Well said spm/sprog. I felt compelled to seek out just why Mojo preferred a Voyager over a HST.
To do this, I had to first confirm this was the case, which I did. Following this last night, I then followed his comments about why Voyagers were preferred with comments from myself on what was wrong with them.
For the record, the seats are not that great, although some seats have been 'worn in' more than others, so some are less ex-works condition and are more reasonable. However, these still don't meet the comfort I experience in a MK3. I can sit in a MK3 for hours on end before getting uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the Voyager I experienced to Doncaster last year. Swansea to Bristol Parkway on a HST was nice and comfortable for the 90 minutes or so sitting and travelling in it. Changing to the 1008 to Doncaster was a nice idea, in theory, as it meant highlighting Sheffield to Doncaster at last. Theory went out of the window as by Cheltenham, I was sick and very tired of the Voyager, especially as I had not got my CD player and batteries, with the at-seat radio not working. I was glad to alight at Doncaster.
Continuing to discuss my points from yesterday, the vestibule doors closing automatically like they do is very irritating if you're in a queue to get out of the train (usually on the approach to New Street), the vestibule full and you're unfortunately stuck between the doors. Or your luggage is. Reliance on the passenger behind pressing the button to re-open the doors is not helpful.
The automated announcements are annoying if you've got a working at-seat radio, enjoying a fine piece of music (whether this be a piece by Mozart or by a chart sensation), then it cuts off, replaced by an announcement 5 seconds later to say we're arriving somewhere, or a shop staff dragging his point about the buffet shutting in 5 minutes round the houses (this happened a while ago on a Voyager to New Street. Got on my nerves!).
Vibrations, well this is a problem I daresay struck the 1535 Reading to MAN yesterday, what with the driver revving the engines up ready to go at 1535, then the TM lets a passenger running 2 minutes late run up to it. I bet the vibrations from the engines through the floor were irritating to those on board. For the record, the vibrations strike mainly at take-off from a station, but still, like on the Meridians (take-off from Beeston on the time I did it was rough, lost half my coffee to the table due to strong vibrations shaking the cup and saucer violently), it's not pleasant.
I think that's all the points I made yesterday discussed, if not feel free to continue this via PM.
With regards to some of the problems Mojo pointed out yesterday about the HSTs, the TMs do try and keep the windows closed, but you will get some fools who leave the window open. If I have a window in use when I'm on a HST (usually on approach to a station for opening of the door), I will push the window up after opening the door, slamming it closed behind me if the situation requires me to.
Vestibule doors are an awkward thing about them. Some carriages have badly-placed sensors for the doors, and attempts by myself to keep away from them to avoid opening the vestibule door is sometimes difficult with such sensors. Also the doors tend to open and close irrationally if some idiot leaves luggage in a bad place (in the vestibule, incorrect placing on rack, placing by rack not on it...). Best thing to do if a door starts closing but doesn't close all the way and re-opens, or if they slide open when going round canted track, maybe it should be noted to the TM, who can report it to the staff at PM, LE, OOC, LA, whichever depot the set is to go to that evening/morning, so they can check it out. You'll also notice that the vestibule door on/off switches are being replaced by ones which use a carriage key on many sets now. Most useful to stop kids playing with them *cough* Hereford HST meet *cough*.
That is my say on HSTs now. I'm not going to argue whether Voyagers or HSTs are better, that's not a discussion to have here. If you want to set up a reasonable debate with me on the subject of Voyagers/Pioneers/Meridians/Adelantes vs HSTs, please organise it via PM. Such debates should be reasoned well, like I have attempted to do here.
That's my final say on the matter for now. This post was designed to clarify my motives for insulting Mojo yesterday. The intention hadn't been to insult him, just get some answers as to why he didn't like HSTs. The way I did it wasn't very good, granted, but it's been done now. This post is NOT intended to continue the argument about DEMUs vs HSTs, far from it. It is to clarify my argument from yesterday, as well as discuss points about Voyagers and HSTs raised via this argument.
I consider the matter closed for the time being, further posts on this thread I shall not be reading.