Missing but wished-for features on trains

[61653 HTAFC]

Try my local service after the school run.

Oh, wait. I misunderstood.

Based on your username, we may be talking about the same service!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

What I miss most... proper wood panelling, proper spring cushioned seats and first and second class compartments with tungsten bulbs and ashtrays

Guess we'll never see those again...

 

[RJ21]

"Airline style" reading lights at all seats allowing less illumination in the passenger saloons at night.

I'd agree with that, too many units now have lighting which is too bright at night.

Also luggage space suitable for the journey type is also something I miss, I'd forgotten just how bad the luggage space is on Scotrail 170s and when I went for a couple of days away in the Cairngorms found only the overhead racks available on a somewhat busy 6 car 170. Try getting a rucksack with gear for a couple of days walking into one of those. On the way I'd had 142, 156, 390, 380, 170 and it was only the 170 I had any real issue on. The 156 was a case of dump my bag in the space for bikes and get a seat facing it, same for the 142.

PIS screens showing the next station, time of expected arrival and connections. From memory there is similar on the ODEG services which operate around Berlin.

 

[Clansman]

I'd agree with that, too many units now have lighting which is too bright at night.

What about mood lighting?

No doubt this would probably fall victim to H&S at the first hurdle.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The GWR Volo TVs were a lovely touch.

Don't start about how we have things like Virgin's "Beam" instead... Seat back TVs were great, especially as they were free and that you couldn't use them without headphones. Parents on my Scotland train, I am talking to you!

And yes, before you all verbally attack me! I know that its only SOME parents who let their kids watch Dora at top iPhone volume with no headphones!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What I miss most... proper wood panelling, proper spring cushioned seats and first and second class compartments with tungsten bulbs and ashtrays

Guess we'll never see those again...

And in my opinion... Good riddance! Fire hazards, ten mph speeds (and don't try and be clever and bring up the Flying Scotsman ). Oh and if they crash you've got about a 90% chance of death. And ashtrays! You want back the days of smoking on trains!!!!! Wow. Ok! Couldn't disagree more.

 

[hassaanhc]

On mid-door stock, it would be good to have the toilet partitioned off from the rest of the coach, as is found on end-door stock. Feels awkward and a bit grim having the toilet door open straight into the rest of the coach

 

[ooo]

The GWR Volo TVs were a lovely touch.

Don't start about how we have things like Virgin's "Beam" instead... Seat back TVs were great, especially as they were free and that you couldn't use them without headphones. Parents on my Scotland train, I am talking to you!

And yes, before you all verbally attack me! I know that its only SOME parents who let their kids watch Dora at top iPhone volume with no headphones!

I never saw them being very used especially prior to their removal

 

[trainmania100]

Camera on front of train so you can watch forward view

 

[physics34]

On mid-door stock, it would be good to have the toilet partitioned off from the rest of the coach, as is found on end-door stock. Feels awkward and a bit grim having the toilet door open straight into the rest of the coach

Yep its not right. It used to be a law but not anymore.

 

[physics34]

Camera on front of train so you can watch forward view

Not a pretty sight if someone commits suicide

 

[muddythefish]

Mk 1 compartments, with comfortable seats you can sink into.

Open coaches with seats and tables lined up with windows.

Restaurant cars with white linen table cloths and silver cutlery, and a friendly BR waiter serving hot, freshly-cooked, affordable food.

In other words, proper trains.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

And in my opinion... Good riddance! Fire hazards, ten mph speeds (and don't try and be clever and bring up the Flying Scotsman ). Oh and if they crash you've got about a 90% chance of death. And ashtrays! You want back the days of smoking on trains!!!!! Wow. Ok! Couldn't disagree more.

Either you've never been on a "proper" train or never appreciated them.

And there were smoking compartments on some rolling stock which I (then) preferred over half a saloon which was a bit pointless as the smoke would just drift into the non-smoking half.

Rail travel back then was still safer than road travel but that is for another thread

Many modern trains in the UK are soul-less in my opinion with far less passenger amenities. But then I might be from another era than you

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Not a pretty sight if someone commits suicide

In the days of first generations dmus I once saw a kid trespassing on the line between Nottingham and Carlton nearly lose a foot when he tripped over the rail, but just managed to scramble clear in time.

However, rather than a forward-view camera my vote would go to end windows on multiple units (where feasible) so you could look over the driver's shoulder as I was doing on that occasion.

 

[fowler9]

Brothels on long distance trains, ones with more than 5 minutes between stops would probably suit me for long distance.

 

[yorksrob]

What I miss most... proper wood panelling, proper spring cushioned seats and first and second class compartments with tungsten bulbs and ashtrays

Guess we'll never see those again...

I'm with you there (although I'll swap the ashtrays for buffet cars/trolleys on the Southern Region !).

 

[AlexNL]

Not a pretty sight if someone commits suicide

Delay the footage by 30 seconds and have the feed cut out immediately whenever the driver applies the emergency brakes?

 

[alxndr]

Waste retention tanks - I can't wait until they're fitted to all.

 

[KevinTurvey]

Just some simple things, many have already been mentioned. For any journey longer than 1/2 hour the following:

Reasonable leg room
Windows that you can see out of
Late evening / early morning services could have a section with dim lighting
Air conditioning noise less than 100dB!
Also some more table/back to back seating, whilst you get fewer seats in, useful extra luggage space is gained, reducing the need for luggage racks.
Seat backs that are not too high and make the carriage claustrophobic.

 

[wipers]

For me, it would be windows that actually opened on the doors - would love to be able to pull the window down and take photo's like you can on the heritage railways and some of the older coaches still in use. Think of all those missed photo ops from filthy train windows that give you a nasty reflection/glare...

 

[MikePJ]

Vending machines are not uncommon on the continent - for hot and cold drinks and snacks. Obviously a buffet is nicer, but the machines are quite compact and cheaper to operate.

 

[physics34]

In the days of first generations dmus I once saw a kid trespassing on the line between Nottingham and Carlton nearly lose a foot when he tripped over the rail, but just managed to scramble clear in time.

However, rather than a forward-view camera my vote would go to end windows on multiple units (where feasible) so you could look over the driver's shoulder as I was doing on that occasion.

being a driver myself i prefer the privacy...... although i did used to like the view you could get when i rode 101s, 114s and 117s.

 

[physics34]

Delay the footage by 30 seconds and have the feed cut out immediately whenever the driver applies the emergency brakes?

not a bad idea...but i think passengers would still get edgy at some of the things we see from the cab...animals, bird etc etc

 

[WideRanger]

not a bad idea...but i think passengers would still get edgy at some of the things we see from the cab...animals, bird etc etc

Wouldn't the mismatch between picture and movement when accelerating and decelarating cause travelsickness?

 

[AY1975]

On the continent (especially in Germany) many regional trains have a multi-purpose area (called a "Mehrzweckraum" in German) with tip-up seats. The area can also be used for bikes, wheelchairs, pushchairs or large items of luggage. It is often adjacent to the universal access toilet. TransPennine Class 185s have one of sorts, but many new regional German DMUs (even single car units) have a large area of this type that can accommodate several bikes. I think we should do the same.

 

[broadgage]

It seems to me that many of the "wished for" features are not innovations but things that we used to get on trains.

Buffets, restaurants, leg room, tables, seats that align with windows, luggage space, and so on used to be the norm, but are now considered to be unaffordable luxuries on most new trains.

 

[themiller]

A second member of staff who assists passengers and keeps the peace and auto-spikes in the trailing cab seats so that this second member of staff can't avoid their duties.

 

[dcsprior]

* Individually adjustable and directable air-conditioning (like on a plane) so those of us who like it cooler than the average person can have this.
* Include what side the doors will open in announcements when arriving into stations (like LU's Victoria Line)
* The ability to reserve a seat at any time - incl after you join the train and find an empty one, so someone else can't reserve it while you're mid-journey.
* Through ticketing with other modes of transport, with connections honoured of one leg is delayed/cancelled/etc.
* an equivalent of the Bahncard 100

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[Merthyr Imp]

being a driver myself i prefer the privacy......

In my experience (admittedly fairly limited) the drivers on the pre-electrification Bedford - St Pancras services used to share your preference!

 

[physics34]

*
* Include what side the doors will open in announcements when arriving into stations (like LU's Victoria Line)

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

dont need more announcements, have got more than enough already.