Class 378 DC operation

Hmmmm, now if a Guard was avaliable................. Makes you wonder.

Well they never went out first thing this morning that's for sure.. 378228 went out for route training at about 10.20 instead.

The drivers can't.. Cab temp getting into the high 90's at the mo.. not nice.. Thank heavens for the air con on the 378's..

I noticed that 378 227 has made an appearance at Willesden today. Looking forward to finally seeing them in service on the DC lines in this hot weather.

I understand that 2 x diagrams (WN54 & WN56) were meant to be 378 operated as of today (Wednesday)

I am also led to believe that 378229 (WN56) worked 2D82 (1117 EUS-WFJ), with the other diagram being 378228.

Also 378228 was at Watford Junction last night though was not there this morning (which would make working WN54 very plausible).

378227, 378230, 378231 (plus 2 x 172s) all at Willesden TMD today.

It is also reported/rumoured that 313 operation should end on 11th July. ;D

Martin

I can confirm that 378228 worked 2C11 0820 WFJ-EUS this morning and 378229 worked 2D90 0837 EUS-WFJ. They should stay on diagrams WN56 and WN54 respectively for the rest of the day (barring failures of course)

Martin

Luckily for LOROL (and I guess Bombardier) is the costs for disruption might not be as bad as they could be, as the service on the WCML was already up-the-wall due to reports of a trespassers on the track a short time earlier, as I saw various Virgin & London Midland Trains blocking back from Wembley Central as I travelled down the DC on 378229 this afternoon.

I saw a Bombardier engineer sitting in the rear cab as I got off at Queen's Park (after it sat there for a while due to the reports, firstly of congestion, and then of trespassers, on the track ahead), so if it was this train then at least the driver wouldn't have the pressure of moving a faulty train that's blocking 2 roads in & out of Euston all on their own to deal with.

Still, I hope this incident doesn't affect things too much, or delay the withdrawal of the remaining 313s.

Hi,

Both 378228 and 378229 failed on Thursday while working on the DC.

378228 suffered a loss of power on 2D65 1657 EUS-WFJ at Park Street Tunnel - though this was rectified by a specially dispatched fitter before crawling back into Euston.

378228 delayed earlier and having to step up due to the BTP chasing some nutter down the tracks at around 1330 for an hour or so.

378229 suffered a loss of power at Camden Junction while working 2C27 1341 WFJ-EUS and requiring assistance by another 378 into Euston.

Only one 378 out on Friday - 378229, seen on 2C35 1621 WFJ-EUS, the other diagram being "deputised" by a 313.

Martin

Were there three different diagrams on the DC today? I only saw 378228 and 378230, the rest seemed to be 313s.

Martin

3 diagrams for Wed & Thu, 4 diagrams for Fri, 5 diagrams for Sat with 1 Diagram for 313 plus 1 spare 313

The end is nigh.............so Sun should see 4 digarms and no 313's for the first time in many years

Might be a bit tight on Saturday if the service relies on the availability of 5x 378/2s then? By my reckoning only 228-231 have seen service with 202 still at Chart Leacon, 227 at WN (?) but unused in traffic, and 232-234 still at Derby.

Yeeess..! ;D

I did manage to travel between Watford and Euston and back today 378231 on the 0820 WFJ-EUS and 378228 on the 1637 EUS-WFJ, both busy peak trains, the majority of punters rather excited about "their" new trains. Yes I got a seat, but travelling from Watford and from Euston - you invariably will. The 0820 WFJ did get busy, especially at Harrow, but loads decamped at Willesden and Queens Park (as per usual) and the train - albeit longer than a 313 - arrived at Euston full but not rammed.

The 1637 EUS-WFJ nearly didn't run, as 378228 decided to shut itself down completely at 1635, and, after attention by the resident Bombadier fitter, departed 8 late. It was busy but again not overly wedged.

I suppose I will be a bit sad when the 313s go, because they are, after all, a BR designed train and there's not a great deal of that sort of thing left these days....but they were rubbish!

I must admit having a 21st century train rattle along on some of the country's oldest bull-head rail rather amusing - all that money spent on new trains, phase 3's, 1000s of CCTV cameras, platform extensions etc - nothing seems to be spent on the more important things like the track!

Martin

The Watford-Euston 313's are a bit of a disappointment after regular use of the 313's on FCC's Moorgate service. High back seating and still the same number of seats as they originally had when built

The trains dislike the way their seating has been placed and how badly uncomfortable it is, so they're failing regularly in protest.