The Class 707 CityBeam trains on SouthEastern

Class 707 Trains are now in passenger service on SouthEastern routes, and they've been called "CityBeam". I went out for a ride on the first day in service, and caught up with a couple of friendly familiar faces too!

My thanks to SouthEastern, Phil and Chris as always.

Just think ... if SouthEastern ran 1-car 153's they have every combination from 1 through to 6 car trains covered!

[rajamijimbi]

I understand partly why they don't have toilets, but for someone with Crohn's disease or similar, it can make it an absolute nightmare to travel - especially if the train gets stuck between stations. Even just the one toilet per train would be a lifesaver.

[RMTransit]

So cool to see rolling stock being upgraded! I love the look of the 707 . . . they remind me of the Heathrow Express Stock.

[Squimple]

I didn't realise that 3+2 seating was purely for advertised capacity to win franchises. How much have passengers suffered for something that makes traisn less pleasant to use. Good to hear they are on the way out!

[dwayner]

I think the plug sockets should be upside-down, less pressure on the cable in my opinion.

[DeeDoubleYous]

Chris and Phil in the same video! What a treat.

[PaulASmyers]

I'd like to say, I'm very impressed with the rail staff members' ability to look into the camera when being interviewed. There are a lot of "professional youtubers" that aren't even good at that.

[AndrewJohnson-urlw]

Nice to hear passengers called as "passengers" by TOC staff.

[BritishTrainsRBX]

Geoff the train that has plug sockets that have the longer pin at the bottom is the class 745/755 FLIRT

[PaulElijas]

I can't wait to be in London in less than a week and visit all these spots from your videos! I've been looking forward to this moment for years

[martinbeaumont]

I gotta say that Chris is mind full of knowledge and always interesting. Good video Geoff.

[davidgibson]

If the plug is under the seat it is best for it to be upside down (earth pin pointing to ground).
The London Overground 710 units have usb chargers at end of carriages which are useful. The Greater Anglia 379 units have plugs in the 2 seats (airline style) which are just below the window).

[GreenJimll]

Chris is great value for money in Geoff's videos. I see a presenting team emerging... 😃

[raphaelnikolaus]

Much love (and appreciation) for Chris. And Phil

[DominicNoades_]

Thanks for the video, brilliant! It is on my local toc, I have been exited for this train for over a year. I am going on the train on Saturday. If anyone wants to travel on the class 707, here is the full list of services on weekdays:

Sidcup Line:
05:31 Crayford to Cannon Street
06:19 Crayford to Charing Cross
09:18 Charing Cross to Gravesend
09:38 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Woolwich
10:48 Gravesend to Charing Cross
14:18 Charing Cross to Gravesend
14:38 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Woolwich
15:48 Gravesend to Charing Cross
17:02 Charing Cross to Gravesend
18:18 Gravesend to Charing Cross
19:32 Charing Cross to Dartford
19:38 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Woolwich

Grove Park Line:
06:20 Cannon Street to Orpington
07:11 Orpington to Cannon Street
11:20 Cannon Street to Orpington
12:11 Orpington to Cannon Street
16:20 Cannon Street to Orpington
17:11 Orpington to Cannon Street
21:20 Cannon Street to Orpington
22:11 Orpington to Cannon Street

Hayes Line:
07:57 Cannon Street to Hayes
08:45 Hayes to Cannon Street
12:57 Cannon Street to Hayes
13:45 Hayes to Cannon Street
17:57 Cannon Street to Hayes
18:45 Hayes to Cannon Street
22:57 Cannon Street to Hayes

Bexleyheath Line:
08:16 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich
15:17 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich
17:15 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich
19:15 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich

Woolwich Line:
07:09 Slade Green to Cannon Street
07:12 Charing Cross to Dartford via Lewisham
08:11 Dartford to Charing Cross via Lewisham
08:16 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich
09:38 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Woolwich
12:12 Charing Cross to Dartford via Lewisham
13:11 Dartford to Charing Cross via Lewisham
14:38 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Woolwich
19:38 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Woolwich
15:17 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich
17:15 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich
19:15 Cannon Street to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Woolwich

[timothyleberl]

Excellent Video Geoff, love the fact that this will be my new local train! And great seeing you on board too just by luck which absolutely made my day! Keep it up!

[TheEalingBusEnthusiast]

These are better than I thought to be fare. They look nice in SE livery, nice video Geoff! :)

[person]

I was just thinking ‘when is Geoff going to make a 707 video’
4 seconds later I get a YouTube notification saying Geoff made a video

[telemachus]

A beautiful upgrade. I'm fast becoming a South Eastern fan, ever since they introduced the Javelin.

[CPTrains]

Paul is a great guy who I saw twice at New Cross when on test. He told me about the first units being in the new livery and helped me film it on the first trip out! That 707 pin 😍

In addition to the Window Shoulder Test, I would like to suggest the Shoulder On My Neighbour Test. There have been rants and multi-page articles on this topic in the magazine pictured in this video ;-) That would be a nice video topic : the real-life test of how people effectively sit on train seats, based on seat width, ajacent seat spacing and the presence or absence of a separator between adjacent seats; for a selection of different train Classes and interor layouts.