East Midlands Trains Class 222

[365fenman]

I travelled from Sheffield to London the other day on a class 222 for the first time. What a poor experience! For the whole two and a half hours of the journey, I couln't relax because of the loud engine noise and the non-stop vibration, which you can feel just by putting your hand on the table.

I would much prefer to be able to relax on a proper loco-hauled service and pay the penalty of an extra five to ten minutes due to slower acceleration, rather than travel on what is, to be honest, at best a moderate upgrade over a class 158 sprinter (at least in comfort terms).

 

[AndyW33]

One thing that EMT do right is to mark on their published timetables which trains are operated by Class 222s (Meridians) and which by HSTs. Apart from that there's not a lot that can be done to avoid 222s until the electrification is in place, which will of course remove the underfloor engine problem.

 

[Bungle965]

If the worst that you can complain about is the ride quality, then it cannot be that bad.

On a side point i find that the 222 are actually very good trains. And if you find them bad trains maybe you should travel on there sister trains the dreaded voyagers!!!
Sam

 

[MidlandMainlie]

If the worst that you can complain about is the ride quality, then it cannot be that bad.

On a side point i find that the 222 are actually very good trains. And if you find them bad trains maybe you should travel on there sister trains the dreaded voyagers!!!
Sam

Agreed, I've traveled on EMT's HST's and 222's and apart from each some more engine noise and vibrations when pulling away from stations on the 222's I carn't sat I've noticed any major differences in terms of comfort between the different trains or when they are cruising along. Not had the pleasure of traveling on a Voyager yet so carn't comment

 

[edwin_m]

The 222s are definitely way ahead of the Voyagers and show what a difference a decent interior design can make. The only thing I can think of that is worse on the 222s is the rather obtrusive noise when the automatic doors at the saloon ends open and close (and maybe that is just as bad on Voyagers but I've never noticed because of all the other things wrong with them...).

 

[RobShipway]

Trust me when I say that the noise in the class 222's is a let better than in the similar class 220/221's and given a choice I prefer the class 222's ride any day.

Unfortunately, in travelling from time to time from Reading to Birmingham, the only choice I have is either XC class 220/221 or GWR 165/166 service to Banbury and then change to ether XC or Chiltern Railways into Birmingham.

 

[gazthomas]

The 222s are definitely way ahead of the Voyagers and show what a difference a decent interior design can make. The only thing I can think of that is worse on the 222s is the rather obtrusive noise when the automatic doors at the saloon ends open and close (and maybe t hat is just as bad on Voyagers but I've never noticed because of all the other things wrong with them...).

I agree, 222s are definitely better than Voyagers, seem more airy and better maintained inside

 

[Mikey C]

I travelled from Sheffield to London the other day on a class 222 for the first time. What a poor experience! For the whole two and a half hours of the journey, I couln't relax because of the loud engine noise and the non-stop vibration, which you can feel just by putting your hand on the table.

I would much prefer to be able to relax on a proper loco-hauled service and pay the penalty of an extra five to ten minutes due to slower acceleration, rather than travel on what is, to be honest, at best a moderate upgrade over a class 158 sprinter (at least in comfort terms).

I've never found the noise on 222s that obtrusive personally, maybe it was a "bad unit"?

 

[MCR247]

I travelled from Sheffield to London the other day on a class 222 for the first time. What a poor experience! For the whole two and a half hours of the journey, I couln't relax because of the loud engine noise and the non-stop vibration, which you can feel just by putting your hand on the table.

I would much prefer to be able to relax on a proper loco-hauled service and pay the penalty of an extra five to ten minutes due to slower acceleration, rather than travel on what is, to be honest, at best a moderate upgrade over a class 158 sprinter (at least in comfort terms).

Interesting. I for one find the opposite, and I try and avoid EMT HSTs where possible (which living in Nottingham makes hard!). If I'm on an off peak return or similar, I will always take the much busier slow London - Nottingham train rather than the fairly empty fast. The noise of the 222 doesn't bother me (it isn't much more noticeable than the general 'run' sounds of the HST at high speeds imo) and the ride quality of 222s is infinitely better. Power sockets are also a big plus, it is only the lack of phone signal that bothers me. I also detest IC70s with a passion!

You say you couldn't 'relax' because of the engine noise, what is it you mean by this?

 

[Retorus]

Can't say I've ever had an issue when using a 222. Certainly better than a Voyager, although I'm not one of those who find them that bad. Maybe there was something wrong with that particular unit? Or maybe you're a little too sensitive?

 

[hassaanhc]

The engine on a 222 coach is 1/3 down from one end, which means with a bit of research if you pick the right end you can be very far from the engine and you'll struggle to hear it (and is the case with most other DMU classes too). But if you've sat right above it, and there is a table situated at that point, then it can be a bit annoying, but not to the exaggerated level in the first post. The engine used (also found in Classes 175, 180, 185, 220 and 221) is known for being loud, but sound deadening is good.
If you slowed down the journey time, you might end up with a situation where changing at Doncaster is quicker, and that wouldn't be a good advert at all for the MML and EMT.

 

[Tracked]

a few times on 222's I've had a whiff of the same toilet issue that Voyagers have, but other than that they're alright. Nice acceleration on them, plenty of space, nice vibrations

 

[Domh245]

The 222s are definitely way ahead of the Voyagers and show what a difference a decent interior design can make. The only thing I can think of that is worse on the 222s is the rather obtrusive noise when the automatic doors at the saloon ends open and close (and maybe that is just as bad on Voyagers but I've never noticed because of all the other things wrong with them...).

The Mk3 I was on yesterday had a bit of an issue with it's saloon end door. We came to a crawl on a canted piece of track and the thing kept on sliding halfway closed before slamming open again with quite a thud. Quite a few people were roused from their naps and didn't look all that pleased about it!

 

[edwin_m]

The Mk3 I was on yesterday had a bit of an issue with it's saloon end door. We came to a crawl on a canted piece of track and the thing kept on sliding halfway closed before slamming open again with quite a thud. Quite a few people were roused from their naps and didn't look all that pleased about it!

Yes, that's been a problem with Mk3s for as long as I remember, perhaps since they were introduced and certainly since the adoption of greater levels of cant and cant deficiency on routes including the MML. I think some of them have the circuitry changed so if they slide open for reasons other than triggering of the pressure mat they just stay that way. Unfortunately the door isolation toggle switch that used to be in each vestibule has now been replaced by something that needs a carriage key.

 

[nottsnurse]

Can't say I've ever had an issue with Class 222s and I travel on either them or HSTs regularly when commuting between Nottingham and Leicester.

Each to their own I suppose.

 

[robbeech]

When i choose a Worksop to London Via Nottingham instead of Via Retford (it's often noticeably cheaper on 1st Advances) I end up on a 222 on the **:05 service. They're not the worst things in the world but I too prefer a MKIII coach pulled by a Class 43. I'm off there tomorrow morning and have opted for a "Via East mids Parkway". It's an extra 20 minute wait at Nottingham but it makes a change from a 222. Same on the way back too on Thursday. The **:29 services out of St Pancras only give me a 8 minute connection time to get the Worksop train, no use at all if its 6 or 7 minutes late like it has been in the past.

Rob

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I use the HSTs from EMT a lot when going to London on megabus and whilst I can say I love the pull away from a station, the constantly slamming of the doors at each carriage end - even on straight track - is blooming annoying at times. Can it be changed from a pressure mat to something akin to a sensor above the door? Or, and here is an idea, do what they have on old fashioned stock and have manually operated doors

 

[Harbon 1]

On the odd occasions I do end up on a Class 222 I can definitely say I'm always impressed with them and how much the voyagers could've been much better trains.

The only thing I can remember being bad about them was the tables vibrated a lot but I might be thinking of another train, it's been a while!