Anyone been on a Javelin?

[Vulcan]

I did today, just on a jolly out to Ashford and back. I was most impressed with how clean, fast (the driver told me we were doing 140mph for most of it) and smooth it all was. However, I was a little disapointed at how boring the interior of the 395s is. South Eastern's flagship fleet of units, they look great on the outside, but inside they are all just grey and boring; only the blue seat fabric and the odd poster breaks up the grey painted metal bits. Nevertheless, a good day had and another box to tick off my life chart.

Has anyone else got any thoughts or experience of the High Speed service?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've been on all but one of them and I enjoy them; I don't have any issues with the interior either - one of the better layouts actually.

 

[Vulcan]

Some pictures

I wasn't sure if photos are allowed in St Pancras, but I took one anyway. I travelled on the near unit.

My return Javelin aproaching Ashford.

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I've been on all but one of them and I enjoy them; I don't have any issues with the interior either - one of the better layouts actually.

No complaints about the layout, just couldn't they have made it look and feel a more exciting place to be? All very bland IMO.
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...and legroom is the best I've seen in a long time.

...but all that grey painted metal....

 

[Crossforth]

Interior is possibly fairly plain to make it look professional and I actually like it.

I went on two back in February and they had the air con on

 

[466.networkers]

I've been on many a Class 395, mostly to St Pancras via the North Kent service, and every time I have had no problems whatsoever.

The trains are excellent inside and out, the exterior design is brilliant, and the interior is much better than a Pendolino, not to mention up to 15mph faster as well!

Maybe I'm biased as I use them a lot compared to a Pendo, but hey.

 

[nedchester]

A very nice train to travel on. Had a spin out to Dover from London a couple of months ago. OK they are a bit 'basic' inside, but do we really need lots of stuff in the seating areas of trains?

A few pics from here:

http://nedchester.fotopic.net/p64166806.html

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The trains are nice, however the service they provide isn't: max 140 mph as you say, average to faversham: 66 mph. Also the way SE changed the timetables to force commuters to travel on them isn't.

But like I say NICE TRAIN; POOR SERVICE

 

[yorksrob]

The Javelin's a decent enough train and very speedy. As far as interior comfort and ambience is concerned, I prefer the Electrostar though.

 

[Ivo]

They are nice units running on a nice route (I've done London to Margate). However, the way they snake through some areas - especially west of Ebbsfleet - can leave you feeling somewhat ill if you aren't prepared for them! Lousy G-forces :?

The interior is okay, but nothing special. But the voice is oh-so-optimistic! Every station sounds almost joyful. And the sound bite is... well, Japanese. That says it all really. It certainly sound eastern, but in this case that's not a particularly good thing.

 

[Vulcan]

In all honesty, the Pendolino ride down to London was more fun, especially wondering how my drink stays in the glass, when the train is tearing round a corner at high speed and 45 degrees clever stuff.

I am overall very impressed with the Javelins and the service I got today, with just slight reservations about the interior of the units. I'd definately do it again if I have the chance. Never been at 140mph before without flying

 

[Aictos]

In the week before the 395s were running in public service last year, myself and a few colleagues spent one afternoon just going between Ebsfleet and St Pancras and finally St Pancras to St Pancras via Ashford, Charing Cross and London Bridge.

Left most impressed not only with the specification of the interior which the passenger sees but also how hi tech the cab is compared to the GN trains!

The interiors might be a tad basic but I think it's a excellent design.

 

[jopsuk]

Used them to and from Whitstable (at a weekend, so a change en-route) recently. Getting on a St Pancras, I'd gone to the front carriage, and it was a short while before departure. The driver had the cab door open, and I was looking out at the track ahead from a way down the carriage. The driver saw me, and invited me to take a look around inside the cab. Very swish looking! The driver seemed quite proud of his machine.

 

[A60K]

In all honesty, the Pendolino ride down to London was more fun, especially wondering how my drink stays in the glass, when the train is tearing round a corner at high speed and 45 degrees clever stuff.

45 degrees would be impressive - despite appearances it's actually a lot less! Not sure of the exact figures, but I think with the cant of the track and the tilt of the train combined it's still only about 10 degrees maximum.


The drink staying in the glass is because of the train tilting - the idea behind tilt is that it compensates for most of the centrifugal force experienced during curving, thus allowing higher speeds through curves while maintaining passenger comfort.

 

[313103]

Doubt i will ever use one!.

 

[CarterUSM]

Doubt i will ever use one!.

You really should if you get the chance mate. Just to experience it, especially from Carlisle to Glasgow.

 

[Vulcan]

45 degrees would be impressive - despite appearances it's actually a lot less! Not sure of the exact figures, but I think with the cant of the track and the tilt of the train combined it's still only about 10 degrees maximum.


The drink staying in the glass is because of the train tilting - the idea behind tilt is that it compensates for most of the centrifugal force experienced during curving, thus allowing higher speeds through curves while maintaining passenger comfort.

Yes, I know. That was meant a bit tongue-in-cheek. I think track camber is about 8 degrees and the tilt puts a further 8 degrees on, but it really does feel like a lot more. the chamfered body sides enhance the illusion, and the small windows mean you only see sky out of one side and ballast out of the other. Also, when you look out of the window and the corner is tight enough that you can see the end of the train, yet its still doing about 100mph, it hits home how good Pendolinos really are.

The drinks also seem to show how confident Virgin are about this, especially as they have rediculously tiny bases that would instantly fall over in any other train on any sort of corner!

I also recomend travelling on a Pendolino, if anyone hasn't. As well as a Javelin. In fact all high speed trains are pretty good. (perhaps voyagers excepted )

 

[Crossover]

Yes, I know. That was meant a bit tongue-in-cheek. I think track camber is about 8 degrees and the tilt puts a further 8 degrees on, but it really does feel like a lot more. the chamfered body sides enhance the illusion, and the small windows mean you only see sky out of one side and ballast out of the other. Also, when you look out of the window and the corner is tight enough that you can see the end of the train, yet its still doing about 100mph, it hits home how good Pendolinos really are.

The drinks also seem to show how confident Virgin are about this, especially as they have rediculously tiny bases that would instantly fall over in any other train on any sort of corner!

I also recomend travelling on a Pendolino, if anyone hasn't. As well as a Javelin. In fact all high speed trains are pretty good. (perhaps voyagers excepted )

If I remember correctly, Pendos add 6 degrees of tilt, wile Super Voyagers add 5 degrees.

Having used Pendos a a fair bit over the past year going between MK and Manchester, I have come to quite like them and actually don't find the small windows a huge problem most of the time.

Javelin is one of the next ambitions I have - I do want to do it sometime, just don't know when

However, having experienced 300kmh on ICE3 a couple of months ago, it kind of makes even the Javelin look a little bit tame in comparison :P

 

[CarterUSM]

I always thought the pendolino's had more tilt than a super voyager, is it not 8 degrees for the former and 6 for the latter? I've always enjoyed a journey on a pendo myself, i find the tilt pretty exhilarating , looking forward to sampling a javelin the next time i nip dahn sarf.

 

[LE Greys]

Went down to do the trial service to Ebbsfleet when they first went into service. I love the acceleration under the wires, like Jubilee Line stock, and the seats were pretty comfortable as well. There was no trouble with pictures, and some made a very good match for others that I took back in 2002 during the rebuilding. Unfortunately, none of them are scanned in. A far cry from my first run to Ashford and Folkstone, my last run on a CEP in Kent, with a really weird view out of a MkI droplight into Dollands Moor.

I'm thinking of using them to go to the cricket at Canterbury in August. This would be pointless before, but the hour saved puts it within reach.

 

[Vulcan]

re pictures

Although I didn't see any evidence that pics arn't allowed, the platforms at St Pancras have a similarity to the Staten Island ferry terminal in New York, where a man in body armour with a gun on his belt shouted at me for taking a photo of the ferry as it docked (again with no signs to say no photos :roll So i'm always a bit weary about it now at major stations.

 

[ACL]

Our group (9 of us) will be taking a Javelin to Dover Priory to leave on a Baltic Cruise. Did it appear that the Javelin's had enough room for a bit of luggage?

Thanks.

I'm really excited about taking the Javelin. Hope they don't mind too much that I take some pictures. Hey, maybe I'll wait until Dover to take them.

 

[Matt Taylor]

This should give you an idea, its a shot of the interior from my trip to Ashford in March:

http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/p64834245.html

 

[anonymous0101]

The Javelin is my daily commute to work. But apart from its stunning acceleration (the best in Britain) the ride is unexciting and i'd really like a go on Pendolino.

 

[33056]

Been on a couple of 395s now and very impressed with them, please can we have them on the WCML?, because I despise Pendolinos with a passion and try to avoid travelling on them.

The new High Speed service is great for getting to Kent for those of us who live north of London, no messing about with the underground to get south of the river

 

[Geezertronic]

Been on a couple of 395s now and very impressed with them, please can we have them on the WCML?, because I despise Pendolinos with a passion and try to avoid travelling on them.

I've said it before but that's an enthusiasts view, the average commuter would not avoid a train like that. It's like me catching a London Midland service from BHI-EUS instead of a Virgin Trains service, not gonna happen since the journey time is vastly longer in comparison

As for the 395s, unfortunately my travels do not take me near their route.

 

[WestCoast]

I've been on a 395 from St.Pancras to Gravesend and was extremely impressed with their acceleration and ambience on board. I really thought to myself for once the UK has a got a service to be proud of, however the ticket prices certainly limit the numbers of off-peak travellers! There was only a few people in each carriage :

No doubt they'll be busy in a few years

I'm really excited about taking the Javelin. Hope they don't mind too much that I take some pictures. Hey, maybe I'll wait until Dover to take them.

I took a few pictures at St. Pancras in full view of barrier staff but they did not say anything. I was suprised as I thought staff at London Terminals were always quick to pounce on photographers...

 

[jopsuk]

ACL- as pictured, they do have some lugage racks- though not extensive, as they are after all commuter units.

My view of the interior is that whilst not "exciting" (does it need to be), the seats are rather comfortable and seat pitch seems to be pretty good- it feels more like commuter-grade 1st class (such as found on 365s etc, with 2+2 1st class) than it does standard. In Airline terms, I'd go as far as to call it "premium economy"- where commuter-1st is "business class" and longe distance 1st "1st class"

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Vulcan, there is no problem with photos at St Pancras as long as you don't use flash and let them know at the barrier.

 

[jon0844]

INo doubt they'll be busy in a few years

Well, yes, because SET will have reduced the off-peak services to one per day if they don't drop the surcharge and recognise Stratford International as a station within the Travelcard zones...

I've said before, they are nice trains - but how do you say that you like them but don't like them? In as much as that, like any new train, they look clean, fresh and have a nice ambiance - but at the same time, they're nothing special.

Everyone seemed to think that they'd be incredibly fast, but that is rarely the case either. In fact, given that Eurostars fly along at almost 190mph, it makes the 395s even more ordinary.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The 395s can accelerate much more quickly that a Eurostar, though, so journey times on the shared sections aren't very different.