Rank TOCs'

[Peter]

mine are:
1 GNER
2 Virgin
3 MML
4 first transpenine express (buffet like monty python's cheese shop)
5 first great western
6 northern
7 central trains

 

[Darandio]

Mine would be:-

1. GNER (they take flak but i have never encountered any real problems)
2. Virgin (might have been no.1 if not for those damn voyagers)
3. Transpennine (had a lot of cancellations from Middlesbrough when I was using it)
4. Northern (no better, if not worse than when Arriva had it)

Cannot comment on the others.

 

[class 313]

Stagecoach isnt just a TOC, in fact, wont it be SWT?

1.MML
2.FCC
3.Silverlink

8)

 

[devon_metro]

SWT
fGW
GNER (nice trains)
MML
Virgin

 

[Tom]

Stagecoach covers, if you are pedantic:

- SWT
- Island Line
- Virgin XC
- Virgin WC

 

[nath9425]

M40 Trains LTD. In other words Chiltern Railways

 

[CallySleeper]

Agreed, the poll isn't very good. "Virgin", "Arriva", "Stagecoach" and "First" aren't TOCs.

 

[westcoaster]

Silverlink
Mml
Gat Ex
Central

 

[Daniel]

Silverlink

Biast



Stagecoach (SWT)
GNER
Midland Mainline

 

[class 313]

Biast

Meh,

I'm not surprised, Silverlink are a good TOC, nice trains, nice livery...

Yet SWT operate some of the ****est trains in the Southern/Southwestern network!

 

[First ScotRail]

First ScotRail
Virgin West Coast
TransPennine Express

 

[thefab444]

Meh,

I'm not surprised, Silverlink are a good TOC, nice trains, nice livery...

Yet SWT operate some of the ****est trains in the Southern/Southwestern network!

Ya what? Ya what? I guess you were ****ed when you said that. Silverlink 313s are poor inside... livery is ok I suppose, by today's standards is positavely normal!

1 - South West Trains - 'my local'
2 - Midland Mainline - impressed by their 222s; much better than Voyagers!
3 - Arriva Trains Wales - they know how to make money from enthusiasts.
3 - Virgin West Coast - I like the tilting...

3 is a joint position as whilst I admire ATW, I also hate them for the poor nature of the 158 I went on last year.

 

[class 313]

Ya what? Ya what? I guess you were ****ed when you said that. Silverlink 313s are poor inside... livery is ok I suppose, by today's standards is positavely normal!

3 - Virgin West Coast - I like the tilting...

I meant Silverlink COUNTY

But 455s that haven't been refurbished are the same as Silverlink 313s, I say Silverlink, cos FCC 313s are not bad.

 

[thefab444]

You could HAVE said. It was rather stupid TO not state which Silverlink. Yep, County is ok, they use some decent trains; 350s and the 321s are ok. Would be nice if Silverlink invested in a SWT-455 style refurb for their 313s... or even a Southern one. Get rid of them damn low back seats!

Silverlink strike me as a TOC that people forget. You don't hear much about them e.g. Worst Late Western and such. Maybe thats a good thing.

 

[class 313]

Maybe thats a good thing.

It is a good thing

 

[Daniel]

He's biast for Silverlink because he works for Silverlink.

And anyway, yeah, Silverlink COUNTY is fine - but as stated before their best trains are 350s and 321s - (well, County's only trains AFAIK). The 350s were intended for SWT. And saying that SWT are crap because of their un-refurb 455s is... pretty stupid. They are comparable to Siverlink 313s, yes, but come on, their in the middle of a refurbishment programme! And if your a passenger you've got to admit - 444's are better than 321s on longer journeys.

(waits for tom to say that 321 seats are comfier).

 

[class 313]

He's biast for Silverlink because he works for Silverlink.

And anyway, yeah, Silverlink COUNTY is fine - but as stated before their best trains are 350s and 321s - (well, County's only trains AFAIK). The 350s were intended for SWT. And saying that SWT are crap because of their un-refurb 455s is... pretty stupid. They are comparable to Siverlink 313s, yes, but come on, their in the middle of a refurbishment programme! And if your a passenger you've got to admit - 444's are better than 321s on longer journeys.

(waits for tom to say that 321 seats are comfier).

The refurb 445s are just as ****! The ironing board style seats hurt my back every time! The unrefurb 455/313 seats mould into my backs shape thus more comfy

321s have better seats than 444s and 450s, maybe cos I'm short but they are! At least 321 seats are not at a right angle! Also, back in NSE time, they had 317s on the WCML before 321s... *just thought id add that even if it is NSE and not Silverlink ^^*

 

[Tom]

SWT seats are ergonomically designed for adults...as they're the primary traveller on those trains.

 

[Kris]

SWT seats are ergonomically designed for adults...as they're the primary traveller on those trains.

Exsqueeze me! What adults would these be? Pygmies, hunchbacks and dwarves ( no offence meant to any Pygmies, hunchbacks and vertically challenged forum members).

Makes me laugh, nay incredulous that when they say they are ergonomic. If so then why do they cause so much back and leg pains. 159's don't and they re beautiful to sit in - drift off to sleep with the purr of the engine.

I had to pass to Southampton the other day on a 10 car Arkwright. So I sat in one of the best seats on the train (bit more ergonomic) in the centre cab.

Train's doing 90mph through New Milton - blokey taps on the little window to my right as I'm reading The Times (you have to do a thick - in more ways than one - American accent here) "Are you the driver? Where's the restaurant car?"

 

[westcoaster]

Silverlink
Mml
Gat Ex
Central

Biast

He's biast for Silverlink because he works for Silverlink.

And anyway, yeah, Silverlink COUNTY is fine - but as stated before their best trains are 350s and 321s - (well, County's only trains AFAIK). The 350s were intended for SWT. And saying that SWT are crap because of their un-refurb 455s is... pretty stupid. They are comparable to Siverlink 313s, yes, but come on, their in the middle of a refurbishment programme! And if your a passenger you've got to admit - 444's are better than 321s on longer journeys.

(waits for tom to say that 321 seats are comfier).

did not mean to cause a rift * look's turns but stays*cratch:

if you had a choice of fgw or silverlink to take you home on time and not brake down? i know who i would get on

 

[thefab444]

The refurb 445s are just as ****! The ironing board style seats hurt my back every time! The unrefurb 455/313 seats mould into my backs shape thus more comfy

321s have better seats than 444s and 450s, maybe cos I'm short but they are! At least 321 seats are not at a right angle! Also, back in NSE time, they had 317s on the WCML before 321s... *just thought id add that even if it is NSE and not Silverlink ^^*

No, its because you're short. I hate low-backs cos your head has nothing to rest on... Even a refurb 455 seat is far better. I especially like the 1 + 1 bits next to the vestibules.

 

[class 313]

No, its because you're short. I hate low-backs cos your head has nothing to rest on... Even a refurb 455 seat is far better. I especially like the 1 + 1 bits next to the vestibules.

Id rather not rest my head then be in a lot of pain!

 

[Gizmogle]

Midland Mainline!!! - HSTs and Meridians! Very high punctuality rates too! You really can't complain about MML!
Virgin - Comfortable Pendos (yes, I did just say that). Not much of a Voyager fan though. Pretty much always on time when I use them.
Central - Rated 3rd mainly because I just like their 170s and have good memories with them. Not great punctuality. Leicester to Brum is always getting cancelled.

These are really the TOCs that I use most (apart from Nothern), but still definately my favourite 3.

 

[Bonemaster]

For me the only ones that deserve any praise are

C2C
GNER
Midland Mainline
Virgin

and

Most of all Chiltern Trains

 

[Derek Kaye]

for me:
MML
GNER
Northern
VT
Central

Can't really comment on the rest.

 

[class 313]

Virgin - Comfortable Pendos (yes, I did just say that).

Oh no you didn't just say that biatch!

TAKE IT BACK

 

[Gizmogle]

Oh no you didn't just say that biatch!

TAKE IT BACK

Never! I really do find them comfortable!

I think I agree with thefab444 about you being too short
Maybe if you were a bit taller then you'd just fit nicely into the seats like I do

 

[class 313]

Never! I really do find them comfortable!

I think I agree with thefab444 about you being too short
Maybe if you were a bit taller then you'd just fit nicely into the seats like I do

Your only JUST taller than me

 

[Tom C]

Top 4

GNER - Excellent service, clean rolling stock

Merseyrail - Trains always turn up on time, Merseyside Daysave is a bargain, clean and efficient service. Just a shame they had to put those god awful high backed seats on the 508's but for the short journeys you cannot fault them.

Midland Mainline - Just as good as GNER but the 222's just take them down a peg although for plastic they are pretty good.

Scotrail - Used them loads of times and never once had a problem, its about the only First company which does anything properly.

Bottom 4

Central Trains - Can they go one single day without some sort of disaster?. Service cannot be trusted.

"one" - Again, just a very unreliable service. Worse then Central Trains simply because everytime there are replacement buses the journey becomes an ordeal because your seats are never reserved, the buses are always too early or too late and there are never any staff around.

Virgin - Might just be me but never had a pleasent journey. Both types of new trains are simply horrid inside.

First Capital Connect - FGW can blame the DfT for some of its problems but FCC can blame noone for what has to be the most appauling excuse for a train service. Trains are often filthy inside, reliabilty is woeful, ethics make Belizibub look almost cheerful and for Gods sake don't work for them.

 

[thefab444]

Id rather not rest my head then be in a lot of pain!

Exactly, because of your height.

Would you like me to knit you a little cushion with a cover with Silverlink logos and "321s are da bomb" on it?