Plastic cheap units

[37401]

Why is it that since 2000 we`ve been gettin Cheap-lookin tacky Plastic and foreign units

all of the below are just awfull

221-Canadian
220-Canadian
390-spanish/french/italian whatever
395-Japan
350-German
450-German
444-German
SET-Japan
180-Unknowen but proably canadian

and whats with those names! Desiro,Cordia,Pendolino,Voyager,Adelante,Meridian

 

[Pumbaa]

The point of this thread?

Oh wait, just got it, the country of origin influences the cheap-looking and tackiness of the train.

Bollocks.

 

[90019]

180-Unknowen but proably canadian

Birmingham.

 

[TDK]

Why is it that since 2000 we`ve been gettin Cheap-lookin tacky Plastic and foreign units

all of the below are just awfull

221-Canadian
220-Canadian
390-spanish/french/italian whatever
395-Japan
350-German
450-German
444-German
SET-Japan
180-Unknowen but proably canadian

and whats with those names! Desiro,Cordia,Pendolino,Voyager,Adelante,Meridian

You willprobably find that the workers in these countries are a damn sight better that the UK, look how long WSMR have been waiting for their coaches from Axiom (Marcroft) if that was in Japan they would have been ready in weeks. It happened to the motor cycle industry, the car industry, the electronics industry so why the surprise?

 

[90019]

221-Canadian
220-Canadian

Ah yes, Wakefield and Bruges, those well known Canadian places...

 

[generalvegitable]

we probably buy foreign because:
a) its cheaper
b) its more reliable, look at the U.K built units/locos, they are all breaking down, while foreign units/locos soldier on and still will work in 40 years, take the class 60, it doesnt fully work, while the 66 barely breaks down

 

[Max]

To be honest, I'm not certain whether we would have had the productive capacity to build all those units - we're not really a manufacturing based economy anymore. Obviously this wouldn't have been the case 20 or 30 years ago. And please check your facts before posting, several of those units, as stated above, were built or at least partially built here in the UK.

 

[Ascot]

390s are Brummie. Built in Washwood Heath. As are 175s and 180s (as said above).

 

[Daimler]

You willprobably find that the workers in these countries are a damn sight better that the UK, look how long WSMR have been waiting for their coaches from Axiom (Marcroft) if that was in Japan they would have been ready in weeks. It happened to the motor cycle industry, the car industry, the electronics industry so why the surprise?

Ah no, I'm sorry, I can't accept that. Marcroft is a tiny place and hardly representative of our workforce as a whole. As for the electronics industry - well, one of our main two exports is telecommunications equipment. Furthermore, British-made cars are consistently ranked among the best made and most reliable cars around, and let's not forget that the most successful train in our country today is the XXXXXStar series. While it's a Canadian company, it's made in Britain.

We have a depressing attitude in this country that anything British must be rubbish. This is false, as is the notion that anything German/Japanese will never break. Don't forget that the Honda Civic (to take one example of an impeccably reliable car, though I could of course have talked about the Nissans from Sunderland or any of the current crop of Jaguars) is made in the UK.

 

[dave_wm]

I must say, I think the 175s/180s are very very good units (except for the reliability issues) - they have large windows, a good ratio of airline to table seats, clear information screens, seats which line up with the windows and very effective air conditioning.

I travelled on a 3-car 175 from Chester to Llandudno on Saturday, and despite the train being very busy, it felt much nicer than a Voyager does when there are people standing everywhere.

That said, it didn't compare to the Mk3 I caught back from Wrexham General to Tame Bridge - although that may be because I was sitting in a pretty much empty declassified first class carriage. That said, the toilets were pretty dire, and one of the seats was broken.

 

[GB]

Why is it that since 2000 we`ve been gettin Cheap-lookin tacky Plastic and foreign units

As apposed to what? Dirty and tired stock that have been around years?

New "foreign" stock maybe lacking a certain charm or character, but I bet they (particulary Desiros) are a hell of alot cheaper to repair and maintain due to thier modular design.

 

[37401]

390s are Brummie. Built in Washwood Heath. As are 175s and 180s (as said above).

but built with non-birmingham parts

ok i can see where this is going so im not slagging off the counrty or the workers i was just saying why are so many companies from other places buliding them

 

[Daimler]

New "foreign" stock maybe lacking a certain charm or character, but I bet they (particulary Desiros) are a hell of alot cheaper to repair and maintain due to thier modular design.

Indeed, and I think Desiros have a good deal more character and charm than 321s.

 

[metrocammel]

Where on earth did you get Canada from!?

 

[37401]

Where on earth did you get Canada from!?

Bombardier

 

[turbo mick]

hi there

180s built in spain thats were adalante comes from

i drive 165/166 fleet and they are past there best first built in 1992

cheers

mick

 

[jopsuk]

but built with non-birmingham parts

ok i can see where this is going so im not slagging off the counrty or the workers i was just saying why are so many companies from other places buliding them

Because foreign companies have bought up the companies here- some of which may have been languishing somewhat due possibly in part to poor management for several years. Bombardier (your favourite Canadian conglomerate) have bought many companies in this country- for example, they now own Shorts Brothers, the aircraft manufacturer in Belfast, which until the general downturn in avaition this year (which is entirely due to Moneygeddon) had seen a lot of investment from their new parent company, and should to my knowledge be involved in their C-series program in some form.

The only Canadian built stock "taking over" here is the 66, and every man and his dog in Europe and beyond is buying them- a reflection on a well built, reliable good value product?

As for plastic- I don't think composites are used enough in train design- though this is in reality due to cost. I reckon a carbon-fibre train could offer awesome performance and energy efficiancy.

 

[Max]

hi there

180s built in spain thats were adalante comes from

i drive 165/166 fleet and they are past there best first built in 1992

cheers

mick

No, they were built in Birmingham as far as I know.

 

[37401]

No, they were built in Birmingham as far as I know.

may have been assembled here but all the parts a spanish

 

[90019]

Some parts may have been foreign, but the 180s were built in Birmingham.

Why does it matter if they use foreign parts anyway?

 

[37401]

Why does it matter if they use foreign parts anyway?

no, i diddnt say there was

 

[SuperVoyager]

What a pointless thread. Were not all haters of units like your are so keep your thoughts to yourself

 

[37401]

What a pointless thread. Were not all haters of units like your are so keep your thoughts to yourself

its a free country everyone is entitled to there opinion and theres a thing call free speech plus i dont hate units just not that keen on the new lot thats all

 

[SuperVoyager]

yes well when ive said that to you in the past, you just kept on saying that units were rubbish

 

[37401]

yes well when ive said that to you in the past, you just kept on saying that units were rubbish

nope not all units

id rather have a 142 to Penzance than a 221 or 220 more intresting
units i like

142
144
143
150
153
156
158

ok all units cept the ones introduced after 2000

 

[devon_metro]

What a pointless thread. Were not all haters of units like your are so keep your thoughts to yourself

That works both ways in all fairness.

 

[SuperVoyager]

nope not all units

id rather have a 142 to Penzance than a 221 or 220 more intresting

Well id rather have a 220/1 from penzance to aberdeen rather than a hst or old loco bollocks

 

[37401]

Well id rather have a 220/1 from penzance to aberdeen rather than a hst or old loco bollocks

and thats your opinion

 

[Max]

nope not all units

id rather have a 142 to Penzance than a 221 or 220 more intresting
units i like

142
144
143
150
153
156
158

ok all units cept the ones introduced after 2000

Can I remind you of this announcement please.

And please stop the bickering! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there is no need to shove it down everybody's throats over and over unless you have some hard evidence that it is in fact gospel!

 

[MCR247]

Sorry, but why do people call new units 'plastic'? I dont get how say a pendo is a lot more plastic than a MK3? :?