Atomic Systems

Hello!
Well, I was thinking, all the HSTs are not very good, so why dont they just build some entire new ones? I dont mean an HST2- but the same type, just brand new instead of refurb.

Of course, some better things would be added to the cab, more up to date equipment, maybe a modified body shape, same engine and bits we dont see. I dont see what is wrong with the actaual 43's, except they are old- so make some more?!
Pete

petermakosch wrote:Well, I was thinking, all the HSTs are not very good

Er... what? There's nothing wrong with them- three major TOCs seem perfectly happy with them, and they run very well.

I think they'll be around for a while yet, and in answer to your question- when they are replaced, they will be replaced with something new, to take advantage of all the advancements in technology (of all sorts) since the 1970s. Also publicity is a major thing, and TOCs, and passengers, will want their new trains to be just that- new trains.

As I've said before, I think the eventual replacement for HSTs- if done properly, if it is an "HST2", a genuine improvement on the original, will be a fantastically exciting thing (as much as I'd be sad to see the HSTs go, I'm always prepared to accept trains departing, no matter how much I like them, for a genuine improvement). It's a long way off yet, though.

petermakosch wrote:Hello!
Well, I was thinking, all the HSTs are not very good, so why dont they just build some entire new ones? I dont mean an HST2- but the same type, just brand new instead of refurb.

Of course, some better things would be added to the cab, more up to date equipment, maybe a modified body shape, same engine and bits we dont see. I dont see what is wrong with the actaual 43's, except they are old- so make some more?!
Pete

yea erm i was at didcot on mon and they were really thrashing 125 it shock me bad really good nothing wrong with them

maybe its just the MML ones then!

petermakosch wrote:maybe its just the MML ones then!

since half are virgin rejects that never got maintained then yes i see where your coming from but everyone knows you get a new train dont maintain the older ones so the company has to order more new trains to cope with the fallen victims of the fitters lazyness.

think about it though, in all these years, how much apart from the body shell is still in its original state. They might be 'class' old, but their components wont be.

that is actually true i mean on steam points of view the Dukedog's ie sity of truro were built like 1907 but in fact were completely rebuilt in the 1940's - 50's so really something thats almost 100 years old is barely 54.

I thought that the Vergin Voyager and Pendaleno (sorry if it's spelt wrong ) were a kind of HST . I mean they are double ended after all and don't need to be ran round like locomotive halled trains.

LNERandBR wrote:I thought that the Vergin Voyager and Pendaleno (sorry if it's spelt wrong ) were a kind of HST . I mean they are double ended after all and don't need to be ran round like locomotive halled trains.

Well the Virgin Voyager isnt a new HST, it was a replacement by Virgin for the HST's they used to run. Although it was a bad idea, reducing 7-8 coach with a 4 car DMU they still went ahead for some reason.

As for the 390 that just to replace the 30 year old 87's and also the not too old 90's. They are designed as tiliting trains as the WCML is very "curvy" to say, and by having tilting trains allows them to run at 125mph rather than 100mph, or so they say.

I too will be sad to see the HST's leave, but I do agree with Simon that they will be around for a while as some TOC's such as GNER & MML have no sign of giving them up. In fact with the renvation program that Angel Trains are putting them through, adding the new wiring a such, they probably will be around for longer.

I am a fan of new trains, but the TOC's have to think logical when replacing trains. As I mentioned Virgin replacing the HST with 4 car DEMU's was not a good idea and they regualry suffer from over crowding. A good example would be MML, replacing its Turbostar Fleet (2 & 3 Car units) with the 4 and maybe 9 Car Meridians.

I agree with you there Backfoot, I do not despise Meridians as they are highly superior compared to a Turbostar IMO, I welcome any new train that is a step up, obviously peoples views of an improved train will vary. I will too miss the HSTs if/when they go but will welcome any replacement, which is as good if not better than the current HSTs.

Maybe if Virgin had invested in HST2 instead of Voyagers the railways today would be a different place, or maybe not.

lol, but what does it save? About 10 mins if that.
I expected it to save half an hour or more. I fear that is what it eill be with the ECML when they upgrade it TGVC style (It'll happen some day!).

It wont, that was what Virmin wanted to do, thankfully Sea Containers got the Franchise, called it GNER, and it is now the best TOC in the county.

It would make my day to see Virmin stripped of it's two Franchises.

Unless the government take a lead HST2 is not likely to happen. The problem with the current 125's is that they are putting more equipment into the Mk 3's to make them more user friendly to passengers while not upgrading the power unit leading to a slight decrease in performance.

regards

Dan

Yep

I'm very biased when it comes to HST talk
simply because it is my fav train.
Living in Chippenham/Calne all my life
I was brought up with the HST never far away,in
all the years I've been on HST's (24) never has one failed
on me,First even said in Rail,that the HST fleet is more reliable
now than ever before.
The Adelantes are ok and will improve over time(brake squeal)
but they were only really brought in to help the HST rather than
replace it.
First still rely heavily on it and as other people on here have said,
I can see another 10 years,First even took hold of 5 MML HST's,
meaning that this type of traction is still very sought after.

I think the body of an HST simply gives it individuality and
charachter so I hope they never change that,although DMU
trains seem to be everywhere now.

Cheers