The first technical details of the new Class 387 fleet have been revealed. The 29 dual voltage 110mph capable units are formed in four car units and include some of the recent upgrades to the Electrostar model such as forward facing and pantograph cameras, plug sockets at each seat pairing as well as real time CIS and CCTV equipment. The trains will also have six powered axels per train.
The units will be wifi ready, 2+2 seating only, and in the ‘transitional branding’ (likely the interim TSGN livery) with ‘metro-density ready’ grab rail. AC and DC regenerative braking, driver advisory system (DAS) and the now standard selective door and unit opening systems (SDO). The key parts of the 387 fleet are expected to have a 35 year life span.
The units will be formed as such:
DMOS A
60 seats (7 tables)
22 seats in area that passive provision for First Class (area by the right door)
MOSL
62 seats (6 tables)
1 standard toilet
PTOSL
44 seats (7 tables)
2 wheelchair spaces
1 Wheelchair accessible toilet
DMOS B
60 seats (6 tables)
All 29 units are planned to be ready for passenger service before Southern merges with the new TSGN franchise. Here is the current provisional acceptance (entry into service) of the class 387/1 fleet;
Southern will continue to work with Bombardier on the build support (reviews of the design) right the way up to September this year (likely in relation to the start date of TSGN the same month). The arrival of the 387/1 fleet also means Southern drivers requiring to learn the Atlantic Lines for which Southern is required to recruit more drivers which is already on going and will continue on until August.
The requirement of Bombardier to get the fleet to operate at 40,000 MTIN with financial penalties if the fleet does not achieve this. Currently the Bombardier ‘built’ 357 and 375 (/8 & /9 subclasses only) achieve this. Bombardier is aiming high with its latest version of the Electrostar fleet, but with the Thameslink Core requirements needing high levels of reliability. Of Bombardier’ dual voltage fleets the 377/5 fleet has a MTIN of 21,322 (meaning the new fleet will have to be about twice as reliable), the 378/2 achieves 13,813 MTIN. The 377/2 fleet is mixed in with the rest of the 377 and achieves 33,492. Bombardier AC only 379, which the 387 body shell is based on, achieves 37,544. Time will tell if they can achieve this.
sparkyscrum 