Sprinter vs Pacer...which would you choose?

[poshbakerloo]

Sprinter vs Pacer...which would you choose?

Imagine you started your own train operation company, there were only 2 trains you could have...

153...

142...

 

[GNERman]

Is this the easiest question ever?

Personally 153 as they SUPERIOR in comparison with the 142, and that's saying something.

 

[Drsatan]

Preferably a 153 (assuming when I want to form my own TOC there are some spare ones, at the moment there aren't) since they have a better ride than the 142s and are more reliable.

 

[317666]

It really is quite a hard choice, but - I'll go with the Pacer! But only if I get to refurbish them the way I think they should be refurbished.

 

[Vulcan]

class 153 every time for the following reasons:

better ride
better ride
better ride
not a pacer

 

[Lampshade]

If it was a Pacer fitted with proper seats, I may consider it. Other than that, 153 hands down

 

[Aictos]

Depends on the service requirements, of course I'm going to go with 153s but would my best to ensure they ran as 2 car trains but if the resources were there extend them to 3 car trains.

Still, it also depend on the route - might be other Sprinters or Pacers more suited to the routes?

 

[yorksrob]

Funnily enough, I had exactly this choice this morning. Normally my train is formed of a 153 attached to a 150, although on this occasion it was a 153 attached to a Pacer. For this reason, and in spite of my posts on other threads, I would like to congratulate the Pacer for turning up in the inclement weather when the 150 did not. Needless to say, I chose the 153.

 

[truckman060473]

are there toilets on pacers? i've only been on one deputising for the 150/175 types usually in my area and never needed the loo so haven't really noticed. sprinter got to be better than those pacers. they're not trains they're buses on rails. 4 wheeled nasties which you cringe at when they pass over points at speed and bounce back and fo!

 

[Vulcan]

are there toilets on pacers? i've only been on one deputising for the 150/175 types usually in my area and never needed the loo so haven't really noticed. sprinter got to be better than those pacers. they're not trains they're buses on rails. 4 wheeled nasties which you cringe at when they pass over points at speed and bounce back and fo!

Yes they have a toilet, but thats quite a hatred you have of them from just one journey on them. As I've said before, they're not that bad. (just quite bad ) And the correct term to discribe the ride over pointwork is 'exhilerating'.

 

[poshbakerloo]

And the correct term to discribe the ride over pointwork is 'exhilarating'.

LMAO!!!! hahahaha

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, they do have toilets, and surprisingly enough they're quite roomy. Unfortunately they're usually the best part of the train.

 

[Lampshade]

They're quite roomy but that's one of it's bad points, I find the roominess leads to a very empty and cold environment.

 

[truckman060473]

after regular riding and getting used to the 175, which has a good ride quality + lower engine noise than lesser DMU types, to pop on something crude like a pacer was always going to show up its inferior ride.

 

[generalvegitable]

I refuse to include myself in polls as stupid as this, however it has to be a 153 hands down, I'd rather be on a crowded 153 than an empty pacer

 

[Vulcan]

after regular riding and getting used to the 175, which has a good ride quality + lower engine noise than lesser DMU types, to pop on something crude like a pacer was always going to show up its inferior ride.

I'm not disputing your opinion of them, after being used to 175s the irde of a pacer will always be bad in comparison. It's like driving around all the time in a Range Rover and then having a ride in a wheelbarrow. with an eccentic wheel. being pushed by a madman.

 

[yorksrob]

They're quite roomy but that's one of it's bad points, I find the roominess leads to a very empty and cold environment.

At least it's easier not to touch the walls if the loos grubby

 

[Royston Vasey]

If I was starting a TOC, I'd choose the Pacer. Bigger capacity, reliable (these days), simple as anything, cheap to lease, and there'll be loads of spare parts available as the mainstream TOCs get rid of theirs while I'm solidering on, on my open access shoestring! Are they also cheaper to maintain than Sprinters? I don't know.

Passengers won't choose not to use a service simply because it's a Pacer rather than a Sprinter. The average passenger wants to get from A to B on a local service and doesn't care anywhere near as much as an enthusiast does about ride or build quality. Plus the 153s are small, badly equipped for local traffic and would become packed quicker than a Pacer. That would put the passengers off and make me go out of business.

I am running it and trying to make money from it, not riding in it remember. You're all so biased!!

 

[starrymarkb]

Can't speak for post FGW refurb, but after many trips on Putrid ex Wessex dogboxen I'd say the 142.

IIRC ATW dogboxen are still putrid!

 

[Vulcan]

I am running it and trying to make money from it, not riding in it remember. You're all so biased!!

Yeah but we all put the passenger first, like any good train operating company

 

[Oswyntail]

All depends on the requirements: line speed, gradients, passenger profile, passenger numbers etc etc. And, are we allowed to assume that each is maintained to peak performance and "furbished" as we like? And are they the same rental costs, or can we reflect the type used in our fares.
Actually, this is a daft and pointless poll. Should have been simply a "Let's all laugh at Pacers" thread

 

[ukrob]

I hope some of you aren't involved in making decisions in a business. Trying taking your biased enthusiast hats off and out your business hat on

The question is:

Sprinter vs Pacer...which would you choose?

Imagine you started your own train operation company, there were only 2 trains you could have

Pacer - cheaper to lease, higher capacity and lower track access charges per seat. Things that the average enthusiast would overlook.

 

[KendalKing]

I hope some of you aren't involved in making decisions in a business. Trying taking your biased enthusiast hats off and out your business hat on

The question is:



Pacer - cheaper to lease, higher capacity and lower track access charges per seat. Things that the average enthusiast would overlook.

The reason why there are cheaper, is because nobody likes them!

Give me a proper train any day, thats one with a Locomotive at the front.

 

[Greenback]

I hope some of you aren't involved in making decisions in a business. Trying taking your biased enthusiast hats off and out your business hat on

The question is:



Pacer - cheaper to lease, higher capacity and lower track access charges per seat. Things that the average enthusiast would overlook.

Exactly why I would lease a Pacer in the circumstances, even though I find the 153's more comofortable to ride in! If the question had been 'Which unit do you prefer?' I would probably have voted differently!

 

[37401]

Id be an open access toc and wait for something else (57`s and Cargo D stock), you wouldnt last long on one 153 or a pacer

 

[ukrob]

The reason why there are cheaper, is because nobody likes them!

Give me a proper train any day, thats one with a Locomotive at the front.

Yes, quite correct, that is how life works :roll:

 

[aspierail]

For me it will be the class 153 as i have been on them a few times and they are decent units although i haven't been on a pacer unfortunately im not too keen on bus body parts as buses don't really interest me in general.

 

[mindfeeder]

153. The Pacer was the worst train ever built, until the Voyagers came along, of course.

 

[starrymarkb]

For me it will be the class 153 as i have been on them a few times and they are decent units although i haven't been on a pacer unfortunately im not too keen on bus body parts as buses don't really interest me in general.

Yet you like 153s, which are pretty much based on the 142 design. The main difference being that 153s have bogies

 

[aspierail]

Yet you like 153s, which are pretty much based on the 142 design. The main difference being that 153s have bogies

I prefer class 150s overall.