Poll: What are your thoughts on travelling on Pendolinos?

[superalbs]

The complete lack of plug sockets on airline seats in 390s is one of their biggest drawbacks!

Missing armrests at the window (if you're lucky) seats is also an annoyance.

 

[Lrd]

I’ve got two hours on a Pendolino this week - would far rather it was a Voyager.

Sums up my opinion really.

Completely agree.

 

[class387]

'The size of the window does affect speed, this is why the Shinkansen has aeroplane style windows.'

I have nothing to say.

The new Chinese bullet trains based off the Shinkansen which are faster have normally sized windows. The Shinkansen also has 2+3 (or 3+3) seats and are designed for commuter loading, much like a 700.

Also, as far as modernisation goes the Pendolino is a design from the 1960s...

 

[D365]

Hmm. Well, if you want a downgrade from eleven coaches to five than that's your opinion. Are you travelling First or Standard because if you are in first I find this opinion even more bizarre!

If I had the choice of 2x221 or a 390, I know which I’d pick. I don’t get first class under travel expenses, but since I’m just going to sleep for a while, none of this really matters.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ok I'm outvoted here.

Please feel free to say what you want.
Reminder: If you haven't voted please do!

 

[D365]

Please feel free to say what you want.

Isn’t that the point of an opinions discussion?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Isn’t that the point of an opinions discussion?

Exactly but superalbs said I was suggesting otherwise and I was making it clear that I wasn't!

 

[Polarbear]

The complete lack of plug sockets on (Standard class) airline seats in 390s is one of their biggest drawbacks!

Oh yes! The bun fight for the bays of 4 (which do have said power sockets) is a sight to behold at Euston...

 

[route:oxford]

I well recall the awful days pre-Pendolino and Voyager on the WCML and would never want to go back to that.

But why are we going over this again? The units are now at least 15 years old, there's absolutely no chance that elderly rakes of Mk1s & Mk2s along with 40-50 year old locos will be cobbled into service to please enthusiasts.

The units are functional, they move 35 million people every year - nothing of the BR era could cope with that volume on the WCML.

 

[D365]

Think it’s more a discussion about personal opinions on the 390s; comparing them to other contemporary LDHS rolling stock.

 

[43096]

As for the tube comment, probably seems bigger to you as after all, you are a child.

And a stuck-up snobbish one at that.

Anyone who thinks the Pendolino interior is the pinnacle of long distance rail travel needs to either go and experience different railways and/or has no standards whatsoever.

 

[fowler9]

After a weekends travel on various units I'd prefer to be on a Voyager than a Pendolino if both are comparatively loaded.

 

[Pete_uk]

I have never been on one so I don't really have a opinion on the subject

 

[cjmillsnun]

I suppose you'd rather be stuck in the past with ancient locomotives and a railway that everyone looks down on unfavourably because Britain still acts as if it is in the 20th century while the rest of Europe are flashing around the high speed rails on brand new modern trains which get you from A to B in no time at all. What with the HSTs and awful ex BR EMUs this country is behind as it is, some people need to accept that times are changing! Yes, there used to only be loco hauled trains on mainline routes. There also used to be no TVs or Computers in the past. There also used to be a death penalty in Britain in the past. There used to be no known cures for diseases in the past. The death toll was higher in the past.

With modernisation the world improves.

To be fair, if you compare the 390 to its European high speed cousins, it isn't even close.

Speed. Even at their 225km/h (140MPH) design speed, they are outpaced by ICE and TGV. TGV regularly does 300-320 km/h.

Comfort. Instead of being in economy cattle class as standard class is on the 390, you have more room on most of the European high speed fleet. Some of this is a function of the loading gauge, however much is from the fact that rail travel is still designed around the passenger.

Had IC 250 gone ahead (scuppered because BR was about to be privatised!) then we would be enjoying a WCML that is faster and more comfortable than Beardie's smelly trains.

What is wrong with HSTs? They are still (over 40 years after their introduction) the fastest diesel passenger train in the world. I accept they are reaching the stage where they are life expired, however do not say we are behind when other diesel trains can only match the HST for pace.

The Ex BR EMUs are for commuter traffic in the main, not high speed mainline services. Go try French commuter services (with the exception of the excellent TGV commuter services) and you will find the same issues as we do here. Not all their stock is air conditioned, much of it is old, its overcrowded and often late.

Also, pre 1945 there were no nuclear weapons. So not all progress is good!

I don't want to be stuck in the past, I would like trains that are comfortable in standard class (you will understand when you can't afford first or your employer refuses to pay for it). The 390 isn't it. It's close. Technically it is brilliant, but the passenger experience could be a lot better.

 

[fowler9]

I well recall the awful days pre-Pendolino and Voyager on the WCML and would never want to go back to that.

But why are we going over this again? The units are now at least 15 years old, there's absolutely no chance that elderly rakes of Mk1s & Mk2s along with 40-50 year old locos will be cobbled into service to please enthusiasts.

The units are functional, they move 35 million people every year - nothing of the BR era could cope with that volume on the WCML.

When were you born out of interest? I'm just trying to recall these awful days and wondering if I lived on a different planet. I guess so.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And a stuck-up snobbish one at that.

What's that supposed to mean?

I hadn’t realised that schools have already broken up for Christmas.

Where did that come from? I don't think they have!

 

[cjmillsnun]

What's that supposed to mean?

You seem to look down on standard class,

I only travel first class

.

That is quite snobbish.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

You seem to look down on standard class, .

That is quite snobbish.

Ok, I'm sorry. That was probably before the withdrawal of my stupid "controversial" image.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hmm. Well, if you want a downgrade from eleven coaches to five than that's your opinion. Are you travelling First or Standard because if you are in first I find this opinion even more bizarre!

Cheap seat covers.
Reduced catering.
One first class carriage as opposed to four.
Etc.

Voyagers mostly come in 10-car sets on the WCML. They have bigger windows and more Standard Class.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Voyagers mostly come in 10-car sets on the WCML. They have bigger windows and more Standard Class.

Yes well:

a) I travel in first with Virgin. Pendos have double first class carriages to Super Voyagers.

b) And better quality food.

c) And nice moquette seats as opposed to cheap fake leather.

d) And no groaning traction motor. I love the sound of a Voyager taking off but after a while it gets old.

e) I enjoy the more obvious tilt.

f) I like the announcement chime "bing bong" on the Pendolinos.

g) I love the moody lighting of a Virgin Pendolino.

h) I'm not trapped in one five car set on a Pendolino.

i) CrossCountry serve my local area so I go on Voyagers all the time, they end up getting boring.

j) I use my iPad and iPhone a lot when travelling, the gigantic windows on Voyagers let in too much light!

k) The gigantic vestibules annoy me because they are a waste of space and they smell of excrement even stronger then pendolinos do.

 

[DanNCL]

And better quality food.

What difference does a type of train operated by the same company on the same service make to the catering?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What difference does a type of train operated by the same company on the same service make to the catering?

The 390 has a full sized kitchen, the largest of Uk rolling stock.
The 221 has a very small galley.

 

[D365]

Okay, so you’re mostly talking about the onboard service and the interior trimmings, rather than the actual build of the train. Layouts (e.g. changing the catering setup) can be altered relatively easily if desired.

I take it you haven’t travelled much on a Voyager through New Street, etc, if you think the vestibules are a waste of space.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've just said I have. I've done numerous back and forth trips on a Kennet Day Ranger between Basingstoke and Reading.

 

[DanNCL]

The 390 has a full sized kitchen, the largest of Uk rolling stock.
The 221 has a very small galley.

But surely as the galley on the 221 has only 1/4 of the passengers to cater for, it can't make that much of a difference? (I usually travel in Standard so I have no idea what those in first get)

 

[fowler9]

Yes well:

a) I travel in first with Virgin. Pendos have double first class carriages to Super Voyagers.

b) And better quality food.

c) And nice moquette seats as opposed to cheap fake leather.

d) And no groaning traction motor. I love the sound of a Voyager taking off but after a while it gets old.

e) I enjoy the more obvious tilt.

f) I like the announcement chime "bing bong" on the Pendolinos.

g) I love the moody lighting of a Virgin Pendolino.

h) I'm not trapped in one five car set on a Pendolino.

i) CrossCountry serve my local area so I go on Voyagers all the time, they end up getting boring.

j) I use my iPad and iPhone a lot when travelling, the gigantic windows on Voyagers let in too much light!

k) The gigantic vestibules annoy me because they are a waste of space and they smell of excrement even stronger then pendolinos do.

So much of that was nonsense it is difficult to be bothered arguing with. Pendolinos have double first class carriages to voyagers, better quality food, you aren't trapped in a five car set. That was just the stuff that has no relevance to the basic design of the train if the Voyagers had more carriages or a better caterer.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

But surely as the galley on the 221 has only 1/4 of the passengers to cater for, it can't make that much of a difference? (I usually travel in Standard so I have no idea what those in first get)

Check the first class menu on Virgin Trains' website.

So much of that was nonsense it is difficult to be bothered arguing with. Pendolinos have double first class carriages to voyagers, better quality food, you aren't trapped in a five car set. That was just the stuff that has no relevance to the design of the train.

I am explaining why I prefer Pendolinos to Super Voyagers.

 

[fowler9]

I've just said I have. I've done numerous back and forth trips on a Kennet Day Ranger between Basingstoke and Reading.

How old are you? How is most of your experience of Voyagers between Basingstoke and Reading but you know all about Pendolinos?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

How is most of your experience of Voyagers between Basingstoke and Reading but you know all about Pendolinos?

Because my grandmother lives in Manchester, my uncle lives in Llandudno and I love Virgin. Therefore - I go on Pendolinos regularly.

An example of how regularly: The last time was Saturday. The next time will be 3rd January. I might also fit in an extra trip over late December.

 

[D365]

So you like Pendolinos. A lot of us prefer Voyagers. Fine.