HSTs Win!!!!!!

phat2003uk · Post by **phat2003uk** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 1:46 pm

My dad read in the newspaper that Virgin are bringing back the HSTs for long journeys but are still keeping the Voyagers for short distance journeys!

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 3:03 pm

Thank god for that! Common sense prevails....

Now we need HST 2...give Virgin Trans-pennine...put the suplus voyagers on that. Get rid of all the . 158s allowing them to replace some of the pacers.

Post by **martinhodgson** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 4:00 pm

I have nothing against the Voyagers - but why didn't Virgin put extra coaches on? This would kill the overcrowding problem.

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 4:14 pm

Because the coaches aren't available and nor is the money for new coaches. The other thing is once you go over 6 coaches Loco-hauled is cheaper!

60085 · Post by **60085** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 4:21 pm

I agree, someone should give Virgin the routes Arriva or Northern Spirit or what ever there called the routes out of Newcastle cos the current service is a farce. The 14* series, 156's and 158's are awful inside too.

I also have my own opinion on why their profits are down. On short trips such as between Sunderland and Newcastle, and then onto the Metro Center (Gateshead), i've not had to pay a fare due to no one coming round to inspect or sell tickets.

60085 "MANNA".

Post by **martinhodgson** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 4:47 pm

Arrivas refurbished 144 and 156 units are quite nice now. Though the 144's are still very noisy.

TOMMO79 · Post by **TOMMO79** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 4:55 pm

Heard roumours that virgin are rehiring the 47's and mk2's including 2 47's from FGW (to replace those sold to Riviera trains) which have gone into works for a repaint into unbranded virgin livery. Can't confirm this but its a nice thought though.

60085 · Post by **60085** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 7:04 pm

You think, oh well, maybe they just send the . up to the north-east cos the last 158 I was on was in a hell of a state. I certainly wouldn't wanna go much further than Sunderland-Newcastle in them, and i know Arriva had their request for the trans-pennine revoked (or somethign like that).

We make a concious effort to avoid the trains, tending to use the Tyne & Wear Metro where possible or even the buses.

60085 "MANNA".

Hymek · Post by **Hymek** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 7:46 pm

You should see the state of some of the centro 150s, sometimes the vibrations and sounds are very worrying

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 9:49 pm

Yes, centro 150s smell of steak and kidney puddings! A great smell for steak and kidney puddings, but not very good if you're sat in it for an hour!

The refurbished arriva units are very nice inside, and i personally like the TPX 158s, but then, thats personal choice. Theres one problem withe calling for Virgin to get the new TPX franchise, they never bid for it, and neither did they bit for the forthcoming Northern Trains franchise either, so they're not gonna get it, simple as that. Sod Voyagers as well, withe all the HSTs being returned to the ROSCOs, we want some TPX HSTs

. Cascading is unlikely to be direct as the franchises are being re-organised. I'm slightly worried the the Northern Trains franchise winner might decide to move Yorkshire's new, shiny mobile phones (333s) over to't wrong side 'at' Pennines!

eddief · Post by **eddief** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 10:02 pm

Shapstormer wrote:The other thing is once you go over 6 coaches Loco-hauled is cheaper!

Not just cheaper, loco haulage is more effective for the railways such as Virgin. My brother is doing a transport and planning management course so he knows what he is talking about. His comments are "long distance railways need to be more flexible in terms of train capacity, the only was to do this is the use loco-hauled non-fixed rakes of stock so if over crowding occurs you can simply add more coaches to the back of the train, of course the only was this could be done is to renationalise the system"

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 10:02 pm

Sorry to disappoint you, this from rail magazine:

'The new TransPennine Express franchise...could become part of an enhanced XC network.

The Change, not expected to happen until the agreement now being negotiated has run it's term, is one of the options the SRA is considering...'

Remember both Virgin WC and XC is up for negotiation as all the infrastructure plans have fallen though.

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 10:18 pm

if over crowding occurs you can simply add more coaches to the back of the train, of course the only was this could be done is to renationalise the system"

Opinion oscuring fact i'm afraid.

micksasse · Post by **micksasse** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 11:57 pm

Yes, but that's not a problem when the opinion is the right one... Nationalisation and loco haulage - from what I read in Modern Railways both are coming back, at least in a small way. Hurrah!

BTW same mag has latest gen re who's replacing Arriva NE - dammit, can't find the article, but there seem to be 2 preferred bidders; one was (I think) Connex and (I think) the other was a consortium involving French Railways (may well have got that wrong though). It can't be any worse.

Apart from being appalling to travel in, 14x units are dangerous as they have the crashworthiness of a small rabbit. They should have been a higher priority than ditching Mk1 stock, but People With Influence don't commute to London on Pacers...

60085 · Post by **60085** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 12:49 am

Well with respect, the french can sod off.
Can't we run our own bloody railways... seemingly not!

60085 "MANNA".

Atomic Systems

HSTs Win!!!!!!

What's better, the HST and 47s or the Voyagers

HSTs Win!!!!!!