Design the ideal rolling stock

[superkev]

You mean something like this?.....

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB-Baureihe_670

Apparently almost all Japanese trains you can see out of the front and watch the driver and on scenic lines the seats rotate to the direction of travel (hint). Unlike the UK designers there seem to appreciate that passengers like to see out.
K

 

[Harbornite]

Apparently almost all Japanese trains you can see out of the front and watch the driver and on scenic lines the seats rotate to the direction of travel (hint). Unlike the UK designers there seem to appreciate that passengers like to see out.
K

The issues with "cab views" are a lack of privacy for drivers and some passengers would potentially be able to witness people being hit by trains (as can people on platforms).

 

[jayiscupid]

Apparently almost all Japanese trains you can see out of the front and watch the driver and on scenic lines the seats rotate to the direction of travel (hint). Unlike the UK designers there seem to appreciate that passengers like to see out.
K

This is only on the scenic line trains. Certainly the metro, suburban and Shinkansen trains don't have that feature.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Apparently almost all Japanese trains you can see out of the front and watch the driver and on scenic lines the seats rotate to the direction of travel (hint). Unlike the UK designers there seem to appreciate that passengers like to see out.
K

Is the rear bulkhead of the driver's cab of UK trains classed as part of the crash structure?

 

[RobShipway]

I'd hate to see the dwelltimes on those, as much as the concept is interesting.

That is a good point actually, the dwelltimes maybe longer than any current stock.

 

[jopsuk]

For the TPE hauled stock- and as an alternative to Scotrail's HSTs- is a different loco required?

68s are powerful locos. More than plenty of power for a 5-coach train. Meanwhile the 88 is designed to haul intermodal trains too with a shunting engine in it.

Is, therefore, a "78" possible? Smaller diesel, with sufficient power for 5-6 coaches, but with pantograph to run off AC? Ideal for Transpenine services that run under the wires for stretches, and the same will go for Scotrail?

Of course, these would be highly specialist passenger locos, not really freight capable other than eg Railhead Treatment Trains

 

[RobShipway]

For the TPE hauled stock- and as an alternative to Scotrail's HSTs- is a different loco required?

68s are powerful locos. More than plenty of power for a 5-coach train. Meanwhile the 88 is designed to haul intermodal trains too with a shunting engine in it.

Is, therefore, a "78" possible? Smaller diesel, with sufficient power for 5-6 coaches, but with pantograph to run off AC? Ideal for Transpenine services that run under the wires for stretches, and the same will go for Scotrail?

Of course, these would be highly specialist passenger locos, not really freight capable other than eg Railhead Treatment Trains

You would not really want a special type of loco though, that cannot be used for other type of traffic. I personally would go for a version of the class 88, but with the full class 68 rated diesel engine within in it, but set it to have a top speed of 140mph.

 

[Domh245]

You would not really want a special type of loco though, that cannot be used for other type of traffic. I personally would go for a version of the class 88, but with the full class 68 rated diesel engine within in it, but set it to have a top speed of 140mph.

I think you'd end up with a locomotive that measured almost 30m over the buffers!

 

[jopsuk]

You would not really want a special type of loco though, that cannot be used for other type of traffic. I personally would go for a version of the class 88, but with the full class 68 rated diesel engine within in it, but set it to have a top speed of 140mph.

So you want the high capacity transformers and power electronics of the 88, the full sized engine of the 68, gear it for 40mph faster (reducing starting tractive effort and thus wiping out freight use) AND you want it in an already "carefully" packaged body?

At least my specialist 100mph full-hybrid 78 had the possibility of feasibility. To achieve your goals you'd bascially have to articulate the thing- or might as well just set up a high speed 68 and 88 fleet that can work in multiple/work with the loco dead*, and stick one on each end.

*so if under the wires with the diesel leading, can shut the engine down and use the loco as rather heavy driving trailer. And vice versa

 

[D365]

So you want the high capacity transformers and power electronics of the 88, the full sized engine of the 68, gear it for 40mph faster (reducing starting tractive effort and thus wiping out freight use) AND you want it in an already "carefully" packaged body?

And then, when it doesn't work, we can blame the engineers for getting it all wrong anyway.