Class 345 Testing and Introduction

[goldenarrow]

Oct 25, 2017 23:01:51 GMT Deep Level said:

My morning train and the 18:50 from Liv St were 315s again today, they seem to have taken the 345s off most of the services that were being worked by them again. Perhaps an issue?

Could be a combination of finding a more permanent solution to the teething problems previously experienced and preparation for testing systems in the tunnels later this year/early next year. It hasn't been said whether a single train will be used in the Dynamic Testing Zone or if units will be swapped out periodically.

1) Will the 345s have their two extra cars added in 2019 when they run through the core section or as soon as the platform work is complete?

The platform extension work must be completed before trains on the Shenfield Metro start running underground to Liverpool Street because the Platform Screen Doors (PSD's) are set up for the 9-car configuration. That means the deadline is to have all existing 7-car units converted to 9-cars by Dec 2019 although it will be a tight squeeze as 9-car formations are too long to fit into the the Nation Rail platforms at Liverpool Street.

2) Will the 345s for Heathrow be delivered in 9 car formation?

Yes, they will run as such from the get go as some stations don't require extension work such as Paddington and Heathrow T's 1,3,4&5. It's not clear where the trains that first run through the tunnels from Paddington to Abbey Wood will come from although one would think they would be West end (Heathrow) units at it's over a year before East end units are due for their extension.

[Chris M]

When the whole system is up and running are there going to be separate east and west end fleets, generally maintained at their home depot or will it be a single fleet maintained wherever happens to be the most convenient when a particular unit needs maintaining?

[snoggle]

Oct 25, 2017 23:01:51 GMT Deep Level said:

Also two questions:

1) Will the 345s have their two extra cars added in 2019 when they run through the core section or as soon as the platform work is complete?
2) Will the 345s for Heathrow be delivered in 9 car formation?

I went through the contract for the trains and did a post a while back explaining the transition from 315s to 345s and the use of 7 and 9 car units.

districtdavesforum.co.uk/post/424230

It's certainly true that services from next May out of Paddington are with full length units. Clearly there have to be a mix of full length and reduced length units for east end services from May 2019 when Shenfield services go down the tunnel at Stratford but there are still peak services into Liv St (surface).

The main conversion programme for 7 cars to 9 cars will be during 2019 but the bulk of deliveries of new trains during 2018 and into 2019 will be 9 car units for deployment on the core and then to take up through services to the GEML and then the full service from Dec 2019.

[snoggle]

Oct 26, 2017 11:04:23 GMT Chris M said:

When the whole system is up and running are there going to be separate east and west end fleets, generally maintained at their home depot or will it be a single fleet maintained wherever happens to be the most convenient when a particular unit needs maintaining?

It's a single fleet overall. There may be some notional "allocation" to depots but I think both Ilford and OOC can carry out the same maintenance activities although I don't know whether they both have wheel lathes to re-profile train wheels to deal with flats / wear. I expect trains will be stabled in a number of places including Maidenhead, OOC, Plumstead, Ilford and Gidea Park.

[Ben]

Thanks snoggle your post clears thing up.

I've often been confused by the whole 7/9 car thing, primarily because spurious mentions of 11cars seem to surface from time to time too. Not helped by such statements peppering the Crossrail website:

The platforms will be 250 metres long to accommodate the new 200 metre long train as well as longer rolling stock in the future.

[silenthunter]

Future proofing, I'd imagine. With ridership projections the way they are, newer units with more capacity are very likely to be needed.

[Deep Level]

There seemed to be one out yesterday but still not on my morning trains, it is still being announced as 7 cars however.

[stapler]

Yesterday on the 0830 down Norwich, I observed five; one in service with passengers near Harold Wood, three parked dark in Ilford, one standing with lights on at Gidea Park sidings. There may have been others in the sheds, of course.

[Deep Level]

My train was a 345 this morning for the only time this week.

[Chris M]

I had my first experience of a 345 this afternoon. I tapped in at Liverpool Street at about 14:45 and was walking towards the front of the 315 on platform 17 when a 345 pulled in to platform 16 to form the 15:00 departure. Not being in a particular hurry I waited and took the new train to Ilford and I was impressed. The journey was smooth and it accommodated the large number boarding at Stratford with ease. The "next station" displays were very useful and I really missed them on the 315 I got back from Ilford to Stratford (my original destination!).
I didn't have any issues on the 345 moving from a transverse seat to the doorway to alight at Ilford. Exiting the more lightly loaded inbound 315 at Stratford, despite starting from closer to the door felt like it took more effort.

[christopher125]

Oct 25, 2017 21:33:19 GMT goldenarrow said:

Now since the central section of Crossrail will run on ETCS, Im guessing all of the units are having their signaling software validated as the need for a surrogate test train(s) may make it self apparent.

CBTC for the central section, ETCS for the Heathrow Branch IIRC.

[Deleted]

I just saw a shiny new Class 345 running down the Abbey Wood branch of Crossrail, but being towed by a locomotive, perhaps to run gauging tests on the infrastructure between Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood.

www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2017/10/29/first-crossrail-train-reaches-abbey-wood/

[goldenarrow]

Nov 5, 2017 13:05:34 GMT @kkc35348 said:

I just saw a shiny new Class 345 running down the Abbey Wood branch of Crossrail, but being towed by a locomotive, perhaps to run gauging tests on the infrastructure between Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood.

That has already been answered in the thread below. 

districtdavesforum.co.uk/post/454685/thread

[Deep Level]

Didn't realise the train be used for gauge testing had Elizabeth Line roundels on it.

[rincew1nd]

[goldenarrow]

That unit looks like it's carrying Crossrail roundels, isn't the service from May 2018 between Paddington and Heathrow going to fall under TfL Rail?

[silenthunter]

Yes to both questions, but only the Heathrow Connect services for the latter.

[Deep Level]

Why don't the trains appear to have wifi yet?

[superteacher]

Nov 16, 2017 18:56:42 GMT Deep Level said:

Why don't the trains appear to have wifi yet?

Apparently that won’t be activated until trains are running through the central section at the end of next year.

[superteacher]

Applogies for double post, but saw this article regarding the delayed rollout of the 345’s on the TFL Rail route:

www.cityam.com/275861/crossrail-latest-elizabeth-line-train-rollout-stalls

[goldenarrow]

The first closure on TfL Rail's Heathrow route has been put on the Track Closures six month look ahead as being on Sunday 20th May 2018, rough guide for the commencement of services perhaps?

[superteacher]

Seems to be up to 5 345’s in service now with the new timetable.

[snoggle]

Nov 25, 2017 23:29:00 GMT goldenarrow said:

The first closure on TfL Rail's Heathrow route has been put on the Track Closures six month look ahead as being on Sunday 20th May 2018, rough guide for the commencement of services perhaps?

Looking at timetable expiry dates for those starting in about a week then that weekend in May is when the Summer timetable kicks in and almost certainly when TfL will take over the Heathrow Connect service. I wonder if the delayed start is deliberate to allow for handover to run on through the morning? Slightly ironic that the start of TfL service will be marked with a late start.

[silenthunter]

Will there be enough 345s by then or will they have to slap TfL Rail stickers on 360s?

[rincew1nd]

Any ideas why it was there?

[alpinejohn]

Dec 1, 2017 9:05:34 GMT rincew1nd said:

Any ideas why it was there?

... Obviously sent by the Fat Controller - I am told being banished to Central Rivers or Culdee Fell is apparently the fate of all naughty engines...

Probably will be allowed back once they say sorry.

(or am I getting confused with naughty trucks)

[goldenarrow]

Dec 1, 2017 9:05:34 GMT rincew1nd said:

Any ideas why it was there?

Certainly makes a change to see an EMU at the home of Bombardiers voyager fleet. In know that Bombardiers FLEXX bogies have been used in majority of the electric and diesel multiple units that they produce. Because of this supposed design overlap, it could be that the Crossrail unit is being put through the Automatic Vehicle Inspection System (AVIS) which gauges every surface and its dimensions with the aim of reducing time for maintenance checks and ultimately turnaround time. I believe that AVIS was pioneered at Central Rivers. Bombardier have used AVIS for their maintenance contract for the c2c fleet and given the high fleet availability demands of Crossrail, I wouldn't be surprised if a similar scheme were adopted at Ilford and/or Old Oak Common.

[silenthunter]

Dec 1, 2017 13:33:15 GMT alpinejohn said:

Dec 1, 2017 9:05:34 GMT rincew1nd said:

Any ideas why it was there?

... Obviously sent by the Fat Controller - I am told being banished to Central Rivers or Culdee Fell is apparently the fate of all naughty engines...

Probably will be allowed back once they say sorry.

(or am I getting confused with naughty trucks)

That's 345 022, which I don't think has turned up in London yet...

[goldenarrow]

The commencement of TfL Rail services between Paddington (Mainline) and Heathrow T4 on Sunday 20th May 2018 has now been revised to 08:30.

[superteacher]

Dec 21, 2017 14:34:16 GMT goldenarrow said:

The commencement of TfL Rail services between Paddington (Mainline) and Heathrow T4 on Sunday 20th May 2018 has now been revised to 08:30.

08:30 when?