[Eagle]

Originally Posted by GazzaB24

... and thus have multiple fixed sets of loco + stock coupled together thus getting the best of both worlds?

LCHS in Britain pretty much acts as fixed stock nowadays anyway.

Of course, still doesn't address the fact that MUs take up less space on a platform, particularly when coupling/uncoupling.

[Chester025]

Originally Posted by GazzaB24

Or Britain could have gone down the route of Germany and thus have multiple fixed sets of loco + stock coupled together thus getting the best of both worlds?
I have travelled on many a DB 218 + Dostos or n-wagen which were coupled up at peak times to another set doubling capacity, with no additional locos required.

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/gbrailphotos/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chester025/6319098525/

Or alternatively they run a 218 + stock + 218 + stock set up out of Munich:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chester025/5130930861/

[ainsworth74]

Originally Posted by GazzaB24

Or Britain could have gone down the route of Germany and thus have multiple fixed sets of loco + stock coupled together thus getting the best of both worlds?

You still lose an entire vehicle to a locomotive (and of course once doubled up that's two you can't use for passengers) and I'd be interested to hear if they can match the performance of an MU in terms of acceleration (important on suburban/commuter routes).

[Yew]

Originally Posted by Eagle

Of course, still doesn't address the fact that MUs take up less space on a platform, particularly when coupling/uncoupling.

Not always, a 5 coach HST has more seats per meter of train than a 4 car voyager...

[ainsworth74]

Originally Posted by Yew

Not always, a 5 coach HST has more seats per meter of train than a 4 car voyager...

But will still take up more physical space on a platform in this case the HST would be 150m (5x23m + 2x17.8m) verses the 92m of the Voyager (4x23m). Not really a fair comparison or all that impressive.

[GazzaB24]

Originally Posted by ainsworth74

You still lose an entire vehicle to a locomotive (and of course once doubled up that's two you can't use for passengers) and I'd be interested to hear if they can match the performance of an MU in terms of acceleration (important on suburban/commuter routes).

Ah, but in Germany, France, Holland etc they have double-decker stock so you don't

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by GazzaB24

Ah, but in Germany, France, Holland etc they have double-decker stock so you don't

Yes, and as is common knowledge double-deck stock won't fit on the vast majority of the British network.

[The 375 King]

Originally Posted by Eagle

Yes, and as is common knowledge double-deck stock won't fit on the vast majority of the British network.

I seem to remember double decker stock running Charing Cross to Dartford, or am I mistaken?

[O L Leigh]

Originally Posted by Nice Girl

I seem to remember double decker stock running Charing Cross to Dartford, or am I mistaken?

The Bullied 4DD EMUs were not true double-deckers in the same way that Continental European or American stock is, so make up your own mind.

O L Leigh

[The Crab]

Originally Posted by NXEA!

You're calling 317's quiet and boring? Pfft. Probably the second loudest EMU there is, you'll have to take a ride in the motor coach at some point to see what I'm on about!

Ah - the wrong sort of noise!