DMUs out, EMUs in on the GOBLIN
TWO more Class 378 units have been reduced from five to four cars for use on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBLIN) pending the late introduction of the new-build Class 710 ‘Aventras’.
No. 387206 entered service on the line on February 12, joining No. 387232, with No. 387209 following later in the month. The units have been made available by temporarily dispensing with any ‘hot spare’ units on the East London and North London lines. Inevitably, this will lead to cancellations occurring there on occasions.
Late January saw a third ‘Turbostar’ No. 172003 stopped by London Overground and moved to Ilford to be prepared for its transfer to Tyseley and reuse by West Midlands Railway. Another two sets, Nos. 172005/008, were taken out of traffic the following month, running from Willesden to Ilford for fitting of toilets on February 18. Their removal from service left just three DMUs in use on the Gospel Oak-Barking route, Nos. 172001/004/007, which are being supplemented by the three Class 378s. With six units required to cover all the services on weekdays, this needs 100% fleet availability. The three remaining ‘172s’ are all scheduled to be stopped
