Which train type will you miss the least when they are all withdrawn?

[delt1c]

Class 390. A bit controversial I know but I always have considered them very uncomfortable and ugly.

Love the 1st class, but hate the standard class as for me feels claustrophobic

 

[SirDanielGooch]

XC Voyagers and GWR IETs, both almost entirely lacking in redeeming features and both an utterly awful passenger experience. They could both yet be salvaged with a good internal refurbish though. Dishonorable mention for the 165/166s as well.

The 150s are the definition of “fine” for me. Post-refurb at least they’re comfortable enough for short journeys and pretty rugged and reliable. Perhaps the Northern experience of them as middle distance intercity trains has tarnished their reputation, they’re much better suited to south western branch lines!

The ones I’ll miss the most that are on the chopping block in the next decade or so are the 158s, comfortable, fast enough, and incredibly well suited to the jobs they do.

 

[Egg Centric]

Have you tried, for example, appendicitis?!

I've heard all the cool kids are taking appendicitis but I have no idea where to get it

 

[cj_1985]

Quite sure this'll p*ss someone off... but for me has to be any and all class 37s. Horrible to look at, and sound like you expect someone to after they've had a tin of beans

 

[Deepgreen]

Quite sure this'll p*ss someone off... but for me has to be any and all class 37s. Horrible to look at, and sound like you expect someone to after they've had a tin of beans

It's all a matter of personal taste but they are far less ugly than most modern locos (70s, etc.) in my opinion. More importantly they have proved to be one of the best classes produced in the 1960s, still seeing main line use today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2023 ==

I've heard all the cool kids are taking appendicitis but I have no idea where to get it

Don't worry, it may find you!

 

[Joshua_Harman]

72/73 Stock Underground Trains,

 

[yorksrob]

For me its the 150's.

Generally not enough capacity as a 2-carriage and in Northerns case, a layout that's not really fit for purpose, which is too late to address now.

 

[Rail Quest]

Whilst I agree with the 150s (and 156s as to me they aren't much better), I'll thrown a spanner in the works and say a non-passenger loco - the class 66. As someone who frequently goes out for freight, the 66s are just not interesting to see as a vanilla one size fits all loco. They sound annoying at low speeds and are just loud at full power, and they don't really have anything interesting going for them (apart from the GBRf fleet with their many liveries and two cab varieties). They aren't bad locos as such, they're just not something I'd miss seeing when they're gone.

 

[19Gnasher69]

Anything originally introduced by Virgin Trains. Pioneers in the now accepted practice of replacing long-distance train types with vastly inferior products.

 

[Titch]

Pendolinos. An absolute abomination and the sooner they’re all carted off for scrap the better.

Cramped, uninspiring and uncomfortable; even the recent refurb hasn’t done much in the way of making them any more palatable (and proves once again that you can’t polish a turd).

 

[YourMum666]

Extremely controversial but 350s. Extremely overrated trains in my eyes. Also the Networkers (465s,466s) absolutely mediocre trains.

 

[DM352]

Class 455/7 - used to try to avoid the squeeky 508 trailers when braking plus the grab rails not lining well with the lower height when standing.

 

[NewClee153]

153 are admittedly not great, but like the pacers, I feel like they have character and are different to other stock on the network

For me, the class 195/331s, I can’t stand them, for a modern train, they’re so underwhelming and lacking in key areas, I’m lucky that in the midlands we have the superior class 196s

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

Extremely controversial but 350s. Extremely overrated trains in my eyes. Also the Networkers (465s,466s) absolutely mediocre trains.

The /2s, I agree completely

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

XC Voyagers and GWR IETs, both almost entirely lacking in redeeming features and both an utterly awful passenger experience. They could both yet be salvaged with a good internal refurbish though. Dishonorable mention for the 165/166s as well.

The 150s are the definition of “fine” for me. Post-refurb at least they’re comfortable enough for short journeys and pretty rugged and reliable. Perhaps the Northern experience of them as middle distance intercity trains has tarnished their reputation, they’re much better suited to south western branch lines!

The ones I’ll miss the most that are on the chopping block in the next decade or so are the 158s, comfortable, fast enough, and incredibly well suited to the jobs they do.

Thank you . Whilst they’re inadequate and painfully outdated, they do the job required, but I agree, the northern stock isn’t the best, I’ve never seen them as that bad

The class 158 withdrawn will be a sad day, we have very few modern trains that live up to their quality

 

[Bletchleyite]

For me, the class 195/331s, I can’t stand them, for a modern train, they’re so underwhelming and lacking in key areas, I’m lucky that in the midlands we have the superior class 196s

196s are an odd one. They do have a higher quality feel, but the legroom is absolutely appalling due to them having chosen a very thick-backed seat (the "niche" is a design flaw, just like it is on the original Class 158 seats, that pays no attention to male anatomy). Thus my preferred 19x is the 197, with the 195 second and the 196 third. The LEAN is a comfortable enough seat but it is very thick backed and does not lend itself to "cram 'em in".

I'd not really miss any of them though, they are cheap, basic and just adequate rather than special.

 

[NewClee153]

196s are an odd one. They do have a higher quality feel, but the legroom is absolutely appalling due to them having chosen a very thick-backed seat (the "niche" is a design flaw, just like it is on the original Class 158 seats, that pays no attention to male anatomy). Thus my preferred 19x is the 197, with the 195 second and the 196 third. The LEAN is a comfortable enough seat but it is very thick backed and does not lend itself to "cram 'em in".

I'd not really miss any of them though, they are cheap, basic and just adequate rather than special.

I could honestly wax lyrical about the class 196s - I use them very frequently since TfW/WMR swapped their calling points of Sandwell and Dudley/Smethwick Galton Bridge. Comfortable seating, reasonable sized tables, decent enough ride quality, perfect ambiance and lighting, the only slight complaint I have about them is the lack of armrests, but I never really have any issues with legroom, and I’m not small either

The 197s, I’ll give a pass, as they improve on the seating (of a northern CAF unit) at least, but it’s hard not to see them as a 195 with an end gangway

 

[Towers]

….

The class 158 withdrawn will be a sad day, we have very few modern trains that live up to their quality

Agreed!

 

[Liam L]

Class 165s. Uncomfortable tatty units (chiltern) which are way passed there best imo.

 

[prod_pep]

Fairly predictably, the 150s and 319s for me. The many issues with the 150s have been adequately covered in this thread already, whilst the 319s are thoroughly miserable, sluggish, smelly and have awful seating. 156s are far superior trains, even though they are diesel.

I'll be a happy man the day these wretched classes finally bite the dust.

 

[QSK19]

For me, three classes:

- 153 & 156. Old, knackered things, particularly the 156/9s which were a disgrace during their stint at EMR.
- 700. Absolutely detest and resent these given that I worked at Bombardier at the time that it lost the Thameslink contract to Siemens. Those trains are permanent reminders of how I very nearly lost my job.

Finally, based solely on their current condition, the 360s. They have been tragic at EMR thus far and, unless something fundamental changes to improve them (the internal refurbishment being mentioned to death in these forums!), I won’t miss them when they do finally go.

 

[D6130]

Fairly predictably, the 150s and 319s for me. The many issues with the 150s have been adequately covered in this thread already, whilst the 319s are thoroughly miserable, sluggish, smelly and have awful seating. 156s are far superior trains, even though they are diesel.

I'll be a happy man the day these wretched classes finally bite the dust.

Off-topic! This is a thread about types of train that you will miss when they are withdrawn....not those that you won't miss!

 

[QSK19]

Off-topic! This is a thread about types of train that you will miss when they are withdrawn....not those that you won't miss!

Technically true; however by writing “miss the least”, it implies trains that you won’t miss. Which is why most posters - including myself - have replied as such.

I think that clearer wording could have been along the lines of “trains that you won’t be too upset to see withdrawn” or “trains that you won’t miss too much when they are withdrawn”.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Technically true; however by writing miss the least, it implies trains that you won’t miss. Which is why most posters - including myself - have replied as such.

I think that clearer wording could have been along the lines of “trains that you won’t be too upset to see go” or “trains that you won’t miss too much”.

I think there's two threads going on with very similar titles, one for trains you'll miss and one for trains you won't.

 

[dereksingh291]

class 168s of Chiltern Railways because they are falling to bits, toilets in a horrible condition, stained carpets and skirting boards, wet seats caused by the air conditioning leaking and the front of these trains are breaking to bits.

 

[prod_pep]

Off-topic! This is a thread about types of train that you will miss when they are withdrawn....not those that you won't miss!

Er, no. Have another look at the thread title. Train types you will miss the least when they are withdrawn.

 

[D6130]

Er, no. Have another look at the thread title. Train types you will miss the least when they are withdrawn.

Apologies....as @Bletchleyite states above there are two threads on the go with almost identical titles....and I picked the wrong one. I'll get my coat and make an appointment with Specsavers!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Deleted, unknowingly duplicated another post

 

[D6130]

If you stopped backseat moderating for a moment you'd notice it's actually you whose muddled up the thread title

If you read my latest post on this thread, you will have seen that I have already admitted my error and apologised!

 

[prod_pep]

No problem. In fairness, it's an easy mistake to make as there are two very similar thread titles at play.

 

[xotGD]

Mark 1 coaching stock.

I thought that the above would be the worst possible suggestion in this thread, and then I read this:

Quite sure this'll p*ss someone off... but for me has to be any and all class 37s. Horrible to look at, and sound like you expect someone to after they've had a tin of beans

Another vote for 150s from me. 3+2 seats, rubbish window alignment, freezing cold in winter with the doors at thirds.

 

[SolomonSouth]

For me it has to be the 153. They are noisy, cramped, ride poorly and are very uncomfortable. Dishonorable mention for the 700 as it shares many of the same flaws as the 153 - some of them ride quite poorly, they have no room, and are very uncomfortable too.

The 387 also has to be mentioned. Unsuitable for long distance services. Too uncomfortable, useless 1st class, high armrests, and it gets my vote for the worst riding EMU in the UK. The train violently lurches over any corner, set of points, or imperfection in the track.