Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

Could you clarify what the ride height is please?

[paul7575]

Could you clarify what the ride height is please?

I think in this context the entire body of the train is being raised by a few cm with respect to the 'as designed' condition.  A while back they were talking about fitting various shims between the bogies and the vehicle body, basically packing out the suspension.

This therefore provides additional gauge clearance at some platform edges on the route.   It presumably also means that some units will not easily couple with others.

Paul

[Electric train]

Could you clarify what the ride height is please?

I think in this context the entire body of the train is being raised by a few cm with respect to the 'as designed' condition.  A while back they were talking about fitting various shims between the bogies and the vehicle body, basically packing out the suspension.

This therefore provides additional gauge clearance at some platform edges on the route.   It presumably also means that some units will not easily couple with others.

Paul

yes that correct, I don't believe it effects the coupling of two units as the height increase is not that much

[SandTEngineer]

Travelled on my first Class 387 today (05/05/2017).  Quite impressed with the quality and finish and the quiteness of the ride.  One comment is that the passengers on the 8 coach service could have all been squeezed into a single coach...

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Squeezing passengers in to the shortest possible train is not compulsory, although it does seem to be a feature of modern train travel!

[eightf48544]

I've always thought it odd that most modern suburban/provincial DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) are 2 and 3 car whilst non IC^▸ (Inter City) (intercity) EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) all seem to be all 4 or more cars.

[John R]

I've always thought it odd that most modern suburban/provincial DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) are 2 and 3 car whilst non IC^▸ (Inter City) (intercity) EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) all seem to be all 4 or more cars.

A couple of theories, the easier being that the more heavily trafficked routes are more likely to have been electrified, so can therefore justify the longer rolling stock.

However, I suspect it is more complex than that.  All other things being equal, a mix of 2 and 3 car trains on a route enables a close tailoring of demand in that you can have any length of train from 2 onwards.  For diesels, other than the additional cost of the cabs, there isn't much difference in the cost, as every coach is powered.  However, for emus, the traction equipment is one per train, so (as an example), 2 x 2 car sets costs a lot more than 1 x 4 car set, and would be overpowered. Therefore the balance swings more to having longer trains with fewer sets. 

[dviner]

However, I suspect it is more complex than that.  All other things being equal, a mix of 2 and 3 car trains on a route enables a close tailoring of demand in that you can have any length of train from 2 onwards.  For diesels, other than the additional cost of the cabs, there isn't much difference in the cost, as every coach is powered.  However, for emus, the traction equipment is one per train, so (as an example), 2 x 2 car sets costs a lot more than 1 x 4 car set, and would be overpowered. Therefore the balance swings more to having longer trains with fewer sets. 

Modern 2-car EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) sets are such a rarity that the electrification of the Marlow Branch is pretty much dead in the water.

[eightf48544]

It's a pity the 2 car 309s were scrapped although they would be grossly overpowered for the Marlow branch. Unless of course sunless there's a Barry for redundant EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit).

[grahame]

Unless of course sunless there's a Barry for redundant EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit).

How about a Bourne End to Marlow shuttle using stock from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preserved_EMUs_of_Southern_Railway
and there are also electric trains being converted - some as 2 coach units - to diesels:
http://vivarail.co.uk/vivarail-news/
and in due course there may be some vintage 2 coach units available from elsewhere:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-35495934

... then extend the London - Maidenhead electric serve that starts in July to Bourne End 

There is a real need to be able to run heritage EMUs ... but so much extra complexity is involved as soon as any heritage operation starts to share with main line certified stuff.  Is there space at Marlow for a depot building?

[Electric train]

If and currently its a big if the Maidenhead / Bourne gets electrified, or indeed any of the TV branches.   The 387 are through corridor between units so with the use of SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) it would be feasible to run an 8 car unit Maidenhead / Bourne End, or do a 8 to 4 spilt at Maidenhead, but given in Crossrail mode there are no TV branches to Padd through services.  I believe the current pattern morning peaks of a 2 car 165 Bourne End Marlow and a 3 car 165/6 Maidenhead Bourne End with evening being a 2 car 165 Maidenhead Bourne perhaps a 3 car 165 is set in stone now for many years to come.

There is no funding at the moment for the TV branches to be wired, especially as Didcot / Oxford electrification is deferred

The biggest problem with the Bourne End Marlow line is the cost of altering the track work and platform extension at Bourne End to accommodate a 4 car unit.  It is unlikely the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) or TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) would want to have a few odd 2 car units.

[Electric train]

My understanding from folks I know in the project the final hurdle to run electric passenger services to Maidenhead has been signed of by the Office of Rail & Road.

Other than a major hic up the first electric passenger service will depart Maidenhead as timetabled

[IndustryInsider]

The first 'real' tangible benefits of electrification should be felt from Monday onwards.  I put real in brackets because the Hayes shuttles ran on (modified) existing infrastructure.

I'll be very interested to hear the thoughts of those who are set to benefit from next week onwards.

[Electric train]

The first 'real' tangible benefits of electrification should be felt from Monday onwards.  I put real in brackets because the Hayes shuttles ran on (modified) existing infrastructure.

I'll be very interested to hear the thoughts of those who are set to benefit from next week onwards.

There are limitations to the service that can be run, Kensal Green Feeder Station I understand has not been signed into use; this means all  electric (OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE")) services out of Padd will have to rely on the original OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) Feeder Station which is planned to be decommissioned when Kensal EIS^▸ (Enters Into Service) (EIS Enters Into Service)

[Chris from Nailsea]

'EIS^▸ (Enters Into Service)' now 'enters into service' in the Coffee Shop forum's acronyms page.