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Poll: What are your thoughts on travelling on Pendolinos?

Do you like Class 390 Pendolinos?

  • Yes, I'm happy to travel on them, they're very good trains.

    Votes: 181 46.2%

  • Meh. They're alright. I prefer HSTs, but Pendolinos are fine.

    Votes: 125 31.9%

  • No. They're awful, rubbish things. Hate travelling on them!

    Votes: 75 19.1%

  • I haven't been on one!

    Votes: 11 2.8%
  • Total voters
    392
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B

Bletchleyite

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yorksrob said:
A lot of modern trains could be improved by giving up on hand dryers and bringing back paper towels.
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So someone can shove them down the bog?

A definite improvement would be removing all the various electronic taps and replacing with a regular push tap, though. Particularly the stupid "sanctimonious" ones on Southern that require you to dump some soap in the sink before you can just get a little water to clean your glasses.
 
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RailUK Forums

C

ChiefPlanner

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Bletchleyite said:
That's a management issue, not a rolling stock issue, notwithstanding that it could be solved sort-of (as far as any passenger would care) by turning a few seats round and providing, say, 8 single airline seats per 1st coach (leaving 4 tables for two).
Click to expand...

I know , but I cannot resist making the point !
 
yorksrob

yorksrob

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Bletchleyite said:
So someone can shove them down the bog?

A definite improvement would be removing all the various electronic taps and replacing with a regular push tap, though. Particularly the stupid "sanctimonious" ones on Southern that require you to dump some soap in the sink before you can just get a little water to clean your glasses.
Click to expand...

No, so that people can actually dry their hands (without using up all the bog roll to do it).
 
S

swt_passenger

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TT-ONR-NRN said:
First of all: I'm sorry, I've been bringing up a lot of old threads recently, but I'd really like to know the opinions of the pendolino.
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If you actually did search for the last thread about this, you wouldn't need to repeat the question though.

You won't get different answers no matter how often you repeat the question...
 
Mikey C

Mikey C

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Voted Meh, as while they have a lot of flaws, they are fast and smooth.

What's bad about the small and badly aligned windows, is that not only does it sometimes make it hard to see out of your side, it's also really hard to see out of the other side! It's really noticeable when taking 350s up similar lines how much more you can see from both sides.
 
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samuelmorris

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I don't use VTWC very often, partly because of the extortionate fares, but I have no issues with the 390s really. I don't find them claustrophobic, more 'cosy', but I totally understand why people would. I don't find the tilt mechanism makes me feel ill, but I know people that do have a problem with that, who are fine on other trains at similar speeds. The toilet smell has bugged me on Voyagers but I don't ever recall it being an issue on a Pendolino. For a 125mph multiple unit they're pretty quiet and so far are the only high-speed multiple unit I've been on that provides a comparable experience to an HST or loco-hauled service.
 
GW43125

GW43125

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Bletchleyite said:
So someone can shove them down the bog?

A definite improvement would be removing all the various electronic taps and replacing with a regular push tap, though. Particularly the stupid "sanctimonious" ones on Southern that require you to dump some soap in the sink before you can just get a little water to clean your glasses.
Click to expand...

The same ones that when you miss the soap and you have to dump water, then run the asthmatic hand dryer before being able to get some more
 
High Dyke

High Dyke

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I once had the misfortune of travelling on a Pendelino from Stafford to Crewe, so not a very long journey. However despite the fact I've travelled all over Europe without any previous issues of travel sickness, I was quite glad to get off the train at Crewe. Perhaps it was the first time I'd exerienced the ride on these things; I don't know. Suffice to say I haven't travelled on one since and don't intend to.
 
M

Monarch010

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I travel between London and Manchester weekly, and think they're ok, although the toilets leave a lot to be desired.
One question, though. How much of a difference to journey time between London and Manchester is made by the fact that the trains tilt?
 
Mordac

Mordac

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I personally quite enjoy them. The window positioning and size can be a bit annoying, but I do like the lighting, have nothing against the seats, and appreciate that the narrowness is a necessary drawback of the tilt mechanism which would be the same regardless of manufacturer. I've got no issues with 'tilt sickness' by the way.

I really enjoy speeding down the Clyde Valley in one, and I loved the one time I got a really good deal for an advance first class ticket on a service with an evening meal. : free (good) food and booze, what's not to like?
 
MidnightFlyer

MidnightFlyer

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I am quite fortunate that I don't experience either the claustrophobia or motion sickness that others do, so by and large I have no problem with them. My only real annoyance stems from the internal layout; things like the luggage racks offering tremendous window views, the lack of power outlets in airline seats, and the prolific use of bays of 2 / 4 in First, however none of these are beyond the scope of a decent refurbishment.

All that said mind, even nine years after they were set free via the VHF timetable, I am still amazed by just how well they perform. Euston to Tamworth sub-1 hour and Euston to Liverpool / Manchester / Preston all possible in dead on or slightly below 2 hours is phenomenal.
 
PeterY

PeterY

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My only gripe and its already been mentioned a few times is not being able to see out of the windows on some seat. Otherwise fast and efficient.
 
Jamesrob637

Jamesrob637

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MidnightFlyer said:
I am quite fortunate that I don't experience either the claustrophobia or motion sickness that others do, so by and large I have no problem with them. My only real annoyance stems from the internal layout; things like the luggage racks offering tremendous window views, the lack of power outlets in airline seats, and the prolific use of bays of 2 / 4 in First, however none of these are beyond the scope of a decent refurbishment.

All that said mind, even nine years after they were set free via the VHF timetable, I am still amazed by just how well they perform. Euston to Tamworth sub-1 hour and Euston to Liverpool / Manchester / Preston all possible in dead on or slightly below 2 hours is phenomenal.
Click to expand...

That's why I put meh. Their performance undoubtedly eclipses that of the preceding trains (87s/90s and hauled stock) but the build quality leaves a bit to be desired and they could really all do with 10 or 11 cars however nobody will build extra cars now it's an outdated design. Seat alignment with windows could be better in Standard but I understand the need for the larger pillars as proved a decade ago in the Lake District.
 
fowler9

fowler9

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They are alright. In all honesty I don't hate them (Although I fear I may have said I do in the past). I just prefer the 86/87/90 plus Mk3's. It was a more pleasant experience for me as I do find the 390's a bit claustropobic. The big kid in me likes the tilting so that isn't an issue. The vestibules can get a bit stinky by the toilets of which there aren't enough of (Apart from the smell). Some of the names they have been given are awful, Virgin Explorer sounds like something you can be charged with. Some of the Pendos when they get old enough will be trying to change their names by deed poll and wondering why their creators hated them. :)
 
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GW43125

GW43125

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fowler9 said:
Ha ha. Cant wait to see what VTEC come up with for the Azuma when they name them.
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Well they already failed to check what googling "Virgin Azuma" gets you as I'm reliably informed that in some cases, it doesn't get you a train...
 
GusB

GusB

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The "don't know, have no idea, never been on one" option is missing from the poll.
 
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