Weight And Dimensions Of A Class 345 Train
If you look at the Wikipedia entry for a Class 345 train, dimensions and weight are rather sketchy.
- Train length is given as 205 metres.
- Train width is given as 2780 milli-metres, with a note saying a citation is needed.
- Train weight is given as less than 350 tonnes.
These would be for a full nine-car train.
This picture shows the identification plate on the end of an MS1 car in the current seven-car train.
These figures can be read.
- MS1 car weight is given as 36.47 tonnes
- MS1 car length is given as 22.50 metres
- MS1 car with is given as 2.78 metres.
- MS1 car seats are given as 52
- Train maximum speed is given as 90 mph
- Train weight is given as 255.46 tonnes.
- Train length is given as 159.74 metres.
- Train width is given as 2.78 metres.
- Train seats are given as 350.
Note.
- It’s all clearly there in white-on-black.
- The Wikipedia figure for car width is correct.
- The Wikipedia figure for maximum speed is correct.
- I was also able to read the plate on a PMS car, which gave a weight of 37.12 tonnes.
So can I deduce the figures for a full nine-car train, which have two extra cars.
I did find this snippet on the Internet which gives the formation of the nine-car trains.
When operating as nine-car trains, the Class 345 trains will have two Driving Motor Standard Opens (DMSO), two Pantograph Motor Standard Opens (PMSO), four Motor Standard Opens (MSO) and one Trailer Standard Open (TSO). They will be formed as DMSO+PMSO+MSO+MSO+TSO+MSO+MSO+PMSO+DMSO.
The snippet has a date of August 13th, 2016, so it could be out of date.
But is compares well with the current seven-car trains which appear to have a formation something like.
- Driver-motor car
- Pantograph car
- Motor car
- Trailer car
- Motor car
- Pantograph car
- Driver-motor car
So to convert from a seven to a nine-car train two motor cars are added.
Nine-Car Train Length
This would appear to be 159.74 + 22.50 +22.50 = 204.74 metres.
That would agree with Wikipedia’s figure of 205 metres.
Nine-Car Train Weight
This would appear to be 255.46 +36.47 + 36.47 = 328.40 tonnes.
That would agree with Wikipedia’s figure of less than 350 tonnes.
Details Of The Driver Motor Car
Once I have these details, I’ll have everything I need.
Underneath A Class 345 Train
I was at Shenfield station on Friday waiting for a train to Rayleigh.
Opposite was a Class 345 train waiting to return to London.
As the lighting was just right, I took a few pictures.
There’s some complicated gear underneath.
Bromley-by-Bow Station To Be Made Step-Free
Bromley-by-Bow station is to be made step-free.
I took these pictures this morning.
Work appears to be well underway.
This page on Hawkins Brown website gives comprehensive details of the project.
They are the architects for the project.
Stations On The West Ruislip Branch Of The Central Line To Be Made Step-Free
Hanger Lane and Northolt stations are going to be made step-free.
I took these pictures on the 25th January 2018
Hanger Lane
Northolt
Summary
No work has started!
These two stations are similar in design, as are most stations from between Perivale and Ruislip Gardens.
- Each has a single island platform.
- Steep stairs come down in the middle of the platform.
- A single lift would make the stations step-free from ticket hall to platforms.
- Hanger Lane would need an extra lift from street to ticket hall.
Only Greenford, which has a junction with the Greenford Branch and is elevated, is built to different design.
Greenford Station’s Inclined Lift
At Greenford, an inclined lift has been used, as I wrote in The Inclined Lift In An Improved Greenford Station.
This picture was taken at Greenford station.
Could this be fitted alongside a rebuilt staircase on these Central Line stations?
- The lift and stairs would be sized to fit across the platform.
- A bigger hole in the ticket hall would be needed.
- Access under the stairs would not be needed for passengers.
- An inclined lift installation might be more popular with the Heritage Lobby.
It could even be possible to keep the station open during the rebuilding work.
This article on Transport For All is entitled London’s First Incline Lift. This is a paragraph.
Research by Ealing Council shows that installing incline lifts are a cost effective solution for making inaccessible stations step-free. TfL initially estimated a cost of £10m to install a traditional vertical lift at Greenford station. The incline lift makes a huge saving as it only costs £2.2m with a proposed £200,000 contribution from Ealing Council.
That is a 78% cost saving.
I can’t find any complaints on the Internet about the installation at Greenford.
What Are Transport for London’s Plans?
Transport for London have stated that their aim is to eventually have all Underground stations with full step-free access.
I have this feeling that Hanger Lane and Northolt were added to the list for these reasons.
- The success of the inclined lift at Greenford station.
- Studies have shown that inclined lifts could be used at these stations.
- The affordability of inclined lifts.
- Local residents have used Greenford’s lift and want one!
- Ruislip Gardens, South Ruislip and Perivale stations could be made step-free in the same way.
Transport for London could be going for a traditional solution! But I doubt it!
Burnt Oak Station To Be Made Step Free
These pictures show Burnt Oak station.
I’d never been to Burnt Oak station before.
Because of the layout of the station with an island platform, that has a double staircase with space in between, I suspect this could be one of the easier stations to be made step-free.
What Are Transport for London’s Plans?
Transport for London have stated that their aim is to eventually have all Underground stations with full step-free access.
Searching the Internet, I found there is this page on the Brent Council web site, which gives details of the Burnt Oak and Colindale Regeneration Programme.
As 12,500 houses will be built under this programme, it is not surprising that Transport for London are improving Burnt Oak station.
Cockfosters Station To Be Made Step Free
These pictures show Cockfosters station.
As a child, I used to go to the barbers in Cockfosters station to get my hair cut. I suppose, I went by myself from the time I joined Minchenden Grammar School at eleven. But I could have gone earlier, as it wasn’t that far from where we lived.
The barbers is not there anymore!
The station hasn’t changed much underground, although there’s now a cafe and there are barriers to check the tickets.
As to step-free access, there will need to be a lift on both sides of Cockfosters Road, as stairs are impossible, exzcept for the fully able-bodied.
There will certainly be more difficult stations to make step-free.
Once passengers are down in the station, it is a completely level walk, push or drag to the trains.
What Are Transport for London’s Plans?
Transport for London have stated that their aim is to eventually have all Underground stations with full step-free access.
But Cockfosters station may attract a large number of visitors with bikes, buggies and wheelchairs.
- The station is on the London Outer Orbital Path.
- Trent Park is nearby.
- Cockfosters is at the end of the Piccadilly Line. So is it a stations, where passengers are dropped for Central London, Kings Cross and Heathrow?
Christ Church, Cockfosters is nearby, where C and myself got married. Possibly more importantly,the UK Memorial Service for Elivis Presley was held in the church, as this page recalls.
One thing that appears to be better at Cockfosters station from my childhood are the buses.
- There are more bus routes calling at the station.
- All the buses now have wheelchair spaces and access ramps.
- Bus information is better.
So will we see the bus routes from Cockfosters station further developed to serve new housing developments?
Stealing With Pride: Testing Automotive Industry Tech On Swiss Trams
The title of this post, is the same as this article on Global Rail News. This is first two paragraphs.
Swiss public transport operator Baselland Transport (BLT) is testing Bosch Rail Transport’s light rail collision-warning system in collaboration with Stadler.
Should the tests prove successful, BLT plans to equip its entire fleet of Tango trams with the technology – which is already established in the automotive industry.
In my working life, I often stole ideas and especially methods from other industries and obscurer mathematical papers.
This use of an automotive system on a tram is a good way of the application of proven technology in another area.
Study Concludes There Is Demand For A Light Rail System In Bath
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in Global Rail News.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Plans to bring a light rail system to the historic city of Bath, UK, have taken a step closer after it received backing from a preliminary study.
The study was produced by consultants Atkins and followed suggestions from the public to look at the potential for a new tram system, according to Bath and North East Somerset council.
Consider.
- Atkins are one of best consultants in the world, with lots of experience.
- Many Continental cities, the size of Bath have a tram network
- Darmstadt with a population twice that of Bath has nine tram lines.
- Tram systems in historic towns and cities can be built without catenary, using batteries for motive power.
- Smaller lightweight tram systems are being developed.
So I’m not surprised that, it was recommended that Bath get a tram network.
But if Bath can develop a viable tram network, then surely any town or city with the right set of problems and needs should be looking at trams.
My list of possible cities and large towns, where trams could start by connecting the the railway station to the main town centre would include.
- Cambridge
- Colchester
- Coventry
- Huddersfield
- Ipswich
- Leicester
- Middlesbrough
- Norwich
- Wigan
There must be loads more.
Wimbledon Park Station To Be Made Step Free
These pictures show Wimbledon Park station.
The stairs are very bad at this station and as it is an island platform, only one lift would be needed.
To illustrate the poor quality of the access, as I sent down the stairs, a passenger was helping a mother get her baby in a pushchair up the stairs.
The station is a disgrace!
No wonder Transport for London are making the station, step-free.
Railway That Could Bridge Middle East Divide
The title of this post is the same as an article by Roger Boyes in today’s copy of The Times.
The sub-title of the article is.
A new track from Israel to Saudi Arabia offers economic growth and stability in the region.
Read the article!
The Anonymous Widower 