Hello

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Good to see all the lively debate!  I have got the 8:06 from Newton on occasion and, like you say, it's usually very quiet but a bit slow because of all the stops....but then that does offer better views of all the herons on the riverbank and the deer at Powderham, not bad for your morning commute!  I am quite lucky as I work near St.Davids so the straight through trains are the best generally, I don't have the added hassle of trying to get a connection at the Newton end either.  On the subject of Paignton, awhile ago they had an American (I think) announcing all the stops on one particular train I was on and he said PAYN-ING-TON instead of it's correct pronounciation (PAY-TON) - it was pretty funny!

I appreciate the smaller trains are needed to pick up the other stations along the way but they seem pretty old - although First Great Western have swapped them over quite recently, are the newer (?) trains generally any better? 

One thing I will miss since Virgin have left the scene are their class 57 rescue trains - Lady Penelope, FAB 1, etc...

These new trains you speak of, incase you havn't travelled on them look like; http://great-western.fotopic.net/p47420538.html

They are generally considered to be rail buses as they have 4 wheels per carriage, instead of the normal 8. This means a rough ride and they are built on a bus body, hence the bus seats! If I were you, i'd avoid them!

[zebedee]

Good to hear that the Rescue trains are still around - we certainely need them along the Dawlish stretch during the winter!  I guess Arriva have taken a few of them on-board?  Hopefully they will keep the "International Rescue" theme.

I haven't been on those "new" railbuse trains and intend to avoid them - I dont generally have a need to use them fortunately.

I heard that Arriva will start putting on HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s instead of the Voyagers on some of their routes, so what's the general feeling of the preference?  I personally prefer the Voyagers as I'm not a huge fan on the refitted FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST trains as it makes me feel a bit enclosed although they are much brighter and cleaner and the seats are comfy.

Another funny thing - the tannoy message has had to change at Newton Abbot (and other stations) to accomodate "Cross Country" but it sounds wrong!  Its much higher pitched than the rest of the message and always makes me laugh - well, maybe I've just been travelling on the train for too long and I'm starting to lose the plot.....

[devon_metro]

I believe Arriva plan to refurb the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) to Voyager standards, so we can expect awful dirty seats, poor window/seat alignment and few tables all without the annoying rattles!

[vacman]

I believe Arriva plan to refurb the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) to Voyager standards, so we can expect awful dirty seats, poor window/seat alignment and few tables all without the annoying rattles!

And smelly toilets.

[devon_metro]

Can't see them fitting retention tanks to HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Is there room undernear the carriage?

[vacman]

Can't see them fitting retention tanks to HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Is there room undernear the carriage?

MKIII sleepers have retention tanks so I presume yes.

[Conner]

Can't see them fitting retention tanks to HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Is there room undernear the carriage?

MKIII sleepers have retention tanks so I presume yes.

I don't think that any franchise has a requirement to fit retention tanks because of HST2 but Arriva may decide to.

[smokey]

Can't see them fitting retention tanks to HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Is there room undernear the carriage?

MKIII sleepers have retention tanks so I presume yes.

I don't think that any franchise has a requirement to fit retention tanks because of HST2 but Arriva may decide to.

Just wondering, but the Vomet Comet Fleet (Virgin's and Arriva's) are all maintained at Burton on Trent, it's not a depot set up for HSTs, so where will they be serviced?

[devon_metro]

Probably Laira on Craigetenny?

[vacman]

Can't see them fitting retention tanks to HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Is there room undernear the carriage?

MKIII sleepers have retention tanks so I presume yes.

I don't think that any franchise has a requirement to fit retention tanks because of HST2 but Arriva may decide to.

Just wondering, but the Vomet Comet Fleet (Virgin's and Arriva's) are all maintained at Burton on Trent, it's not a depot set up for HSTs, so where will they be serviced?

Laira I'll bet, bear in mind all of the HST diagrams will work into Plymouth.

[smokey]

Cardiff being Arriva maintenance might just be the favourite place to service AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s especially if a early service starts and late service terminates at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)).

[vacman]

but thats a different franchise!

[devon_metro]

And not many Bristol services will be HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)

[vacman]

Cardiff being Arriva maintenance might just be the favourite place to service AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s especially if a early service starts and late service terminates at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)).

Don't think Canton can do HST's can they?

[smokey]

Well it was only a Idea! Cardiff Canton is Arriva Trains Wales, so at least if ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) fleece AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) for maintenance it's only a paper exercise!