Just been to a meeting in London Bridge, for which I was 30 mins late
due to Thameslink Programme-related amusement.

Went to Farringdon to catch the 1029 to Brighton, which was initially
reported as 2 mins late, then eventually turned up at 1035. To my mild
surprise, it was a Southern-liveried 377/2 - didn't get the unit
number.

So the train pulled into the platform, with an FCC driver and someone
else whose uniform I couldn't recognise in the cab, and the doors
didn't open for about 90 seconds (I assume this is due to GPS-related
idiocy). Everyone boarded as normal, and the lights dimmed for the AC/
DC changeover.

....ooops.

The lights didn't undim, and the train didn't move. Instead, nothing
at all happened, aside from various hi-vis and/or FCC uniform wearing
types swarming along the platform looking worried.

This continued for about 15 minutes.

Then a chap dressed in workboots, jeans and a polo shirt came along (I
think I was sitting at the rear end of the 2nd car, so in the middle
of the train), opened various electrical cupboards, and fiddled around
in them while speaking jargon I couldn't quite follow on the phone to
someone who may or may not have been the driver. I guess he must've
been a Bombardier fitter, as AIUI all FCC or Southern staff would've
been wearing some kind of uniform or ID?

Eventually he switched the train off and on again, shortly after which
we were on our way.

After that it was fine, except that we waited about 90 seconds for the
doors to open at each station, again presumably due to GPS-related
idiocy.

In some ways I'm annoyed I was late; in some ways I'm pleased to have
been on one of the first public service 377s on the route; in some
ways I'm glad that they're testing them in public service before next
Monday; and in other ways I'm rather worried that things are going to
go seriously titsup on Monday morning.

Even if the AC/DC problems were a glitch, there is literally no chance
of keeping to the rush-hour timetable if they can't sort out the door
opening delays...

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org