glenno
Newbie
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« on: February 27, 2008, 15:21:12 » |
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FGW▸ have come in for much stick in the press over the downgrading of the internals of the HST▸ sets. The ridiculously high unsprung seats set in toast rack style, the over tinted windows and the mega bright lighting. But credit where it is due. Class 158 multiple units in the devon area are appearing with comfortablestandard seats that are recovered in FGW wavy line blue. I heard that the HST seats were as bad as they are due to health and safety demands. If this is so why are there different standard for the multiple units.
Could it be that the arguement is spurious and merely covers the need to shoe horn extra seats into an HST by reducing passenger comfort?
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dog box
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« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2008, 16:50:41 » |
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Nothing wrong with Refurb HSTs▸ ....Hsts were constructed in the 1970s whilst 158 were built late 1980s early 1990s and thus are constructed to more modern regulations.
Hst seats are this style to meet modern safety regulations, its personal preference if you dont like them ,........although try a 4 hr journey on a voyager for uncomfortable
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All postings reflect my own personal views and opinions and are not intended to be, nor should be taken as official statements of first great western or first group policy
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Jim
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« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2008, 18:09:36 » |
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To be frank, on a I went on a double Voyager Sunday, had a carrige to myself nearly and found the journey a lot better to that of the HST▸ I had down!
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Cheers Jim  AG's most famous quote "It'll be better next week" |
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Doctor Gideon Ceefax
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« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2008, 18:38:03 » |
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To be frank, on a I went on a double Voyager Sunday, had a carrige to myself nearly and found the journey a lot better to that of the HST▸ I had down!
A shame they don't think about doubling the things up on weekdays... Actually I was thinking about this at Oxford the other day, very lightly loaded HST's terminate there, where as the Voyager behind them travelling up north is often rammed and standing. I've often thought that a more logical idea would be to extend one of the Paddington - Oxford fast HST's all the way to Birmingham New Street, in place of the xx.40 departures off Reading, and use the released sets from this service to double up the Bournemouth services. In order to provide more seating capacity, and a faster journey time on the longer trips, the double voyagers could go via Solihull, whilst the extended HST could go via Coventry, where it will do a better job of taking the passenger loadings towards New Street than Voyagers. I realise that this may theoretically be impractical with regards to stock positioning, but would be a more suitable, as we are currently in a situation where we have lightly loaded 8 car HST's running around whilst, packed 4 and 5 car trains struggle. I've seen terminating HST's virtually empty whilst passengers have been told they are unable to board the Voyagers on a fair few occasions! IC▸ XC▸ and Virgin used to provide Paddington - Birmingham services, so it wouldn't make any difference who ran it, be it Cross Country or Great Western. The only possible flaw might be the loss of a few through services to Manchester from Reading and Oxford, and an HST taking up a full platform at New Street. |
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Shazz
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« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2008, 19:23:50 » |
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BNS▸ is already rammed as it is, before the improved VWC timetable in may, almost doubling the service.
I dont see the business sence in up there personally.
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vacman
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« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2008, 19:30:02 » |
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158's are, (I've been told) subject to lesser red tape than HST▸ 's as their top speed is below 100MPH.
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Doctor Gideon Ceefax
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« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2008, 19:32:17 » |
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Problem is though, when XC▸ lose even more 5 car voyagers to Virgin, the Bournemouth services are going to be even worse! 4 cars will be totally unsuitable for that service, 5 cars can really struggle a lot of the time!
It might not make good business sense, as the passengers will always cram on like they do, but it's not a very pleasant trip, and it still seems silly that certain HST▸ 's run around virtually empty whilst these trains struggle with the passenger loadings. The feeling of XC crews on this route is that doubled up Voyagers (or the return of HST's) is required...
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devon_metro
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« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2008, 19:34:45 » |
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All Voyager transfers have been completed.
I'm looking forward to summer!
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swlines
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« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2008, 19:43:59 » |
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All Voyager transfers have been completed.
I'm looking forward to summer!
No, there are still 4 or so still to go in December IIRC▸ . |
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swlines
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« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2008, 19:45:00 » |
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Problem is though, when XC▸ lose even more 5 car voyagers to Virgin, the Bournemouth services are going to be even worse! 4 cars will be totally unsuitable for that service, 5 cars can really struggle a lot of the time!
It might not make good business sense, as the passengers will always cram on like they do, but it's not a very pleasant trip, and it still seems silly that certain HST▸ 's run around virtually empty whilst these trains struggle with the passenger loadings. The feeling of XC crews on this route is that doubled up Voyagers (or the return of HST's) is required...
Fortunately at the weekends we're pretty much getting double sets on every service after and including 1045 off Bournemouth. |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2008, 22:24:42 » |
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By the way, glenno, welcome to the forum! Good to see that you've started an interesting debate: thanks! Chris |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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swlines
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« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2008, 22:45:54 » |
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BNS▸ is already rammed as it is, before the improved VWC timetable in may, almost doubling the service. Didn't know Barnes was rammed?   |
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Shazz
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« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2008, 23:02:12 » |
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BNS▸ is already rammed as it is, before the improved VWC timetable in may, almost doubling the service. Didn't know Barnes was rammed? Oh? I heard it was  Plus, XC▸ will have 5 refurb'd hsts sometime this year, which will free up voyagers for them, unless they've been procured by virgin as well? |
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swlines
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« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2008, 23:40:41 » |
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The Voyagers that are going, were always going to go.
The HSTs▸ are additional stock for the Plymouth route.
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Btline
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« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2008, 15:20:34 » |
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Five Voyagers will run double on the Plym to Ed route from the Summer.
Single (5 car) voyagers will remain on the Bournmouth route.
I have to say, that running HSTs▸ from BNS▸ to Padd would be an excellent idea.
But why not run them to Moor Street (the new EMPTY terminal platforms)?
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