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Post by grumpycat on Sept 9, 2023 17:06:16 GMT
So I saw on twitter it seems finally the 345s are getting USB charging points which should have been fitted when new
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Post by dmncf on Sept 9, 2023 20:07:42 GMT
Do the Class 345 trains have loading indicators, i.e. showing passengers the busyness of each carriage?
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trainwizard
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Post by trainwizard on Sept 11, 2023 17:35:50 GMT
It's great that they're adding USB sockets to trains, but I worry that it may be outdated within 5-10 years as most companies are switching to USB-C. Though I assume it would easy to upgrade them eventually.
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 12, 2023 10:57:31 GMT
Do the Class 345 trains have loading indicators, i.e. showing passengers the busyness of each carriage? Not currently. I don't know if the trains have the necessary sensors, but if they do then the information screens will almost certainly be able to display if it is decided this would be beneficial. |
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Post by melikepie on Sept 12, 2023 12:52:10 GMT
It's great that they're adding USB sockets to trains, but I worry that it may be outdated within 5-10 years as most companies are switching to USB-C. Though I assume it would easy to upgrade them eventually. As in USB-C to USB-C? |
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Post by johnlinford on Sept 12, 2023 14:00:12 GMT
It's great that they're adding USB sockets to trains, but I worry that it may be outdated within 5-10 years as most companies are switching to USB-C. Though I assume it would easy to upgrade them eventually. I would hope that it would be relatively trivial to swap a unit that takes the same input power - they look like a slightly modified BS1363 back box fitting. At the moment the majority of people still use USB-A to charge their phones. |
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Post by zbang on Sept 12, 2023 14:20:56 GMT
If all they do is deliver power, the USB-A outlets will last quite a long time (as long as there are A to C cables).
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Post by Chris L on Sept 12, 2023 15:33:49 GMT
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trainwizard
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Post by trainwizard on Sept 12, 2023 20:19:16 GMT
I'm pretty sure adapters like these lose power and result in higher charging times. Also USB-C cables are generally faster than USB-A cables, and I'm not sure many people with USB-C devices would bother carrying around adapters for the one time they might have to use it on a bus or train with USB-C ports. An easy solution is to have both ports from the start. A lot of people with older devices will still use USB-A, while newer devices will have USB-C due to European legislation (for example, see the iPhone announced today). |
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Post by zbang on Sept 13, 2023 0:04:25 GMT
High-speed cables don't matter for simple charging, and IME most people carry A->C cables just for charging because most charging outlets are type A. (Sample of one- my phone and tablets are usb-C, I carry an A-C cable to charge them and a C-C cable for data transfers.)
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Sept 13, 2023 22:18:01 GMT
Lots of my previous mobile phones have come with chargers, in recent times they've had a USB-A socket.
My two most recent phones have USB-C sockets, the first came with a USB-A charger and a USB-A to USB-C cable.
My most recent phone came with a USB-C to USB-C cable, but no charger. Luckily my existing stash of cables/chargers works - as does my wireless charger.
Drastically trying to get back on topic, could these trains be fitted with both? And why not a UK 3-pin outlet too? I know that one of the regrets Northern has with their CAF fleet is they went for 13amp outlets and not a mix of that and USB.
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Post by johnlinford on Sept 14, 2023 17:14:50 GMT
I suppose the argument against BS1363 sockets is that you can't control what people plug in to them - I recall seeing someone use the sockets on an SWR Class 444 for curling irons or similar!. I don't see any reason why they couldn't fit a mixture of sockets, depending on part availability - products such as this 240V, USB-A and USB-C socket are readily available for domestic use after all. But like all things the process of getting it approved may have begun a year or two ago before they were available! |
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Post by zbang on Sept 14, 2023 18:43:43 GMT
I was thinking of the same argument John makes- you can't control what gets plugged in. And for what are not would I'd call long distance trains (what's the length of the average Eliz Line journey?), I'm not sure it makes much sense to push for 240v outlets. That said, there are certainly packaged units that have both the BS1363 and two USB-A jack (there are fewer with type C jacks; look at the Screwfix web site).
Don't most of the newer long distance trains have these (240v & USB)?
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 14, 2023 20:26:14 GMT
What charging sockets are on modern trains is basically an unpredictable mix of 240v, USB A and both. I've not seen any USB C sockets on trains but I've not been on every type of stock yet.
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Post by 35b on Sept 15, 2023 7:46:10 GMT
I was thinking of the same argument John makes- you can't control what gets plugged in. And for what are not would I'd call long distance trains (what's the length of the average Eliz Line journey?), I'm not sure it makes much sense to push for 240v outlets. That said, there are certainly packaged units that have both the BS1363 and two USB-A jack (there are fewer with type C jacks; look at the Screwfix web site). Don't most of the newer long distance trains have these (240v & USB)? I was very glad a few weeks ago to make use of the usb sockets on Class 710 units, despite my journeys being 30 minutes or less. |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 16, 2023 10:51:28 GMT
Do the Class 345 trains have loading indicators, i.e. showing passengers the busyness of each carriage? No, all it shows is the line diagram of next few stations, the destination and carriage 4 out of 9 etc. It used to show the LUL lines status delay info, but it seems the past few months this is no longer available not sure why. Similar trains on the London Overground still shows the delay info |
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Post by Chris M on Sept 16, 2023 21:21:41 GMT
It used to show the LUL lines status delay info, but it seems the past few months this is no longer available not sure why. I presume this was due to some sort of fault. Elsewhere I've seen it reported that as of a couple of days ago at least one train is now showing it again. I forgot to look when I caught it this evening. |
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Post by d7666 on Sept 16, 2023 22:12:52 GMT
It used to show the LUL lines status delay info, but it seems the past few months this is no longer available not sure why. I presume this was due to some sort of fault. Elsewhere I've seen it reported that as of a couple of days ago at least one train is now showing it again. I forgot to look when I caught it this evening. Interesting. Thameslink commuter here : Interestingly the LU status display has been missing from Thameslink 700s for a number of weeks recently; or at least missing on those units I have been on when I go to look at it, usually on an Up service on my way from Luton to (usually) Blackfriars - the point of looking being do I need to take another route. I hardly ever use 345s; despite the wonder that XR may be, it is all but useless railway for my own travel, be it commuting or other business or leisure; so would not have noticed on 345s. I wonder if the feeds to 345s and 700s are common ? Obviously the data at source is. I will make enquiries when back from leave re. if 345 and 700 are common feeds. |
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Post by Chris L on Sept 17, 2023 7:52:41 GMT
It's great that they're adding USB sockets to trains, but I worry that it may be outdated within 5-10 years as most companies are switching to USB-C. Though I assume it would easy to upgrade them eventually. The USB C connection is at the phone/tablet end not the wall socket. (Travelled back from Norwich on Friday on one of the great Stadler trains but my lead fell out of every socket I tried. I wonder how long they will last on the trains.) |
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Post by f73a on Sept 17, 2023 8:44:53 GMT
Interestingly the LU status display has been missing from Thameslink 700s for a number of weeks recently; or at least missing on those units I have been on when I go to look at it, usually on an Up service on my way from Luton to (usually) Blackfriars - the point of looking being do I need to take another route. They were certainly working for me on my journey home from Blackfriars to Brighton last night. Whether that is the exception or the rule is a different matter, of course. |
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Post by grumpycat on Sept 18, 2023 3:13:39 GMT
Interestingly the LU status display has been missing from Thameslink 700s for a number of weeks recently; or at least missing on those units I have been on when I go to look at it, usually on an Up service on my way from Luton to (usually) Blackfriars - the point of looking being do I need to take another route. They were certainly working for me on my journey home from Blackfriars to Brighton last night. Whether that is the exception or the rule is a different matter, of course. I imagine it also depends on said unit since not all of them receive updates aswell |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 25, 2023 23:04:35 GMT
I have noticed today that it is working on the 345's again. Last week using them, they were not working.
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trainwizard
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Post by trainwizard on Sept 27, 2023 16:48:07 GMT
According to ianVisits: Which is a pretty definite answer to my original question. |
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Post by t697 on Sept 27, 2023 16:51:07 GMT
1st world issue I feel. If your phone is prone to running out of battery, you could carry a battery pack and lead...
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