Could Scotrail HSTs be fitted with electronic destination displays?

[David M]

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/scotrail-hst-introduction-updates-discussion.137911

Earlier post mentioned the lack of an electronic (or any) destination display front and rear - is there any reason this wasn't installed when the power units were prepared for Scotrail? Am I right that they don't have electronic boards on the sides of the carriages either - again, is there a logical reason why this wasn't done at refurb?

 

[CJSwan]

Earlier post mentioned the lack of an electronic (or any) destination display front and rear - is there any reason this wasn't installed when the power units were prepared for Scotrail? Am I right that they don't have electronic boards on the sides of the carriages either - again, is there a logical reason why this wasn't done at refurb?

You are correct, there are no destination displays on any part of a ScotRail HST. I don’t know why I’m afraid. When they first came in the destinations were displayed on a sort of plastic sticker that stuck to the inside of the windows in the passenger saloon. But with time these weren’t changed at the start of every journey, and I can’t recall seeing any on any HST I’ve been on lately.

 

[Energy]

You are correct, there are no destination displays on any part of a ScotRail HST. I don’t know why I’m afraid. When they first came in the destinations were displayed on a sort of plastic sticker that stuck to the inside of the windows in the passenger saloon. But with time these weren’t changed at the start of every journey, and I can’t recall seeing any on any HST I’ve been on lately.

I'm suprised they didn't retrofit some behind the windows.

 

[Neptune]

They could have used the toilet windows for external displays. They’re by the door and would be big enough to display stopping pattern etc....

 

[najaB]

You are correct, there are no destination displays on any part of a ScotRail HST. I don’t know why I’m afraid.

Cost v benefit. While they are a "nice to have", all the stations that the I7C services operate from have PIS and most (all?) are staffed. So there's not really a need for destination displays. Speaking for myself, the only times that destination displays are genuinely useful is when I've been boarding a service that divides en-route.

 

[Azzy49]

Cost v benefit. While they are a "nice to have", all the stations that the I7C services operate from have PIS and most (all?) are staffed. So there's not really a need for destination displays. Speaking for myself, the only times that destination displays are genuinely useful is when I've been boarding a service that divides en-route.

If things get better around March/April, then i could expect the Set heading South. Since they keep delaying the Journey thus Month and last Month. They might as well wait until next Month or so instead of keep trying.

 

[BRX]

Cost v benefit. While they are a "nice to have", all the stations that the I7C services operate from have PIS and most (all?) are staffed. So there's not really a need for destination displays. Speaking for myself, the only times that destination displays are genuinely useful is when I've been boarding a service that divides en-route.

This probably is something that's perceived differently according to age...those of us old enough to have spent many years travelling on trains with no electronic displays probably tend to look at platform destination boards by default, whilst younger folk are maybe more in the habit of looking at displays on the train. If you're used to every train having an electronic destination on the front and side I guess it might be disconcerting when one has neither.

 

[scotraildriver]

They could have used the toilet windows for external displays. They’re by the door and would be big enough to display stopping pattern etc....

Scotrail HSTs no longer have Windows in the toilets or at the luggage racks as that's where the door now slides into.

 

[Neptune]

Scotrail HSTs no longer have Windows in the toilets or at the luggage racks as that's where the door now slides into.

Good point

 

[fgwrich]

Regarding the side mounted electronic destination displays, could they be coming soon to the fleet? The first sets delivered to Great Western didn't have them, but I believe a number of vehicles now do have them, and possibly some of the later deliveries may have had them fitted.

 

[hexagon789]

Regarding the side mounted electronic destination displays, could they be coming soon to the fleet? The first sets delivered to Great Western didn't have them, but I believe a number of vehicles now do have them, and possibly some of the later deliveries may have had them fitted.

Hadn't come across this before, but if the GWR ones can be so fitted, then it would seem logical to so equip the ScotRail sets.

 

[fgwrich]

Hadn't come across this before, but if the GWR ones can be so fitted, then it would seem logical to so equip the ScotRail sets.

I’m not sure how many vehicles are fitted with them so far, but you can see them in the 2nd and 4th Mk3s in this video.

 

[hexagon789]

I’m not sure how many vehicles are fitted with them so far, but you can see them in the 2nd and 4th Mk3s in this video.

Oh yes, even better than I thought. For some reason I was expecting ones built into the body sides but window mounted ones are of course more logical, simpler to fit and I would imagine cheaper. ScotRail should definitely see about getting these installed in their sets as and when practical.

 

[Energy]

Oh yes, even better than I thought. For some reason I was expecting ones built into the body sides but window mounted ones are of course more logical, simpler to fit and I would imagine cheaper. ScotRail should definitely see about getting these installed in their sets as and when practical.

Definetly, they already have a PIS, I would imagine TrainFX (I think they made the HST one, it looks like it) will be happy to make some extra displays to mount behind the windows like the GWR ones.

 

[hexagon789]

Definetly, they already have a PIS, I would imagine TrainFX (I think they made the HST one, it looks like it) will be happy to make some extra displays to mount behind the windows like the GWR ones.

If anything I'd say the fact they didn't implement this in the design to start with was a mistake.

 

[scotraildriver]

Of course it could be said that in 45 years of operation HSTs have managed just fine without destination displays. Class 800s don't have anything on the front. Given we now have screens at every station, smart phones, apps and everything else it makes you wonder how we coped in the 1970s. Just lazyiness? People want everything provided on a plate with no effort required from themselves?

 

[PG]

Surely we could use that tried and tested method which served us so well aka paper labels...

 

[XAM2175]

Oh yes, even better than I thought. For some reason I was expecting ones built into the body sides but window mounted ones are of course more logical, simpler to fit and I would imagine cheaper. ScotRail should definitely see about getting these installed in their sets as and when practical.

It takes up nearly half the bloody window!

 

[hexagon789]

It takes up nearly half the bloody window!

It usually does on trains so equipped, 170s/380s/385s etc etc.

 

[XAM2175]

It usually does on trains so equipped, 170s/380s/385s etc etc.

Which is exactly why I don't want to see any more of them

 

[BRX]

Which is exactly why I don't want to see any more of them

Same here!

 

[superalbs]

It takes up nearly half the bloody window!

And the actual screen size is absolutely tiny. Not really a great design by the looks of it. Can't even fit most destinations on!

 

[Bletchleyite]

TrainFX perchance? Crikey, that's a cheap job.

 

[hexagon789]

And the actual screen size is absolutely tiny. Not really a great design by the looks of it. Can't even fit most destinations on!View attachment 90253

I'll admit, that doesn't look great, the unit seems very large and bulky for little actual display. Perhaps another more streamlined design would be available?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'll admit, that doesn't look great, the unit seems very large and bulky for little actual display. Perhaps another more streamlined design would be available?

A more streamlined design is fitted to just about every bus in the country. Very poor choice by GWR there.

(Is this perhaps just summed up as "TrainFX is garbage"? )

 

[hexagon789]

A more streamlined design is fitted to just about every bus in the country. Very poor choice by GWR there.

(Is this perhaps just summed up as "TrainFX is garbage"? )

I think it is, because I think most people would agree it is!

(Or at least very outdated and clunky.)

 

[Energy]

And the actual screen size is absolutely tiny. Not really a great design by the looks of it. Can't even fit most destinations on!View attachment 90253

Looks like a piece of metal with holes regularly spaced in has been mounted (looks a little like a blind) where the blind would be and then a display zip tied or screwed to the metal (probably the former). It wouldn't be a bad way of mounting if it was a luggage rack where using up the window doesn't really matter but they could at least use a bigger display.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks like a piece of metal with holes regularly spaced in has been mounted (looks a little like a blind) where the blind would be and then a display zip tied or screwed to the metal (probably the former). It wouldn't be a bad way of mounting if it was a luggage rack where using up the window doesn't really matter but they could at least use a bigger display.

It actually looks sized to fit in the old toilet window bottom half where the paper labels originally went years ago, but I think those have been plated over?

 

[XAM2175]

How far into the saloon does the fixture protrude? Given it looks to be pretty close to head-height for somebody sitting at the window...

 

[fgwrich]

And the actual screen size is absolutely tiny. Not really a great design by the looks of it. Can't even fit most destinations on!View attachment 90253

I does appear to only be Half a Windows length, though your photo rather cuts off the rest of the Central bit. I would say it's the standard length Train FX system - same as what's fitted inside.