Controversial railway opinions (without a firm foundation in logic..)

[Falcon1200]

Had Beeching and Marples not been appointed to their respective roles we would still have a 1950s rail system with all the branch lines and pick up freights, and there would be no motorway network.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Had Beeching and Marples not been appointed to their respective roles we would still have a 1950s rail system with all the branch lines and pick up freights, and there would be no motorway network.

More likely things would have been like Germany - a motorway network more or less as is, and a constant drip-drip of rural closures continuing to this day, a few a year.

 

[trebor79]

Actually one of the biggest issues in the UK is the levels of micro particles (so called pm2.5s or particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter) in the environment which are much higher here in many locations than the WHO safe limits. Whilst the levels of particulates (and carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) from vehicle tailpipes is much reduced thanks to better IC engine technology and more EVs the levels of micro particles is still very high and in urban areas road vehicles produce much of this. These are particles from the wearing of tyres and brake linings and are dangerous environmentally as they can be breathed in or ingested as they contaminate the water supply or are present in food.
It is an issue that has largely been ignored as there has been more concentration on pollutants causing global warming.
So not quite guilt free using an electric car?

Well, I only ever use the brakes if I've misjudged something, 99% of the time I never use them, and that includes pulling into a parking space etc.
The tyres on my M3 have done at least 15,000 miles (12,000 with me and weren't brand new when I bought it) and are only about half worn. 4 wheel drive and smoother braking probably actually reduces tyre wear

100%

Tyre particulates are a huge problem -ironically, EV's are some of the biggest offenders due to their higher than average weight when compared to their ICE cousins. They also benefit/suffer from instant torque at all speeds, which compounds the issue.

In all fairness, that's a tyre problem, not an EV problem, and I still love 'em!

See above. Yes my M3 can do 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, but that's being put through 4 wheels at constant torque so is probably the same wear as an 2 wheel drive ICE doing it in 12 seconds. Also, I never use full power anyway unless I want to make the mother in law scream or kids giggle. Certainly my tyres are lasting longer than I had expected.

 

[HarryF]

Having seen the thread about the Greater Anglia train with the bike spaces full of suitcases, the railways should introduce a test for holders of large luggage to ensure they can handle it into the racks safely.

Or people could just avoid taking everything away with them. I saw a lady taking a kettle on holiday the other day, can’t explain that.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Instead of wearing uniforms, which can make them come across as petty jobsworths, all RPIs and gateline staff should have to wear furry animal costumes at work.

Not only would this make them appear more friendly and approachable, it would also encourage families to use the railway more. Imagine the kids' excitement when Dad says "Why don't we go down the station today and see what Fare Evasion Fox and Revenue Protection Rabbit are up to?"

Oh god, a fully grown man in a furry animal costume is one of the least approachable ways to go, not to mention how unprofessional it looks for the company involved

How long do we give it before there's a Furry stripe included in the annual "Pride" liveries?

 

[SuspectUsual]

I saw a lady taking a kettle on holiday the other day, can’t explain that

If she was going camping I totally get it. If not, that’s just weird

 

[Bletchleyite]

If she was going camping I totally get it. If not, that’s just weird

British hotels typically provide them, but in other countries they usually don't, so lots of people take travel kettles so they can have a cup of tea in their room.

 

[fwsmVor]

HSTs are locomotive-hauled, and the people who insist that they're units have been misled by BR's misclassification of them for operational convenience.

 

[Napier]

British hotels typically provide them, but in other countries they usually don't, so lots of people take travel kettles so they can have a cup of tea in their room.

Can't beat a cuppa on the balcony first thing in the morning.

 

[riceuten]

We take a mini kettle, because it’s uncommon in French or German hotels to have them

 

[xotGD]

The vast majority of enthusiasts have zero interest in Southern Region units, and have no idea what the difference is between a VEP, REP, CEP or any other such junk.

 

[Krokodil]

They are perfectly suited for short distance lines like St Erth to St Ives or Looe to Liskard though as you say.

They are not. There's a reason that they didn't last long in Cornwall, they couldn't cope with the curves.

I think part of the problem was that pacers were used a lot on busy commuter routes like Leeds to Manchester, Manchester to Liverpool etc when they would be better suited to more rural lines such as Glasgow to Fort William or the west highland line.

You seriously expect people to spend five hours on one of those things?

And let’s not forget that the pacers helped to keep a lot of branch lines open.

Not this old chestnut again. They were banned from most branch lines because they couldn't cope with curved track, that's why they ended up on suburban work.

By the time that they'd been modified to actually work reasonably reliably they had cost more than the 150s and had fewer seats to show for it.

Still, logic is banned in this thread...

I saw a lady taking a kettle on holiday the other day, can’t explain that.

If you'd ever worked in the housekeeping department of a hotel, you'd bring your own kettle too. There are some really messed-up people out there.

 

[fwsmVor]

People who call locos with perfectly good TOPS classes "DXXXXs" ought to be shot.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Every major station should be required to have a member of staff dressed as Sir Topham Hatt at all times, based on the main concourse, to provide advice to passengers.

At Liverpool Lime Street this person must have the Ringo Starr voice

 

[43096]

The vast majority of enthusiasts have zero interest in Southern Region units, and have no idea what the difference is between a VEP, REP, CEP or any other such junk.

Until I moved south I really didn't understand the difference between CEP, CIG and VEP (REPs had long gone by then). I soon worked out that CEPs were by far the best of the three.

 

[43096]

The Mark 3 coach with IC70 seats remains unequalled (let alone surpassed) in terms of ride quality and comfort. As such it was the pinnacle of the UK passenger experience.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Mk3s were pretty average to rubbish, with outdated slam doors when sliding were possible, unreliable aircon, high windows, poor window alignment, poor legroom, bad seats, an odd jiggly ride with an annoying side to side sway and excessively bright lighting (what's new?)

BR should have instead built a fleet of the International Coach which fixed basically all of those problems, being something a bit more like the Wessie (come on, we had to get them in the thread somewhere!) but with bigger windows and 9 windows per side in Standard allowing window alignment.

Alternatively, for the WCML, BR should have built a fleet of 5-car "Class 342s" instead of LHCS.

Similarly, Mk4s as built were rubbish, visibly built down to a price, though the later refurbishments made them quite good, though the ride is still poor.

 

[43106]

Certain Network Rail staff are (multiple expletives deleted). I have sent a few e-mails to NRT-WTT@networkrail.co.uk, and they have never responded in any fashion.
I complained to Network rail about this, via the Network Rail web-site, and they haven't responded.
Network Rail Suck!

 

[PacerTrain142]

Another controversial opinion of mine... Voyagers are good intercity trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2023 ==

Had Beeching and Marples not been appointed to their respective roles we would still have a 1950s rail system with all the branch lines and pick up freights, and there would be no motorway network.

It's a shame so many lines had to be axed though. Personally I'd love a rail network like the 1930's with railway lines going here, there and everywhere, operated by pacers and 153's.

 

[vuzzeho]

Another controversial opinion of mine... Voyagers are good intercity trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2023 ==


It's a shame so many lines had to be axed though. Personally I'd love a rail network like the 1930's with railway lines going here, there and everywhere, operated by pacers and 153's.

I'll just say it - I really like the Voyagers. Been on Avanti and XC Voyagers and they've both been pleasant journeys. I've found them comfortable and enjoyable rides. Admittedly, the XC ones were pretty cramped, but other than that, had a good time.

 

[D6130]

People who call locos with perfectly good TOPS classes "DXXXXs" ought to be shot.

That's me told then!

Can I have a last wish, please?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'll just say it - I really like the Voyagers. Been on Avanti and XC Voyagers and they've both been pleasant journeys. I've found them comfortable and enjoyable rides. Admittedly, the XC ones were pretty cramped, but other than that, had a good time.

Coach D shows how good one can be - low density seating aligned to massive windows, just like a modern-day Mk1. The normal coaches are too cramped (though they'd not be if a modern seat was fitted like the Pendolino) and 1st is misaligned from the windows. Though the overhead racks are uselessly tiny.

If you take units without a "Coach D" and add the general air of neglect of anything to do with XC then theirs are pretty dire.

 

[eldomtom2]

HSTs are locomotive-hauled, and the people who insist that they're units have been misled by BR's misclassification of them for operational convenience.

How do you personally separate "locomotive hauled" from "multiple unit"?

 

[The Planner]

Certain Network Rail staff are (multiple expletives deleted).

Not sure that is controversial to be fair and certain plays it down a bit

 

[Pdf]

How do you personally separate "locomotive hauled" from "multiple unit"?

Power does/doesn't come from a locomotive.

 

[Krokodil]

Power does/doesn't come from a locomotive.

That's a circular definition

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The vast majority of enthusiasts have zero interest in Southern Region units, and have no idea what the difference is between a VEP, REP, CEP or any other such junk.

Even those that do will get into arguments about what the correct TOPS classifications were for the various types... not least because they weren't always consistent or constant. My (limited) understanding was always:
Class 411- 4-CEP
Class 412- 4-BEP (CEP with a buffet car)
Class 421- 4-CIG
Class 422- 4-BIG (CIG with a buffet car)
Class 423- 4-VEP
Class 432- 4-REP

 

[Pdf]

That's a circular definition

Okay. In a multiple unit power comes from at least one vehicle with passenger accommodation (not counting freight EMUs like class 325) whereas loco hauled stock power comes from vehicle(s) without passenger accommodation.

 

[Krokodil]

Okay. In a multiple unit power comes from at least one vehicle with passenger accommodation (not counting freight EMUs like class 325) whereas loco hauled stock power comes from vehicle(s) without passenger accommodation.

As HST power cars (there's a clue in that name) contain guard's vans, then they're just as much multiple units as an MLV or class 128s

 

[Box]

Okay. In a multiple unit power comes from at least one vehicle with passenger accommodation (not counting freight EMUs like class 325) whereas loco hauled stock power comes from vehicle(s) without passenger accommodation.

So Class 755 are locos (unlike HSTs of course)