There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the 395s. They're fast (ish), clean (for now) and smooth (except for when leaving St Pancras, despite supposedly being fixed). They look nice from the outside and the publicity has got the general public going 'wow' about high speed trains when they're really not that fast, or any faster than a Mk4 could have been going along the ECML if regulations hadn't changed - or a Pendolino on the WCML. The only true high-speed train (in my mind) is Eurostar.
I love modern technology. I'm hardly stuck in the past, but all too often I see modern trains and wonder how long they're going to last compared the older, more industrial, looking trains. Of course they look nicer, but will they in 10 or 15 years time?
Sit me on a brand new Airbus with fading LED lighting and I'll be going 'wow' and getting all excited, but airlines have an incentive to keep upgrading and refurbishing their interiors and facilitied. On the railway, shiny plastic panels today end up being dull, faded, marked panels tomorrow. It's already happening on the 2009 stock on the tube.
The 360s on GA look far older than they are too. I am certain that the 395s will need a facelift sooner rather than later, although as they're barely used in comparison to most rolling stock, they might survive a bit longer. If only SET considered dropping the HS1 supplement, or allowed Stratford International to become part of the London zonal system.
I didn't make up my story about being cut either. I was walking through the train to give it a good look from end to end, and obviously caught myself on a grab rail or seat. My point is that many modern trains (Bombardier, I'm mostly looking at you) seem to have poor quality control (from 378s to 379s and the new S Stock). Forget my single incident, but look at the niggles all new trains seem to have.
Perhaps HSTs did too, or there was less to go wrong back then, but I have more faith in seeing stock like the HST or a Class 313 lasting 30-40-50 years than a 377 or 395 doing the same.
Time will tell.
I love modern technology. I'm hardly stuck in the past, but all too often I see modern trains and wonder how long they're going to last compared the older, more industrial, looking trains. Of course they look nicer, but will they in 10 or 15 years time?
Sit me on a brand new Airbus with fading LED lighting and I'll be going 'wow' and getting all excited, but airlines have an incentive to keep upgrading and refurbishing their interiors and facilitied. On the railway, shiny plastic panels today end up being dull, faded, marked panels tomorrow. It's already happening on the 2009 stock on the tube.
The 360s on GA look far older than they are too. I am certain that the 395s will need a facelift sooner rather than later, although as they're barely used in comparison to most rolling stock, they might survive a bit longer. If only SET considered dropping the HS1 supplement, or allowed Stratford International to become part of the London zonal system.
I didn't make up my story about being cut either. I was walking through the train to give it a good look from end to end, and obviously caught myself on a grab rail or seat. My point is that many modern trains (Bombardier, I'm mostly looking at you) seem to have poor quality control (from 378s to 379s and the new S Stock). Forget my single incident, but look at the niggles all new trains seem to have.
Perhaps HSTs did too, or there was less to go wrong back then, but I have more faith in seeing stock like the HST or a Class 313 lasting 30-40-50 years than a 377 or 395 doing the same.
Time will tell.
