Recent content by Laurencemcd

Drivers must’ve been thankful for the 75mph TSR at Barnt Green then. Although, I remember a few fun rides where line speed was achieved before slowing down to cross the junction haha

Interesting. Any unit I’ve ridden between Preston and Manchester has definitely hit 90mph where capable and kept time just fine, usually arriving at Salford with a few minutes to spare. As you say, it must be driver preference. 350s are built like tanks so getting rid of any disturbance from the...

Indeed, people must’ve thought their acceleration was ridiculous in the early 90s. A 331 appears to be the modern standard.

A 323 can hit 90mph in 100s on flat track, so I wonder how that compares with a 350. I’d imagine a 323’s better acceleration, but a 350’s higher top speed, would give both equal performance on Man Airport - Blackpool / Man - Crewe/Stoke. But, as you suggest, a 323’s performance is better suited...

I always found that some 323 units were faster than others, in particular 210, which I’ve clocked reaching 67mph before the summit, subject to GPS accuracy. I think 730s can pretty much hit line speed by the summit, which again is subject to GPS accuracy.

I used to commute on both and the 323s are definitely faster at slower speeds (0-60mph in 47s, 0-90mph in 100s give or take), but I’m not a driver so can only speak from a passenger experience…

My train this morning was a 730 and was previously a 323 diagram (08:03 off Bromsgrove), so I’d assume they’ve either added a new diagram or swapped one of them.

If it’s a noise only audible from a motor coach you are referring to, then I’ve noticed it as well. It only seems to be audible when one pair of traction motors are isolated on a 6 car set and when the train is taking power. Although you can still hear it faintly when the train is stationary...

210 and 216 must’ve been fun, from my experience they’re two of the fastest units out of the 26 in the West Midlands.

I still commute on the 323s after two decades and think they’re brilliant units and I will be sad to see them go. I think they definitely have a good decade left in them - still as fast as ever on the Cross City.

While true, the age difference is arguably the only logical motive for Northern using 350/2s over 323s. Norther drivers already being familiar with 323s, their length to enable 6 car operation, capacity, acceleration, and most likely cheaper leasing and track access cost makes the planned...

I regularly travel on both the Northern and West Midlands sets and would support that they have another 10 years in them. For a train built and designed almost three decades ago they feel relatively modern in my opinion. The ongoing additions of digital screens and charging ports are also a...

323209 is in service, just came off it from New St .

Having been on both up the Incline, I’ve clocked a super voyager (from a running start) achieving no more than 60mph until the summit, and a 323 achieving no more than 63mph until the summit. So I’d probably say a 323 by a small margin. Both easily achieved 90mph by Barnt Green.

Was just at Vigo Bridge and yes a 6-car 323 did run to Bromsgrove, seemed to have no trouble racing up the Incline!