MK2 coaches still in normal passenger service...

[poshbakerloo]

MK2 coaches still in normal passenger service...

Are there still any? I think there was some that run on a route in Wales, but I dunno if that is still the case. But must be pretty old now! Also are there any photos of these coaches, I would quite like to see a refurbished MK2 train!

 

[Failed Unit]

MK2 coaches still in normal passenger service...

Are there still any? I think there was some that run on a route in Wales, but I dunno if that is still the case. But must be pretty old now! Also are there any photos of these coaches, I would quite like to see a refurbished MK2 train!

Scotrail has some,

The sleepers have 2 per portion for the catering vechile and the seated accomodation.

The loco haulled Edinburgh - Fife peak services are all Mk2 operated.

 

[anthony263]

Arriva use some on the following services:

0532: Holyhead - Cardiff (ARR 09:58)
06:15 Cardiff - Holyhead (Arr 20:50)

First Great Western:

diagram 1

06:20 Bristol TM - Cardiff
08:00 Cardiff - Paignton
12:47 Paignton - Cardiff (Arr 16:20)
17:00 Cardiff - Taunton (Ar 19:05)

Diagram 2:

07:28 Taunton - Bristol Parkway
09:13 Bristol Parkway - Weston Super Mare
11:02 Taunton - Cardiff
14:00 Cardiff - Taunton
16:16 Taunton - Cardiff
19:00 Cardiff - Taunton

Diagram 2 has been operating recently with a full set of intercity swallow liveried mk 2 coaches

 

[90019]

There are plenty around.
IIRC, FSR have 22, not sure if that's just the sleeper or includes the EWS charter ones used on the Fife Circle.
I know the sleeper requires quite a few (the BUOs and RLOs are Mk2fs), and I think there are 2 Fife Circle LHCS trains now which probably means at least 12 EWS Charter liveried Mk2fs (Are they both the same formation of TSO-TSO-TSO-BSO-TSO-TSO that the original one was?)

ATW have 3 Mk2fs on the WAG Express, and I think they have some others as well.
Not sure how many Mk2s FGW are using.
I think there are some others I've missed.

There's also charters and tours as well

 

[43167]

Plenty in everyday use.

All as previously posted, plus the Floodex set in Cumbria has a Mk2 BSO in the set.

And then the charter operators have aload aswell.

Old yes, life expired no way. The air-cons have a good few years left yet.

The Mark 3's are best design of coach ever built, but some of the Mark 2's are not far behind.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

The Mark 3's are best design of coach ever built, but some of the Mark 2's are not far behind.

In your opinion surely?
problem with mk3s is the crappy refurbs the likes of fgw have given them, yes the old interiors were aging but they were comfortable in my opinion.

 

[Dolive22]

Rail-Blue charters have some, although not in normal passenger service. Their website at http://www.rail-bluecharters.co.uk/charters/our_rolling_stock has details and some pics. The MK3s are at the top, scroll down for the MK2s. They have First and Standard class, as well as a buffet car, but no pics of the buffet car.

 

[43167]

In your opinion surely?
problem with mk3s is the crappy refurbs the likes of fgw have given them, yes the old interiors were aging but they were comfortable in my opinion.

pre-refurb MK3's im talking about.

Your spot on with refurbished ones. The old interiors were far better and now the best MK3's in terms of comfort are on Grand Central and WMSR.

 

[WillPS]

In your opinion surely?
problem with mk3s is the crappy refurbs the likes of fgw have given them, yes the old interiors were aging but they were comfortable in my opinion.

In my opinion, the refurbs have vastly improved the Mk. 3s. The East Coast (and to a lesser extent CrossCountry) is fantastic. I've not been on the FGW ones but I'm sure they're great too, the seats (which I've tried in the EMT 158s) are really good.

 

[starrymarkb]

In your opinion surely?
problem with mk3s is the crappy refurbs the likes of fgw have given them, yes the old interiors were aging but they were comfortable in my opinion.

FGW's are much better then before - for a start the seats are now comfortable and I can rest my head.

Less said about the abominations in XC's HSTs the better

 

[WillPS]

FGW's are much better then before - for a start the seats are now comfortable and I can rest my head.

Less said about the abominations in XC's HSTs the better

It would help if they finished the job! Have they got digital reservations working in any yet??

 

[Pumbaa]

It would help if they finished the job! Have they got digital reservations working in any yet??

Nope and it's not going to either. Plan abandoned as the cost of installing a Voyager system was too great to justify the use.

 

[mumrar]

Less said about the abominations in XC's HSTs the better

I've found the XC refurb to be extremely comfortable, and was able to sleep from Derby to Plymouth uninterrupted. This is very difiicult for train crew, as the jolt of a train pulling to a stop always hightens my alertness. The unrefurbed seats on the other hand had the indignity of removing a solid armrest from your anus if you wanted a window seat, whilst dragging your thighs along the table to minimise the problem. I'm glad the old interiors are history.

 

[jopsuk]

You want refurbished? This is a Mark 2F- exported to New Zealand

 

[37401]

Less said about the abominations in XC's HSTs the better

oh no, this and the NXEC rants are/were getting boring, im starting to wonder if people are happy with anything these days. the XC HST sets are top dog IMO

 

[poshbakerloo]

You want refurbished? This is a Mark 2F- exported to New Zealand

oooh i saw then on a youtube video! its quite impressive!

 

[Max]

oh no, this and the NXEC rants are/were getting boring, im starting to wonder if people are happy with anything these days. the XC HST sets are top dog IMO

Indeed, I travelled on one of these for the first time last week and found it far superior to a Voyager. You can certainly tell they're built to a similar spec. as the East Coast sets!

 

[MCR247]

You want refurbished? This is a Mark 2F- exported to New Zealand

hock:hock:hock: Why didn't we do that?

 

[HSTfan!!!]

hock:hock:hock: Why didn't we do that?

because the general public seem to like brand new trains better than refurbed old ones perhaps?

 

[Crossforth]

hock:hock:hock: Why didn't we do that?

They look amazing
I just hope they are as comfy

But if they are comfier, why haven't we got them?

 

[WillPS]

You want refurbished? This is a Mark 2F- exported to New Zealand

Wow.

Indeed, I travelled on one of these for the first time last week and found it far superior to a Voyager. You can certainly tell they're built to a similar spec. as the East Coast sets!

Seems like a half-done job to me. Lacks the finish of the Mallard refurb.

 

[Failed Unit]

because the general public seem to like brand new trains better than refurbed old ones perhaps?

Not too sure about that when you look at the passengers feelings about inter-city rolling stock the mk3's and mk4's seem to be liked more than the pendo's according to passenger focuses research about the seating on IEP.

 

[MCR247]

because the general public seem to like brand new trains better than refurbed old ones perhaps?

But people can't tell the different most of the time. I've heard people talking about 'the new trains' referring to XC HSTs

 

[jopsuk]

hock:hock:hock: Why didn't we do that?

Because we replaced them either with cascaded mrk3s (newer, longer) displaced by new 125mph+ stock, or directly in many intercity cases with 125mph+ stock, or with faster accelerating regional DMUs.

 

[truckman060473]

as far as refurbs are concerned on the FGW HST's they may look modern and smart but they now have fewer table seats than a 3 coach class 175. that is, excluding the two 1st class coaches.

 

[Pumbaa]

as far as refurbs are concerned on the FGW HST's they may look modern and smart but they now have fewer table seats than a 3 coach class 175. that is, excluding the two 1st class coaches.

They were still externally rated the best HST refurb over MML, GNER and XC though (PF).

 

[mumrar]

Seems like a half-done job to me. Lacks the finish of the Mallard refurb.

How many sets did the Mallard program cater for, don't forget XC only have 5 in total, and they required more work than the Mallards due to time out of service.

 

[Lampshade]

I travelled on an XC HST back in August and found it to be generally good, the only criticism being a chronic lack of legroom.