What makes a train good?

[Strat-tastic]

A window sill where I can comfortably rest my elbow. Oh and a pair of 37s on the front would be nice too

 

[Amy Worrall]

• Enough capacity that nobody has to stand under normal conditions
• Windows you can see out of
• Enough table seats that I can take one if I want to use a laptop
• …or seat back tables big enough for a 15" laptop
• A smooth and fast ride
• Lots of luggage space —*both overhead racks and larger luggage racks in each carriage

But the most important thing that makes a train good is

• Takes me to where I want to go, at a time I want to travel!

 

[DarloRich]

has decent 1+1 seating in a separate area.
Has more than one ill-fitting door between me and the freight I am hauling.
Windows that dont rattle.
Gangway doors that dont leak.
Good view out the front (struggle with that one a bit)
Isnt too hot or cold when using the mark 1 air con system (opening side windows)
If I must use the mark 2 (proper) air con system it isnt too noisy or too eye drying.


Oh you mean from the passenger point of view!
In that case I dont care!

You don’t want, much you drivers do you?

Next you will be saying you want safe cess walk ways, illuminated signal post telephones, a cup holder, air con (!) massage chairs, personal needs breaks, free papers, polite signal men, a guard (!!!!!!!!!!!!) a radio so you dont even have to get out of your cab, decent headlights, sensible hours

You should be stood up, under a tarpaulin with only an old coat ( with a hole in) to keep you warm and zippo to light your way. Worlds gone mad. Don’t know you are born

 

[Yew]

You don’t want, much you drivers do you?

Next you will be saying you want safe cess walk ways, illuminated signal post telephones, a cup holder, air con (!) massage chairs, personal needs breaks, free papers, polite signal men, a guard (!!!!!!!!!!!!) a radio so you dont even have to get out of your cab, decent headlights, sensible hours

You should be stood up, under a tarpaulin with only an old coat ( with a hole in) to keep you warm and zippo to light your way. Worlds gone mad. Don’t know you are born

Don't forget a fireman to cook you breakfast on his shovel!

 

[starrymarkb]

I just meant any train inside which my mobile phone doesn't work, which is unfortunately the majority of modern ones

Its a reflective coating on the windows to help keep the interior cool when the sun is on it.

 

[D6975]

Oh and a pair of 37s on the front would be nice too

Beat me to it.
Although I'd settle for a pair of Baby GMs.

 

[455driver]

You don’t want, much you drivers do you?

Next you will be saying you want safe cess walk ways (tick), illuminated signal post telephones(tee hee hee), a cup holder(tick), air con (!)(tick) massage chairs (kinky!), personal needs breaks(tick), free papers(tick, left on the train), polite signal men(tee hee hee), a guard (!!!!!!!!!!!!)(tick on every train thanks) a radio so you dont even have to get out of your cab (tick), decent headlights(if only), sensible hours(now we are in dream land)

You should be stood up, under a tarpaulin with only an old coat ( with a hole in) to keep you warm and zippo to light your way. Worlds gone mad. Don’t know you are born

That okay for you!

 

[asylumxl]

My ideal train is a Pendolino .

 

[fowler9]

My ideal train is a Pendolino .

I don't believe you unless you have never been on another train.

 

[GatwickDepress]

My ideal train is a Pendolino .

You are a Virgin Trains driver aicmfp.

 

[87019Chris]

- Opening Windows (in case the air con fails) & so I can have my head out of it
- Comfortable seats that line up with windows
- Mostly Table Layouts, Requires decent size tables
- Needs A loco on the front so I don't have to put up with an underfloor engine
- Not a Voyager or a Pendolino or a Pacer
- Plenty of length (e.g. plenty of coaches) on the train so there is plenty of room
- Good Air Con
- Buffet and Trolley (on longer distance journeys not the HUD- LDS stopper)
- Guards and staff on the trains non of this DOO nonsense
- Plug Sockets and Free proper WIFI none of this limited s**t
- Good Toilets that don't smell and you can actually walk into

Think thats about it tbh

 

[Clip]

Mostly Table Layouts, Requires decent size tables

Oh no no no no need more airline type seats. Being on the taller side being at a table seat with people of a similar size opposite who are not known to you is very very uncomfortable.

 

[Emyr]

Oh no no no no need more airline type seats. Being on the taller side being at a table seat with people of a similar size opposite who are not known to you is very very uncomfortable.

Careful they don't hear your request, but only remember the first half, or they'll cram in more airline seats and you'll crush your kneecaps.

 

[RailAleFan]

Oh no no no no need more airline type seats. Being on the taller side being at a table seat with people of a similar size opposite who are not known to you is very very uncomfortable.

I prefer airline, but all facing the same direction (as they actually are on a plane) rather than one side forward and one side back.

I appreciate that having an opposing layout gives passengers the choice of a face or back to the direction of travel - but this could equally be achieved half and half with all seats facing the nearest end of the carriage.

I don't really know why I don't like the opposing airline layout - something to do with being in the eyeline of so many people perhaps, just feels uncomfortable.

 

[starrymarkb]

Careful they don't hear your request, but only remember the first half, or they'll cram in more airline seats and you'll crush your kneecaps.

So not like FGW where their airline seats have lots more legroom then other UK ICE Stock.


I'd rate the ICE-T has a good train and really what IC travel should be like but they are not very reliable (and the aircon works even less then the original 158 one)

 

[Clip]

Careful they don't hear your request, but only remember the first half, or they'll cram in more airline seats and you'll crush your kneecaps.

Nah just keep the room they have now.

Though all metro services and trains should all have longitudal seating - thatll put an end to the tiresome 3+2 config too

 

[bigdelboy]

AFAIK A goods train is a locomotive with trucks carrying goods.

IMHO A good train must thencefore be a train containing a single good.

A train with a single waste nuclear flask container might fit this definition.

 

[fowler9]

AFAIK A goods train is a locomotive with trucks carrying goods.

IMHO A good train must thencefore be a train containing a single good.

A train with a single waste nuclear flask container might fit this definition.

Ha ha, glad you cleared that up.

 

[razourlight962]

In my opinion, you should have all of those PLUS an older diesel engine, with plenty of clag

 

[southern442]

Comfy seating *cough377/6's700'spendolino'spacer'scough*
Reliable
Relatively fast and with good acceleration
Easy access and clear information

 

[fowler9]

Comfy seating *cough377/6's700'spendolino'spacer'scough*
Reliable
Relatively fast and with good acceleration
Easy access and clear information

I wouldn't care how reliable the trains were if our employers would stop treating us as human resources and viewing being late twice a year as some great moral failure. If any of the TOCs got as much sh*t as I do for being late we'd have either an incredible rail service or none at all, probably the later.

 

[Darren R]

What makes a good train? That's easily answered.

Bogies!

 

[455driver]

What makes a good train? That's easily answered.

Bogies!

That snot the only thing!

 

[fowler9]

That snot the only thing!

Ha ha. Quality, I like it.

 

[yorksrob]

Nah just keep the room they have now.

Though all metro services and trains should all have longitudal seating - thatll put an end to the tiresome 3+2 config too

I'm not convinced that longitudinal seating is the answer to anything much. Even when standing, I find it a lot easier to stand on a 144 propped up next to a seat than swaying around in an open floor.

 

[backontrack]

I'm not sure what my favourite train is, but I'm a fan of 125s, 225s, 158s, 170s and, perhaps controversially, 185s. Never ridden on a 175, but they seem nice.

 

[bairy]

Never ridden on a 175, but they seem nice.

I went on a couple recently from Arriva. They're niceness surprised me. Much nippier than I expected and Arriva's at least are pretty comfortable.

 

[4-COR 3142]

A few personal thoughts on the original question:

A Brush works plate?

Southern Livery?

A loco numbered 73 xxx?

Locomotive hauled?

BR Mk.1 Seats?

One diagrammed to have enough Units to let me sit down wherever I join it?

One that keeps Juggernauts off the road?

One I haven't seen before?

......I'm sure there are a few more!