I'll give our local line some credit here - since we've had these new Turbo Star Class 170s, we've FINALLY ridded ourselves of those bloody threadbare all-green Centro units that I call the headache-generator!
I'll give our local line some credit here - since we've had these new Turbo Star Class 170s, we've FINALLY ridded ourselves of those bloody threadbare all-green Centro units that I call the headache-generator!
That's what Scotrail have up here and the odd 158, which I believe are those headache generators you talk of. Scotrails Turbostar's come in groups of three's so usually we get three, occassional 6 and when it's late it's always and I mean always the 2 carriage 158 in which you find an empty train being turned into a sardine can where the doors barely shut.
I recall one day last year when the train was 20mins late delaying the train behind it , it has one further stop before reaching Dundee in which the train will empty. The train did stop at the little town of Carnousite although nobody could get on because there were people packed right up to the doors.
Luckily First who now have the Scotrail franchise are continueing the NEGroup work by buying more Turbostars to replace the existing ageing fleet of around 20 158's.
Slam Doors! The only place we people up here see them is on GNER's trains. All automatic doors up here.
I think I beat you all. My daily train is 10 cars long. Used to be 8 but its been upgraged from a slam doory to a nice letric one. Very posh.
Have you got new Juniper units or Siemens Desiros on your line?
Anyone been on a Pendolino yet?
The Junipers (458s) are going next year; SWT aren't renewing the option to extend the lease due to major reliability issues. They'll replaced by more 450s ("Blue Desiros"), refurbished 455s ("Suburbans") on metro services.
The Pendolinos are pretty swish. I prefer the Pendolinos' (WCML) First Class to the Voyagers' (Cross-Country) Club Class offering, and it looks like Standard Class is pleasant enough too. As far as actual seat comfort goes, the old Intercity 125s still win for me though.
The Pendolinos are pretty swish. I prefer the Pendolinos' (WCML) First Class to the Voyagers' (Cross-Country) Club Class offering, and it looks like Standard Class is pleasant enough too..
I've been in a Voyager, between Sheffield and York. A very fine bit of railway kit, it was.. I think the seats were semi-reclining too, even in Standard Class!
I've always liked the GNER Mallard/GNER White Rose Eurostar trains - revamped and the food's great! I ALWAYS travel in their 'Quiet Coach' too.
The new Midland Mainline trains are lovely - especially the 'Meridian'. Even Standard Class is fantastic.
Do they still sell those yummy triple cheese pizzas? I had one a couple of years ago on a trip to Sheffield, went via Derby care of Midland Mainline...
The new Midland Mainline trains are lovely - especially the 'Meridian'. Even Standard Class is fantastic.
Do they still sell those yummy triple cheese pizzas? I had one a couple of years ago on a trip to Sheffield, went via Derby care of Midland Mainline...
I'm not sure, being such a cheap skate I just take advantage of the free Tea and Coffee!
You mean there is part of the rail network which can survive with only 1 Coach? By gum my local commuter run needs a train about 6 carriages long and even then half of us don't get a seat!
Welcome to the world of Central Trains, It's their party trick (especially at School holiday time, they like to make us commuters who have done 8/9/10 hours work wait another hour for the next train in favour of Kids/parents getting home after their 'hard day's' shopping getting all the seats/standing room)
I think us poor Kent people who have had to make do with years of French rule on the railways can feel relatively proud of what the government (ahem) has done for us. Good old South Eastern Trains, bought to you with tax payers money!
All our VEP's (class 423) and CEP's (411's) will go next year, leaving us with nice Networkers and Electrostars (oh, and some ghastly 508's from Merseyside (who can have them back!)