Will corridor carriages ever come back to our railways?

[PaxmanValenta]

The last ever corridor carriages to be built were the Mark 2D FK. These are now obsolete on Britain's railways and I don't even think they were used after privatisation in the mid 1990s. I can't recall Virgin or FGW using mark 2D FKs. Unless anyone knows anything different.

Perhaps the last ever corridor carriages to see regular service on Britain's railways were 4CEP formations which were phased out in 2004.

Does anyone think that future train/rolling stock manufacturers or TOCs may bring back corridor stock in Britain? The advantages are privacy for passengers especially families etc. Any disadvantages?

I can still remember as a kid when the majority of loco hauled stock was mark 1 corridor.

 

[ainsworth74]

Any disadvantages?

Greater potential for crime so solo travellers feel less safe and they offer fewer seats per vehicle than a conventional saloon.

 

[gswindale]

Passenger safety?

It is surely safer to travel in an open carriage where everyone can see what is happening than in corridor stock where there is more privacy to carry out attacks etc?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very unlikely, as for the journey to be in any way enjoyable you'd want one to yourself, and we are just carrying too many passengers these days for that.

Airline seating is probably the way forward, to be honest.

 

[Bevan Price]

The last ever corridor carriages to be built were the Mark 2D FK. These are now obsolete on Britain's railways and I don't even think they were used after privatisation in the mid 1990s. I can't recall Virgin or FGW using mark 2D FKs. Unless anyone knows anything different.

Perhaps the last ever corridor carriages to see regular service on Britain's railways were 4CEP formations which were phased out in 2004.

Does anyone think that future train/rolling stock manufacturers or TOCs may bring back corridor stock in Britain? The advantages are privacy for passengers especially families etc. Any disadvantages?

I can still remember as a kid when the majority of loco hauled stock was mark 1 corridor.

A few disadvantages:-
- more doors & partitions to build / maintain.
- often fewer seats per coach
- inferior personal security, because potential criminal acts are less visible to other passengers. ***


*** - A feature shared with recent NR footbridges. In the old, lattice-structure footbridges, you could see if anyone else was on a footbridge. With recent footbridges having solid sites and higher parapets, from ground level, you can no longer see if "undesirables" are lurking on a footbridge.

 

[yorksrob]

The last ever corridor carriages to be built were the Mark 2D FK. These are now obsolete on Britain's railways and I don't even think they were used after privatisation in the mid 1990s. I can't recall Virgin or FGW using mark 2D FKs. Unless anyone knows anything different.

Perhaps the last ever corridor carriages to see regular service on Britain's railways were 4CEP formations which were phased out in 2004.

Does anyone think that future train/rolling stock manufacturers or TOCs may bring back corridor stock in Britain? The advantages are privacy for passengers especially families etc. Any disadvantages?

I can still remember as a kid when the majority of loco hauled stock was mark 1 corridor.

In spite of all the other arguments, I still prefer (and miss) the option of compartment travel.

VEP's, CIG's and DEMU's had them until 2005 (2008 for Lymington) and the 442's had them for longer before transfer to the BML.

 

[DarloRich]

The last ever corridor carriages to be built were the Mark 2D FK. These are now obsolete on Britain's railways and I don't even think they were used after privatisation in the mid 1990s. I can't recall Virgin or FGW using mark 2D FKs. Unless anyone knows anything different.

Perhaps the last ever corridor carriages to see regular service on Britain's railways were 4CEP formations which were phased out in 2004.

Does anyone think that future train/rolling stock manufacturers or TOCs may bring back corridor stock in Britain? The advantages are privacy for passengers especially families etc. Any disadvantages?

I can still remember as a kid when the majority of loco hauled stock was mark 1 corridor.

simple answer: No.

 

[gazthomas]

Never again

 

[Mugby]

I think we can be fairly certain that they will never come back but isn't the crime issue something of a red herring? There's always been crime, probably much more prevalent in Victorian times and the Government now tells us that crime is at it's lowest level for many years!

 

[yorksrob]

I think we can be fairly certain that they will never come back but isn't the crime issue something of a red herring? There's always been crime, probably much more prevalent in Victorian times and the Government now tells us that crime is at it's lowest level for many years!

It's why the Victorians invented the communication chord.

I wish I'd paid for first class a bit more often on the Southern Region in my youth.

 

[table38]

Another disadvantage is lack of tables. Even with airline seats, you might get a fold-down table.

Crime was a worse with non-corridor compartment stock, so the situation actually probably improved with corridor compartments!

 

[yorksrob]

Another disadvantage is lack of tables. Even with airline seats, you might get a fold-down table.

Although on express stock with a picture window rather than a door, you did get a small table for drinks etc.

 

[table38]

And you could lie down if the compartment didn't have armrests

 

[route:oxford]

A feature shared with recent NR footbridges. In the old, lattice-structure footbridges, you could see if anyone else was on a footbridge. With recent footbridges having solid sites and higher parapets, from ground level, you can no longer see if "undesirables" are lurking on a footbridge.

Here is one of the most modern footbridges on the network:-

http://cdn.prgloo.com/media/download/538244cf28e5415e9ad828541f8bd0c6

There is excellent visibility on the bridge, not that you'd find undesirables in Dunblane anyway...

 

[kermit]

I think it's fair to say the majority of contributors to this forum are men.

Women, particularly if travelling alone and at night, have a very different recollection of the merits of compartment stock.

Sad, but true.

 

[yorksrob]

I think it's fair to say the majority of contributors to this forum are men.

Women, particularly if travelling alone and at night, have a very different recollection of the merits of compartment stock.

Sad, but true.

True, but it must also be remembered that in later years, only a quarter of the accommodation in the various EMU's and DEMU's tended to be compartment.

 

[bigdelboy]

Another disadvantage is lack of tables. Even with airline seats, you might get a fold-down table.

Crime was a worse with non-corridor compartment stock, so the situation actually probably improved with corridor compartments!

The original wood veenered 4-[bc]eps 7001/2+7101-4 did have the odd table in the corridored mid coaches if i recall correctly ... even in 2nd ... they were removable thus probably got removed! But they were rare!

Of course these doubled as a poor mans sleeper when lightly loaded, .. though you can do that on a 455 e.g. early morning guildford ... epsom.

 

[edwin_m]

Fine if you (or your party) got one to yourselves but socially uncomfortable particularly if there was a group already having a conversation. I've never quite recovered from jumping on the last door of an Aberdeen train leaving Waverley in 1979, staggering breathless into the last compartment and immediately being asked "so young man, what do you think of the education system?".

 

[yorksrob]

Fine if you (or your party) got one to yourselves but socially uncomfortable particularly if there was a group already having a conversation.

But brilliant if you're with a group of friends.

 

[richa2002]

Here is one of the most modern footbridges on the network:-

http://cdn.prgloo.com/media/download/538244cf28e5415e9ad828541f8bd0c6

There is excellent visibility on the bridge, not that you'd find undesirables in Dunblane anyway...

The exception rather than the rule sadly.

 

[alxndr]

It's a nice idea, but I can't see it happening. I'd prefer it to the current attempt at "quiet" carriages, which are anything but sometimes.

*** - A feature shared with recent NR footbridges. In the old, lattice-structure footbridges, you could see if anyone else was on a footbridge. With recent footbridges having solid sites and higher parapets, from ground level, you can no longer see if "undesirables" are lurking on a footbridge.

With more places getting OLE there are safety requirements for the parapets these days. The parapet has to be at least 1.5m high and solid, unless it's a bridleway or cycle path when they've got to be 1.8m high. I'd much rather take my chances of there being someone undesirable on a footbridge than risk someone coming into contact with 25kV. That said I do ask my girlfriend to call me if she's walking home in the dark.

 

[atillathehunn]

Does the order of new sleeper coaches count as new corridor stock? I understand they will be designed in a similar fashion.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Does the order of new sleeper coaches count as new corridor stock? I understand they will be designed in a similar fashion.

I was going to make a similar comment. Whether it's what the OP was looking for, I'm not sure...

I always liked corridor compartment stock, but I'm male and was in my early twenties the last time I used such stock. I can appreciate the potential issues they might have raised for others. The last new-build corridor compartments were on the 442s (first-class only, pre-Southern), and I'd be shocked if we ever see them (compartments, not 442s!) again in regular daytime service.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Most of the heritage railways have plenty of corridor and non-gangwayed passenger coaches.
Imagine being stuck in a non-gangwayed compartment with a foaming rail enthusiast....

 

[Mikey C]

Few new trains anywhere in the world have corridors these days, other than sleepers

I vaguely recall sitting in a 1st class TGV compartment, but I might be imagining things!

 

[al.currie93]

I think it is primarily the 'social' effect - people came to feel a lot more comfortable in completely open coaches as opposed to compartmented, and the privacy effect actually became undesirable. I personally would love a compartment... on my own, but with many other people, especially a group of people, I'd feel very awkward! I think the comment about less seating is also true.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Most of the heritage railways have plenty of corridor and non-gangwayed passenger coaches.
Imagine being stuck in a non-gangwayed compartment with a foaming rail enthusiast....

I think I'd rather ride a Pacer all the way from Aberdeen to Penzance with the toilets locked OOU!

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I have seen compartments on modern Finnish trains but they're for sufferers from sort of total allergy syndrome.

There is quite a bit of older compartment stock left in continental Europe of course - I always make a beeline for it, given the chance. Nothing nicer than turning the lights off and watching the countryside slide past, at least if you've got the compartment to yourself.

I wonder if something like eight-seater compartments could work in modern stock - separating two four-seat bays with swing-doors from the rest of the carriage. It could give a reasonable degree of quiet and privacy, cut down drafts and noise and improve the efficiency of heating without some of the disadvantages of traditional compartment stock.

It would make walking down the full length of the train more difficult, especially for those with luggage, but perhaps maybe just have the doors in a couple of carriages, perhaps those on the end of the rake?

On a different but related note, I often wish I could turn off the blazing overhead lighting in modern stock and just have an individual reading light, as used to be possible in the old compartment stock. Much cozier, and you can still get some view of the countryside - but I suppose modern Elf & Safety rules have put paid to that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The overhead lighting in some stock e.g. Pendolinos is nicely subdued.

 

[Greenback]

I've never liked compartments, but I wonder if at some point in the future semi compartments may be used in first class where six or so seats could be partitioned off with transparent material to create a more private area for groups.

I don't think that the traditional compartment will ever return!