Class 350's - Long Distance Services

[waterboo]

Hi guys,

After recently booking a trip to the brummies via London Midland (6 pounds one way at the moment- if you are interested), i discovered that the train that will be operating the service will be a class 350 desiro.

I was wondering if you think that class 350's are suitable trains for the job. Considering that the journey will be a tad over 2 hours, do you think Midland will be better off with a train such as class 444.

Also, just for curiosity, if yo have done this journey, how comfortable was the ride??

 

[Crossover]

If it is a /1 then it isn't too bad. If it is a /2 then not really - lack of tables and 3+2 seating make it a little cramped (I'm guessing you are travelling from London?)

 

[Dave1987]

Spent 2.5 hours on a 350/2 once and it was not very nice. Seats not designed for long distance travel.

 

[dk1]

Wish they'd bring back the trolley catering at least for part of the Crewe route.

 

[waterboo]

Spent 2.5 hours on a 350/2 once and it was not very nice. Seats not designed for long distance travel.

Absolutely agree with you, that is what i am dreading!! :cry:

If it is a /1 then it isn't too bad. If it is a /2 then not really - lack of tables and 3+2 seating make it a little cramped (I'm guessing you are travelling from London?)

I am travelling from London.

 

[Crossover]

Absolutely agree with you, that is what i am dreading!! :cry:

LM stock allocations don't guarantee anything. Worst thing is if they (fairly often happens) get a /2 on a Project 110 service - it then gets stuck doing 100mph via Weedon!

 

[jopsuk]

Your ticket is that cheap because you're doing it on a slower commuter-spec train rather than Virgin's faster intercity spec trains. At £6 for that journey frankly you should be grateful they're not strapping you to the roof!

 

[6Gman]

I did Crewe - Euston on a 350/1 a few years ago.

It was a bit slow, but very comfortable.

 

[plastictaffy]

Wish they'd bring back the trolley catering at least for part of the Crewe route.

It was taken out due to the fact that it didn't make any money, oddly enough!!

 

[waterboo]

Your ticket is that cheap because you're doing it on a slower commuter-spec train rather than Virgin's faster intercity spec trains. At £6 for that journey frankly you should be grateful they're not strapping you to the roof!

Fair enough i suppose. But, on contrast, at least there will be more legroom :grin:

 

[jopsuk]

and you've got a better chance of a proper window!

 

[nedchester]

Personally I don't think 390s are suitable for long distance services. Much more prefer a 350.

 

[CC 72100]

A 350/1 is perfectly comfortable. Would take one over a voyager, for example. Or a 170.

A 350/2..... I can see people's points, but you get what you pay for I guess, just a shame that you can't know in advance all that much.

 

[plastictaffy]

LM stock allocations don't guarantee anything. Worst thing is if they (fairly often happens) get a /2 on a Project 110 service - it then gets stuck doing 100mph via Weedon!

/2's on the 110mph services doesn't happen that often. I think I've only had a mark 2 vice mark 1 about twice in 18 months. Sometimes, the units get marshalled the wrong way round, so when they split a 12 car at Euston, the mark 2 on the front forms the Crewe, the middle mark 2 does a fast Brum, and the mark 1 on the back does a Tring rounder!!!!

 

[Carlisle]

Your ticket is that cheap because you're doing it on a slower commuter-spec train rather than Virgin's faster intercity spec trains. At £6 for that journey frankly you should be grateful they're not strapping you to the roof!

Well said

 

[21C101]

Hi guys,

After recently booking a trip to the brummies via London Midland (6 pounds one way at the moment- if you are interested), i discovered that the train that will be operating the service will be a class 350 desiro.

I was wondering if you think that class 350's are suitable trains for the job. Considering that the journey will be a tad over 2 hours, do you think Midland will be better off with a train such as class 444.

Also, just for curiosity, if yo have done this journey, how comfortable was the ride??

Interesting point. The powers that be consider new stock with far more of a suburban configuration to be perfectly acceptable for the two and a half hour journey from Bedford to Brighton.

 

[waterboo]

Interesting point. The powers that be consider new stock with far more of a suburban configuration to be perfectly acceptable for the two and a half hour journey from Bedford to Brighton.

Excellent point, infact, i think i might create a new thread or change the drift. It is about what the limits of a commuter train are.

 

[AM9]

Well said

Why do so many complain when they get tickets at rock-bottom prices that the stock used is not the same as that used on the premium service?
If I was able to travel from London to Birmingham for less than a third of the VT service normal cost I wouldn't complain that the coach doors were at 1/3,2/3 positions rather than at the ends. The 350 trains are intended for a double-ended outer suburban and stopping regional services. The cheap offer is for spare capacity on these services for those who aren't in that much of a hurry and want to save money.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Don't Chiltern do a £6 ticket to Birmingham and aren't their trains quicker than LM ?

 

[Dave1987]

Why do so many complain when they get tickets at rock-bottom prices that the stock used is not the same as that used on the premium service?
If I was able to travel from London to Birmingham for less than a third of the VT service normal cost I wouldn't complain that the coach doors were at 1/3,2/3 positions rather than at the ends. The 350 trains are intended for a double-ended outer suburban and stopping regional services. The cheap offer is for spare capacity on these services for those who aren't in that much of a hurry and want to save money.

I was going from Euston to Kidsgrove so it was 2 hours plus on a 350/2 or a very long wait for the same train at Stoke.

 

[Class172]

Don't Chiltern do a £6 ticket to Birmingham and aren't their trains quicker than LM ?

Yep, and if you plan well, you can get one of the silver sets for even more comfort.

 

[dk1]

It was taken out due to the fact that it didn't make any money, oddly enough!!

But before the service was beefed up & patronage soared. Bring it back even if it's a loss leader.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Interesting point. The powers that be consider new stock with far more of a suburban configuration to be perfectly acceptable for the two and a half hour journey from Bedford to Brighton.

You have to consider how long people are going to use the train for, I think most people would be on the Thameslink service for less than an hour (to get to London). It's quite possible the same applies to the LM services. In contrast, what percentage of people would you expect to see on a Pendolino or Voyager for over an hour?

 

[overtonchris]

Took 350/1s from Northampton to Liverpool (with a quick change at Brum) earlier this year with my son. He's over 6' and lanky - I'm vertically challenged and horizontally comfortable. We both found the ride perfectly comfortable - even though the trains were pretty busy. Either leg of the journey is obviously not as long as the OP's, but long enough to judge I think. Perhaps we weren't too bothered as we had "cheap" tickets too - "getting what you pay for....and all that stuff". Don't know what the 350/2s are like to ride. Will have to try one of those!

 

[phil beard]

By booking well in advance, if you can, you can get a Pendolino return Brum for £15.00 I guess it's a matter of what you want to pay and how soon you need to travel.

 

[jaigee]

Your ticket is that cheap because you're doing it on a slower commuter-spec train rather than Virgin's faster intercity spec trains. At £6 for that journey frankly you should be grateful they're not strapping you to the roof!

Trouble is most of the time from the Trent Valley stations there is no choice but a 350.

 

[Minilad]

I'm afraid I am another in the "rather a 350 than a 390 camp"
And I don't really mind /2s either to be honest

 

[swt_passenger]

I was wondering if you think that class 350's are suitable trains for the job. Considering that the journey will be a tad over 2 hours, do you think Midland will be better off with a train such as class 444.

Writing 'will' implies there is some likelihood that there'll be a change, and I think there's no chance. What you should have put is do you think Midland would have been better off with...

In any case, it wasn't LM's decision to use 350/1s; they have to use what the late lamented SRA organised as suitable trains for the commuter flows on either end of the route operated by Central and Silverlink. To be honest the fact that the original batch are 2+2 layout is a bit of a bonus.

 

[21C101]

You have to consider how long people are going to use the train for, I think most people would be on the Thameslink service for less than an hour (to get to London). It's quite possible the same applies to the LM services. In contrast, what percentage of people would you expect to see on a Pendolino or Voyager for over an hour?

You would be surprised how many people travel from stations between Bedford and St Albans to Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Brighton by train is the preferred day out at the sea from these places as its the shortest journey by public transport and not far off the shortest journey in absolute terms.

Similarly a lot of people travel from Sussex or Croydon to Luton Airport.

The reason Thameslink has been so successful is that far more people than ever expected used it across not to London.

 

[AM9]

You would be surprised how many people travel from stations between Bedford and St Albans to Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Brighton by train is the preferred day out at the sea from these places as its the shortest journey by public transport and not far off the shortest journey in absolute terms.

Similarly a lot of people travel from Sussex or Croydon to Luton Airport.

The reason Thameslink has been so successful is that far more people than ever expected used it across not to London.

I think that you misunderstood what hairyhandedfool said:
"I think most people would be on the Thameslink service for less than an hour (to get to London)."
'most' is the important word here. The fact is that the number travelling through London may be large but small compared with those that don't. That is patently obvious when you travel southbound past Farringdon. The majority of the passengers get off by there and more start boarding for the south, particularly Blackfriars and London Bridge. The stock provided (319/377/387/700) is/will be the best compromise for the majority of passenger traffic, just as with 350s on the LM services.