Correct Boverboy. The amount of times during the morning peak someone with a bike barges their way onto a rammed train with no consideration for other passengers. I just find it inconsiderate when considering the bike takes up space for another passenger or two. If bikes weren't banned during peak I wouldn't have a problem as much.Well, js1000 certainly wasn't suggesting that the railway would run better but for passengers, quite the contrary, he was suggesting that they don't get sufficient priority. I'm all in favour of people being able to take their bikes by train, but do find something a little incongruous about carrying that bike for free, when it takes up the space of at least one passenger, and probably more.
In better news the spaciousness of the 195 allowed a lot of passengers to cram on a what should have been a 6 coach this morning (only 2 coaches). I was mildly impressed - a Pacer, 150, 156 would not have been able to accommodate as many standing passengers.
Quite, but a 150 or 156 would have accommodated more passengers seated (c.150 compared to 124 in a 195/0), so I doubt that many more passengers in total would have been able to board the 195. I suspect, in fact, that the 150 may have actually won the contest.
Correct Boverboy. The amount of times during the morning peak someone with a bike barges their way onto a rammed train with no consideration for other passengers. I just find it inconsiderate when considering the bike takes up space for another passenger or two. If bikes weren't banned during peak I wouldn't have a problem as much.
In better news the spaciousness of the 195 allowed a lot of passengers to cram on a what should have been a 6 coach this morning (only 2 coaches). I was mildly impressed - a Pacer, 150, 156 would not have been able to accommodate as many standing passengers.
- Ride quality was not great, the constant banging from the boogies was unsettling.
Michael Jackson must have experienced something similar in his youth when he sang..."Blame it on the boogie!!!"
So, to sum up, you've no idea but feel free to make things up about people doing their best to travel more healthily. Most cyclists I've seen are quite slick at getting themselves and luggage off trains. It's getting on that is slower, especially when people sit in the bike bay. I would leave tip up seats installed but lock them out of use on off peak trains. The basic problem is running trains too small, not that three bikes take up space of three standees.In this case the large panniers had been removed before Totley Tunnel. I don't know where they left the train but suspect it took a minute or two more than booked.
So, to sum up, you've no idea but feel free to make things up about people doing their best to travel more healthily. Most cyclists I've seen are quite slick at getting themselves and luggage off trains. It's getting on that is slower, especially when people sit in the bike bay. I would leave tip up seats installed but lock them out of use on off peak trains. The basic problem is running trains too small, not that three bikes take up space of three standees.
The one blocking the cab door should have been moved or ejected, though I don't know what other work the guard had.
Would people also like to make stuff up blaming PRMs for any extended dwells? Or only PRMS who use cycles as "rolling walking sticks"?
It's not cyclists, hikers (also with big rucksacks) or those bound to Manchester Airport (with large cases) fault that Northern can't put on enough carriages on a Saturday morning. I'd still contend that passengers travelling with large items of any sort may need to pay extra for the space, but that's a challenging issue for another thread now we've all got used to not paying.
But a recentish court case seems to have left all of this in a legal no-man's land. This issue remains, as before, the absolute lack of capacity argue it as we will.affixed sign in the wheelchair area that is clear in its wording
They crew have turned it off altogether now, which is probably for the best. Manual announcements instead.I worked 195123 on the Calder valley last week with the same problem. The ASDO still works ok on it though.
Unfortunately there have been multiple instances of 2 coach operation on the Liverpool to Manchester Airport route this week. This is supposed to be 6 coaches at peak time.Spent a couple of days commuting to Manchester from Liverpool South parkway, yesterday a 2 coach 195 showed up, I think it got to the point where standing room only was an understatement, it was heaving, the guard sounded as though he had had enough to th point where he was asking people to get off for safety reasons... First time on the 195, why given how busy this route is that no overhead grab straps or handles for standing passengers is beyond me... These trains are not smooth, the vibrations are ridiculous, the brakes are too sharp and if I'm honest, the 150/156/158 give a better ride.... Today was better, a 4 coach train this morning however, sitting down I was still shocked by the vibrations from the wheels... No matter what money is spent on new trains, we are simply polishing over the cracks of a rail network not up to standard
Whilst I personally like the 195s, there are times when I do wonder what's going on. This is what's displaying on 195123 on the 1424 Wigan - Manchester this afternoon. It's also being announced, "This is the Northern service to... The next stop is...," on the PA...
View attachment 70184
(Image shows a Passenger Information Screen on unit 195123. The screen is displaying "This is the Northern service to... We will be calling at... " with the word ".... and" scrolling across the bottom.)
I've just been on 195123 from Lancaster to Barrow in Furness and the system is as Matthew S described!They crew have turned it off altogether now, which is probably for the best. Manual announcements instead.
Yeah. Believe it or not I had it on my return journey last night as well (the 2226 from Man Picc to Wigan).I've just been on 195123 from Lancaster to Barrow in Furness and the system is as Matthew S described!
Yeah. Believe it or not I had it on my return journey last night as well (the 2226 from Man Picc to Wigan).
Like Northern Fail itself?It does appear the PIS is not fit for purpose. Just like most other implementations then...
I cant understand why Northern are apparently short of 195s (also 331s) when edge hill looks full of themWednesday just gone I got a shock when I went to Lime Street for the 21.55 to Oxford Road.
195 002 was on it instead of the usual 142/150/156. That was definitely a one off!
Monday just gone the 18.16 Lime Street to Man Airport was 195 001. Two carriages on a peak time train to the airport. Tut tut!
These services are supposed to be operated by 195/1's, which even with 3 carriages isn't enough, as I found out last month when a got on a Man Airport bound 195/1 at South Parkway which was already standing room only!
I cant understand why Northern are apparently short of 195s (also 331s) when edge hill looks full of them
K