gtis
Member
There were two in Doncaster today
What looked like driver training RTT had them down as LNER but no livery
800201
800202
What looked like driver training RTT had them down as LNER but no livery
800201
800202
They will be alright while sucking juice out of the wires.
My comment thread about underfloor noise on a unmotored coach was probably from the motors
No engine = No traction motors. I'm thinking probably track noise.They will be alright while sucking juice out of the wires.
My comment thread about underfloor noise on a unmotored coach was probably from the motors
It's been mentioned before that the underfloor equipment in the non powered cars isn't exactly quiet. The details escape me.No engine = No traction motors. I'm thinking probably track noise.
Is the 800 permitted to run on electric anywhere on the ECML at the moment? I've seen them a few times doing testing runs, but only ever running on diesel.
I spent a day riding 800s yesterday, and I know this will be an unpopular opinion but they are my fave route train (when in full formation/everything’s working)
The air con is fabulous and the trolley is helpful rather than wobbling up the train. The toilets are clean, spacious and wide, and I personally find the seats comfortable for my back problems. They accelerate a lot faster and we were at stations for up to 6 minutes waiting for the departure time.
I like them!
I took a pair of 800's yesterday between South Wales and Bristol Parkway and another pair back to South Wales in the evening. The first thing that hit me when I boarded BOTH trains was the smell of sewage, it even kept wafting through the air conditioning throughout both journeys making the train smell like a drain. Surely they must have a way of cracking this issue for trains with retention tanks? I also took a Voyager down south and that too stank like a cesspit. All in all it was an unpleasant day of travel for me, when travelling by train used to be such a lovely experience. It was an uncomfortable, smelly journey. If that is the future of rail travel, then very regretably, I will be resorting to my car and driving the longer distances, which is something I have always avoided, its a sad day for rail travel as I think more and more people will start to think the same way.Sorry but in my opinion they damn well should be absolutely fantastic! And they are mediocre at best considering the advances in technology over what they are replacing and the sheer cost of them. I would rather go to a full buffet with a wide range of products and a decent cup of tea/coffee rather than the luke warm instant rubbish available from a trolley. Plus at a buffet they have fridges so can have fresh sandwiches etc. So I have to disagree with you.
I took a pair of 800's yesterday between South Wales and Bristol Parkway and another pair back to South Wales in the evening. The first thing that hit me when I boarded BOTH trains was the smell of sewage, it even kept wafting through the air conditioning throughout both journeys making the train smell like a drain. Surely they must have a way of cracking this issue for trains with retention tanks? I also took a Voyager down south and that too stank like a cesspit. All in all it was an unpleasant day of travel for me, when travelling by train used to be such a lovely experience. It was an uncomfortable, smelly journey. If that is the future of rail travel, then very regretably, I will be resorting to my car and driving the longer distances, which is something I have always avoided, its a sad day for rail travel as I think more and more people will start to think the same way.
Sorry but in my opinion they damn well should be absolutely fantastic! And they are mediocre at best considering the advances in technology over what they are replacing and the sheer cost of them. I would rather go to a full buffet with a wide range of products and a decent cup of tea/coffee rather than the luke warm instant rubbish available from a trolley. Plus at a buffet they have fridges so can have fresh sandwiches etc. So I have to disagree with you.
I must disagree! I have never even had the slightest suggestion of a sewage smell while on an 800.
Have you been served by such a trolley? It really isn't the traditional style of onboard trolley, more akin to how trolleys are used in first class in my opinion.
You may disagree, but I know what I experienced yesterday on board the two 800 services, and it wasn't a shaft of wit, more like a waft of sh&t! (Especially in the vestibule area). Some people have a better sense of smell than others, just the same as some have better vision than others, so its common sense to say some will smell these odours and some may not. One other thing my missus noticed yesterday was that the arm rests are too low on the seats and I'm inclined to agree with her on that one. I think the inside and the seats let this train down badly compared to the inside of a Mark III coach (Especially First Class) and I'm not too keen on underfloor engine noise either, no matter how loud or quiet it is. To be honest, its a step backwards in style and comfort from a HST, but in these privatised, greedy, grabbing times we live in, it will suit train operators down to the ground at the expense of the passenger experience. I'm aware people will say "most people won't care" and that is a true statement because most people accept anything these days, even if it is a de-improvement.I must disagree! I have never even had the slightest suggestion of a sewage smell while on an 800.
Have you been served by such a trolley? It really isn't the traditional style of onboard trolley, more akin to how trolleys are used in first class in my opinion.
Thank you..some one else with a sense of smell, so it wasn't just me immagining it then? Somehow yesterday, that smell was coming into my coach via the air conditioning system. Not sure how, but everytime we had a blast of cooler air it came with a nice lavatory smell too, just what I needed when drinking my coffee and eating a biscuit off the poorly stacked trolley ha..I have to agree with the statements made about the trolleys, going from one of the best HST Buffets around to the very poor offerings put out by the trolleys in my opinion just adds to another piece of the decline of GWR. The last time I was on an 800 (2 weeks ago) what they could fit on the trolley appeared to have just been chucked on there in haste, and most of the sandwiches seemed to fall off either when a customer wanted something from the trolley or when the 800 hit a jolt in the track (I was above the bogie).
Smell wise, I have experienced a little bit of a toilet smell from them, that was in the vestibule area only though and from having to stand there for 2 hours on a very fully loaded 5 car vice 10 on a very warm day. I wouldn't say it was as bad as the Voyagers though. Although, speaking of the toilet area - another little design feature I'm not impressed with is the whole sink area - the tap very close to the door handle which usually ends up either soaking wet, or if the tap is as temperamental as the desiro's, spills the water over the edge of the sink and onto the floor.
I have to agree with the statements made about the trolleys, going from one of the best HST Buffets around to the very poor offerings put out by the trolleys in my opinion just adds to another piece of the decline of GWR. The last time I was on an 800 (2 weeks ago) what they could fit on the trolley appeared to have just been chucked on there in haste, and most of the sandwiches seemed to fall off either when a customer wanted something from the trolley or when the 800 hit a jolt in the track (I was above the bogie).
Smell wise, I have experienced a little bit of a toilet smell from them, that was in the vestibule area only though and from having to stand there for 2 hours on a very fully loaded 5 car vice 10 on a very warm day. I wouldn't say it was as bad as the Voyagers though. Although, speaking of the toilet area - another little design feature I'm not impressed with is the whole sink area - the tap very close to the door handle which usually ends up either soaking wet, or if the tap is as temperamental as the desiro's, spills the water over the edge of the sink and onto the floor.
You may disagree, but I know what I experienced yesterday on board the two 800 services, and it wasn't a shaft of wit, more like a waft of sh&t! (Especially in the vestibule area). Some people have a better sense of smell than others, just the same as some have better vision than others, so its common sense to say some will smell these odours and some may not. One other thing my missus noticed yesterday was that the arm rests are too low on the seats and I'm inclined to agree with her on that one. I think the inside and the seats let this train down badly compared to the inside of a Mark III coach (Especially First Class) and I'm not too keen on underfloor engine noise either, no matter how loud or quiet it is. To be honest, its a step backwards in style and comfort from a HST, but in these privatised, greedy, grabbing times we live in, it will suit train operators down to the ground at the expense of the passenger experience. I'm aware people will say "most people won't care" and that is a true statement because most people accept anything these days, even if it is a de-improvement.
Are the trolleys still double manned, then? I travelled from Bristol Parkway to Swindon on one yesterday, and there was only one person operating the trolley. Whilst it has always been claimed by GWR that hot food is available, it is not clearly advertised on the trains, so you wouldn't know unless you asked.The last trolley service I saw involved Sandwiches and hot food being ordered, and then delivered direct to peoples seats. There was one person taking the trolley down, and another periodically retrieving a list of orders from the trolley and delivering orders to peoples seats. Its a very different way of working than GWR have used historically so I can well believe its taking some bedding in, but having seen it work well, I struggle with the idea that its is an ongoing downgrade.
I generally have a pretty sensitive sense of smell, and in 13 Cl800 journeys, that is my honest opinion. Perhaps the hot weather is the differing factor.
It matches the code used in the Enhancements Delivery Plan and its quarterly updates.
May I respectfully suggest that the Great Western Electrification thread in the infrastructure sub forum is the more appropriate place to discuss this topic.
Sorry but in my opinion they damn well should be absolutely fantastic!
He's a closet IET basher actually.This must be the closet we've gotten to a compliment from you about the IETs!
Hello, long time listener, first time caller.
First off - I do like the 800s, although I won't see the best of them on the GWML until the wires reach Temple Meads (or Parkway at least).
The one slightly odd issue I've noticed is with the power supplied to the sockets for customer use. When running on diesel my phone charges and works normally, but when running on electric the phone will take a charge but behaves strangely - constantly switching between screens / input types etc.
It goes back to normal as soon as I unplug the power, so I'm assuming it's an issue with the 240v supply. Anyone else encountered this?
Thanks for the welcome, and the reply. You may well be right, I recall from earlier in the thread that there have been radio frequency issues over this section.
A bit more info - the issue occurs on leaving Paddington, and clears after Didcot, and occurs after Moreton cutting in the opposite direction. Only happens on 800s (I travel regularly Temple Meads - Three Bridges, never had this issue on HST or other stock).
in these privatised, greedy, grabbing times we live in, it will suit train operators down to the ground at the expense of the passenger experience.
No they are paid for by the TOCs, and owned by 'Agility trains' which is part owned by Hitachi, but they are specified by the DfTThe Class 800 trains were designed by the DfT, paid for by the DfT and are owned by the DfT.
No they are paid for by the TOCs, and owned by 'Agility trains' which is part owned by Hitachi, but they are specified by the DfT
The trains in the IEP contracts were specified by the DfT.Did the TOCs pay for them or are they being paid for by the TOCs? Or did Agility Trains build them as an investment?
Thanks for confirming that the DfT set the specifications for them.