Atomic Systems

Noticed this in our local newspaper http://www.hemelonline.co.uk/ViewArticl ... eID=851570

It doesn't say what class of train, but there is only one class that has been discarded of by a TOC (The Class 458 Junipers)

I can't believe this is true given this trains' reliability record. Silverlink would be suicidal if they are really going to accept these into service!

Anyway I thought we were getting Desiros?

Mmm. I'm not sure, as local newspapers are not the most reliable of sources. The Framley Examiner is closer to reality than I think they realise.

The figure 8 seems odd. There are more of the SWT Junipers than that so it seems a little odd. Plus, the mixed fleet of 321 and Junipers would be a maintenance nightmare, given the Desiros are being maintained at a dedicated facility.

I wonder if the real story is that Silverlink may be getting some of Onege's 321's? There are suggestions doing the rounds of Onege getting some of C2C's 357's for Southend duties, freeing up 321's for Silverlink. This was to be temporary when first mooted (and I think may even have been implemented) but if this was made permanent, together with the recent arrival of the four 322 units from oop north, it would free about 8 321's for a permanent transfer to Silverlink.

As for the Junipers, ScotRail have got their sets working properly, so perhaps the answer is re-engineer them to match the Scottish sets and send them north for growth and to replace some of the 314 units, which could then possibly be used on Onege Metro services to strengthen the inner suburban Liverpool St trains?

I can't think of any other unit which fits the description than the 458, but I think its a bit unusual.

There are rumours that a few 458's are going to Gatwick Express to replace the remaining loco sets.

Funny, I heard that Southern and Thamslink want to get rid of the Gatwick Express...

Well it's not up to Southern or Thameslink what happens RE: GatEx... I'm sure they'd revel in the extra business that it would generate for them (or would it? can't see Thameslink benefitting that much).

Southern do get the extra business

Return on the Gatwick Express is £12, with Southern its £8 I think its the same with Thameslink.

Thameslink go right into the city so it would benefit the business traveller.

Apparently (according to another thread) the SRA (or who ever it is) wants to increase Gat Ex's to one every 10minutes (its currently one every 15) and run them through to Brighton. Possibly merging Gat Ex with Southern?

Thats the rumour I heard...

Dan

I heard that they were reducing the frequency of the Gatwick Express to make more room for commuter services, as the Express runs very empty most of the time...

not reducing it, expanding it and running it to Brighton.

what the articale may mean is the canceled order for extra 5 car class 450's that now form the new class 350 order with seimens for the units for central and silverlink... NOT the junipers

It will be interesting to see what happens.

To the best of my knowledge, units 001 and 002 are on-lease by Gatwick Express. the majority of the units are being 'bulled up' at Wimbledon Depot and stored prior to being returned to Poterbrook.

As of a fortnight ago SWT had four diagrams to be covered, with I believe, six units allocated to cover those duties.

As an aside, any queries as to the reliability of the 458's can be put down to (a) them being built to a minimum spec and (b) inexperience of 3rd rail operations on the part of Alsthom.

So far as the drivers are concerned, the brakes and motors on these units are bloody fantastic; they go like stink and, at least on a dry rail, they stop on a sixpence. If anything, the heavier they are loaded the better they handle.

a 12 month bump.

Biggest I've seen in a while. I thought that 458 reliability was improving to the point that keeping them and doing away with 442s was being mooted. (That would be a bad idea IMO)