Southern after High Speed train for Brighton Victoria?

reaver156 · Post by **reaver156** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:09 am

I herd in some magazines that southern were looking at the wessex (ex SWT) trains to maybe be used on the Brighton Victoria line.

To be honest, i wouldnt like to see a southern livery on them, to me, it would seem not the best decision.

Does anyone know of what other units Southern are after since its bugging me what units they can actually use on a third rail line?

...Pasu

yj03ppv · Post by **yj03ppv** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:48 am

More 377s I should imagine.

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:57 am

They've ordered a fair few new 377s

reaver156 · Post by **reaver156** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:08 am

That sucks... I was looking forward to seeing a High speed service from southern....

...Pasu

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:29 pm

The Brighton Mainline is too congested for a high speed service to happen, although it is possible to run at 100mph and London - Brighton has been done in 37 minutes.

But there are quiet a few speed restrictions and dodgy places in the route, especially Earlswood (spent christmas upgrading the track and its still bumpy there).

Only way of putting a faster service on is to make the 4 tracks all the way from Balcombe Junction to Brighton, but theres alot of infrastructure to be built on that.

BR7MT · Post by **BR7MT** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:30 pm

Some 442's are to be leased for extra Gatwick Express duties as part of the Brighton main line service changes.

Regards,

Dan

metromuppet · Post by **metromuppet** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:54 pm

If Southern where to use 442s on the Brighton Express service with the current stopping pattern, the times will have to be extended due to the slow acceleration of the 442s v 377s.

thelondontube · Post by **thelondontube** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:28 pm

Do we know if GoVia will carry on using the 'Gatwick Express' name and branding or will they totally absorb the service into 'Southern'?

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:42 pm

i think they will keep it as glorified advertising for the airport as BAA supplimented funding for the service in the first place i think!!!.

although the GATWES is in stewarts lane having an overhaul and is not in SWT livery.

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:41 am

As far as i know Gatwick Express is being ran as a separate brand but part of Southern. But not much information has been released on this subject. Just a case of wait and see.

metromuppet · Post by **metromuppet** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:40 am

salopiangrowler wrote:i think they will keep it as glorified advertising for the airport as BAA supplimented funding for the service in the first place i think!!!.

although the GATWES is in stewarts lane having an overhaul and is not in SWT livery.

It is in SWT livert, just abit more "white", and has SWT logo removed.

01pictoa · Post by **01pictoa** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:04 am

It's not SWT livery, but the refurb "nuetral" livery applied to the 442's that were earmarked for other companies.

Andy

richard222 · Post by **richard222** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:54 pm

I think the Gatwick Express is going to be London-Brighton via Gatwick, with the Wessexes providing the extra trains so tey can keep the service frequency even though they are travelling further.

n863dwt · Post by **n863dwt** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:11 pm

and what happens to the 460's then?
they become non standard being incompatable with either the 5-wes or the 455/456/377 not to mention the 171

chriscooper · Post by **chriscooper** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:02 pm

Well, other than the 455s and 456s, the rest arn't compatable with each other anyway. A 442 could couple to a 455 or 456 but without brakes, since they have incompatable braking systems, and a 377 and a 171 can only couple in an emergency with one providing power and the other dead, although in that case both units would be braked.