Kneedown
Established Member
As i've said elsewhere, many times! it's hardly a disadvantage at all. The vast majority of Sprinter speeds are, in practice, not worth the paper (or speed boards) they are written on. A 158 is very slow to accelerate to 90mph and in the majority of cases no sooner do they get above the linespeed for "normal trains", than they have to slow down for the next restriction. The only exception to this is the few short miles from Queen Adelaide to Lakenheath where Sprinters can do 75 whereas other stock is restricted to 45. Hardly a big saving in time on a 5hr+ journey from Liverpool, and there are other areas where a Voyager/Meridian type unit will outperform a 158. Grantham to Peterboro, and superior electric type acceleration being just two of these.
As regards capacity, it's true that 2X158's have more seats than a Meridian, Voyager or whatever, but more seats doesn't mean more capacity. There is almost no luggage space, and a heckuva lot of passengers who use the route have plenty of suitcases and other luggage with them, with nowhere to put it.
The simple fact is that a Voyager/Meridian/Adelante type unit is the most ideal type for this route that currently exists. It's too much for 158's that, despite refresh, are showing their age now and would be more suited on shorter, less intensive routes.
If Bombardier or Alstom come up with a lightweight Meridian or Adelante then so much the better!
Everyone is entitled to their point of view and i'm certainly not trying to rubbish or betlittle anyone elses opinion, but i drive over this entire route, several times a week sometimes and have done so for the last 15years, and so if i don't know how the route should develop for the better then it's a pretty poor show.
