simple simon
Member
For me these new trains are 'as expected'. As a general theme neither especially good nor bad. It was already known that they would have tube train style seating, similar to the 345's, air-conditioning, rock hard seats, etc.
I noted both Euston - Watford and GOBLIN route maps above the passenger doors.
The passenger information system uses the similar horrible 'new style English' as the Class 345's. I wish the messages were differently worded, were they scripted by someone from overseas? USA? - I much preferred what I heard on Northern Rail services in Yorkshire.
I am astonished that the USB power sockets are only at the coach ends, it means that for many passengers the choice will be between being seated or using the USB - only a lucky few passengers with longish cables will be able to use USB power and remain seated, hoping that standing passengers on a swaying train do not fall against the USB sockets and damage the cables / sockets / hurt themselves.
I prefer the multi user space to be at the train ends, rather than in the middle - which is often more crowded. That said, it also makes space for more rush hour crush loads. I think its Taiwan where they even have trains with end coaches that are dedicated to standing passengers - instead of folding seats there are handrails!
I can see mothers with children in pushchairs and bikers using these spaces, and arguments if passengers want to use the USB. I wanted to get a good view of the area near the cab but almost as soon as the train doors opened (at Barking) a schoolboy dashed in and took one of the seats. I think that for my internal photos I need to see one of these trains at Gospel Oak, as they will be less busy and have better light coming in through the windows.
These trains are supposed to have wifi - anyone tested it?
The only feature that I especially like is the on-train information displays; these the same as those on the TFL Rail trains and are sorely needed to replace the old fashioned orange LED displays on the S Stock trains - especially the S7's on the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines which have two different sets of paper route maps that often confuse unwary visitors (even a single S7 map showing these three lines would represent a vast improvement on the awful present situation!)
What the new Class 710 trains do not have are end doors at the train driver's cabs. This is not an issue for most services, but as far as I am aware it makes them illegal for routes that have single bore tunnels - the law that bans trains without end doors explains why the Class 717 trains on the route via the Northern City Line have emergency evacuation end doors and also why the Metropolitan Railway had to cancel its planned deep level tube tunnels relief lines (and three new stations) from the Kilburn area below Edgware Road to the enlarged station called Edgware Road.This law also affected the DLR when the Bank branch was built. I am baffled how this law does not seem to affect Watford DC line services which also pass through single bore tunnels.
A few still image photos can be found at this Twitter link:
https://twitter.com/citytransportin/status/1132049379928543233
I've also made a short YouTube film, apologies its a little rough, especially at first - I was taking still images with one camera and video with my camcorder at the same time. I was also somewhat peeved as a train travelling in the opposite direction should have arrived first!
I noted both Euston - Watford and GOBLIN route maps above the passenger doors.
The passenger information system uses the similar horrible 'new style English' as the Class 345's. I wish the messages were differently worded, were they scripted by someone from overseas? USA? - I much preferred what I heard on Northern Rail services in Yorkshire.
I am astonished that the USB power sockets are only at the coach ends, it means that for many passengers the choice will be between being seated or using the USB - only a lucky few passengers with longish cables will be able to use USB power and remain seated, hoping that standing passengers on a swaying train do not fall against the USB sockets and damage the cables / sockets / hurt themselves.
I prefer the multi user space to be at the train ends, rather than in the middle - which is often more crowded. That said, it also makes space for more rush hour crush loads. I think its Taiwan where they even have trains with end coaches that are dedicated to standing passengers - instead of folding seats there are handrails!
I can see mothers with children in pushchairs and bikers using these spaces, and arguments if passengers want to use the USB. I wanted to get a good view of the area near the cab but almost as soon as the train doors opened (at Barking) a schoolboy dashed in and took one of the seats. I think that for my internal photos I need to see one of these trains at Gospel Oak, as they will be less busy and have better light coming in through the windows.
These trains are supposed to have wifi - anyone tested it?
The only feature that I especially like is the on-train information displays; these the same as those on the TFL Rail trains and are sorely needed to replace the old fashioned orange LED displays on the S Stock trains - especially the S7's on the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines which have two different sets of paper route maps that often confuse unwary visitors (even a single S7 map showing these three lines would represent a vast improvement on the awful present situation!)
What the new Class 710 trains do not have are end doors at the train driver's cabs. This is not an issue for most services, but as far as I am aware it makes them illegal for routes that have single bore tunnels - the law that bans trains without end doors explains why the Class 717 trains on the route via the Northern City Line have emergency evacuation end doors and also why the Metropolitan Railway had to cancel its planned deep level tube tunnels relief lines (and three new stations) from the Kilburn area below Edgware Road to the enlarged station called Edgware Road.This law also affected the DLR when the Bank branch was built. I am baffled how this law does not seem to affect Watford DC line services which also pass through single bore tunnels.
A few still image photos can be found at this Twitter link:
https://twitter.com/citytransportin/status/1132049379928543233
I've also made a short YouTube film, apologies its a little rough, especially at first - I was taking still images with one camera and video with my camcorder at the same time. I was also somewhat peeved as a train travelling in the opposite direction should have arrived first!
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