Pacers in the news...

[yorkie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0G2BK04vsw

An oldish story now, but worth posting. Quite an amusing video! The people down in the South West are very unhappy at getting pacers!!

and another one..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb3HpnIAbbg&feature=related

they claim "all new trains end up in the north"... hmm, funny we have pacers here too.

But, it has to be said, the news programmes are taking the 'age' thing too far. Pacers are roughly the same age as Sprinters, and it's not the age that matters! After all, Mk2 coaches are older but are far more comfortable. The pacers are uncomfortable because they only have 4 wheels per coach.

Pacers themselves are not 30 years old, but it's true that they are almost identical to Leyland National buses which were built between 1972 and 1985, so the design is 36 years old.

 

[driver9000]

I too was amused by them saying they were 30yrs old and that all new trains end up in the north - I had to wonder "Where?"

Pacers arent identical to the Leyland National as they only used the same body panel components (as did the 155s). Many fittings were specially made for the class 142 series of DMU, the cabs, roof, internal bulkheads, modified heater pods etc and 142s are a lot wider and longer than Nationals. I have driven Leyland Nationals and they are far better built than the 142 DMUs that I drive now. The class 141 is probably the bigger user of Leylands 'road' mouldings as they were fitted with the standard Leyland bus desk panel for the speedometer, they are narower than the 142s. Lets all be glad BR didnt clone the LEVs - true Nationals on rail chassis even down the cab fronts!!

 

[Mojo]

I think it has to do with (a very valid point) the expenditure on rails in the North vs. South West and the reallocation of class 158s.

 

[37412]

It's a shame I wasn't there when they filmed that, I could have told them what beasts they were and that I had come down to Devon from the Midlands just to do the Barnstaple line and get some bolted track thrash 8)

 

[theblackwatch]

I think it has to do with (a very valid point) the expenditure on rails in the North vs. South West and the reallocation of class 158s.

A lot of this is due to Yorkshire Forward working with the TOC (Northern Rail) and providing finance towards the rolling stock. Have any of the authorities in the West Country done such a thing? Maybe it's time they put their money where their mouths are.

 

[Mojo]

It is a known fact that the South West gets less money to do campaigning on such matters due to the imbalance of subsidies. Other organisations such as the West Midlands are guilty of dirty tactics such as producing misleading statistics which I will not go in to for obvious reasons. The lack of a PTE for one urban area in the South West (but not for much longer! ) is a big contributor.

Edit: Can't say much about what goes on "further south" as I don't know that much outside the West. Perhaps Liam knows?

Just watched the 2nd video and saw David Redgewell, having done loads of work with him, he certaintly has lots of "insider knowledge." Feel it's a bit misleading though, as in the recent reshuffle saw 158s go, not the 150s in the videos

 

[175001]

Seems like ITV in the West have an obsession with the number 30. They are roughly the same age as the 150's, but they don't make any fuss about them being near 30 years old!

Their replacement will come, but when, is another question!

 

[Mojo]

I am not trying to be pedantic here, but this is ITV Westcountry and not the West, which is further north and has similar (but very different other) issues.

 

[driver9000]

Seems like ITV in the West have an obsession with the number 30. They are roughly the same age as the 150's, but they don't make any fuss about them being near 30 years old!

Their replacement will come, but when, is another question!

142s and the 15x series of trains are all roughly the same age, all being in their early 20s now. Introduced from 1985. Wasnt it the SW that kept hold of 1st Generation DMMUs after the 142s were run out of town originally?

 

[Turbostar]

I did have the pleasure (or not, whatever way you see it) about a month ago to travel on the Tarka line from Exeter to Barnstaple with a mate of mine. It's a trip to experience, especially on a 142, but I wouldn't like to do it on a regular basis. All I can say is, what a ride!!!

 

[devon_metro]

I did have the pleasure (or not, whatever way you see it) about a month ago to travel on the Tarka line from Exeter to Barnstaple with a mate of mine. It's a trip to experience, especially on a 142, but I wouldn't like to do it on a regular basis. All I can say is, what a ride!!!

Wouldn't really say it was overly livery TBH, and the pacers are a godsend down here, most trains to Paignton are 4 car and as a result passenger numbers are rumoured to have rocketed.

 

[175001]

Wouldn't really say it was overly livery TBH, and the pacers are a godsend down here, most trains to Paignton are 4 car and as a result passenger numbers are rumoured to have rocketed.

Good news all round then

 

[P156KWJ]

I really like pacers - bar the Mersey MiseryRail 142s. (and it's always those that I end up getting :roll: ) because their seats are rediculously spaced, stupidly low seat height and almost a 90 degree angle! they are often grubby - but that's quite often the case on all trains. They are - however very bicycle friendly with quite a bit of luggage room. They are fit for purpose. these moaners in the SW are welcome to some of our 153s! (mind you, a lot of those came from FGW and ATW!)

 

[alex57601]

Good news all round then

Unless the DfT get their own way and order 5 of Exeter '142' Squadron back to Northern.

 

[Turbostar]

I really like pacers - bar the Mersey MiseryRail 142s. (and it's always those that I end up getting :roll: ) because their seats are rediculously spaced, stupidly low seat height and almost a 90 degree angle! they are often grubby - but that's quite often the case on all trains. They are - however very bicycle friendly with quite a bit of luggage room. They are fit for purpose. these moaners in the SW are welcome to some of our 153s! (mind you, a lot of those came from FGW and ATW!)

The 153's we'll have back anytime. Nothing wrong with the 153's, handy little things.

 

[devon_metro]

They are awful really, slow, uncomfortable, often run around on their own and have tiny driving cabs at one end.

 

[P156KWJ]

The 153's we'll have back anytime. Nothing wrong with the 153's, handy little things.

erm - you aint been on some of ours then!! I like most super bubbles, but the Orange ATW one (3321) we have is cheesed. as are the FGW ones - where the stupidly soft seats nearly swallow you!!