2 car ac emu - practical?

[Roast Veg]

The 466s may now well have a limited future with Southeastern - I would expect the networkers to be replaced with something more suited to Metro workings come the next franchise. Personally, I think they're reasonable units - I'd certainly take them over a pacer any day of the week, but given they're probably beyond conversion to AC, will likely not find a new home.

Beyond conversion to AC yes, but depending on how much underfloor equipment they have on the trailer car they might not be beyond having engines fitted...

 

[Mikey C]

There's nothing to say they couldn't do this, but it has been suggested that they probably won't. By themselves, the 466s aren't DDA compliant. The only place they have regular usage is to strengthen additional services (which would be DDA compliant on journeys longer than 60 minutes), used by themselves on the Bromley North popper (a total journey time of about 5 minutes) or the Sheerness line (less than 20 minutes).

The 466s may now well have a limited future with Southeastern - I would expect the networkers to be replaced with something more suited to Metro workings come the next franchise. Personally, I think they're reasonable units - I'd certainly take them over a pacer any day of the week, but given they're probably beyond conversion to AC, will likely not find a new home.

As the Networkers have no though gangways, I don't see how the 466s could be used in service without being made compliant?

While the Networkers are likely to be replaced in the next decade, that is still some time away.

 

[theageofthetra]

I was wondering this too, given that both those routes are very short.

In the case of Grove Park - Bromley North a toilet will need to be orovided

As the Networkers have no though gangways, I don't see how the 466s could be used in service without being made compliant?

While the Networkers are likely to be replaced in the next decade, that is still some time away.

I think the cop out to be DDA compliant is to have announcements and CIS displays on platforms telling which part of the train has a disabled toilet (or not)

 

[rf_ioliver]

Modern 2 car AC EMUs are used on the continent. I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be possible to have 2 car AC EMUs in the UK, although it's unlikely that any would be built for the UK.

picture snipped

Yep, Finland has the Sm1, Sm2 and Sm4 all 2-car EMUs - the latter run at 160kmh with all pantographs up when in multiple. Although the loading gauge here is generous to say the least...and the Sm1 and Sm2 have now been replaced with the 4-car Sm5 Flirts and the Sm4 run invariably at 2xSm4 to make a four car (or more) train. Actually rarely do you see a 2-car EMU except weekends and on the Kouvola-Kotka branch

Switzerland has 1-car EMUs IIRC, but don't these run with additional carriages anyway?

t.

Ian

 

[BestWestern]

Hold on, that sounds familiar...

[Photo: FGW HST in "2+1" formation at Dawlish on an ECS move.]

Even managed to get some First Class in there!

 

[edwin_m]

I think the cop out to be DDA compliant is to have announcements and CIS displays on platforms telling which part of the train has a disabled toilet (or not)

On any conventional narrow-gangwayed stock, a wheelchair user must board at the designated door to have any access to the accessible toilet. I don't see how a 466 coupled to a 465 would be any different.

 

[Mikey C]

On any conventional narrow-gangwayed stock, a wheelchair user must board at the designated door to have any access to the accessible toilet. I don't see how a 466 coupled to a 465 would be any different.

With trains formed from a variety of lengths on the standard SE London commuter routes - 4,5,6,8,10,12 - it would be really hard to have a designated spot on the platform for disabled access though?

 

[apk55]

My own thoughts would be for a for a 3 section articulated unit which would be a bit longer than a 2 car unit but shorter than a 3 car unit. A possible template for would be a shortened version of the proposed Merseyrail units.

 

[43096]

I think the cop out to be DDA compliant is to have announcements and CIS displays on platforms telling which part of the train has a disabled toilet (or not)

There is no cop out - it is a legal requirement that trains have to be made PRM* compliant by 01/01/2020. There has been talk of derogations, but that is just talk currently. If derogations were to be granted it would probably only be for a limited period until stock is either modified to be compliant or is replaced.

* note that compliance is required to the PRM-TSI standard, not the DDA.

 

[edwin_m]

With trains formed from a variety of lengths on the standard SE London commuter routes - 4,5,6,8,10,12 - it would be really hard to have a designated spot on the platform for disabled access though?

Maybe so, but that's a problem they have now and making the 466s wheelchair accessible or not doesn't change it much.