Class 195 ride quality

507 001 · 30 Sep 2019

Camden said:
Seats are rubbish , would be my best guess at the main reason.

On the 319s on Thameslink we had decent, comfy soft seats. Race along at 100mph in perfect comfort. They sent them up north, largely in one piece and again, Liverpool to Manchester in perfect comfort.

Then Northern weave their magic on the seating, and it's an endurance feat.

I've been on one of the new Northern trains, and although the seats aren't as bad as the ones they soiled the 319s with, they're not far off and they definitely do transmit ride quality to posterior with little loss in power...

The 319s have the exact same seats they arrived with

Some of them still have FCC moquette post ‘refurb’...

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Richard Scott · 30 Sep 2019

geoffk said:
Northern Ireland Railways have had an all-CAF fleet for their internal services for several years. How easy is it to compare the NIR and Northern trains in terms of reliability, ride and build quality in relation to what they cost? What would we learn from such a comparison? I guess it's too early as the Northern trains have not been in service long enough. NIR have just awarded their third contract with CAF, suggesting they are happy with the units.

The 4000 series aren't too bad but the 3000s have auxiliary engines, which make an unpleasant drone, ride is ok, don't remember it being too bad and only went on them 6 weeks ago. Head south and the Dublin Commuter 29000s are about the worst modern day unit I've encountered, same auxiliary engine drone, noisy main engines (the noise is horrendous when parked under roof at Connolly station) and an awful ride. There is no way the 195s can be anywhere near as bad as this CAF product.

Camden · 30 Sep 2019

507 001 said:
The 319s have the exact same seats they arrived with

Some of them still have FCC moquette post ‘refurb’...

Whether it's the seat itself or the cushioning they've replaced, it's not the same seat.

There are one or maybe two trains still with FCC interiors, but most now have the garish blue Northern polyester affrontage. Personally experienced and resented.

Bletchleyite · 30 Sep 2019

Camden said:
Whether it's the seat itself or the cushioning they've replaced, it's not the same seat.

The actual seat is the same but the cushions have probably been replaced as they were in a right state.

Shame (for you) that we got all the lovely 319/2s with the Chapman seats down South

Camden · 30 Sep 2019

I really don't think the seats were in bad shape at all. In fact the one or two times I've had to get that train and it's been a first capital one, it looks and feels 10 years newer than the ones Northern have butchered.

My own hunch is that they just downfurbished them to manage people's expectations of the overall service!! They needn't have bothered. Compared to transpennine's performances Northern are like the royal train!

KevinTurvey · 30 Sep 2019

I have been on a couple of 319's where they have replaced the back cushion with a new firmer deeper rear cushion which causes excruciating discomfort! Anyway without veering off topic the 195 ride quality after a several runs is a little disappointing and I'm with the OP - not as good as the 156.

Midlandman · 1 Oct 2019

Have been on a fair number of 195 units this month with the Northern 10p promotion. First one was Manchester - Lancaster and back and I thought the ride was pretty average (with a fair amount of vibration). The next trip, to Liverpool was on a 323 and over Chat Moss the ride was far better. Today we've been to Windermere and back - 195 both ways. The outward journey felt as if someone had tweaked the running gear because the vibration wasn't there. (Although you still felt every rail joint). Coming back, the vibration was as bad as ever. The unit failed at Preston, a 2-car 195 was substituted and that was just as bad! Also, I'm not too impressed with the temperature on board, today's trip was decidedly chilly.

Jamesrob637 · 1 Oct 2019

Mine from Manchester to Preston yesterday was generally fine and I can say with certainty since I had to stand the whole journey! A vast improvement on anything else they operate diesel-wise.

mpthomson · 1 Oct 2019

Jamesrob637 said:
Mine from Manchester to Preston yesterday was generally fine and I can say with certainty since I had to stand the whole journey! A vast improvement on anything else they operate diesel-wise.

Agree, I did Barrow to Carnforth yesterday having come down from Workington on a 156. The difference between the two was very marked, 195 much quieter inside, no issues with the ride and I sat at a seat with a good view.

Paul_10 · 1 Oct 2019

I think it also could depend on where you sit in terms of what people's experience of the 195s could well be. I travelled on one today right near the front and it felt the unit had wheel flats as it was quite bumpy and there was a few rattles to be had yet my other experience of riding one was smooth and more in the centre but this was a while back so I just hope the rattles are not a sign of things to come because I think they are fine trains otherwise.

Mag_seven · 3 Oct 2019

I'm sampling my first class 195 now. The ride quality is fine but I have the usual gripes about hard seats and poor seat to window alignment. I also think they are just as noisy as a 158 if not noisier. They are quite spacious though.

Class 195 ride quality

507 001

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Richard Scott

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Camden

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Bletchleyite

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Camden

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KevinTurvey

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Midlandman

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Jamesrob637

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mpthomson

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Paul_10

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Mag_seven

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