough (09:34).
1N40, 16:09 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (16:34) and Maidenhead (16:42).
1N42, 16:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, non-stop to Maidenhead (17:13).
2D55, 17:14 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Ealing Broadway (17:23), Hayes & Harlington (17:29), West Drayton (17:34), Langley (17:41), Slough (17:46), Burnham (17:51), and Maidenhead (18:05).
1N44, 17:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (18:04), and Maidenhead (18:13).
1N52, 18:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (19:04), and Maidenhead (19:14).
1N62, 19:36 Paddington to Maidenhead, non-stop to Maidenhead (20:00).

A fairly mixed bag of calling patterns and timings, three calling at Taplow in the up direction but none in the down for example.  Some are trains that run now, and some are new or amended from the current timetable, and there's quite a lot of empty stock movements to get the stock in position which will be a test of the track capacity.

All services are formed by three different diagrams (all hopefully 8-car), though one of the evening ones swaps about with one of the Paddington-Hayes EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) diagrams, so that's a total of five EMU diagrams required per day for all of the 387 diagrams.

[Western Enterprise]

I thought it'd be useful to provide a summary of the trains due to be formed by Class 387s coming from further afield than Hayes & Harlington from 22nd May onwards:

Services towards London Paddington:
2P14, 06:56 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (06:59), Burnham (07:02), Slough (07:07), Langley (07:11), Iver (07:14), West Drayton (07:18), Hayes & Harlington (07:23), Southall (07:27), Ealing Broadway (07:33) and London Paddington (07:46).
1P93, 07:33 Maidenhead to Paddington, non-stop to London Paddington (08:04).
1P94, 07:42 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (07:45), Slough (07:51) and London Paddington (08:21).
2P25, 08:29 Slough to Paddington, calling Langley (08:32), West Drayton (08:39), Hayes & Harlington (08:43), Southall (08:47), Ealing Broadway (08:53) and London Paddington (09:04).
1P97, 08:42 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (08:46), Slough (08:51), Southall (09:01) and London Paddington (09:22).
2P32, 09:07 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Slough (09:14), West Drayton (09:21), Hayes & Harlington (09:28), Southall (09:32), Ealing Broadway (09:38) and London Paddington (09:49).
1P98, 09:43 Slough to Paddington, non-stop to London Paddington (10:13).
2P73, 18:18 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Slough (18:25), Langley (18:29), Iver (18:32), West Drayton (18:37), Hayes & Harlington (18:41), Ealing Broadway (18:48) and London Paddington (18:59).


Services from London Paddington:
2S80, 09:09 Paddington to Slough, non-stop to Slough (09:34).
1N40, 16:09 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (16:34) and Maidenhead (16:42).
1N42, 16:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, non-stop to Maidenhead (17:13).
2D55, 17:14 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Ealing Broadway (17:23), Hayes & Harlington (17:29), West Drayton (17:34), Langley (17:41), Slough (17:46), Burnham (17:51), and Maidenhead (18:05).
1N44, 17:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (18:04), and Maidenhead (18:13).
1N52, 18:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (19:04), and Maidenhead (19:14).
1N62, 19:36 Paddington to Maidenhead, non-stop to Maidenhead (20:00).

A fairly mixed bag of calling patterns and timings, three calling at Taplow in the up direction but none in the down for example.  Some are trains that run now, and some are new or amended from the current timetable, and there's quite a lot of empty stock movements to get the stock in position which will be a test of the track capacity.

All services are formed by three different diagrams (all hopefully 8-car), though one of the evening ones swaps about with one of the Paddington-Hayes EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) diagrams, so that's a total of five EMU diagrams required per day for all of the 387 diagrams.

Good news is that it looks like another, new , fast train to and from Maidenhead in the Peaks. 
Bad news is that it takes just as long as an old smoky diesel...
Q: Can't they put the eleccy's on the mains?
A: Probably no pathways 

[ChrisB]

correct, I believe. And they're slower. Even 15mph (plus any stops) makes a difference

[onthecushions]

The first electric services must run to diesel timings. However their superior performance means that timetable compliance improves, as does capacity, dramatically.

1P93 up has 31 minutes non-stop whereas 1N62 down has 24 minutes - expect that to be regularly beaten.

Spring has finally come!

OTC

[chrisr_75]

The first electric services must run to diesel timings. However their superior performance means that timetable compliance improves, as does capacity, dramatically.

1P93 up has 31 minutes non-stop whereas 1N62 down has 24 minutes - expect that to be regularly beaten.

Spring has finally come!

OTC

In my opinion the increased capacity (at least 2 coaches on every train, assuming 8 car sets are diagrammed as II suggests) and superior interior environment represent greater improvements than shaving a minute or two off a 20-25 minute journey.

[eightf48544]

Don't get too used to the 387 the cattle wagons are coming in 2019.

[IndustryInsider]

As OTC says, with the initial services it's very much shoehorning them into the current timetable.  When the wires are available to Didcot I would hope that the timetable will be recast to take advantage of their quicker acceleration and top speed, and of course the timetable must be recast substantially Dec 2018 for the first proper IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) timetable and then again the following year for the Elizabeth Line opening.

Regarding main line running, 1P93 (07:33 MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) is booked on the main lines after Dolphin Junction (east of Slough), and 1N62 (19:36 PAD-MAI) is booked main lines until Slough West.  All the rest are booked on the relief lines.

[Adelante_CCT]

1P93 up has 31 minutes non-stop whereas 1N62 down has 24 minutes - expect that to be regularly beaten.

Capacity at Paddington also a problem, 1P93 for example will cross over to the main line at Slough, but then takes 11 minutes from Acton to Paddington in order to wait for the 08:00 to Bristol to depart from platform 4

1N62 also runs mainline as far as Slough (beaten by II)

[Adelante_CCT]

I thought it'd be useful to provide a summary of the trains due to be formed by Class 387s coming from further afield than Hayes & Harlington from 22nd May onwards:

Services towards London Paddington:
2P14, 06:56 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (06:59), Burnham (07:02), Slough (07:07), Langley (07:11), Iver (07:14), West Drayton (07:18), Hayes & Harlington (07:23), Southall (07:27), Ealing Broadway (07:33) and London Paddington (07:46).
1P93, 07:33 Maidenhead to Paddington, non-stop to London Paddington (08:04).
1P94, 07:42 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (07:45), Slough (07:51) and London Paddington (08:21).
2P25, 08:29 Slough to Paddington, calling Langley (08:32), West Drayton (08:39), Hayes & Harlington (08:43), Southall (08:47), Ealing Broadway (08:53) and London Paddington (09:04).
1P97, 08:42 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Taplow (08:46), Slough (08:51), Southall (09:01) and London Paddington (09:22).
2P32, 09:07 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Slough (09:14), West Drayton (09:21), Hayes & Harlington (09:28), Southall (09:32), Ealing Broadway (09:38) and London Paddington (09:49).
1P98, 09:43 Slough to Paddington, non-stop to London Paddington (10:13).
2P73, 18:18 Maidenhead to Paddington, calling Slough (18:25), Langley (18:29), Iver (18:32), West Drayton (18:37), Hayes & Harlington (18:41), Ealing Broadway (18:48) and London Paddington (18:59).


Services from London Paddington:
2S80, 09:09 Paddington to Slough, non-stop to Slough (09:34).
1N40, 16:09 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (16:34) and Maidenhead (16:42).
1N42, 16:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, non-stop to Maidenhead (17:13).
2D55, 17:14 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Ealing Broadway (17:23), Hayes & Harlington (17:29), West Drayton (17:34), Langley (17:41), Slough (17:46), Burnham (17:51), and Maidenhead (18:05).
1N44, 17:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (18:04), and Maidenhead (18:13).
1N52, 18:42 Paddington to Maidenhead, calling Slough (19:04), and Maidenhead (19:14).
1N62, 19:36 Paddington to Maidenhead, non-stop to Maidenhead (20:00).

Assuming everything is going to plan, according to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) the next batch of services from 3rd July have been loaded. These include the following departures from Maidenhead:
2P06 05:52
2P09 06:21
2P17 07:17
2P21 07:51
2P28 08:26
2P35 09:34

All the above currently operate from Reading and therefore Twyford sees it lose out on all the above services. Three additional stops will be made at Twyford however and these include:
2K27 06:55 Newbury to Reading will continue on to Maidenhead and stop at Twyford (07:41) running as 2F21
2F28 08:08 Reading to Maidenhead calling at Twyford (08:14)
1P95 09:15 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) from Reading to Paddington will depart at 09:12 and stop additionally at Twyford (09:19)

In the other direction, services from Paddington to Maidenhead include:
2D54 16:58
2D61 17:57
1N50 18:10
2D71 18:57
Again a few less stops at Twyford occur as a result

Numerous other alterations as well around the peaks, including the 2H60 Maidenhead to Henley departing at 18:53, this along with 1N50 above replaces the direct 1H52 18:10 Paddington to Henley. (The other 2 direct services between Henley and Paddington both remain in each direction)

[eightf48544]

Keep an eye on realtime trains for this weekend. It may be that a 387 will come out to play between Stockly Jn and Maidenhead.

Will probably be in the middle of the night

[Adelante_CCT]

Keep an eye on realtime trains for this weekend. It may be that a 387 will come out to play between Stockly Jn and Maidenhead.
Will probably be in the middle of the night

Guessing this has something to do with it, a 387 being dragged on Saturday night from Reading TCD to Hayes
And then returning Sunday morning.

[eightf48544]

Yep there appear to be 8 shuttles between Hayes/ Southall and Maidenhead tonight. Between 01:00 from Hayes and 07:24 from Maidenhead on Realtime trains. All booked as FRGT^▸ (FReiGhT) in 165 timings. Also all seem to be booked ML.

If i'm awake might look out for the 07:24.

[Electric train]

Yep there appear to be 8 shuttles between Hayes/ Southall and Maidenhead tonight. Between 01:00 from Hayes and 07:24 from Maidenhead on Realtime trains. All booked as FRGT^▸ (FReiGhT) in 165 timings. Also all seem to be booked ML.

If i'm awake might look out for the 07:24.

One of the tests required on new electrification is to run a train called "Mentor." This train is designed watch the wire over the pan and has sensors to measure contact pressure etc.   Mentor is BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Research vintage, and there is only one and is quite busy, when it works  (no one was willing to fun the upgrades to it for a few years). 

387's have CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) fitted that constantly records the pan, if you see them at night your notice a light coming out of the pan well illuminating the wire.  Also with modern traction units they have sensors fitted that work with the traction system and part of the fault / maintenance monitoring.   Temporary mods that can be done to connect recording instruments to the unit to that can give the commissioning engineer enough data to sign off the contact system into service.

So my guess is the Crossrail project are using the 387 in lieu of Mentor

[eightf48544]

Two 387s coupled made several runs from Hayes to Maidenhead early Sunday morning 03:30. this was later than planed due to inspecting the O/H at  Slough for an obstruction (kite?). Nothing found.

Runs considered successful.

[IndustryInsider]

Assuming everything is going to plan, according to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) the next batch of services from 3rd July have been loaded. These include the following departures from Maidenhead:
2P06 05:52
2P09 06:21
2P17 07:17
2P21 07:51
2P28 08:26
2P35 09:34

All the above currently operate from Reading and therefore Twyford sees it lose out on all the above services. Three additional stops will be made at Twyford however and these include:
2K27 06:55 Newbury to Reading will continue on to Maidenhead and stop at Twyford (07:41) running as 2F21
2F28 08:08 Reading to Maidenhead calling at Twyford (08:14)
1P95 09:15 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) from Reading to Paddington will depart at 09:12 and stop additionally at Twyford (09:19)

In the other direction, services from Paddington to Maidenhead include:
2D54 16:58
2D61 17:57
1N50 18:10
2D71 18:57
Again a few less stops at Twyford occur as a result

Numerous other alterations as well around the peaks, including the 2H60 Maidenhead to Henley departing at 18:53, this along with 1N50 above replaces the direct 1H52 18:10 Paddington to Henley. (The other 2 direct services between Henley and Paddington both remain in each direction)

I hadn't realised the service was to be further enhanced so soon!  Looks like another three diagrams worth, so if all 8-car that will be 16 units required for daily use.

That date also sees the first use of the Maidenhead Turnback Sidings (known as Maidenhead Reversing Sdgs) in RealTime Trains, as well as the Maidenhead Carriage Sdgs - though rather curiously there's one arrival booked into it on dates before then but no corresponding departure.  Might get busy in there!