Modern trains.?

Question

Any one else find modern trains unpleasant to travel on? I recently travelled from Cumbria to London on a Pendolino and felt decidedly queasy by the time I got there. Although the train was fast, punctual, quiet and clean I found the windows to high, and the whole thing very claustrophobic. Give me back the old Mk3 coaches any time!!

Answer 1

I just came back from Birmingham on a Pendolino and found it to actually be more comfortable than the 375/377 units we have in the South.

Answer 2

Were you traveling in the front coach? The tilt is a bit vicious in the leading coach as it doesn't have preditive tilt (where the coaches behind start to tilt before the bend - based on sensors in the leading coach)

It depends. I find the Seats in Mk3s and GNER Mallards very uncomfortable, the the window alignment isn't that wonderful in those either. I recently had a pleasant ride in a modern Virgin Voyager from York to Exeter, OK it wasn't as pleasant when it was got busy from Birmingham to Cheltenham, but that was probably due to it running late (after a GNER train brought the wires down in scotland and the Voyager had to wait to pass it). The underfloor engines don't bother me (I'm used to taking SWT diesel units to London which takes 3 hours - £1 each way isn't to be complained at)

Also found the new Transpennine trains to be comfortable (if very noisy) and certainly better then the old 158 units where standing passengers are concerned, and pretty good seating when I got a seat at the next stop a few minutes later - and the old trains are heading South West to improve our services.

Do have one example of a company abandoning modern trains. South West Trains are swapping their 5 year old Turbostars for second hand 158s from Transpennine Express that were built in 1990. They prefer the older model for operational and maintainance reasons

Answer 3

I travel on these 4 times a week. I find the toilets are really smelly and the smell wafts through the carriages. There is no phone reception for the majority of the journey. (Not that I use my phone, but the other idiots do - I'm on the train I'll.... Sorry I'm on the train poor.......... Hi I'm on the train no signal can we move tomorrow to....... yeah got cut off I'm on the train tomorrow 4..... Yes no 4 yeah I'm on the train.......)

I also find that the windows are not in the right positions, in several carriages the middle luggage rack has a window all to itself when the person sitting in front has the view of the train wall.

Not to mention despite reserving seats the computers never work and someone is always in your seat and the heating is either stuck on or not on at all.

Soz for all the grumps, it's Friday, it's been a commuter hell week and I am suprising my nephew with an early morning trip to York tomorrow on a Pendolino!

Despite all my grumps, rather be on the train than stuck on the motorway in a stationary car!

Answer 4

Mk 3s were definately better than Adelante's and Pendolino's but a MK 1 corridor first is far superior tro either, OK so a 1829 Liverpool and Manchester 1st class truck was not as good as a Pendolino but there is a discernable trend towards mediocrity in the Porterbrook era.

Answer 5

I work for South West Trains and I know that they are replacing the 2 car Turbostar class 170's with class 158 train's and they will be modernised to a 3 car train, making it like a class 159, and the new unit number will be 159. Look out Waterloo west of England commuters, they will be running by February!

Anyway, I generaly prefer modern trains cos they are more comfortable, plus with them having automatic doors it is less likely to fall on the platform when the train is moving. I find also that most modern trains have the lcd displays that dispay the stop names.

Answer 6

Yes, it seems a common complaint about these trains, I agree with you regarding the old Mk3 coaches.

I think the problem is that these Pendelinos are nothing but high speed multiple units, hence the queasy feeling. It seems to me that locomotive hauled trains are far more comfortable and safer.

I think much of their problem is that they are lightweight and dont ride as steadily as the old MK3 carriages which were weightier. Also these Pendelinos and similar multiple unit type high speed trains dont seem to me to be as safe as the older stock especially loco hauled stock.

These Pendelinos have no buffers or little protection for the drivers should they be involved in accidents?

Also reports of braking problems reduce my confidence in them!

Answer 7

I think that multiple units generally are not as comfortable as coaching stock. Often, the windows don't line up with the seating, either. I believe it's called "progress".

If I'm travelling from London to Scotland, it's definately GNER on the East coast, rather than Virgins glorified E.M.U.'S.

Answer 8

Never been on a Pendolino, but went on a A P T many years ago, and felt quite quesy when i got off!

Answer 9

i work on the railways and its quite common for new members of staff to suffer from a form of sea sickness in there first few weeks.i know of at least one guy who had to transfer to workng on the platform because he was constantly nauseous wile working on the train.
ps: mk3 coaches.i never want to see another one of those as long as i live thank you.

Answer 10

Please accept my apologies but if you think mk 3's were comfortable, you clearly don't remember the good old Mk I SKs. They were working-mans' luxury.