Which Desiro UK does you love the most?

[poshbakerloo]

Which Desiro UK does you love the most?

I'm NOT really a fan of any of them. Suspension is too soft and springy, and the insides feel like a hospital waiting room...

Class 185

Class 350

Class 360

Coming soon Class 380

Class 444

Class 450

 

[Daimler]

Any of them will do for me!

In my opinion, as far as passenger experience goes, they are the best new trains running on the network today. Spacious, light, airy, with 'proper' sized windows and a relatively square cross section (offering much greater interior 'shoulder-space' when compared with, say, a 377). THey also are blessed with high quality feeling fixtures and fittings, not to mention a refined and quiet atmosphere (with the exception, on the older ones, of rather noisy aircon).

They also appear to be far more trouble-free than their Bombardier counterparts!

Anyway, if I had to choose one, I guess I'd go for the 444 or the 350/2. Seems rather odd, I know, but the 444's 'intercity' ambience is rather nice, while for some reason the 350/2s seem quite 'cosy' inside, with their smart green upholstery.

 

[devon_metro]

and the insides feel like a hospital waiting room...

How is that a positive thing? Hospital waiting rooms are depressing places, that smell...

I can't say i'm a fan of Desiros, having to sit on a 450 between Weymouth and Brockenhurst made sure of that, seats are hard and the 444s aren't much better. A "wessex electric" is a far better train in terms of passenger environment (before Gatex ruined the interior)

 

[Daimler]

How is that a positive thing? Hospital waiting rooms are depressing places, that smell...

I can't say i'm a fan of Desiros, having to sit on a 450 between Weymouth and Brockenhurst made sure of that, seats are hard and the 444s aren't much better. A "wessex electric" is a far better train in terms of passenger environment (before Gatex ruined the interior)

'tis true, 'tis true. But while I'd take a 442 over any Desiro, I do think they're the best of the new stuff!

 

[SWT Driver]

None of them, they're all abysmal pieces of rubbish which should be despatched to the nearest metal reprocessing plant.

 

[Drsatan]

I've only traveled on 444s and 450s from the Desiro family, but out of these two I'd plump for the 444s.

They look rather smart inside and seem to have more passenger space than the Electrostars. The 444s also have more bike storage capacity than the 450s, and I'm not a great fan of the 3+2 seating arrangement on the 450s given that they're now used on Waterloo-Pompey services where that arrangement is unsuitable.

However, I'd go for the 442s over any Desiro since the air conditioning in those units is much quieter, the seats are more comfortable, they have first class compartments, and they looked nice inside. In particular the pictures of flowers on the bulkheads separating the vestibule from the passenger saloons (on pre-refurb examples) helped brighten the saloon up a bit. Finally, unlike the 444s they had a proper buffet, whereas the 444s merely have a counter which is all too often closed.

 

[317666]

I'd say the Desiro range are the best of current-build trains. My favourite is the 350. I prefer the /2 units, because they have better-sounding motors and can hold more people.

 

[poshbakerloo]

How is that a positive thing? Hospital waiting rooms are depressing places, that smell...

oops it was a typo lol

 

[37372]

I'm not really a fan of any of them, but I had to choose I'd go with the 350 - but only the 350/1s. I hate the 350/2s.

 

[thefab444]

Out of those, I'd go for the 444 for the better interior, although I'd like the power rating of an AC 350.

However, I'd go for the 442s over any Desiro since the air conditioning in those units is much quieter, the seats are more comfortable, they have first class compartments, and they looked nice inside. In particular the pictures of flowers on the bulkheads separating the vestibule from the passenger saloons (on pre-refurb examples) helped brighten the saloon up a bit. Finally, unlike the 444s they had a proper buffet

Were the catering options downgraded when the 444s took over, in respect of their lack of proper catering facilities? I know the 442s etc. had microwaves and a kitchen-esque area, but not sure if these got any use in the later days of SWT operation. Personally I think all "trolley" style on train catering should be scrapped. The 442 aircon was indeed quieter, but it was much less effective, on a par with the 159 aircon. Generally, the 444s are one of the best new units to be produced since privatisation, and quite a bit better than what went before (in terms of 41x and 42x units, although 442s were rather nice).

 

[royaloak]

This is like comparing Quasimodo and Frankenstein a beauty contest, they are both dog ugly.
All Disastros are over complicated, throw faults up on the TMS where none exist and they are slow to respond to driver inputs.

 

[Helvellyn]

This is like comparing Quasimodo and Frankenstein a beauty contest, they are both dog ugly.
All Disastros are over complicated, throw faults up on the TMS where none exist and they are slow to respond to driver inputs.

Even Siemens have acknowledged they over-engineered the Desiro units as part of their aim of breaking into the UK market. Can you blame them for doing this if you can recall the disasters Alstom had with the introduction of the Coradia, Adelante and Juniper fleets? If Alstom had got the 458s to do what they were supposed to do, then the SWT slam-door replacement order would have likely been theirs. As it was, SWT went looking elsewhere after the Juniper fiasco and opted for Siemens.

Yes, they do throw up faults all over the place, but they generally are pretty reliable - and much better than the Electrostars Southern and Southeasterm are operating in my view.

The Class 380s incorporate some of the technology from the Desiro City, so it'll be interesting to hear what these units are like once they get into service.

As to my favourite unit, I like the 444s, though the 185s are also very comfortable units.

 

[SWT Driver]

I've been on a 185 from Man Picc to Sheffield and wished I hadn't, they're soooo noisy, lack luggage space & are generally awful.

A chieftain tank on rails.

 

[Lampshade]

If it was in service, the 380, purely for how it looks, especially in that livery.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Class 444 & 450.

When I had a trip from London Waterloo-to-Brokenhurst I though I would not like them but they are suprisngly comfy and nice to be on but when I got to Brokenhurst and travelled on the Class 421 3-CIGs they were much better

But thats a passengers prospective of one maybe the drivers would have the opposite opinion? SWT Driver has commented and he does not look to happy with them.

 

[SWT Driver]

I've lost count on the number of times I've fixed the damned things, it's got to the point now where I know how to fix that many faults on them, I don't even ask the guy on the PAF facility, I just do it when I can without causing delay.

If it's a red/critical fault then it's different, but otherwise, just pop back & fix, something that most drivers won't do, they can then find that the fault can grow & cause even more problems.

I fix ACU's, Toilets, CCTV, Minor Door Faults, Lighting, Couplers ECB's that have stuck open, all sorts, these are simple things that shouldn't keep going wrong.

 

[thefab444]

Class 444 & 450.

When I had a trip from London Waterloo-to-Brokenhurst I though I would not like them but they are suprisngly comfy.

I wouldn't say a 450 was comfy, but it does the job for shorter runs. They definately shouldn't be used on Waterloo - Portsmouth express services though. A 458 would be a slight improvement on these runs, although those units are extremely poor in many respects, the 3 + 2 seating is more comfortable than that in a 377 or 450.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I've lost count on the number of times I've fixed the damned things, it's got to the point now where I know how to fix that many faults on them, I don't even ask the guy on the PAF facility, I just do it when I can without causing delay.

If it's a red/critical fault then it's different, but otherwise, just pop back & fix, something that most drivers won't do, they can then find that the fault can grow & cause even more problems.

I fix ACU's, Toilets, CCTV, Minor Door Faults, Lighting, Couplers ECB's that have stuck open, all sorts, these are simple things that shouldn't keep going wrong.

So how do you fix these then?

I know a famous one is the cab window when the clip that holds them shut breaks.I tend to stick a newspaper in there to hold it shut.I think I stuck a bit of nylon tag there one on the track thing at the side of the slidey window and that fixed it.

Never really had a problem with desiro's,think they are alright.

 

[VirginTrainFreak]

well 185,350,380

 

[GB]

I've lost count on the number of times I've fixed the damned things, it's got to the point now where I know how to fix that many faults on them, I don't even ask the guy on the PAF facility, I just do it when I can without causing delay.

If it's a red/critical fault then it's different, but otherwise, just pop back & fix, something that most drivers won't do, they can then find that the fault can grow & cause even more problems.

I fix ACU's, Toilets, CCTV, Minor Door Faults, Lighting, Couplers ECB's that have stuck open, all sorts, these are simple things that shouldn't keep going wrong.

Commendable, but I assume you still report or log the faults?

 

[SWT Driver]

So how do you fix these then?

I know a famous one is the cab window when the clip that holds them shut breaks.I tend to stick a newspaper in there to hold it shut.I think I stuck a bit of nylon tag there one on the track thing at the side of the slidey window and that fixed it.

Never really had a problem with desiro's,think they are alright.

Can't discuss the resolution of these (ACU's, Toilets, CCTV, Minor Door Faults, Lighting, Couplers ECB's) faults on a public forum.

@GB: Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Even if you do they don't take the slightest bit of notice!:roll:

 

[theblackwatch]

The poll that poshbakerloo forgot to include has now been added to the thread.

 

[Pumbaa]

I've been on a 185 from Man Picc to Sheffield and wished I hadn't, they're soooo noisy, lack luggage space & are generally awful.

A chieftain tank on rails.

Bloody heavy yes, but your luggage space argument is miles out! There's loads of it! Two huge luggage compartments in B and C, and a smaller one in A. For those who don't know, they're the width of one and half windows!

My personal favourite is 350, both the /1 and /2 do the job very well. Just wish the diagramming would be sorted out!

 

[Crossforth]

I quite often travel on 185s and I have once travelled on a 450 so can't really comment on that or the rest. I think the 185s are great, the only criticism I have is that there aren't enough of them and the lack of end gangways. I know TPE wanted to order an extra carriage for each 185 but the DaFT stopped them Don't really understand why.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Im the only one who voted 450.

Can't discuss the resolution of these (ACU's, Toilets, CCTV, Minor Door Faults, Lighting, Couplers ECB's) faults on a public forum.

That's all yellow fault stuff,it don't really matter too much does it?

I've seen a page of red faults a few times and that has been fun...generally to do with the doors.

Oh apart from the blue which reports itself.

 

[asylumxl]

I like the look of the New Scotrail Desiro . Scotrail is putting good seating in them too.

 

[317666]

I like the look of the New Scotrail Desiro . Scotrail is putting good seating in them too.

Scotrail are putting in the same seats as the 350/1s, 444s and 185s, so yes, that is good seating.

 

[SWT Driver]

317666, you wouldn't know what a decent seat is! The seats are crap.

 

[devon_metro]

317666, you wouldn't know what a decent seat is! The seats are crap.

Indeed, Desiro seats are akin to sitting on an ironing board bent in the middle.

 

[SWT Driver]

Indeed!

In fact the only decent seat on a Desiro is in the driving cab, that's if its gas height adjuster isn't broken. :roll: