222 Vs 221

[InterCity:125]

Does the class 222 offer any significant advantages Vs the 221 or is it just a longer version of it?

 

[gazthomas]

More interior room as a result of more equipment being installed under floor

 

[Andy25]

Tilt bolster takes up space and is heavier on class 221.

This allows 222 to put some equipment under the body.

The rest is just interior layout

 

[InterCity:125]

Why don’t cross country use them instead of HSTs or coupling up two sets of voyagers?

 

[gazthomas]

Because EMT use them! I agree though than a 7 or 9 (as once) car 222 would be better than a 4 or 5 car Voyager

 

[cactustwirly]

More seats, smaller windows, better soundproofing, a buffet bar and more first class seats.

 

[Kite159]

Because EMT use them! I agree though than a 7 or 9 (as once) car 222 would be better than a 4 or 5 car Voyager

Not so much a 7 coach 222 over a 5 coach 221, as both additional coaches are 1st class.

And I dare say a 5 coach 222 has less standard class seating than a XC 221. Especially with wasted space for a buffet

 

[cactustwirly]

Because EMT use them! I agree though than a 7 or 9 (as once) car 222 would be better than a 4 or 5 car Voyager

The vast majority of 222s are 5 car... (with only 3.5 coaches of standard class)

 

[Railperf]

A real shame that 222's were not fitted with tilt- this was a real blooper, because tilt could have enabled the 222's to run faster on the curvaceous midland route. It hasn't been noted the XC 221's have tilt disabled. Again - a real shame considering tilt could have enabled higher speeds on some parts of the XC route too.
Don't get me started about 5-car 222's. Another crazy decision. These should be minimum 7 to 9 coaches. Too often i have waited for a later train because a 5-car 222 was packed solid.

 

[ainsworth74]

A real shame that 222's were not fitted with tilt- this was a real blooper, because tilt could have enabled the 222's to run faster on the curvaceous midland route.

Who was going to pay for the installation of TASS and the upgraded track to handle high speed running (which was only done, without even needing tilting, a couple of years ago)?

It hasn't been noted the XC 221's have tilt disabled. Again - a real shame considering tilt could have enabled higher speeds on some parts of the XC route too.

Though no significant time saving was to be had considering the paucity of their ability to actually use EPS speeds on a few bits of the WCML. Which when set against the increased maintenance costs and the addition of something else to go wrong...

Don't get me started about 5-car 222's. Another crazy decision. These should be minimum 7 to 9 coaches. Too often i have waited for a later train because a 5-car 222 was packed solid.

Having to make the best of a bad job after the SRA said no to their original intended use of Leeds - London via Sheffield and the MML as nine-car sets. They almost went to Ireland before finally being split down form the mixed five and seven car fleet we have now.

 

[43096]

Don't get me started about 5-car 222's. Another crazy decision. These should be minimum 7 to 9 coaches. Too often i have waited for a later train because a 5-car 222 was packed solid.

They were built as 4-car and re-formed to 5-car by taking vehicles out of 222001-007 which were originally 9-car. It should also be remembered that 16 x 4-car 222 sets replaced 10 x 3-car and 7 x 2-car Turbostars, so it was a significant improvement at the time they were built.

 

[Bletchleyite]

More seats, smaller windows, better soundproofing, a buffet bar and more first class seats.

Are the 222 windows smaller? I must admit I never noticed. Is that due to the different luggage rack?

Personally I prefer the 220/221 interior as the single-piece seat backs on the 222 are rather claustrophobic, I also think the Voyager lighting is classier. 222 isn't a bad bit of kit though.

 

[cactustwirly]

Are the 222 windows smaller? I must admit I never noticed. Is that due to the different luggage rack?

Personally I prefer the 220/221 interior as the single-piece seat backs on the 222 are rather claustrophobic, I also think the Voyager lighting is classier. 222 isn't a bad bit of kit though.

No they're smaller windows.
Personally I prefer the 222s, they have a much better ambience, and better sound proofing