The first Class 387/2 electric multiple unit carriage is undergoing testing at Bombardier’s Derby Litchurch Lane facility.
Built by Bombardier, the ‘387/2s’ are destined for Gatwick Express trains.
They have been designed specifically for the Gatwick Express route, although they will also serve Brighton. They will feature increased luggage space, 2+2 seating, power sockets, air-conditioning, WiFi, Passenger Information Systems (PIS) and improved disabled access.
Govia Thameslink Railway owns the GatEx operations. In November it signed a £145.2 million order for 108 Class 387/2 Electrostar vehicles, forming 27 four-car trains.
The ‘387/2’ fleet is due to enter traffic next year, replacing the Class 442s that entered traffic with GatEx in 2008, having been cascaded from South West Trains. The ‘442s’ date from 1987.
- For more on this news story, see RAIL 780 published on August 5 2015
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 24/07/2015 14:49
Good news that Bombardier are now focusing on building the 27x 4-car Class 387/2's for Gatwick Express to replace the 24x 5-car Class 442's.
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Tony Wilson - 25/07/2015 13:05
Last week paid a premium price for the Gatwick Express. The train arrived from Brighton crammed to windows with commuters. Only by getting aggressive could I edge my way, with two suitcases, into the vestible between coaches. The promised refreshments never appeared, certainly no seat and, if it was working where I was forced to stand, useless air conditioning. It departed Gatwick ten minutes late and arrived at Victoria 15 minutes late. I think it is only Gatwick that charges a premium fare to travel on a crowded commuter service. I cannot see how new trains will improve this. There has to be a better way. If paths are the issue cannot an emu from Brighton be added to a dedicated Gatwick Express unit in the manner that happens twice an hour at Horsham? This is the first view of the UK many people see, not a great welcome
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Chris - 26/07/2015 10:56
I wonder if they will also include catering and revenue protection in First Class between London and Gatwick? - if not then a once premium service becomes a dumbed down, abused service.
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Ben H - 28/07/2015 08:59
If equipping the Class 387/2s (now being built) as battery EMUs is out of the question: - The Class 442s that they are to replace, could be returned to their former route between London and Weymouth, displacing 24 Class 444 EMUs for fitment of pantographs and transformers. The '444s' would be reclassified as '344s', and replace most of the Class 90-hauled Mark 3 carriage rakes on the London-Ipswich-Norwich route until new 125 mph stock is acquired. (the Mark 3s would be used to lengthen Chiltern's Mark 3 sets to 8 or 9 carriages and operate also as separate rakes with available diesel locos. They would also be welcome for lengthening Intercity 125 sets) - On Crossrail, the initial use of older EMUs such as Class 315 should be strongly considered. There is a national crisis of a shortage of rolling stock capable of running on non-electrified lines. Electrification projects are very severely delayed. 23 metre carriages would have more underfloor space for batteries than 20 metre ones. The Crossrail carriages on order would be more justified as regional DEMUs and battery EMUs, with a new build for Crossrail being postponed. - The Vivarail D-Train could demonstrate the worth of modular automotive diesel engine (e.g. Ford Duratorq) and generator sets for new build DEMUs. New 23-metre carriages could have such equipment, which would be swapped for a transformer and/or batteries when the train is converted to a purely electric one. A fleet of 23 metre carriage, 75mph new-build DEMUs using similar engines to the D-Train could replace Pacers and Sprinters.
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