Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
The more I think about it, the more I think they should probably have standardised around 3-car sets with peak doubling up where appropriate.
The more I think about it, the more I think they should probably have standardised around 3-car sets with peak doubling up where appropriate.
A nice improvement on the sprinters in my opinion, but they really should have made them 3 and 4 coaches long instead of 2 and 3.
I heard a few complaints about the harsh lighting and fewer seats - the diagram was previously a 2 coach 158 + a 1 coach 153 which is similar length but higher seating density I think.
Money I suppose is the issue. The 195s are supposed to be a pacer killer via a cascade no matter how it's dressed up. I think therell be a lot of whinging when northern announce the pacers have gone and people find themselves travelling on sprinters the next day.
A 195/1 has around 10 fewer seats than a 158+153 combo however I think the layout of the 195 creates the impression there's fewer seats than they are, however fingers crossed there's less chance of a 2 car unit turning up now!
They definitely should be, and I'm glad they've finally got something they can be proud of! Hopefully helps boost morale having better units to work on0746 Barrow-Manchester Airport was a 156 instead of of 195. Guard apologised profusely - they seem very proud of the 195s!
At least, Sprinters do have bogies*.
A 195/1 has around 10 fewer seats than a 158+153 combo however I think the layout of the 195 creates the impression there's fewer seats than they are, however fingers crossed there's less chance of a 2 car unit turning up now!
Personally I liked it. My main disappointment was that wheelchair/bike areas were not clearly marked on the outside of the carriages - I commute with a Brompton folding bike. Other Northern trains have marked the doors very clearly for quite a few years now.
Tonight 1F94 (1950 Airport - Lime Street) was a 2x3-car 195, it remained peak-hour strengthened. Had this diagram been like this all day?
(Westbound departures are 07:48 from Wilmslow, followed by departures from Man Airport at approx 10:50/13:50/16:48/19:50)
The more I think about it, the more I think they should probably have standardised around 3-car sets with peak doubling up where appropriate.
I have always thought, in a similar train of thought, that the Class 185 units should have all been four-car units.
It would surely have been a mistake for the same reason - flexibility. 2x3-car 185s make much more sense than 1x4-car with little possibility to double-up given the length.
Yes they stay coupled now all evening from 15:16 onwards.
But still split after 07:48 ex-Wilmslow.
I use the MIA-LIV service most days, not only into Manchester but further on to Warrington on ocassion. I'd say 5 coaches peak-time is more than sufficient as opposed to 6. The biggest problem with the 6 coach is actually managing passenger distribution between both sets as there are no gangways. The rear train is busy from Wilmslow/Airport to Manchester while the front is very quiet. At Piccadilly, it's the complete opposite as the rear train doesn't get beyond the stairs and no one ever turns back on themselves at the bottom of the stairs on platform 14. It evens up a bit at Oxford Road but strenghening is self-defeating if the front train is standing room only while the rear train has hoardes of empty seats.I'd argue the flexibility to run 2, 4 and 5-car formations makes sense now, and perhaps even more so if/when they are cascaded in the future. It would surely have been a mistake for the same reason - flexibility. 2x3-car 185s make much more sense than 1x4-car with little possibility to double-up given the length.
Day 2 on the Calder Valley hasn't started well. 0539 Leeds - Chester Delayed by 35 minutes at Bradford Interchange (a problem changing ends again?), and was a 2 coach 195 so standing room only by Hebden Bridge. I left it to go and waited for the next service.
0621 Leeds to Manchester cancelled due to a problem with the traction equipment.
They are lovely trains and appreciate they are new for the driver and guard, but the reliability needs to be sorted out ASAP.
Agreed.. in an ideal world.
4 car could maybe have got away with a trailer would equal 400hp per car.
Money I suppose is the issue. The 195s are supposed to be a pacer killer via a cascade no matter how it's dressed up. I think therell be a lot of whinging when northern announce the pacers have gone and people find themselves travelling on sprinters the next day.
Apologies if this needs a new thread, but if you've tried both, what do people think of the ride quality on the 195s compared to the TPE Mark 5s? Having done one of each going west of Leeds it seemed the 195 was a lot smoother than the slightly rough mk5 - though maybe the platform 16 end of Leeds is a bit rougher anyway - but I was expecting the Mk5 to be better (despite some of the comments on here).
It says on RTT "This service was cancelled between Warrington Bank Quay and Chester due to a problem with the doors (M7)."Day 2 on the Calder Valley hasn't started well. 0539 Leeds - Chester Delayed by 35 minutes at Bradford Interchange (a problem changing ends again?), and was a 2 coach 195 so standing room only by Hebden Bridge. I left it to go and waited for the next service.
0621 Leeds to Manchester cancelled due to a problem with the traction equipment.
They are lovely trains and appreciate they are new for the driver and guard, but the reliability needs to be sorted out ASAP.
Careful, I dared to suggest a few weeks ago that the general population wouldn't necessarily know the difference between a 185 and a 350... I practically got chewed up and spat out like a Poundland dog-treat!From personal experience I’m not sure a lot of passengers notice the difference between a 195 and a re-furb’d 15x. Family members and friends have frequently announced they’ve travelled on one of the “new trains” when a bit of question and answer leads to it actually being a re-furb’d 150 or 156. There also seems to be a general perception that all new trains will be electric. Living in Wigan the same goes for Pendo’s and Voyagers, everything on the main line With a pointed front is a Pendo, even if it’s diesel.
Everyone knows what a Pacer is though...
I am in the Manchester area next week and hope to do a bit of photography so which is best to see 195s Piccadilly or Victoria?