one TN said:
FGWFan said:
On another topic, welcome to the forum one TN. Glad to see there's someone who knows what he's talking about regarding Winston (I'm sick of hearing about that, it's been raised...5 times since November 2005!).
Thanks fella!! It's nice to be here.
Almost every type of train with power operated doors suffers door trouble at some point or another, especially if it's used on frequent stopping suburban services. There's hardly a day goes by when I don't experience some sort of door trouble with a unit, especially the Cl315's that have spent the last 20+ years on inner suburban services. Pacers really aren't any worse.
one TN
You're welcome.
Ah yes, the London equivilent of the Pacer, the 315. Good units those, underrated by most. At least Pacers do get some high-speed runs in, what with use with ATW on quite a few Cardiff to Gloucester stoppers pre-December, as well as SuO runs on Cardiff to Hereford runs on most weekends. 142s and 143s have been known to do Cardiff to Pembroke Dock or Milford Haven runs as well, not forgetting Fishguard Harbour, a run from Swansea I did on a 143 once as far as Carmarthen. Nice fast run actually! A 142 has even been on the Heart of Wales according to sources!
hock: Wessex give them a bit of a test too, with runs to Cheltenham from WSM fairly frequently.
Gareth, calm down. For one thing, the 170s are not directly replacing the Pacers if they have any sense. It would be quite interesting to see them do Barry Island/Penarth to Aberdare/Merthyr Tydfil/Treherbert runs, what with the extra doors that passengers could use to board and alight quicker than is the case currently. Still, the 170s would have to be using a pretty different seating layout and general facility change to accommodate the high number of passengers that use the services. At least the Aberdare branch wouldn't need longer platforms, that's already been taken care of. Running 170s on the Merthyr and Treherbert line might be more troublesome, some of the platforms are very short. Try stopping a 170 at Gilfach Fargoed on the Rhymney line too...
Regarding HSTs, they've hardly gone yet. Granted, they have from VXC/VWC usage, but the 43s and rolling stock from there is, in some cases, being refurbished at this time to work with FGW. They might have MTU engines, but I'm loving that idea. Besides, emissions rules on new trains means this is the best way forward at the moment. I'd rather have a world to live in, and one that people don't blame trains for when it comes to global warming!
Don't get me wrong, by all means I'm not happy with the general progress being made. Indeed, some areas are seeing retrograde steps in terms of progress, but we've got to let the Pacers retire eventually. They were only built on the cheap, and they've saved many branches and other lines from closure, which we'll always be grateful for, but now it's time for the Pacers to go and rest in preservation, Booths or on easier work.
That's my piece for now.