Pendos are the pits

[MCR247]

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.

There is actually to bogs per coach in a Mk3, bar the Buffet

 

[devon_metro]

Where did this no toilet in the TGS nonsense come from? Pre refurb all TGSs had a toilet. Was only the buffet without one.

 

[MCR247]

twas posted somewhere else, so i assumed it was right

2 per coach, none in the Buffet nor the TGS.

 

[Coronation 229.]

Last year I did this for the Macmillan nurses. I went on every Pendolino except 033 City of Glasgow which was damaged at Grayrigg, it took me six weeks to do it and all the money I raised went to the nurses, I also could not have done it without the help of the Virgin staff at Lancaster station. The Pendolino`s where brilliant to ride on and if I get the chance I would do it all again. P.S. I did this in appreciation because after a heart attack I lost all my confidence but doing this I got it all back.

 

[mathmo]

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.

Totally agree. My last two Pendo trips were in FC and were a dream compared to previous ones (though in part due to the large number of unoccupied seats giving me loads of seat and luggage space!). The vibrations/rattles at speed are, I'm fairly sure, mainly due to the window blinds that can be pulled down, but never are and so just rattle all the time. It's really annoying and a problem that should be fixed (even if just by removing the blinds!).

 

[MCR247]

I dont see the point in blinds that dont even come all the way down. I dont think they are used much, I think partly because, I dont like pulling them down, as someone behind my want to look out the window.

 

[metrocammel]

I dont see the point in blinds that dont even come all the way down. I dont think they are used much, I think partly because, I dont like pulling them down, as someone behind my want to look out the window.

The blinds are a complete folly. If they were designed so that they worked independently for each row, they'd be fine - like on planes, however, with the way they are designed on Pendolinos, and Voyagers, you can imagine causing quite an argument if someone wanted shade, and someone wanted to look out of the window!

 

[MCR247]

The blinds are a complete folly. If they were designed so that they worked independently for each row, they'd be fine - like on planes, however, with the way they are designed on Pendolinos, and Voyagers, you can imagine causing quite an argument if someone wanted shade, and someone wanted to look out of the window!

Thats what i thought, so i just leave them up because I'm not sure if anyones looking outside. But i'd pull it up during the day!

 

[nedchester]

Don't care what anyone says but Pendolinos are the worst trains for Inter City travel in terms of passenger comfort built in this country.

 

[jamesontheroad]

The blinds are a complete folly. If they were designed so that they worked independently for each row, they'd be fine - like on planes, however, with the way they are designed on Pendolinos, and Voyagers, you can imagine causing quite an argument if someone wanted shade, and someone wanted to look out of the window!

Just advise the person who wants the blind down to move to one of the seats without a window. There's more than enough

 

[Waverley125]

exactly how much biger is the internal cabin of the Pendo compared to the mk4 stock? checked out some of the pics on flickr to compare, and it seems you get in standard class on the 225s what you pay for 1st on the Pendos. If I'm doing London-Glasgow without a time limit, I'll always go via the East Coast.

 

[MCR247]

But you may think that, but have you notice that the MK4 is more open, but you will more often see it with people standing. I was on a 0900 Kings Cross to Glasgow a few weeks back, and people standing by the time we were Doncaster, where as when i travelled back to London on a Pendo, no-one was standing. So would you rather have it open and stand, or cramped and have a seats?

 

[ukrob]

Don't care what anyone says but Pendolinos are the worst trains for Inter City travel in terms of passenger comfort built in this country.

If you don't care what anyone else says, why should anyone care about your opinion?

 

[87015]

But you may think that, but have you notice that the MK4 is more open, but you will more often see it with people standing. I was on a 0900 Kings Cross to Glasgow a few weeks back, and people standing by the time we were Doncaster, where as when i travelled back to London on a Pendo, no-one was standing. So would you rather have it open and stand, or cramped and have a seats?

How did you work that out?
Pendo = 300 standard class seats
Mk4 set = 360+ standard class seats (5x72 plus however many in the buffet these days)

 

[MCR247]

How did you work that out?
Pendo = 300 standard class seats
Mk4 set = 360+ standard class seats (5x72 plus however many in the buffet these days)

I wasnt basing that on how many seats, it was on personal experience

 

[ukrob]

How did you work that out?
Pendo = 300 standard class seats
Mk4 set = 360+ standard class seats (5x72 plus however many in the buffet these days)

What has the number of seats got to do with anything?

 

[nedchester]

If you don't care what anyone else says, why should anyone care about your opinion?

Cos I'm right!!!

 

[wouldntulike2kno]

I love pendolinos so much, and personally dont see a problem with them

 

[87015]

What has the number of seats got to do with anything?

Because he was inferring that "open" Mk4 sets don't have enough seats because of the coach layout. Which is a complete nonsense when the "cramped but seated" Pendojunk actually has less seats.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Cos I'm right!!!

I agree with that aswell.

 

[MCR247]

Because he was inferring that "open" Mk4 sets don't have enough seats because of the coach layout. Which is a complete nonsense when the "cramped but seated" Pendojunk actually has less seats.

ok, i didnt know the facts, but i was just saying i havent found many people standing on pendos, when i have on mk4s. I didnt say it dosent have enough seats or that it has less than a pendo!

 

[djw1981]

But you may think that, but have you notice that the MK4 is more open, but you will more often see it with people standing. I was on a 0900 Kings Cross to Glasgow a few weeks back, and people standing by the time we were Doncaster, where as when i travelled back to London on a Pendo, no-one was standing. So would you rather have it open and stand, or cramped and have a seats?

I think that could be more to do with time of day and service frequency than train seating capacity.

 

[45039]

been on both pendo and voyager and also meridan ,the meridan are ok the pendo not bad but poor quality with the fittings as for the voyager i would rather travel in a mrk1 toilet they are taking the p**s in passenger (sorry customer) comfort cattle was treated better

 

[Waverley125]

for me, the diference is that i've never felt a difference between sitting on a 225 with every seat full, and sitting on a pendo half-full. The cramped nature of the cabin makes the pendo a lot less pleasant to travel on if crowded than something like a 225.

Went down to london a few weeks back, stood up the whole time. Not a problem, plenty of space to move about & stand in the aisles and vestibules. Which you can't do on a pendolino.

I'm not saying the pendos haven't reduced journey times-they have. But I would not want to do Euston-Glasgow if i could help it. In terms of passenger comfort, a 225 or HST to edinburgh and then either on to central or a turbostar to Queen Street would be preferable, if at least an hour longer.

 

[tbtc]

ok, i didnt know the facts, but i was just saying i havent found many people standing on pendos, when i have on mk4s. I didnt say it dosent have enough seats or that it has less than a pendo!

To be fair, the Pendos have generally increased frequency (50% more to Birmingham, trebling the Manchester service, and doubling the Glasgow service in the longer term), whereas the 225s generally replaced HSTs at a "one for one" ratio (since improved with additional Leeds services etc).

Would be interesting to see the reaction to 390s if Manchester to London was still hourly

 

[MCR247]

To be fair, the Pendos have generally increased frequency (50% more to Birmingham, trebling the Manchester service, and doubling the Glasgow service in the longer term), whereas the 225s generally replaced HSTs at a "one for one" ratio (since improved with additional Leeds services etc).

Would be interesting to see the reaction to 390s if Manchester to London was still hourly

Thats true

 

[First ScotRail]

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

The East Coast Wins every time.

Certainly not in my opinion, do I go the faster option with Virgin, or the slower East Coast route which is being dragged through the dirt by NX. With restrictions on water and biscuits and pay for food (if first class) or a complimentary meal and free drinks and alcohol, also access to the euston lounge WHATEVER first class ticket!

Standard class do I go NX with a buffet or a wide open plan shop which allows me to clearly view all the products available? Also an onboard magazine produced monthly rather than a 3 monthly 25 page piece from NX?

Fares wise there is not much difference between Glasgow - London for VT and NX

These are of course my views. The pendolinos do have their downsides, they can feel abit cramped and luggage space aint great (however VT have improved this), however the toilets are ok as is first class accommodation. I certainly prefer them to the Mk4s which I think are VERY cramped, especially in standard class.

 

[Geezertronic]

Had a nice ride from Birmingham International to London Euston on Virgin Soldiers in Standard Class Coach C this morning and have the return journey on the 1803 back later on. With the exception of Window Alignment, I still can't understand what all of the fuss is about?

 

[37401]

What has the number of seats got to do with anything?

amount of passengers it can carry prehaps, which is a big need because noone wants to fight fo the only seat on the train (this means war....)

 

[ukrob]

amount of passengers it can carry prehaps, which is a big need because noone wants to fight fo the only seat on the train (this means war....)

Err I clearly meant inthe context of how it was presented in this thread as an argument

 

[37401]

Err I clearly meant inthe context of how it was presented in this thread as an argument

oh well in that case i do apologise