Electric Desiros v Electrostars

[MCR247]

Which do you prefer Desiros or Electrostars?

For me, desiros because they feel a lot sturdier, and when we were doing 90(?)mph it didn't feel like it. With an electrostar, I find the ride isn't as good and when a train passes, the doors rattle(?) and you feel it, whereas on a Desiro, you can only tell by seeing it in the corner of your eye.

So well done Siemens!

Please don't base your opinion on things down to the TOC like announcements, cleanliness, seating etc #

Please compare electric desiros only from now (04/01 20:41) Thanks

 

[SWT Driver]

Where's the option for neither?

 

[generalvegitable]

if you don't like both why vote?

I much prefer the desiros for the same real reasons that MCR247 said I also think that they look a bit better and I am going to get shouted at but the seats are better

 

[Pumbaa]

Desiro hands down, although I like aspects of both families.

Desiros are rather clinical inside, very functional and very German for want of a better word! The lighting is harsh, the boxes containing the lighting strips are damn ugly, and the door opening sounds etc are very harsh. Other bad points include the doors, slow to close, open and generally do anything! Also the bogies can give a rough ride if sitting directly above them. But they do do their job well, on the WCML a Pendo can pelt past at full tilt, and you won't feel a thing.

Electrostars are more inviting inside, the doors are a lot more responsive and wider, and there is also more for people to grab onto ie grab rails inside than a Desiro. The windows all being a constant size is a good factor for me, the varying window size of a Desiro can be annoying. The air con is also less obtrusive than a Desiro aircon. The ride however is not as good, and they generally feel cheaper.

 

[SWT Driver]

They're all crap, built to a price rather than to a decent quality.

Still what do expect from this countries penny-pinching chimps.

Oh, just prove a point failed another couple today, WSP failures!

 

[Fincra5]

Desiros do have a smoother ride, but i would rather spend a longer journey on an electrostar. In my experience the desiros are really loud, the heavy doors whack the train as they close. The door opening/ closign sounds are too loud.

I have to say 1hr40 from Euston to coventry was far enough for me. But i could stand over that period in an electrostar.

 

[will1337]

Well it seems Desiros have a reputation of being overly heavy and causing excess track wear etc although looking it seems for a 4 car 377 and 450 the 377 is 3 tons heavier (173 against 170.) I find the ride quality of the Desiros to be a lot smoother, not much noticing bumps whereas in the 377s on the Brighton Mainline running at speed the train shudders somewhat. The difference in air pressure and ear popping and doors moving caused by passing trains is less noticeable in 450s which seem to have a more controlled climate.

In terms of interiors the Electrostar family to me feels more cosy and the ambient lighting better suited to longer journeys in the 377s at least as well as the seats being a lot softer. I think that both train families are over-engineered though, drivers seem to have a lot of gripes with them.

 

[Aictos]

As long as I'm comfortable and I can sleep very easily on anything, I don't mind what it is.

 

[jopsuk]

On the slow doors- note that Bombardier "solved" that for the "Metro" 376/378 by going for sliding doors, which are faster- a possible solution for a better alternative to the 450HC (and potential 455 replacement)?

 

[royaloak]

a better alternative to the 450HC (and potential 455 replacement)?

You can sod off and leave the 455s alone, now if we were talking about a disastro replacement!

 

[SWT Driver]

The perfect 455 replacement...

 

[royaloak]

You wait til I see you pal, tell you what, do something useful like break a desiro, oh sorry you already have

 

[SWT Driver]

Today's tally takes it to 30 broken Dessies!

Didn't he do well?

Yes, because all of the pax who we chucked off the 444 that I took to London, watched me undertake them at 80 mph! The front 5 only got to Woking!

Oh the SWT Driver touch!

You get nothing for a pair... Not in this game!

 

[37401]

Please don't base your opinion on things down to the TOC like announcements, cleanliness, seating etc

I dont get it, if someone finds the seats to be better on one then thats a god reason as something may look good but may feel like crap to ride on

:cough: 350/2 seats

 

[MCR247]

I dont get it, if someone finds the seats to be better on one then thats a god reason as something may look good but may feel like crap to ride on

:cough: 350/2 seats

Because, the seating is chosen by the TOC/DfT or whoever, whereas the ride quality is down to the build quality if that makes sense

 

[poshbakerloo]

Desiros are rather clinical inside, very functional and very German for want of a better word! The lighting is harsh, the boxes containing the lighting strips are damn ugly, and the door opening sounds etc are very harsh. Other bad points include the doors, slow to close, open and generally do anything! Also the bogies can give a rough ride if sitting directly above them.

All of that, and also the suspension is waaaay too soft, so even when going slow the train tends to bounce around quite a bit.

Also the fact that 185s are used on long distance routes even tho they are pretty much set out like a commuter train with the doors!

I do the Sheffield-Stockport route all the time, 99% of the time its a 158 or 185. The 158 is louder inside which is bad I guess but the comfort of having end doors is waaay better! Also the 170 which I guess is a rival to 185 has a smoother ride on that route.

 

[MCR247]

All of that, and also the suspension is waaaay too soft, so even when going slow the train tends to bounce around quite a bit.

Also the fact that 185s are used on long distance routes even tho they are pretty much set out like a commuter train with the doors!

I do the Sheffield-Stockport route all the time, 99% of the time its a 158 or 185. The 158 is louder inside which is bad I guess but the comfort of having end doors is waaay better! Also the 170 which I guess is a rival to 185 has a smoother ride on that route.

To be fair, I think we should just go with electric desiros

 

[aspierail]

I would say desiro as the ride quality is better where as electrostar when it goes past another train it seams to rattle.

 

[lookapigeon]

Gotta be the ones that run on Kent/Brighton lines, the electrostars are very much more comfortable seat wise - gosh these things actually have padding in them, the air conditioning is a lot quieter and also the lighting is softer. The tannoy is also a bit less loud too.

Whereas on the Desiros, the seats on both of the blue and white ones are rock hard as anything, OK, they're fine for a 20 min journey but for longer journeys 30 min+ which I make most days, they are uncomfortable.

Their air conditioning can is noisy a lot of the time and the lighting is harsh, sometimes I wish they dimmed the lights a bit later at night as it is somewhat distorting on the senses to have such bright lighting when it's so dark outside.

Electrostars for this weary commuter any day

P.s. - is it true that the train needs to be 'rebooted' to change any of the active settings on the aircon?

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Having travelled on 3 Types of "Desiros" (Class 450,Class 444,and Class 360) and having travelled on every single type of "Electrostar" from a passengers view the "Electrostars" win hands down, espicially the Class 357 and Class 375s, but I am not to keen on the Class 376s.

 

[33056]

I use 350s and / or 377s most days, personally, I prefer the 350s with the 350/1 series being the better of the two with regard to seating / comfort. The trick with the 377s is to get in the front or back coach with the 2+2 seating, but I still don't find them as comfortable as the 350/1.

 

[MCR247]

Having travelled on 3 Types of "Desiros" (Class 450,Class 444,and Class 360) and having travelled on every single type of "Electrostar" from a passengers view the "Electrostars" win hands down, espicially the Class 357 and Class 375s, but I am not to keen on the Class 376s.

Whats the difference betweeb 375s & 377s?

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Whats the difference betweeb 375s & 377s?

No idea, use to be couplers but they have now all been changed to Dellner probally the quality of the Class 375s is better if I am allowed to say.

 

[paul1609]

Whats the difference betweeb 375s & 377s?

Different Software states plus 377s have CCTV equipment for DOO.
375s dont have the GPS SDO (or it's not commissioned).
Although the traction equipment is the same 375s are permanently in low power mode because of power restrictions on the Hastings line.

 

[350desiro]

Desiro hands down the 350 my fav

 

[Death]

Electrostar in my case.

Not only were they designed/built by BR in a way that actually worked from the start, but I much prefer the motor noise on the TRE'd Electrostars (That whine-cum-shreak ye hear whilst moving off) as well...On the other hand, the "cheep cheep cheep" of the Dessies on departure really does my b***dy head in!

 

[MCR247]

Electrostars weren't built by BR. And neither were turbostars if thats what you are thinking

 

[Royston Vasey]

Electrostars weren't built by BR. And neither were turbostars if thats what you are thinking

Think he's referring to the heritage

BREL > ABB > ADTranz > Bombardier

Both share a common genealogy leading back to the Networker.

We all know Death's penchant for bombast and hyperbole!

 

[MCR247]

Oh right

 

[RobShipway]

Having travelled on a few types of Electrostar and a few varieties of Desiro, the Desiro trains for me are more comfortable and have a better ride but both types of trains have good qualities.

The above having been said, the class 378 Electrostar does have a better ride than previous versions or to me it seems too.