What is the best EMU in Britain?

[northernrail]

The 334's have always impressed me whenever ive got on one, i dont know why, just seem to be atractive to me.

 

[The Colonel]

Of the old SR stuff, nothing could beat a 4-REP at full speed, especially if the bogies were slightly overdue....

Hear Hear.

Of the modern stuff 442's when on SWT and 455's on SWT - EE507's, camshaft control, does what it says on the tin and they don't get Golden Spanners for nothing.

 

[Alan1310]

Another for the 365

 

[atomicdanny]

365 for me, I used to travel on them almost every day when i used them for school in Dover and no I don't mean 465s or 466s ) (granted that was about 10 years ago though) (also liked Class 411s too, I travelled on those a fair bit too, even though towards the end the arm rests looked like they had been literally eaten! )

 

[RAGNARØKR]

Class 309 in maroon!

Yes. Forgot about them. Then there were the 5-BELs. Pity about the ride quality though.

 

[Thumper Bill]

In my opinion it's the class 321. What do you lot think?

Ken

Class 376 for me as the firm upright seats are good for my bad back, just wish that they were built for GEML so I could use them all of the time.

 

[LE Greys]

Definitely 442. Beats 444/450 hands down when it comes to ambiance, ride comfort and seat comfort. I also prefer the noise of the old English Electric traction motors.

I agree 100%!

But if I assume we're talking about a smaller 'workhorse' suburban unit, the 365s have everything you would ever need except for gangway connections. And they manage to be comfortable with plenty of space inside.

 

[Firesprite]

442 as built before Stagecoach wrecked them by removing the brakevan.

The 444 need the seating replaced, the AC fixed and a real buffet, not the current joke.

430 because of the restaurant car, Full English breakfast and non-stop between Southampton and Waterloo, unlike today's bus service on rails

 

[gnolife]

For me, its the 323, although that is partly for the fact that it was the first train I ever caught (on my 6th birthday, from Heald Green to Wilmslow - I remembered it as the first class of train I caught becuase of the very distinctive motor sounds), and also for the fact that they operate my local line (the Wilmslow - Manc'r Airpt - Manc'r Picc line).

However, if I was to exclude those as factors, I'd go for the 350s for the fact that they accelerate like &^%$ from a shovel, and I find the seats on them to be very comfortable - although it can be annoying when the PIS gets confused about where I am - I mean, I quite like Liverpool Parkway station, but I don't want that to be the next stop on a southbound service from Crewe, thanks . I also quite like 507/508s, simply because I think that the Miseryrail colour scheme really suits them.

 

[12CSVT]

class 309

 

[ash39]

In my limited experience, class 333's.

 

[starrymarkb]

442 as built before Stagecoach wrecked them by removing the brakevan.

430 because of the restaurant car, Full English breakfast and non-stop between Southampton and Waterloo, unlike today's bus service on rails

I think you'll find it was Go-Ahead who rebuilt the 442s for use on Southern.

Would the commuters who complain voraciously that their £x000 season ticket doesn't gaurentee them a seat react well to losing a load of seats for a restaurant car so that a few bankers can have a full English...

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Not Really impressed with most of the EMU's I have been on therefore I have to say, and I don't even know If this counts, the class 91 set. The only flaw with the pendolino is the tiny windows

 

[anthony263]

I would say thge class 332's for comfort and speed although I have become a bit of a fan of the class 323's.

 

[yorksrob]

In my opinion, the 4-CIG

Would have to be the phase 1 (1964) version though

 

[jopsuk]

I'll join the 365 chorus. Among their minor faults is that there aren't really enough of them... another 30 (yes, this is more than the number of 317s and 321s they have) would be ideal for the GN service.

 

[user15681]

Got to be the 395 for me. Very fast on HS1, also fast on the mainline, comfortable ride, quiet, nice feel inside.

 

[Oswyntail]

How we could get to three and a half pages in before anyone mentioned the 333s I cannot understand. It must be that others have not sampled them. Fast, smooth, quiet, comfortable, very good looking, well suited to their job.

 

[Firesprite]

I think you'll find it was Go-Ahead who rebuilt the 442s for use on Southern.

Would the commuters who complain voraciously that their £x000 season ticket doesn't gaurentee them a seat react well to losing a load of seats for a restaurant car so that a few bankers can have a full English...

It was Stagecoach that ripped the brake van out. Your thinking of the guards compartment which Stagecoach crammed a hard to use cycle rack.

The 4Rep restaurant car was well used and not just by Banker's, Even when in the sixth form, I was able to afford the Full English on the train. Back then the train was quicker between Bournemouth and Waterloo 1hr 38mins compared with today's 1hr 50 mins.

 

[TGV]

I don't normally indulge in this sort of thing, but as I'm bored I make it a tie so far in the lead counting the votes above:
1= 365
1= 442
3 - 395
4 - 444

And the rest...

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

For me it has to be the 323 (perfect ride and sound) for short distance, medium distance I'd say the 444 but all the tables need plug sockets before I'd dare say I like it, so it would have to be the 390, and...you guessed it, 390 for long distances as well.

 

[D365]

F1Ken, could you add a standings table into your OP when you have time?

The 365 fleet is due for mid-life refurbishment under GN starting next year. Keep your fingers crossed for air-con, rebuilt windows and a new PIS, a quality interior with new seat covers, floor and lighting... And no new traction! FCC haven't taken great care of them, but I sure wish there were more!

 

[SprinterMan]

There are plenty of good ones, but I think the best are either 444s or 390s. Both are true intercity stock and manage to be very comfortable and have a lovely ambience. 442s are good, but I just prefer 444s to them. 365s are also very good but need better seats, the current examples are too low. I am not sold on 395s at all, and do not really understand what all the hype is about.

Adam

 

[D365]

There are plenty of good ones, but I think the best are either 444s or 390s. Both are true intercity stock and manage to be very comfortable and have a lovely ambience. 442s are good, but I just prefer 444s to them. 365s are also very good but need better seats, the current examples are too low. I am not sold on 395s at all, and do not really understand what all the hype is about.

Adam

Taller seats on 365s? I find them decent, and I'm lanky! I find 395s pretty good, but that's just my opinion.

 

[SprinterMan]

Taller seats on 365s? I find them decent, and I'm lanky! I find 395s pretty good, but that's just my opinion.

I really like high-backed seats that are quite high off the ground. I adore the Grammer "Tombstone" seats that FGW/ATW/EMT use, while quite a few people don't like these.

Adam

 

[D365]

I really like high-backed seats that are quite high off the ground. I adore the Grammer "Tombstone" seats that FGW/ATW/EMT use, while quite a few people don't like these.

Adam

Ah, I see... A matter of opinion, seats are.

 

[Ivo]

Could someone enlighten me as to why 365s are "so much better" than anything else? They seem pretty average to me.

 

[ainsworth74]

I would be interested in knowing what metrics we're using to determine the best EMU? It all seems rather arbitrary to me so far!

 

[Eagle]

It all seems rather arbitrary to me so far!

As far as I can tell, it;s which ones we hate the least as determined by our preexisting prejudices and experiences on them as opposed to any objective qualities.

 

[Harbon 1]

Class 442 and 460s get my vote