Trains which still have a payphone

[thenorthern]

Back when the Pendolinos/Voyagers first came in I remember them having a payphone located near the Virgin Shop. Since then however the payphone have been withdrawn but do any trains still have a payphone on board?

 

[superalbs]

Back when the Pendolinos/Voyagers first came in I remember them having a payphone located near the Virgin Shop. Since then however the payphone have been withdrawn but do any trains still have a payphone on board?

There are a few parts of them left on some Northern 158s (I think the frame where one would fit), but no actual payphone.

 

[xc170]

There are a few parts of them left on some Northern 158s (I think the frame where one would fit), but no actual payphone.

The area around the framework for the payphone is still lined with Regional Railways moquette on most units I've been on of Northerns.

Didn't know Pendos and Voyagers were ever fitted with payphones.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The area around the framework for the payphone is still lined with Regional Railways moquette on most units I've been on of Northerns.

Didn't know Pendos and Voyagers were ever fitted with payphones.

Nor did I, remember them on XC loco hauled sets and HSTs and also ICWC electric Mk2/3 hauled sets but no recollection of them ever on the 220/1 or 390s.

 

[t_star2001uk]

As far as i can recall the 168/0 were built with a payphone by the disabled toilet.

 

[Dougal2345]

The Wessex Electrics had a 'phone cubicle when they were launched, IIRC. It seemed so futuristic at the time! I never used it though as I think the calls were pretty expensive.

In later years the 'phone was removed and the door normally locked, but sometimes not so you could use the cubicle for mobile calls...

 

[mushroomchow]

Man, that's so retro-futuristic. I can almost see the shoulder-padded businessmen queuing up to use them!

Kinda like those phones built into cars in the late 80s / early 90s that were all the rage on top-end models for a few years. Definitely a great idea, no safety risks at all.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Nor did I, remember them on XC loco hauled sets and HSTs and also ICWC electric Mk2/3 hauled sets but no recollection of them ever on the 220/1 or 390s.

Mk4 sets also had them from new up until the GNER "Mallard" refurbishment. Think I may even have used one once!

 

[Beebman]

Class 166 Turbos had them when new, I think they were in the vestibule by the tip-up longitudinal seats in the centre car.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Mk4 sets also had them from new up until the GNER "Mallard" refurbishment. Think I may even have used one once!

Yes me also, but on a Deltic hauled Virgin XC mk2 rake somewhere between Crewe and Birmingham New St. and like someone just mentioned up thread extremely expensive, also didn't they only accept BT Phone cards?

 

[GusB]

I remember the ScotRail 158s having them fitted when new. I recall taking a short hop south from Aberdeen (c1990?) to try them out and the novelty of phoning home from the train. The rate at which a 10-unit BT Phonecard was consumed was eye-watering!

 

[Hadders]

The 365s that originally operated on southeastern had them (or at least had provision for them). They were removed when they came across to Great Northern in the early 2000s. There are 3 sideways facing seats in the space for the payphone.

 

[xc170]

Having thought about it, I'm not so sure they were ever fitted to the 390/220/221s...

 

[thenorthern]

I remember some on the Voyagers from around 2003 time near the Virgin Shop. Its kind of ironic though that Virgin Trains have introduced the voyagers which have awful mobile coverage but at the same time no longer provide a payphone.

 

[185143]

I remember some on the Voyagers from around 2003 time near the Virgin Shop. Its kind of ironic though that Virgin Trains have introduced the voyagers which have awful mobile coverage but at the same time no longer provide a payphone.

Bloody good job they don't! Can see the complaints now...

@virgintrains are a disgrace... provide trains with no signal and charge <exorbitant rate> pence per minute to use the one onboard! #MoneyMakingScam #BringBackBR

 

[AnthonyRail]

How did it make calls? In the days of pre mobile phone

 

[Ash Bridge]

How did it make calls? In the days of pre mobile phone

It operated using the BT Cellnet system.

 

[thenorthern]

Pre-mobile phones I think there was a radio telephone in First Class on the HST which cost a lot of money to use. Its strange to think until at least 2005 on pay as you go it was 35p per min to call another network.

 

[47271]

Cellnet and Vodafone analogue networks were launched in 1985, I'd be surprised if there were any means for the public to make a call from a train before then.

Caledonian Sleeper lounge cars still have perfecly preserved payphone booths although I've no idea when the phones themselves were removed.

 

[thenorthern]

Intercity 125 had a radio telephone right from the start.

Here is a news report from the time.

 

[Firesprite]

The Wessex Electrics had a 'phone cubicle when they were launched, IIRC. It seemed so futuristic at the time! I never used it though as I think the calls were pretty expensive.

In later years the 'phone was removed and the door normally locked, but sometimes not so you could use the cubicle for mobile calls...

70p per minuite

 

[satisnek]

Intercity 125 had a radio telephone right from the start.

Not quite right from the start, but I can remember calling my parents using a payphone in a Western Region HST around 1986 (it was situated in a vestibule, unlike that in the video). From memory it cost something like 60p per minute,

70p per minuite

maybe even that, but I do recall it biting 10p chunks out of my £1 phonecard approximately every 10 seconds!

 

[Leyland155]

The Wessex Electrics had a 'phone cubicle when they were launched, IIRC. It seemed so futuristic at the time! I never used it though as I think the calls were pretty expensive.

In later years the 'phone was removed and the door normally locked, but sometimes not so you could use the cubicle for mobile calls...

This training video shows the 442 phone cubicle in all its nostalgic glory, albeit very briefly. To skip to it, go to 24:50. Credit goes to The Railway Channel for uploading this video