European Railroad Discussion > The shape (and colour) of things to come

Yesterday I took pictures of two of the new trains which are starting to appear on the third rail network south of London. First is a pair of the 387/2 EMUs being built by Bombardier in Derby for Gatwick Express service. They are currently undergoing mileage accumulating running in trials. This set is passing Balcombe Tunnel Junction in the depth of Tilgate Forest, some 32 miles south of London.

Secondly is one of the new class 700 from Siemens, these are 12 car sets with full body width gangways. They will be introduced on Thameslink services starting later this year, Tuesday was the first day of daylight driver training between the new depot at Three Bridges and Bedford, Blackfriars and Brighton. 700 109 is approaching Three Bridges station (which is just south of Gatwick Airport) on its return from Bedford.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/16 14:36 by 86235.

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Those 700s do look neat, with no corridor connections to spoil their handsome lines. I've got some more cheapie VTEC trips to The Smoke, so hope to find some. Chris UK.

At the moment they are running Three Bridges to Blackfriars and back (some runs back are via Brighton) and Three Bridges to Bedford and back. RTT shows them, use the Non Passenger Services option on the Services? drop down box.

They don't look too bad in the flesh, although the seats look like the usual sit up and beg type. At least with no intermediate cabs there are more seats.

Thank you Nick for brand new class 700 pictures! Interesting to see this type in traffic already.

They're not in traffic yet, these are mileage accumulation and driver training runs. A few weeks before the great unwashed can ride in them :-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/16 08:40 by 86235.

:)

Is the loading gauge still the same, this beast looked slightly broader than normally at Innotrans fair in 2014?

No, they're being introduced on conventional not high speed lines. 

OK, thanks, then it just looks a bit broader than some of the other rolling stock. 

So just how did they get away with no corridor connections at the end of these units?
Keith G
London, UK
 

Gotta get out and ride those 700s!

CIT1023 Wrote:
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> So just how did they get away with no corridor
> connections at the end of these units?
> Keith G
> London, UK
>  
They are either eight or twelve car sets, so unless Thameslink are planning to run 16, 20 or 24 car trains there's no need for a gangway.