HSTS's 30th birthday

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:16 pm

I thought Austrailia was where we dumped all the scum we didn't want?

enotayokel · Post by **enotayokel** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:43 pm

steve74 wrote:Yup, I love the sound an HST makes leaving a station or even just blasting by you. No other train has the same sort of shriek they give under full chat. Hope they go on for many more years.

Enjoy the scream while you can, First are just starting their full fleet MTU fitment, in 2 years (if it goes to plan) all FGW powercars will be running MTU engines. GNER are rumoured to be following suit...

JonPotter · Post by **JonPotter** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:48 pm

So I read in Rail Express. Shoul see these machines at work well into the future - they are the best train on the main line, only possibly beaten by a 225

JSReeves86 · Post by **JSReeves86** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:02 pm

I as a rule do not usaly like the Diesels but the exception is the HST mainly coz of the look but mainly the noise and Clagg. I take it that MML are not going to fit the MTU engines as most have only just been refurbished?

JR

steve74 · Post by **steve74** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:47 pm

Took some video down at Dawlish today. Plenty of HST's on there including the sound

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?t=53453

enotayokel · Post by **enotayokel** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:12 am

JSReeves86 wrote:I as a rule do not usaly like the Diesels but the exception is the HST mainly coz of the look but mainly the noise and Clagg. I take it that MML are not going to fit the MTU engines as most have only just been refurbished?

JR

MML have gone for the VP185

Thrashin · Post by **Thrashin** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:18 pm

I am a big HST fan. I watched one pull out of York t'other day from the NRM's viewing gallery. They put the first lump of power on, and it sat there for about twenty seconds going absolutely nowhere. It took about half power to get it to move, and then it slogged past us doing about 15-20mph on full power. I thought the back power car was off, but it was working just as hard as the front. The only thing I can put it down to is the curve of the platform - fairly tight to pull away from, and one or two 91s were slipping on it.

davvydo · Post by **davvydo** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:36 pm

cant understand why they want to replace them, they still run well, they are still reliable, if it aint broken dont fix it.

mattvince · Post by **mattvince** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:28 pm

davvydo wrote:cant understand why they want to replace them, they still run well, they are still reliable, if it aint broken dont fix it.

Replacement of HST has always been on the cards, and isn't expected to be achieved for another 10 years. HST has one big problem - diesel. The MTU engines should make this better, but no matter which way you put it, diesel costs are rising, and that means more costs for the operator which directly translates into higher fares.

Secondly, whilst the Mk3s are very crash-worthy, the front-end of a '43' isn't the best in terms of front-end protection - one of the lessons of Ufton Nervet, where the car went under the wheels, derailing the train; a modern design like a Meridian or Adelante may well have fared better. It's a minor point, but important nonetheless.

Third, the Disability Discrimination Act (1995). The HST barely begins to be compliant - manually-operated doors, no visual Passenger Information System, and only one disabled-access coach per set - refitted only after the DDA became law. Disabled passengers are better off in a Class 450 Desiro than an HST (Pride of the Fleet, eh?!).

So, whilst on average the HST is still a viable train, it is hardly the optimum set for a 21st Century railway. Time has moved on, and we need a real successor to HST, equal, if not better, in every respect, to its predecessor. Personally I'd just electrify the lot and be done with it...