modernrail
Member
- Joined
- 26 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 1,055
Which do people think is the superior unit? One is quite old (and its sister fleet at Heathrow Express is about to be turned into cans). One is brand spanking new. Both will be running on the same routes in West Yorkshire. Both are by the same manufacturer.
My vote is the 333 because:
- the units always seem to have plenty of welly to get up to speed. So do the 331's to be fair;
- They are free of the very annoying noises on the 331.
- Unbelievably, I would take the 3+2 seating layout of the 333 over the 2+2 of the 331. The seats are pretty comfortable on a 333 but awful on a 331 (and thousands of other trains using the same seats). The 3+2 on a 333 is also one of the better 3+2 layouts.
- a big one for me - I have always liked the internal set-up of a 333. The sides are straight maximising internal volume, on the 331 they seem to come in towards the top. What is the logic for this approach on any UK train (other than tilters)? I think the electrostars do the same wheras the Desiro's make full use of available loading gauge?
It is in the roof I have always thought a trick is being missed in other fleets. The 333 unit seems to curve to the maximum headroom for the loading gauge at the top and then the housing for the A/C and lighting hangs down in the middle. This seems to give the unit a very roomy feel and not unlike MKI/II carriages (minus the AC housing in those obviously). By contrast the 331 feels cramped. I have always felt the 333 approach should be the standard interior layout for UK bearing in mind our restricted loading gauge.
- I prefer the external styling of the 333. It is sleeker whereas the 331 looks like something designed in the early 1980's to look all 'futurey'.
- I prefer the integrated PIS on the 333 to the 'looks like it was stuck on as an afterthought' PIS of the 331.
If the consensus is for the 333, how has CAF managed to produce a much newer but less pleasing train??
My vote is the 333 because:
- the units always seem to have plenty of welly to get up to speed. So do the 331's to be fair;
- They are free of the very annoying noises on the 331.
- Unbelievably, I would take the 3+2 seating layout of the 333 over the 2+2 of the 331. The seats are pretty comfortable on a 333 but awful on a 331 (and thousands of other trains using the same seats). The 3+2 on a 333 is also one of the better 3+2 layouts.
- a big one for me - I have always liked the internal set-up of a 333. The sides are straight maximising internal volume, on the 331 they seem to come in towards the top. What is the logic for this approach on any UK train (other than tilters)? I think the electrostars do the same wheras the Desiro's make full use of available loading gauge?
It is in the roof I have always thought a trick is being missed in other fleets. The 333 unit seems to curve to the maximum headroom for the loading gauge at the top and then the housing for the A/C and lighting hangs down in the middle. This seems to give the unit a very roomy feel and not unlike MKI/II carriages (minus the AC housing in those obviously). By contrast the 331 feels cramped. I have always felt the 333 approach should be the standard interior layout for UK bearing in mind our restricted loading gauge.
- I prefer the external styling of the 333. It is sleeker whereas the 331 looks like something designed in the early 1980's to look all 'futurey'.
- I prefer the integrated PIS on the 333 to the 'looks like it was stuck on as an afterthought' PIS of the 331.
If the consensus is for the 333, how has CAF managed to produce a much newer but less pleasing train??