TPE 185s frequent air con failure

[bob007]

I might be biased as I usually take TPE trains, but they seem to frequently have more aircon issues compared to other services.

Anyone know the reason?

Are the 185s prone to it? TPE not doing proper maintenance? Cost saving?

 

[Failed Unit]

Maybe because they are a numeric anagram of 158

Not noticed myself on the 185s, but Siemen‘s units are generally good so I suspect you are right on the maintenance point of view. At least the 158’s have some hoppers. I do limited travel on the 185s recently (mainly because I am avoiding using TPE at the moment)

 

[LOL The Irony]

I must point out that it's difficult to tell these are approaching their 20th birthday. From a passengers perspective, they still look and feel modern.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Sounds like plain bad luck. Of all the various air-conditioned trains in this country those supplied by Siemens have consistently had the most reliable and effective HVAC systems. Indeed when first delivered the 185s were notable for being really, really good at keeping things cool in summer to the extent it was eventually decided to increase the temperature setting a touch.

 

[JD2168]

I have been on a 185 when the air conditioning failed in a car, the conductor advised over the tannoy that it was working in another car so that passengers could move.

 

[bob007]

When it works, it works great, and as noted above sometimes a bit cold.

I’m talking about failures however. I was on a service yesterday that had the heating on in one carriage (it was 19c outside) and the next carriage I moved to seemed to have no aircon as it was quite warm

It’s like clockwork with TPE in spring when the weather approaches 20c. I guess I just have bad luck!

 

[FOH]

When it works, it works great, and as noted above sometimes a bit cold.

I’m talking about failures however. I was on a service yesterday that had the heating on in one carriage (it was 19c outside) and the next carriage I moved to seemed to have no aircon as it was quite warm

It’s like clockwork with TPE in spring when the weather approaches 20c. I guess I just have bad luck!

I've noticed on the 377s I use that whilst air con is reliable, at this time of year there's an odd crossover where it feels like it's not working well enough.

I've no idea if it's a humidity/temperature thing or whether there's a winter/summer mode.

 

[driverd]

Sounds like plain bad luck.

It's a long running, chronic issue with the 185s.

Of all the various air-conditioned trains in this country those supplied by Siemens have consistently had the most reliable and effective HVAC systems.

If you say so. Having worked both 170s and 185s back in the early 2010s, I'd say (in my experience), the 170s are actually better. They just require an air con reset (which can be done by a member of staff) if they end up defective. Unfortunately with a 185, you're just plain stuck until the unit goes to depot if a fault arises.

It’s like clockwork with TPE in spring when the weather approaches 20c. I guess I just have bad luck!

Exactly this. I can't explain why it is, but certainly for the period of time I was working with the units, air con defects were a frequent issue in the warm months.

 

[swt_passenger]

Is it significantly different technology to 444 or 350/450? I’ve had only one air con failure on a 444, affecting one carriage since they’ve been in use.

 

[jackot]

Is it significantly different technology to 444 or 350/450? I’ve had only one air con failure on a 444, affecting one carriage since they’ve been in use.

Same here, only 1 failure ever for me in a single carriage of a 450 on the desiros. I thought the 185s had the same system as the other desiros, but I must admit I have heard of way more issues with 185 air con compared to the rest of them. Maintenance related?

 

[prod_pep]

Air conditioning issues are far from unusual in recent years on the 350s in my experience. Last summer was absolutely terrible for it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Air conditioning issues are far from unusual in recent years on the 350s in my experience. Last summer was absolutely terrible for it.

Oddly I find them generally OK. You get the odd issue, but it's nothing like 158s and 166s where come May it never works.

I wonder if the vibration from the diesel engines causes more issues than electric? TPE also seem to have more issues with the doors than the 350s, 444s and 450s do.

 

[prod_pep]

Oddly I find them generally OK. You get the odd issue, but it's nothing like 158s and 166s where come May it never works.

I hope last summer turns out to be an aberration because the Desiro air con is most pleasant when it works properly.

One notable trip from last July (four rides in all) had two 350/2s with virtually no air con, a 350/4 with none at all which was extremely unpleasant and a 350/1 where it worked perfectly.

 

[Bletchleyite]

One notable trip from last July (four rides in all) had two 350/2s with virtually no air con, a 350/4 with none at all which was extremely unpleasant and a 350/1 where it worked perfectly.

I suspect maintenance on the /2s may be a bit "bare minimum" as they're going soon, this has happened many times in the past.

Outright failure is very rare indeed, bad luck with that one I guess, not least because it's 4 independent units, one per coach. Something must have tripped out.

 

[mikeg]

Just to ask: Will the aircon need some special work as a result of the new 'F Gas' regulations on HFCs? I work at a supermarket and a neighbouring branch is having to have its refrigeration systems ripped out and replaced as a result of HFCs being required for servicing, making it soon illegal to top up such chiller systems.

Words are my own, not those of my employer.

Incidentally not found the aircon on 185s to be particularly unreliable, the heating in winter is slightly worse but by no means terrible.

 

[bob007]

On another 185 with no aircon. This is getting ridiculous.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Don't think I've ever had a 185 with faulty aircon... though I can't remember the last time I was on one with functional WiFi.

 

[185143]

I was on a 185 a couple of months back where the air con in the standard section of coach C was evidently on its lowest setting.

The Revenue Protection staff coming through were encouraging people to move as the other carriages were fine, I wasn't having any of it as I love the cold.

Been on a couple of 185s today, Manchester to York was fine temperature wise though would have been better on the opposite side of the carriage out of direct sunlight. The WiFi worked well enough to update my Rail Miles. Got on my namesake from York to Northallerton though and the AC wasn't working at all in Coach C and was barely on in Coach B.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Don't think I've ever had a 185 with faulty aircon... though I can't remember the last time I was on one with functional WiFi.

Well, I rather tempted fate with this post... arrived at Leeds on LNER expecting a wait for the Northern service to Wigan Wallgate, but found a 185 still in P13 on the delayed Huddersfield... stepped on board and it was like a sauna! In the end it was decided to run it fast to Huddersfield, so I bailed for the Wigan service which ended up departing first anyway.