Which new rolling stock are you most looking forward to travel on (2022 and beyond)?

[NoMorePacers]

Probably most excited for the TfW FLIRTs - both from a passenger and enthusiast perspective (if the Anglian examples are anything to go by they're good trains, and I don't care what anyone else thinks, they're hellfire on diesel!).

I'm also interested into how the 777s will stack up on Merseyrail, as well as the EMR 810s and the WMT/TfW Civities (in comparison to their Northern cousins).

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Look forward to them all. When do you reckon will be class that will come into service soonest?

WMR 196s due into service around April, not sure if any are closer to introduction

 

[yorksrob]

I'm looking forward to trying out the new Midland main line units and seeing if the seating really is an improvement on most modern trains.

InterCity 125 will be a tough act to follow, that's for sure.

 

[spotify95]

I'm looking forward to trying out the new Midland main line units and seeing if the seating really is an improvement on most modern trains.

InterCity 125 will be a tough act to follow, that's for sure.

Well, whatever the 810s are like, if they don't contain that horrid RF screening in the carriage windows then they're already an upgrade over what we currently have!

I'm also looking ofrward to what we get when our 360s get the refurbishment they are dying for. When refurbished, I reckon they're going to be better than the 222s that were previously doing London to Corby.

Of course, I'd rather they kept intercity services, and instead focussed on making the HST's PRM compliant, but that's another discussion in its entirety.

 

[py_megapixel]

Of course, I'd rather they kept intercity services, and instead focussed on making the HST's PRM compliant, but that's another discussion in its entirety.

This statement doesn't make much sense to me. No inter-city services are being withdrawn by EMR as far as I'm aware. And what would PRMing more life-expired HSTs achieve? I think they're about 45 years old, it can't be that long before they start falling to pieces.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm looking forward to trying out the new Midland main line units and seeing if the seating really is an improvement on most modern trains.

InterCity 125 will be a tough act to follow, that's for sure.

They really won’t, when you consider how horrendously knackered and falling apart the ex-East Midlands Trains sets were over their last five years. I had to get off my train from Leicester at Market Harborough and wait for a Meridian to take me to London because they’d become so unpleasant. Kid sized seats as well, and as someone who’s 5’11 and very slim, I’m hardly large.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

Personally, I’m awaiting the arrival of the 196s, being a resident of the Hereford line. The seats look very comfortable, on a par with the 170s and certainly better than the 172s. However window alignment leaves a lot to be desired. And as for the front end design…. Did CAF hire a 5 year old!?

 

[CBlue]

They really won’t, when you consider how horrendously knackered and falling apart the ex-East Midlands Trains sets were over their last five years. I had to get off my train from Leicester at Market Harborough and wait for a Meridian to take me to London because they’d become so unpleasant. Kid sized seats as well, and as someone who’s 5’11 and very slim, I’m hardly large.

Quite. Nostalgia tripping over HST's has a lot to answer for! I think people forget they're now hitting 50 years old and there's only so much refurbishment and rebuilding you can do to life-expired stock.

 

[yorksrob]

Well, whatever the 810s are like, if they don't contain that horrid RF screening in the carriage windows then they're already an upgrade over what we currently have!

I'm also looking ofrward to what we get when our 360s get the refurbishment they are dying for. When refurbished, I reckon they're going to be better than the 222s that were previously doing London to Corby.

Of course, I'd rather they kept intercity services, and instead focussed on making the HST's PRM compliant, but that's another discussion in its entirety.

What's the RF screening in the carriage Windows out of interest ? I've not noticed anything untoward with the HST Windows personally.

 

[py_megapixel]

What's the RF screening in the carriage Windows out of interest ? I've not noticed anything untoward with the HST Windows personally.

I think they're talking about the 222s, which tend to have poor mobile signal inside.

 

[yorksrob]

They really won’t, when you consider how horrendously knackered and falling apart the ex-East Midlands Trains sets were over their last five years. I had to get off my train from Leicester at Market Harborough and wait for a Meridian to take me to London because they’d become so unpleasant. Kid sized seats as well, and as someone who’s 5’11 and very slim, I’m hardly large.

This is absolutely not my experience at all.

Towards the end, some of the mk3 Carriages were looking a little bit threadbare, and possibly needed someone going through with a needle and thread, but absolutely nothing to detract from the fundamental comfort and ambience of the carriage.

The first class seats were like comfortable armchairs. I would regularly pay extra to travel in them.

I repeat my view that InterCity125 will be a very hard act to follow.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

This is absolutely not my experience at all.

Towards the end, some of the mk3 Carriages were looking a little bit threadbare, and possibly needed someone going through with a needle and thread, but absolutely nothing to detract from the fundamental comfort and ambience of the carriage.

I repeat my view that InterCity125 will be a very hard act to follow.

Well that just goes to show how subjective train interiors are then, doesn’t it.

 

[Zontar]

I will be amazed if the 230s make it in to service.

 

[MattRat]

Of the ones I'm most likely to end up on, I voted triple 7s. The PEPs are great, but are old, and Liverpool needs new trains for the 21st century. Move with the times and all that.

Flaws with other choices I could pick are:
- TFW stock. Great for replacing older units, but the line I end up on has the 175, and I doubt the 197 is really, if at all, an upgrade.
- Avanti 80x. Can't compete with a 390. I suspect timetable disruption with how slow they are compared to one. Well, that and then a unit 'dieing from embarrassment'.
- HS2 trains. Built by mostly the same people that brought you the 80x. As much as I'd love to ride on HS2 at some point, they don't fill me with hope.
- LNWR Aventras. Replacing the 350s for me. Big shoes to fill, even if most don't realise it. Can they live up to it? Also the units aren't that old, so again, not much of an upgrade.

 

[DJH1971]

The 777's on Merseyrail, if they ever enter service that is.

 

[Puppetfinger]

The HS2 stock for me, purely on the speed element, but to be fair I don't mind the 395's. Had it not been for the option of thr HS2 stock in the poll, I would have gone for the vintage option. Give me an HST any day!

 

[spotify95]

What's the RF screening in the carriage Windows out of interest ? I've not noticed anything untoward with the HST Windows personally.

This is to do with the 22x series of trains - you can't pick up ANY types of signal (FM, DAB, 3G, 4G, 5G, GPS etc) whilst in the carriages of a 22x. I was comparing how the HST windows were perfectly fine (full 3G/4G and full FM even on weaker/localized stations) vs the 22x windows being terrible for RF (good luck getting a 3G/4G signal - and FM/DAB/GPS just won't work at all, even on the national, high powered stations).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2022 ==

The HS2 stock for me, purely on the speed element, but to be fair I don't mind the 395's. Had it not been for the option of thr HS2 stock in the poll, I would have gone for the vintage option. Give me an HST any day!

Yeah, the HST seating was so comfortable, only thing I didn't like was lack of plug sockets. In fact, if they were available to buy, I'd have bought a 1st class HST seat (or seats) for myself.

 

[MattRat]

The HS2 stock for me, purely on the speed element, but to be fair I don't mind the 395's. Had it not been for the option of thr HS2 stock in the poll, I would have gone for the vintage option. Give me an HST any day!

I think what you also mean is you prefer high speed trains over commuter and suburban stock, so the only options become either the 80xs, which don't have a great reputation, especially compared to what they replace or serve alongside, or maybe the LNWR Aventras that can do 110, which probably more comes down to personal preference (I prefer the 350s, for example).

 

[py_megapixel]

Give me an HST any day!

Yeah, the HST seating was so comfortable, only thing I didn't like was lack of plug sockets. In fact, if they were available to buy, I'd have bought a 1st class HST seat (or seats) for myself.

I don't really "get" the love for the HSTs. They may have been revolutionary when built (though I'm starting to think that even that's a stretch), but by modern standards they are pretty mediocre. They are also, as mentioned previously, more than 40 years old now, and it shows, especially in less heavily refurbished examples.

 

[Puppetfinger]

I think what you also mean is you prefer high speed trains over commuter and suburban stock, so the only options become either the 80xs, which don't have a great reputation, especially compared to what they replace or serve alongside, or maybe the LNWR Aventras that can do 110, which probably more comes down to personal preference (I prefer the 350s, for example).

No, I just have no interest in any of the other listed stock so does not concern me. The required design and technical elements of the HS stock does interest me. As for like of HST's, well maybe I am just a bit old fashioned.....

 

[yorksrob]

This is to do with the 22x series of trains - you can't pick up ANY types of signal (FM, DAB, 3G, 4G, 5G, GPS etc) whilst in the carriages of a 22x. I was comparing how the HST windows were perfectly fine (full 3G/4G and full FM even on weaker/localized stations) vs the 22x windows being terrible for RF (good luck getting a 3G/4G signal - and FM/DAB/GPS just won't work at all, even on the national, high powered stations).

Ah cheers. I was aware of an issue with the Voyagers, so I suppose it makes sense that the 222's have this issue.

No, I just have no interest in any of the other listed stock so does not concern me. The required design and technical elements of the HS stock does interest me. As for like of HST's, well maybe I am just a bit old fashioned.....

Yes, the suburban stuff seems much of a muchness from the PEP's onwards.

 

[physics34]

769s

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I don't really "get" the love for the HSTs. They may have been revolutionary when built (though I'm starting to think that even that's a stretch), but by modern standards they are pretty mediocre. They are also, as mentioned previously, more than 40 years old now, and it shows, especially in less heavily refurbished examples.

This is precisely the point that I was addressing myself. I agree whole-heartedly. The East Midlands examples were particularly nasty and I believe the Aurora will be an upgrade from that; the only aspect of the 810 introduction that I don't look forward to is that the lighting and interior will likely be far more clinical and cold (like the current 180s) than the current warm red interior of the current Meridians.

 

[QSK19]

This is precisely the point that I was addressing myself. I agree whole-heartedly. The East Midlands examples were particularly nasty and I believe the Aurora will be an upgrade from that; the only aspect of the 810 introduction that I don't look forward to is that the lighting and interior will likely be far more clinical and cold (like the current 180s) than the current warm red interior of the current Meridians.

I think it’s such a shame that the East Midlands HST era ended on a sad note, what with the ex-LNER stock debacle (all that effort in order to achieve only a little less PRM non-compliance). I do think, though, that an awful lot of effort has gone into every aspect of the 810s, even against what must have been the inevitable threat of DfT slashing spending on them (by demanding, for example, Sophias instead of Leans).

I think the red interior is one of the good aspects of the EMT colour scheme; but let’s nevertheless hope that EMR can make Ribena look warm! Either way, though, I’d overlook the colour scheme in order to have a comfortable seat.

 

[MattRat]

Yes, the suburban stuff seems much of a muchness from the PEP's onwards.

It matters to the general passenger, with the 777s IMO being the biggest leap forward. And I say that as someone who likes the PEPs.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It matters to the general passenger, with the 777s IMO being the biggest leap forward. And I say that as someone who likes the PEPs.

We'll have to see how much of a leap forward they are when people try the seats, which are narrower (in spacing terms), harder and lower-backed than the current PEP seats, with a "headrest" that sticks out into your shoulderblades unless kid-sized. Stadler kit is great but I think they have got some aspects of the interior of these quite badly wrong, possibly in aid of taking very high standing loads to avoid needing to run double sets. We will see.

 

[MattRat]

We'll have to see how much of a leap forward they are when people try the seats, which are narrower (in spacing terms), harder and lower-backed than the current PEP seats, with a "headrest" that sticks out into your shoulderblades unless kid-sized. Stadler kit is great but I think they have got some aspects of the interior of these quite badly wrong, possibly in aid of taking very high standing loads to avoid needing to run double sets. We will see.

It's about modernity over old fashioned comfort. I'll miss the comfort myself, but that's not what modernity is, necessarily (would be a nice bonus though). It's about times to destinations, wifi, AC in the summer, bike space, luggage space, walk through trains, easy standing when full. All things the 777s deliver. Plus they look modern.

If we want to get more people on transit, these are things we have to consider, and the 777s have.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's about modernity over old fashioned comfort. I'll miss the comfort myself, but that's not what modernity is, necessarily (would be a nice bonus though). It's about times to destinations, wifi, AC in the summer, bike space, luggage space, walk through trains, easy standing when full. All things the 777s deliver. Plus they look modern.

If we want to get more people on transit, these are things we have to consider, and the 777s have.

Though notably the LU S-stock manages to combine the two. For high density loading I think that's a better layout than aping the 700s.

 

[yorksrob]

This is precisely the point that I was addressing myself. I agree whole-heartedly. The East Midlands examples were particularly nasty and I believe the Aurora will be an upgrade from that; the only aspect of the 810 introduction that I don't look forward to is that the lighting and interior will likely be far more clinical and cold (like the current 180s) than the current warm red interior of the current Meridians.

The East Midlands examples were the best of the bunch to my mind.

Enjoying a comfortable armchair with a superb window view is something I particularly used to relish.

It will be interesting to see/feel how the new trains compare.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2022 ==

It matters to the general passenger, with the 777s IMO being the biggest leap forward. And I say that as someone who likes the PEPs.

Maybe so, but I find it a bit of a snooze fest.

I'm more interested that units that end up on longer distance services (such as the Thameslink ones) have seat back tables, enough toilets, sockets etc necessary for a longer journey.

 

[AlbertBeale]

It's about modernity over old fashioned comfort. I'll miss the comfort myself, but that's not what modernity is, necessarily (would be a nice bonus though). It's about times to destinations, wifi, AC in the summer, bike space, luggage space, walk through trains, easy standing when full. All things the 777s deliver. Plus they look modern.

If we want to get more people on transit, these are things we have to consider, and the 777s have.

"They look modern." Well, I'm not much interested in what they look like from the outside - I'm interested in a comfortable journey, ie decent seats and a window I can look out of if I want to! I used to travel frequently between London and Nottingham, and found the IC125s (HSTs) fitted the bill nicely. To me, these aforementioned considerations are more important than marginal speed improvements or "whizzy" looks - ie functionality ahead of appearance for me. In comparison with those HSTs, some more recent British trains are quite primitive in terms of the comfort they provide.