Im sitting on Pendolino To Glasgow,08.30am London Euston to Glasgow Central,390 030,i think the Pendolino gives gives smoothest ride at 125mph in terms of spilling drinks etc,I've been on Great Western and drink spilled everywhere,i know the coach tilts but drinks don't spill so much,probably West coast is smoothest ride at 125mph,East Coast I'm not sure of haven't done for while
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Pendolinos give smoothes ride at 125mph and what is smoothest line for ride at 125mph
- Thread starter cambsy
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
- Messages
- 12,857
I find the notion that 390s are the smootest ride exceptionally debatable. I can't write on them, way too rough. 222s are the best at full speed, maybe 90 / 91s and Mk3s...
Daimler
Established Member
Indeed - Mk4s eclipse anything other domestic train at high speed, in my opinion. Pendolinos often jerk about somewhat alarmingly.
graham43404
Member
Strangely enough I always think that the MK3 HST coaches seem to give a better ride than the MK4's.
Totally agree with that about Pendilinos, getting up and going to the loo or getting a hot drink is like taking your life into your own hand as it tilts and chucks you about more than a MK3 or MK4 could ever do.
route:oxford
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 4,949
Smoothest ride at 125?
That's got to be a 180 coach with an isolated engine at full tilt* down the GWML.
*Meaning "full speed," it is from the encounter at full gallop of knights in a tilt (lance combat).
That's got to be a 180 coach with an isolated engine at full tilt* down the GWML.
*Meaning "full speed," it is from the encounter at full gallop of knights in a tilt (lance combat).
Last edited:
Since when do 180s tilt?
373s are very smooth but with the hilly gradients on HS1 at 186mph you sometimes feel like your on a plane going down a string of air pockets. Never been on a train with such deep dips along a line.
Agree with the above MK3s come close behind MK4s on the domestic lines for ride.
Agree with the above MK3s come close behind MK4s on the domestic lines for ride.
For me it's got to be the Mk4. The 390 gives a reasonable enough ride as do the 22xs and the 180s. Personally I find HST Mk3s can be variable in their ride quality, I've been on them when they're as smooth as a Mk4 but on other occasions I've been on them and it's really been a case of shake, rattle and roll!
DaveNewcastle
Established Member
I agree!
My friend, who normally only travels on East Coast, said after a journey on a Pendolino "Why don't they sort out that track?". There, a wide ranging and thorough survey of a representative cross-section of the travelling public is showing the MkIVs as giving the smoothest ride.
rail-britain
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 4,102
390030 is one I have not yet been on
However, I tend to find even within a set there can be a great difference in ride quality
The better ride quality comes from the unpowered trailer cars (currently coaches C, E, and H)
Equally, I have observed some coaches are not perfectly aligned whilst the train is in motion
In general the Mark 3 coaches are of equal ride quality, until on severe curves at high speed
However, I do agree the Mark 4 coaches are slightly superior
As such the Class 390 will be operating at a higher speed through curves, so the comparison has to be equal
However, I tend to find even within a set there can be a great difference in ride quality
The better ride quality comes from the unpowered trailer cars (currently coaches C, E, and H)
Equally, I have observed some coaches are not perfectly aligned whilst the train is in motion
In general the Mark 3 coaches are of equal ride quality, until on severe curves at high speed
However, I do agree the Mark 4 coaches are slightly superior
As such the Class 390 will be operating at a higher speed through curves, so the comparison has to be equal
GNERman
Established Member
I'll put it brutally, not on an HST between York and Doncaster...
Eagle
Established Member
Rather a HST than a Voyager... that bit always terrifies the metaphorical out of me
Seriously, the Selby cutoff was built post-125 mph running and it's still not smooth enough.
Eagle
Established Member
Yes, also known as the section where you will inevitably need to get up to use the lavatory...
That's the one good fun that bit. Especially if you're trying to drink a hot cup of tea or even better being served a cup of tea (I have had more tea down my trouser leg than in the mug on this section).
I have never been on the 390s but the smoothest train I have been on is the ECML trains to London and up into Scotland. I know this is not at 125 MPH but The worst one I have been on was a Class 142 Pacer beetween Leeds and Castleford, it felt like it was about to derail, which is not good when your next to a canal and for part of it, s river 
hock:
I'd hate to be on one at 125MPH!
I think the pacers must be the most bumpiest class ever! Everyone I have been on has been like that. :roll:
Jacob
hock:I'd hate to be on one at 125MPH!
I think the pacers must be the most bumpiest class ever! Everyone I have been on has been like that. :roll:
Jacob
HSTEd
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2011
- Messages
- 16,734
Worst ride ive ever had at 125mph was on a Hull Trains 180, it was shaking the tables an inch side to side because of the vibrations caused by its engine running flat out, which we could hear in the background.
Best ride would probably be either a 390 or Mark IVs in my opinion.
Best ride would probably be either a 390 or Mark IVs in my opinion.
sprinterguy
Established Member
I know the section you mean, is it not due to the train passing over Hambleton Junction? I haven't been able to pin point the exact section of line between York and Doncaster where the feeling of being thrown about occurs.
I seem to be in a different mind to many posters on this thread regarding train comfort at 125mph: I think that the suspension on the mark 4s rides much too hard, and there is a marked jolt when the 225s first move off or come to a stand, because of the loco being at one end of the train.
The Pendolinos with distributed traction offer much smoother starts and stops, and I generally find them to be smoother riding than mark 4s. Though I think the ride quality of the mark 4s varies depending on whether the 91 is leading or propelling.
Hydro
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2007
- Messages
- 2,204
Honestly, people are soft nowadays! "Comfort"? "Ride quality"? Gentle shoving from a propelled set? Pah.
Get some old stock and a nasty bit of track, hold on tight and enjoy the ride dammit.
Gentle shoving from a propelled set? Pah. Get some old stock and a nasty bit of track, hold on tight and enjoy the ride dammit.
rail-britain
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 4,102
I assume you mean when the loco is at the rear / push mode
My first experience of this was with the Class 47/7 locos in Scotland
With the Class 47 pushing (typically Edinburgh to Glasgow or Aberdeen to Glasgow) there was a marked jolt on departure, where as in pull mode the departure was always very smooth
On the WCML the same issue existed, but there was a marked improvement when a Class 90 was in use and utilising the buckeye coupling instead of the screw coupling
On a HST with one power car it was dreadful if only the rear power car was under power (front failed)
I have to agree, with a Class 91 and Mark 4 coaches there is a difference between being pushed and pulled, but it is very subtle
Hydro
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2007
- Messages
- 2,204
The worst I have experienced in this manner is at work, with a DBSO controlling a 37. The power controller on an NR DBSO is the same as on a 31, i.e. 4 power notches then variable. As the control uptake on a 37 is notchless, then the driver has to take care applying power due to the different controller styles. Overcook it a bit and the 37 just crashes into the adjacent coach. Not fun if you're in that coach.
rail-britain
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 4,102
Yes, this was quite obvious on Class 47/7 locos when they departed with just complete full throttle, unlike when hauling conventionally
davo882000
Member
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2011
- Messages
- 33
Never mind a pacer try the tyne and wear metro then the pacer becomes gods gift!
DarloRich
Veteran Member
The worst for me was a south bound GC 180. At Temple Hirst Junction I honestly thought the train had come off the road! It moved so much form side to side and then dipped! PLUS everything was vibrating and my table was very loose!
@ GNERMAn IS it Temple Hirst Jcn that you are talking about? I find that the worst bit of track between Donny and York. BUT as Hydro says it is normally fun! Just hold on and dont go to the toilet or get a cuppa (That 180 wasnt mind :roll:!)
DaveNewcastle
Established Member
I don't think Temple Hurst is too bad on the Down, though the Up can be rougher. Its some of the crossovers (rather than high speed junctions) which I find to be the roughest. Even sitting in a in MkIV !
- Status