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The fitting of hopper windows to the 411/412 (and 309s) gave them a more modern look IMHO. The CIGs would have had a similar treatment (with new Ashbourne seats) if the SuperCIG program went ahead: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_438#/media/File:Refurb4TC002.jpg

One of the demo units was the "Turbostar Traveller" I believe it was 2 cars and had a basic interior with no overhead luggage racks and seemingly retro orange panelling in the door vestibules. I think AdTranz billed it as a lower cost version of a 170 as a possible Pacer and Sprinter replacement...

u might be right, I remember the subject of doors being discussed in-depth on the Tyne and Wear Metro MSN group - that was an excellent resource long gone :(

I know this is not strictly on topic, but perhaps it should be standard practice to make publicly available all internal documentation/reports as much a possible? That would show firstly a high degree of transparency, plus satisfy many FOI requests in advance, and (sing Nexus as an example with...

A factoid about 4003: When being fitted out it was fitted with Kiekert doors as per 4001/2. Westinghouse offered a British made (and cheaper I suspect given how flimsy they are) cheaper door option, that was tested on one set of doors and then adopted for 4003 and the rest of the fleet.

A bean to cup machines are common these days too, plus are capable of making a variety of nice coffees (depending on their upkeep and beans used). LNER can offer a range of hot and cold food and drinks from their small buffets on their 800s for Standard Class passengers plus the trolley that cap...

I'd like to see a micro-buffet of sorts - with a microwave combi so hot food is available to order. The talk about cutting routes is sometimes alarming. I've often travelled from Newcastle through to Sheffield, Birmingham and Bristol for work purposes, and students will use the services for...

I would like to see a set standard across the "Intercity" services - hopefully not a race to the bottom. However I don't think we will see it anytime soon with the various fleets having different types of seating, layouts, amities etc.

It is a shame the idea of dula voltage capability of the 555s was dropped, as in this situation, it could have allowed for the Leamside (and the Sunderland line) to be converted to 25kV in the future.

"Back in the day" I guess they could have just stuck on an extra coach or two. After reading the article, there is nothing inherently wrong with reserving an entire coach for "VIPs", and if pre-existing bookings get their seat preference in another coach in the same class than it should not be...

But it did not feature the envisioned sliding plug exterior doors or retention toilets (BR and the Government back then loved to shoot themselves in the foot - as their accessors have done to this day). I have lost that book, so thanks 8-)

While on a smaller scale (and I am likely comparing Apples and Oranges), the NUFC flag parade and event went seemingly off far smoother despite the short term notice, the organisers, authorities and transport operators seemed to coordinate well.

Thanks @hexagon789 for the info. By the time the Mk2F was being designed, would it have just made sense to jump into building more Mk3A coaches instead, or was there somethnig like a gauging need to build more Mk2s?

From what I have seen Network Rail have chronic issues with interacting with every type of customer, from TOC to passenger in everything they do, and can be hostile/bureaucratic in the process for the sake of it. Dare I say it is an us vs them mentality, perhaps inherited from the Railtrack days.

At the time Granada owned Yorkshire and Tyne Tees Television (and London Weekend Television), so they also get implicit references/location shots haha. Anyway that has nowt to do with the Mk2 so I will be good. 1748558000 Actually, one Mk2 AC question I have is that I know different companies...

IMHO in many ways the Mk2 is the unsung hero of the BR coach fleet. By the time the Mk2D came about, perhaps that should have been christened the Mk3 given the differences to the original Mk2, and the installation of AC (and AFIK pre-taped PA announcements). On a side note: The Last Train is...

I know, so I always assumed it is set in an alternate reality where the MML was electrified at 25kV up to Sheffield in the 60s :D

Its a shame Air conditioning was not extended to the later Mk2 and Mk3 D/EMUs when new - though I imagine their open vestibule/saloon configurations and frequent stopping would have put a huge strain on the AC equipment of that era.

Thanks for the replies @JonathanH @Helvellyn I actually remember seeing the grey seated Mk2(e)? coaches on TV as a kid in the late 90s:

I find it fascinating the Mk2s had so many variants with many Mk2Fs "sampling" Mk3 features. The wood veneer panelling of the original Mk2D and E interiors made them look dark and dated IMO, but they did scrub up well when refurbished with light panelling I know some Mk2D/Es were given...