The Anonymous Widower

Are More Class 387 Trains On The Way?

In Sorting Out The Great Western Electrification, I said this, based on what I had read in the June 2016 Edition of Modern Railways, in an article entitled GWR To Order More ‘387s’.

So GWR have snapped up the other fourteen ordered by Porterbrook and supplemented this with an order for fifteen new build units.

This means they have got their required 29 trains to go with the eight they ordered some time ago.

Unfortunately, building more Class 387 trains, which would probably help the rolling stock shortage caused by the non-working Class 700 trains, especially as it appears Bombardier has spare capacity, is not on, as changes to crashworthiness regulations mean that these trains can’t be produced after September 2016.

So it’s probably very lucky, that the Great Western doesn’t have much working electrification.

In the July 2016 Edition of Modern Railways there is an article entitled GWR Confirms Order For More ‘387s’.

This confirms that GWR are taking Porterbrook’s fourteen trains and another twenty-three not fifteen trains.

Fleet Details in the Wikipedia entry for Class 387 trains confirms these numbers.

But the July 2016 article in Modern Railways also has this sentence.;

Previous concerns that the ‘387’ design could not be produced after September this year have proved to be unfounded, so Bombardier is not required to cease manufacturing the units after that time.

So does this mean we will be seeing more Class 387 trains coming off the production line at Derby?

Consider.

• Bombardier are building the new Aventras on a new production line at Derby.
• An airport version of the Class 387 train is available.
• The trains can run in four-, eight- and twelve-car formations.
• An IPEMU version of the train should be possible.
• How would the price on a Class 387 train compare to other trains of a similar capacity?
• Over fifty trains are in service on both lines with overhead or third-rail electrification.
• Many of the trains run under DOO rules.

So how could various operators use Class 387 trains.

GWR already have forty-five Class 387 trains on order for suburban services out of Paddington.

• If Bombardier get IPEMU technology to work, there are several places around the GWR network, where it might be possible to be used.
• GWR are thinking of obtaining more AT300 trains for Oxford services, but if wires could be erected or the IPEMU version could be used on battery power from Didcot, Class 387 trains could handle the route. Surely, more Class 387 trains would be preferable, as this would give a one-class suburban fleet.
• An airport version of a Class 387 train fitted with an IPEMU capability could handle the Reading to Gatwick route.
• The Marlow Branch and other routes away from the main line, could be handled by a Class 387 train with an IPEMU capability.
• Are there any other services in Wales and the West for which Class 387 trains would be ideal, once electrification gets to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea.

c2c are an operator of seventy-four Class 357 trains, which are Electrostars like the Class 387s.

• c2c are taking six Class 387 trains before placing an order for sixty-eight new carriages to be delivered in 2019.

The new East Anglia Franchise will be awarded this month and requires a lot of changes to the rolling stock. Some are urgent.

• Three Class 387 trains running as a twelve-car unit with a high-class interior would probably be faster, more comfortable and spacious with an increased capacity compared to the ageing Class 90 locomotives and rakes of Mark 3 coaches. Would the Class 90/Mk 3 trains, be able to do Norwich in 90?
• Class 387 trains with an IPEMU capability could work various routes around East Anglia connecting Cambridge, Colchester, Ely, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Lowestoft, Norwich and Peterborough.
• There are several branch lines in East Anglia without electrification,which could be worked by Class 387 trains with an IPEMU capability.
• The Class 379 fleet working to Cambridge and Stansted Airport, may need expansion, due to the opening of Cambridge North station.
• According to Wikipedia, the invitation to tender for the france include this ” extra points will be awarded to bidders who include plans to trial new technologies in rolling stock”

Although some of the uses of Class 387 trains could obviously be filled by Aventras and other trains, as there is little development involved to build more Class 387 trains, I wouldn’t be surprised if more of these trains were built.

After all, if you are the CEO of a train operating company, currently running Electrostars, at speeds of up to 110 mph and you are offered the latest Class 387 train to your specification, with a sensible delivery date and at a price that is affordable, you must seriously consider signing the order.

You also have the example of the Class 387/2 trains that were built to an airport specification for Gatwick Express.

I wouldn’t underestimate the involvement of Porterbrook-Rent-A-Train in all this. Some of the franchises will need more rolling stock, as soon as possible.

June 23, 2016 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Aventra, Class 387 Train, First Great Western Trains, Trains