Rank a TOC's rolling stock from best to worst

[Qwerty133]

EMR:
222
180
170
158
156
Large Gap
HST
Even Larger Gap
153

 

[ScotRail158725]

EMR:
222
180
170
158
156
Large Gap
HST
Even Larger Gap
153

if were talking about VP185/ EMT MK3s then i get rid of the 156 HST gap and increase the 153 gap, if not and its the LNER sets/MTUs then swap HST amd 153

 

[Class455]

Great thread! Here are mine...

GTR:
455
171
377/387 (both generations)
365
313
700/717

Southeastern
375/377
465/466
395
376

SWR
455/456
458
707
158/159
444/450
No opinion on the 701 yet for obvious reasons

TPE
802
185
Nova 3
397 (would rank these higher if I travelled on them more often, sadly they don't go anywhere near the North TransPennine route!)

Northern
319
150
170
158
195
331
333
323
156
155
153
Pacer

Greater Anglia
321/322
317
745/755
379
360

LNR/WMT
319
172
170
230
350
323
139

 

[bramling]

GN/TL
365
387
717
700

 

[Clip]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

I'm surprised the 195/331 are so far down the list. They are so much better than anything northern has. No 319 on there

 

[bramling]

Surely you understand that most people prefer a quiet train though.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. A bit of background noise masks out noises from other passengers, especially things like headphones.

 

[py_megapixel]

Great thread! Here are mine...

GTR:
455
171
377/387 (both generations)
365
313
700/717

Southeastern
375/377
465/466
395
376

SWR
455/456
458
707
158/159
444/450
No opinion on the 701 yet for obvious reasons

TPE
802
185
Nova 3
397 (would rank these higher if I travelled on them more often, sadly they don't go anywhere near the North TransPennine route!)

Northern
319
150
170
158
195
331
333
323
156
155
153
Pacer

Greater Anglia
321/322
317
745/755
379
360

LNR/WMT
319
172
170
230
350
323
139

Just out of interest - your lists seem to quite heavily favour of Mk3-based multiple units, despite them being quite old and, some would say, outdated.. is there a particular reason for you to specifically like those? (I don't mean to sound accusatory or discount your opinion, of course, I just find it interesting)

 

[Energy]

Just out of interest - your lists seem to quite heavily favour of Mk3-based multiple units, despite them being quite old and, some would say, outdated.. is there a particular reason for you to specifically like those? (I don't mean to sound accusatory or discount your opinion, of course, I just find it interesting)

The choice of 319s and 150s above other trains is unusual as those trains are hated by most people.

 

[Fleetwoodflyer]

The choice of 319s and 150s above other trains is unusual as those trains are hated by most people.

I agree that 150s should be further down the list, probably after Pacers if we still had any, but I find 319s preferable to 195s and several other units

 

[Mikey C]

Chiltern
168
Mk 3
172
165

I really like the Mainline 168 seating, much more comfortable than the Mk3 seats which I find too low backed

 

[Class455]

Just out of interest - your lists seem to quite heavily favour of Mk3-based multiple units, despite them being quite old and, some would say, outdated.. is there a particular reason for you to specifically like those? (I don't mean to sound accusatory or discount your opinion, of course, I just find it interesting)

The 455's have always served my local route since I was young and as such they quickly became my favourite type of train. The rest of the MK3 based stock are fantastic units. Yes, some 317's and 319's may be outdated but they're still really good units.

 

[hst43102]

LNWR / WMT :

350
172
170
323
319
230

Chiltern :

68/Mk3
168
172
165

EMR :

HST
170
222
158
156
180
153

Greater Anglia :

745
755
360
379
321/322
317
720

 

[iphone76]

TfL Rail

315
345

 

[Mikey C]

TfL Rail
345 - I prefer them to the 700s. Much nicer colour scheme inside and the (small number of) transverse seats are quite comfortable
315

London Overground
710 - a real leap forward over the 378s, which feel a bit compromised
378

London Underground
S8 - the S stock is a cracking train, a shame a derivative of the basic design hasn't been used more widely on local services elsewhere
S7 - ditto
1995 - a really good design and reliable too, why couldn't Alstom/Washwood Heath get their Junipers right?
2009 - if I was standing, I'd rank these above the 95s, as the headroom by the doors is brilliant! The seats are rubbish though
1996 - the perch seats are annoying, why not tip up seats like the 95s? Too much grey inside also
1973 - a clever refurbishment
1972 - enjoyable as a heritage ride...
1992 - awful seating, a greenhouse in summer on the surface sections

 

[Bletchleyite]

London Underground
S8 - the S stock is a cracking train, a shame a derivative of the basic design hasn't been used more widely on local services elsewhere

I'll be honest, for all I love Stadler's kit I had hoped for a 5-car S-stock style vehicle (no multiple working) for Merseyrail. And LO would have been better with that style than what they got.

 

[Efini92]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

I can’t believe you put 155 above 150. The 155’s are the worse units northern have.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can’t believe you put 155 above 150. The 155’s are the worse units northern have.

155s have at least some seats where you can see out of the windows, unlike 150/1s.

It took a particular feat of design on the 20m Mk3-derived DMUs and EMUs and (even more so due to the smaller windows) on PEP EMUs to design a unit in which not a single seat has an acceptable window view.

 

[DB]

I can’t believe you put 155 above 150. The 155’s are the worse units northern have.

The general consensus on here doesn't seem to agree with you, and afraid I don't either. 155s are OK if not great, whereas 150s are thoroughly unpleasant.

 

[py_megapixel]

LNWR / WMT :

350
172
170
323
319
230

Chiltern :

68/Mk3
168
172
165

EMR :

HST
170
222
158
156
180
153

Greater Anglia :

745
755
360
379
321/322
317
720

I think I agree with basically all of that, though I rarely use Chiltern so I can't really comment on that.

The main thing I disagree with is putting the EMR HST, with those nasty low-backed seats, on top - I'd take a 158 or a 180 over that any day...
Also, WM Trains, the 323 might just sneak in above the 350 for me, though in reality I would probably put it below the 172 but above the 170.

A lot of people really seem to dislike the 720s; I've never been on them myself so can anyone explain why they seem to be so hated? They've only been in service a few weeks!

 

[bramling]

The general consensus on here doesn't seem to agree with you, and afraid I don't either. 155s are OK if not great, whereas 150s are thoroughly unpleasant.

Depends on the 150 interior. The GWR ones are quite agreeable (though at a cost in terms of seating capacity). Likewise I don't mind the 150/1s which FNW refurbished (the ones which retain the facing seats). The big problem with the 150 is that they tried to cram a lot into a 2-car train, and it doesn't help that the accessible toilets have therefore taken up a lot of space proportionally.

 

[fgwrich]

Depends on the 150 interior. The GWR ones are quite agreeable (though at a cost in terms of seating capacity). Likewise I don't mind the 150/1s which FNW refurbished (the ones which retain the facing seats). The big problem with the 150 is that they tried to cram a lot into a 2-car train, and it doesn't help that the accessible toilets have therefore taken up a lot of space proportionally.

Indeed, The Northern 150 fleet may be woeful, but the excellent refurbishment by Wales & West (Wessex Trains + Valley Lines) has given us two excellent 150 fleets in the South Wales & West. Well, ironically except for ex FNW / Northern 150207 which at least, now has GW Seat covers.

Likewise for the Pacer Fleets, whose FGW refurbishment really made them the best of the class. And I would probably have to say the same for the 153 fleet too - eg, FGW Kept the carpet in theirs, Northern switched it for Lino.

 

[DB]

Likewise for the Pacer Fleets, whose FGW refurbishment really made them the best of the class.

I don't disagree, but the bar is set pretty low here!

 

[fgwrich]

I don't disagree, but the bar is set pretty low here!

It might be, but to coin the old phrase in terms of the Pacer Fleet, FGW did rather manage to make a decent purse from a sows ear. Particularly for the equally grotty 153 fleet they inherited from Wessex. That said, so did East Midlands for those!

 

[hst43102]

I think I agree with basically all of that, though I rarely use Chiltern so I can't really comment on that.

The main thing I disagree with is putting the EMR HST, with those nasty low-backed seats, on top - I'd take a 158 or a 180 over that any day...
Also, WM Trains, the 323 might just sneak in above the 350 for me, though in reality I would probably put it below the 172 but above the 170.

A lot of people really seem to dislike the 720s; I've never been on them myself so can anyone explain why they seem to be so hated? They've only been in service a few weeks!

I put the 720 low on the list simply for the reliability and slow entry into service - I haven't been on them yet!

 

[scosutsut]

My take on ScotRail:

385 - decent PIS would finish these of nicely
380 - let down by interior but good units
158 - always loved these
320 - grew up with these, felt so modern compared to 303s
HST - impressive refurb
318 - prefer the 320s but similar enough
156 - showing their age but workhorses
334 - naff interior and build quality
170 - I've always hated these.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Go on then, I'll do a list on the only TOCs I've used more than once during 2020:

TPE
68+Mk5a - when they work. Proper trains!
802 - A bit meh, but TPE's units wipe the floor with the garish red V****n-designed interior of the LNER ones.
185 - Dull as ditchwater after 15 years, but the refurbishment improved them massively and they do their job well without fuss.
397 - No ranking as I've yet to sample them.

Northern
158 - All 158s are a credit to BREL's twilight years. With a decent refurbishment they still feel relatively modern after 30 years.
170 - Northern don't use them on the right services, but they are a step above what we'd become used to on local services in Yorkshire (by which I mean, the dreaded P-word).
333 - The best looking design of the post-privatisation boom, bar none. Disagree? Come at me...
331/195 - Not sure about the low-density layout for the services they run, but they go like the proverberial fertiliser off the excavator. Grouped together as they're pretty much identical from a passenger perspective.
323 - Annoyingly I have to go over to the dark side to ride these, which hasn't been easy to do in 2020. It'd be nice if they could come home to Yorkshire for their last few years but alas there's no room for sentiment on the operational railway. If only the Major government hadn't reneged on funding a further build for Leeds-Bradford electrification...
156 - Apparently these are starting to show their age beneath the surface, what is it with stuff made in Brum in the 1980s and rust? As a passenger though, they're a perfectly adequate regional unit.
155 - the poor relation of the 156, but as a West Yorkshire native I feel obligated to defend them. They have character... it's just not a particularly good character!
150 - they aren't as bad as some make out, but they aren't great either. Surprisingly there was a long spell during the 1990s where they were as rare as hen's teeth in West Yorkshire. Didn't particularly miss them though!

319/769 - not included as the 319s are leaving and the 769s aren't yet in traffic. Haven't had a 319 since Autumn 2017 so any ranking I gave them would be dubious at best.

 

[Recessio]

Don't understand the hatred I've seen so far of the 455/456 on SWR. I think they have to be one of the best refurbs of an existing stock I've ever seen, sensible well-designed layout for metro stock with the longitudinal seating sections. Makes them feel much newer than they are.

Compared to Southern 455s, or getting stuck with modern stock not designed for Metro (eg 377), I'd definitely take the SWR 455/456.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

What about 319?

 

[JohnRegular]

Don't understand the hatred I've seen so far of the 455/456 on SWR. I think they have to be one of the best refurbs of an existing stock I've ever seen, sensible well-designed layout for metro stock with the longitudinal seating sections. Makes them feel much newer than they are.

Compared to Southern 455s, or getting stuck with modern stock not designed for Metro (eg 377), I'd definitely take the SWR 455/456.

There's something I really like about the SWR 455/456s, I've never been quite able to put my finger on it. I wouldn't want to travel to Weymouth in one over a 444, but they just have a real charm to them.
They're not something I grew up with, I don't think I've travelled more than a dozen times on them.
Something about them feels very real and raw, you can feel the train doing all the work... it's hard to articulate. Nothing fancy going on, just outer suburban trains doing what they were designed to do, and doing it well.
Their seating layout is great for the routes they work also, I wish we would see similar layouts on metro trains instead of 3+2.

 

[sw1ller]

Purely from a drivers point of view for TfW and only the stock I sign.

158
153
150
175

the 175 will drop down a place when the 230’s come into service.