Fantasy: what trains would you make last forever?

[AM9]

When London grows to the extent that such volume of commuters frequently travel from a 50+ km suburb, it will be worth it.

Not really, - most commuter lines out of London are only 100mph or less for the first 25+km so the difference still wouldn't be worth it. The real gains come from removing the slowest bits not adding 10-20% more to the fastest bits.

 

[xotGD]

Mark 1s with declassified first class compartments, and a constantly changing variety of classic traction on the front.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Not really, - most commuter lines out of London are only 100mph or less for the first 25+km so the difference still wouldn't be worth it. The real gains come from removing the slowest bits not adding 10-20% more to the fastest bits.

Yes top speed is not the be all and end all. I would go for better acceleration as well as getting rid of the slowest parts of a route.

 

[galwhv69]

455

 

[py_megapixel]

455

Why....?

I've not used them very much but as far as I can tell they're just bog standard commuter EMUs which are now a bit ancient by railway standards and well due for replacement

 

[AM9]

Yes top speed is not the be all and end all. I would go for better acceleration as well as getting rid of the slowest parts of a route.

... which the '700s deliver in buckets because they need to.

 

[Class360/1]

For me it has to be 755’s, 360’s and 321’s

 

[Irascible]

A/C Mk2, with modern soundproofing. Always came out of one supremely relaxed, although that was on the WR in the 80s & not XC or Virgin 10 years later...