In no particular order...
See my post above about confusion.
They are a step down as they are often not available for use. I haven't been on one yet to comment on the actual refurbishment as there are so few about and often they don't actually turn up and are replaced by the more reliable 170.
I presume that you don't need electrification explained to you.
The 170 I am on is filthy.
The best way to prove the HST is for it to provide a reliable, regular service.
What MTIN do you think is reasonable for the ScotRail HSTs?
Failed to answer many questions there. I am asking you what '
ancient thinking' is. I have stated that is a very contemporary concept to see underfloor as something to avoid (eg class 180 ), you say that's not your point,
may you therefore please clarify what you are trying to get at?
As I've already stated HSTs need time to bed in, YES, more time than a 385, they are old and as such require more specialised/outdated skills to keep running, as opposed to a new train where everything should be sorted by the manufacturer, they are proving themselves more and more. I wholeheartedly agree it has been pretty awful at times, but the last few sets delivered have been far more reliable and service has most definitely picked up on the route into Glasgow (can't comment on EDI, I don't live or travel there often). In fact I would say DMUs are now in the minority for these long distance services.
of course, that's no consolation if your service is a single 158, but far far fewer services are.
My conclusion is, perhaps rightly, your main grievance isn't the HSTs per se, but the improvement and backbone of a rather poorly run service that they represent. They are gradually improving, though I would say you'd be waiting until mid 2020 or 2021 before they come in to the numbers and reliability that they ought to have, and that perhaps is not good enough for you.
I accept, I live in Dunblane, there are hourly stopping trains to Glasgow, It's not as disastrous if an express is cancelled, delayed or packed to the rafters compared to someone who's whole rail service is these trains (just up the line at Gleneagles for example). But as I think you've said, it's too late now, we've definitely committed to them, and TS have indicated they are unlikely to be replaced until 2030-ish.
I think we agree, that when working they are fine trains (if fitted with very poor graphics on the exteriors), but from HA07 or so onwards the sets have been much more reliable, no not as good as a 385, but good enough that many many trains I see are HSTs, give it another month, I'm sure you will see improvement. They achieved 10 sets by christmas, I suspect the only goal with numbers they have achieved, so I feel quite strongly that service is going to improve.
