Pendos are the pits

[Metroland]

say passengers:

Virgin’s Pendolinos have received the worst rating of any long distance train in a Passenger Focus survey aimed at influencing the interior design of the new Intercity Express trains. However, another modern train, the Meridian fared best.

The survey canvassed passengers’ opinions of nine types of long distance trains currently in use, and their views were sought on 11 specific features of interior design. Luggage space, which received an approval rating of just 26%,

http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?id=16009

 

[Max]

It's clearly not a very reliable survey when for one aspect Hull Trains 222s were the highest ranked and EMT 222s were the lowest! :roll:

 

[MCR247]

It's clearly not a very reliable survey when for one aspect Hull Trains 222s were the highest ranked and EMT 222s were the lowest! :roll:

They are actually different you know....

 

[whoosh]

Luggage provision?

The ex-Pioneers have extra luggage racks in the vestibules, which the Meridians don't have.

 

[Max]

The differences between toilets on 221s and 222s are extremely superficial though.

 

[MCR247]

The differences between toilets on 221s and 222s are extremely superficial though.

Yes, but it depends on how clean they keep them....

 

[Max]

Yes, but it depends on how clean they keep them....

From a personal point of view, I find the dot, dot, dot after every post you make a bit arrogant! :roll: With regards to cleanliness, I'm not sure why the Voyagers fare so well, they always seem to be in a mess from experience.

 

[ukrob]

I'm sure this report was discussed a couple of weeks ago, and I'm sure it was proven to be full of flaws and inaccuracies?

 

[Metroland]

I have mixed feelings on the Pendos, been on them a few times, though still want to go north of Preston on one.

The performance is excellent on them
The ride is choppy and they tend to rattle at speed
The tilt is great
The passenger accommodation is a bit cramped, but very functional
The windows are too small for my liking.

 

[kvbham]

Although I find the Pendolino experience fantastic - it can be crammped in rush hour but on XC Voyager it is far worse and I feel that XC don't maintain them as well as Virgin. In my experience Voyagers are far worse!!!

 

[me123]

I struggle to believe a survey which claims the best toilets on the network are in Voyagers. I also cannot believe that Pendos are the worst trains out there. Don't get me wrong, they have quite a few flaws, but I like them and I know plenty of passengers who would vouch for them.

Pendolinos should have fared a good bit better IMO. I will always defend them and be happy to journey on one.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Would you rather do Glasgow to London on a Pendo or a Pacer? (yes I know they weren't included)

I wish people would stop moaning, they're good trains.

 

[87015]

Would you rather do Glasgow to London on a Pendo or a Pacer? (yes I know they weren't included)

I wish people would stop moaning, they're good trains.

Oh right because thats a sensible comparison isn't it?!

 

[tbtc]

I struggle to believe a survey which claims the best toilets on the network are in Voyagers

They are probably the BIGGEST toilets, if not the best...

 

[me123]

Oh right because thats a sensible comparison isn't it?!

A more serious comparison though; Birmingham to London on a Pendo or a 321?

 

[Max]

A more serious comparison though; Birmingham to London on a Pendo or a 321?

Or a Desiro? I don't think that would fare too badly!

 

[43021HST]

I have never traveled on one but if they are anything like the voyagers I'm going to side with the passengers

 

[Mojo]

A more serious comparison though; Birmingham to London on a Pendo or a 321?

Well it depends, if I was on a budget, then on a slower 321, as I can get a LM-only Super Off-peak Return for less than £10.00.

It's a journey I've done a few times, and if timings were the same, I wouldn't mind it. However that was a leisure journey and I brought my own refreshments. However, if I wanted to work or get some food...

 

[BlythPower]

Well it depends, if I was on a budget, then on a slower 321, as I can get a LM-only Super Off-peak Return for less than £10.00.

It's a journey I've done a few times, and if timings were the same, I wouldn't mind it. However that was a leisure journey and I brought my own refreshments. However, if I wanted to work or get some food...

Similar here. I often travel from Coventry to London and always go with London Midland simply because their walk up fares are a fraction of Virgin's. Yes, I'd rather have the speed of a Pendolino (but not the windows), but it's just not worth the extra cash.

 

[nedchester]

Would you rather do Glasgow to London on a Pendo or a Pacer? (yes I know they weren't included)

I wish people would stop moaning, they're good trains.

Or Glasgow to London on a Pendo or a Mk 4 set (proper comparison!)

The East Coast Wins every time.

The Pendos are mechanically good trains but the interior (especially in Standard) is appalling. Cramped, not enough toilets don't help for such a long distance train and the windows are too small and/or don't line up with seat.

 

[MCR247]

I have never traveled on one but if they are anything like the voyagers I'm going to side with the passengers

But they arent
But I'd recommed a journey on them

 

[Geezertronic]

I have never traveled on one but if they are anything like the voyagers I'm going to side with the passengers

I did Birmingham Intl to London Euston and return yesterday and I'm not siding with the passengers that took part in that crap survey. I had a very nice and relaxing ride in Coach A both ways and the minor delay we experienced departing from Euston due to "a track problem near Milton Keynes" was made up by the time we got to Coventry

Yes the window alignment issue will always be a bugbear blah blah blah but aside from that I must travel on different Pendolinos to the complainers

 

[Pumbaa]

Cramped, not enough toilets don't help for such a long distance train and the windows are too small and/or don't line up with seat.

I really don't get this toilet comment. There's plenty on a 390! Two or three slidey door loos, and many normal bogs as well. There's hardly queues going up and down the corridor to them.

And overall, the 390s are very good trains. Yes admittedly the restricted view can be a problem, but in my very frequent experience travelling on them there are plenty of people to sit in these seats as they want to just go to sleep or read a book!

Legroom is more than adequate, and I prefer the airline seats in Pendo to table seats, and I have been a member of the 6' club for many years! The ride can admittedly be choppy, but no more choppy than Mk4s over the Wakefield Westgate section of ECML or indeed through the Peterborough area.

And most importantly, the aspect most people seem to forget, the Pendos are to be thanked for revolutionising rail travel on the WCML. They have fulfilled the purpose they were designed for, and although it is a shame 140mph will probably not be achieved in their lifetime, the fact that new cars have been ordered to lengthen 31 of them is a sign surely of the success that they have brought about. Quicker journey times, more frequent journeys and an increased propensity of passengers to take the train!

 

[Geezertronic]

And 4 new 11 car Pendolino's taking the fleet to 56 (excluding 390033)

 

[Metroland]

Yep, the small windows would have BR engineers turning in their graves..

[youtube]9fdKMMUnIjw[/youtube]

 

[asylumxl]

Yep, the small windows would have BR engineers turning in their graves..

Either that or they may appreciate the need for them, as they make the 390s comply with new crash safety laws.

 

[nedchester]

Either that or they may appreciate the need for them, as they make the 390s comply with new crash safety laws.

Rubbish. How come other new units don't have small windows then???

 

[ukrob]

Rubbish. How come other new units don't have small windows then???

Possibly because others aren't nine carriage tilting trains taking curves at 8 degrees at 125mph with enoumous momentum behind them?

 

[asylumxl]

And on top of that the rules are not compulsory yet.

 

[metrocammel]

I really don't get this toilet comment. There's plenty on a 390! Two or three slidey door loos, and many normal bogs as well. There's hardly queues going up and down the corridor to them.

I'll let someone else do the calculations, but it is a fact that there are far less toilets on a Pendolino than the equivalent MK3 rake, considering there's one toilet per coach on the latter.

Regarding pax comfort on Pendo's, I echo the comments about the vibrations at speed being rather annoying, and there is of course the small windows, which is a 'necessary evil'. The claustrophobic atmosphere in standard is also unavoidable, due to the high-backed seats, and the tilt profile. If I ever travel for a considerable distance on a Pendolino, wherever possible, I'll book First Class in advance, as I find the passenger environment a considerable amount better than standard.