Class 158s : air con, scandalously still poor.

[edwin_m]

10 late into Swansea then waited another 10min "due to awaiting train crew on a late running service". As no other trains arrived in the meantime I assume this was one of the crew on the same "late running service" taking their statutory break.

 

[CC 72100]

10 late into Swansea then waited another 10min "due to awaiting train crew on a late running service". As no other trains arrived in the meantime I assume this was one of the crew on the same "late running service" taking their statutory break.

Ah yes, looking at Real time trains I see that the working in lost time like anyone's business - 10ish late at Reading, half an hour at Swindon, left Newport 45 down, arrived in Swansea just over 50 down. Taking the mandatory break sounds like the most likely to me, although having never traveled west of Cardiff, I'm not 100% sure if it is the same crew that works the train back. With them normally having 45 minutes between arriving and departing again, it looks quite likely to me.

 

[Rhydgaled]

I travel regularly on ATW 175's, 150's and 158's. Without a doubt, the most comfortable environment is, generally, the 175. The 158 is much worse. One conductor said he could not open the windows in stifling heat as the air conditiong wouldn't work. This prompted the reply.

'You mean it's working now?'

No such problems on the 175's!

Of course 175s have the opposite problem, the air con stays on in winter, freezing...

Personally, I think 158s are generally much better trains than 175s. The unreliable air con is pretty much the only drawback to 158s (though a major one), along perhaps with there not being enough of them.

 

[BestWestern]

Two failed aircons in a row on the 1728 HST from Swansea yesterday, which was also 20min late for no stated reason other than delay to the incoming service and waiting for a crew member.

That is no fewer than two stated reasons; is that not enough?!

Breaks do need to be taken, although sometimes it can unfortunately cause a delay. Still best to do the job safely and above board though!

 

[edwin_m]

That is no fewer than two stated reasons; is that not enough?!

Breaks do need to be taken, although sometimes it can unfortunately cause a delay. Still best to do the job safely and above board though!

Delay to the incoming service is not a reason. The reason is the cause of the delay to the incoming service. As you say I think the crew thing was probably also a consequence of the original delay though they didn't say so.

So even if the original delay was down to NR or a third party, I'll blame FGW because the only information I have is that their train was late.

I'll also point out that despite the train being best part of 20min late no information was provided about connections at Cardiff before I left the train there. Had my Derby train been on platform zero at Cardiff I would have been tempted to stay on the HST to Newport (against the terms of my advance ticket) to have a better chance of making the connection there. But there was no member of staff visible to ask.

 

[WarrenTManager]

I have heard that the wiring diagrams show the temp sensor works to a limit of 28 degrees (c). So if the temperture exceeds this - which it has this summer - it doesn't work.......

Do you spend millions and then it isn't as hot for this long for another 5 years???

 

[scotraildriver]

I have heard that the wiring diagrams show the temp sensor works to a limit of 28 degrees (c). So if the temperture exceeds this - which it has this summer - it doesn't work.......

Do you spend millions and then it isn't as hot for this long for another 5 years???

But the interior can easily reach 28 degrees when the engine is off for a while. Then the micropac says "feverish" and shuts down. Then the guard thinks its goosed and opens the windows. Vicious circle!

 

[Justin Smith]

I work for Northern and the 158's are our best units by far, I tried to post previously some of the reasons the air con isn't always great and why they aren't repaired as often as needed, why we don't "rip out all the windows for new windows with more quarter lights" (idiot) and was shot down in flames. However, the 158's for 24 years old are not bad at all, they do have air con, which even if it doesn't work makes it no worse than the other sprinters and pacers. They have the best ride due to having lateral dampers and shorter, stiffer springs. The seating is much more comfortable in the saloons. They have three toilets for those boozey last trains. And they can run at 90mph rather than 75mph.

And just to follow up to the comment, "I'd rather be on a 142" you are clearly the reason they still exist, instead if we were inundated with complaints eventually the government would have to commission rolling stock to replace them from pressure from the TOC running them, it would take a long time and a lot of complaints but I would much prefer more 158's over pacers or earlier sprinters.

Sorry, I can't accept that. In hot weather a class 158 with 4 windows open cannot possibly be as cool as a class 156 with 12 windows open. And I repeat that if the air con is so unreliable and the TOCs cannot or will not sort it out, then I personally would want more opening windows. I cannot see why people think that such an unreasonable thing to say. And it's perfectly possible to do it, whether the TOCs want to spend the money to do it is another question.

As for Pacers I was simply pointing out that that one thing you cannot deny of them is that the view out of them is far better than the Class 158 and, in fact, all the new/refurbished trains with their horrible high backed seats.
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I have heard that the wiring diagrams show the temp sensor works to a limit of 28 degrees (c). So if the temperture exceeds this - which it has this summer - it doesn't work.......
Do you spend millions and then it isn't as hot for this long for another 5 years???

Every summer, without fail, I find myself, at least once, on a class 158 with inoperable air con and it's uncomfortably warm inside it, sometimes insufferably so.

 

[tom1649]

Sorry, I can't accept that. In hot weather a class 158 with 4 windows open cannot possibly be as cool as a class 156 with 12 windows open. And I repeat that if the air con is so unreliable and the TOCs cannot or will not sort it out, then I personally would want more opening windows. I cannot see why people think that such an unreasonable thing to say. And it's perfectly possible to do it, whether the TOCs want to spend the money to do it is another question.

As for Pacers I was simply pointing out that that one thing you cannot deny of them is that the view out of them is far better than the Class 158 and, in fact, all the new/refurbished trains with their horrible high backed seats.
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I agree entirely. I'm glad to find someone else who hates high backed seats and lack of opening windows. I think most people think I'm mad to want a decent view of my surroundings and fresh air. I thought I was the only person who preferred the original BR seating in Sprinters and 158s.