Scotrail Class 385 Discussion

[GrimShady]

Former transport minister Humza Yusaf is on record that he commutes to Edinburgh by train. He will personally experience the full force in the right place and hopefully can have a word in the right ear and get something done about it.

I wouldn't hold my breath though.

Rail seems to be the only form of travel where passenger comfort is in regression. Cars, Coaches, Aircraft, Trams, all get better as the years go by...rail for the most part gets worse!

 

[Mingulay]

Rail seems to be the only form of travel where passenger comfort is in regression. Cars, Coaches, Aircraft, Trams, all get better as the years go by...rail for the most part gets worse!

Sadly true in the main and no excuse really. Good design does exist. Talking of comfort on trains. My 170 from DUNBLANE today has both toilets out of service . It had been logged on Saturday and still in service. Come on ScotRail! Scotland’s best ever railway. ? I assume there are no surplus 170 about still ?

 

[jopsuk]

I'd challenge that air travel is becominf more comfortable- the expensive end of multiclass aircraft maybe, but most shorthaul now is budget airlines with ever tighter seat pitch, and there's the march of narrower seats on widebodies (eg 10-across seating on 777s)

 

[Mingulay]

I'd challenge that air travel is becominf more comfortable- the expensive end of multiclass aircraft maybe, but most shorthaul now is budget airlines with ever tighter seat pitch, and there's the march of narrower seats on widebodies (eg 10-across seating on 777s)

True enough. But less about seat design more about leg room or lack of it. You can have the most luxurious contoured seat but if your knees are on your chest your not comfortable. Airline seats are very comfortable the more you pay. For most commuter trains for shortish journey legroom is the key to comfort more than the seat hardness. 158 refurb sacrificed legroom for big seats. Desperately uncomfortable train. The best 158 s are the unrefurhished ones from England with the blue grab handle tops. Comfortable seats and adequate legroom. If scotrail copied them they would have improved comfort. Sadly they made them worse with less than Ryan air legroom !

 

[InOban]

Well, the light engine has set off for the factory, but whether it's just a little jaunt like last week, or there actually is a set to deliver, we'll see later.

 

[Typhoon_93]

Well, the light engine has set off for the factory, but whether it's just a little jaunt like last week, or there actually is a set to deliver, we'll see later.

My mate who just popped over the factory says the engine is getting ready to go back to Tyne. Will be waiting for a path to go in the system.

 

[youngac]

They'll need to massively increase the number of deliveries soon if they're to have 30 units in service by December.

 

[superkev]

Rail seems to be the only form of travel where passenger comfort is in regression. Cars, Coaches, Aircraft, Trams, all get better as the years go by...rail for the most part gets worse!

Yes. I hear the population is growing about an inch per generation (about 25 years) yet seat spacing seems tighter than ever. Coupled to claustrophobic interiors with over high hard seats and low ceilings I'll stick to my car.
K

 

[Southsider]

They'll need to massively increase the number of deliveries soon if they're to have 30 units in service by December.

There must be a technical problem preventing delivery of these units. Scotrail are desperate for them but the schedule is slipping. Are Hitachi engineers still accompanying / nursemaiding the ones in service?

 

[mcmad]

Dunno but there is an ever growing number of units parked up at Eastfield not moving which doesn't inspire confidence that they'll be introduced anytime soon. Given the number of shortformed EMU's elsewhere they're not sitting doing nothing through choice.

 

[Typhoon_93]

They'll need to massively increase the number of deliveries soon if they're to have 30 units in service by December.

Shouldn’t be to difficult to achieve with 16 sets up there already.

 

[youngac]

Shouldn’t be to difficult to achieve with 16 sets up there already.

They'll need to have more than one delivered per week from now in order to have at least 30 up in Scotland by the timetable change.

 

[SC318250]

Looks like planning to have another go on Friday.
Would think they need to deliver a couple of 4 car units in the next few weeks

 

[92002]

Dunno but there is an ever growing number of units parked up at Eastfield not moving which doesn't inspire confidence that they'll be introduced anytime soon. Given the number of shortformed EMU's elsewhere they're not sitting doing nothing through choice.

The Eastfield units are the staff training ones. Which don't have enough mikeage to enter device.
However 385004 was out yesterday on training and mileage accumulation.

They only tend to venture out in the later morning and early afternoon.

 

[youngac]

Noticed this morning that 380/385 stop signs have been put at stations on the Newton branch.

 

[ScottDarg]

Noticed this morning that 380/385 stop signs have been put at stations on the Newton branch.

380002 worked the 07:41 Newton - Glasgow Central service this morning.

Didn't notice the new 'S Car Stop' board at Newton earlier. Explains why it stopped further up the platform than the usual stuff though.

 

[route101]

380002 worked the 07:41 Newton - Glasgow Central service this morning.

Didn't notice the new 'S Car Stop' board at Newton earlier. Explains why it stopped further up the platform than the usual stuff though.

See a 380 regularly on the Cathcart Circle , heard of one on the Neilston . Sure i seen a 320 on the Neilston Branch which ive not seen before .

 

[alangla]

Well, the light engine has set off for the factory, but whether it's just a little jaunt like last week, or there actually is a set to deliver, we'll see later.

Is there a reason for all these wasted trips? Surely someone can ring DB-C before the loco leaves Tyne Yard rather than this nonsense of driving to Bishop Auckland, finding nothing is ready, then driving home again. There seem to be more wasted trips than productive ones at the moment

 

[InOban]

I quite agree. Some manager needs to be told to earn their salary.

Interestingly, there's been a light engine movement for tomorrow in RTT all week - it was loaded at same time as Tuesday's. But no delivery path!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd challenge that air travel is becominf more comfortable- the expensive end of multiclass aircraft maybe, but most shorthaul now is budget airlines with ever tighter seat pitch, and there's the march of narrower seats on widebodies (eg 10-across seating on 777s)

There is, but even as someone who is best described as big (tall and broad) I find myself more comfortable in modern aircraft seats than older ones, typically because they are (like ironing boards) more upright, higher based and thinner backed, and with less rubbish on the seat back in front to catch my knees on.

The exception is the few airlines offering 34" pitch in longhaul economy, but those are *very* few now - possibly just Malaysia?

 

[gsnedders]

There is, but even as someone who is best described as big (tall and broad) I find myself more comfortable in modern aircraft seats than older ones, typically because they are (like ironing boards) more upright, higher based and thinner backed, and with less rubbish on the seat back in front to catch my knees on.

The exception is the few airlines offering 34" pitch in longhaul economy, but those are *very* few now - possibly just Malaysia?

OT, but JAL on their newer aircraft (yes, newer!) have 34" in economy, as are some of ANA's newer aircraft.

 

[Typhoon_93]

Looks like planning to have another go on Friday.
Would think they need to deliver a couple of 4 car units in the next few weeks

385011-13 before the 4 cars start to be delivered.

 

[InOban]

The usual Tuesday delivery paths have appeared in RTT.

 

[Typhoon_93]

The usual Tuesday delivery paths have appeared in RTT.

385011 noted outside this morning with delivery panel fitted so may actually run next week.

 

[youngac]

I wonder if they'll start delivering 2 units at a time soon to make sure they have enough in Scotland for the timetable change.

 

[InOban]

Am I right in thinking that while the early units need 2000km before acceptance, later one need only 500?

 

[ValleyLines142]

385104+385003 on 0900 Edinburgh to Glasgow Q St today.

103+004 on the following service at 0915.

 

[92002]

385104+385003 on 0900 Edinburgh to Glasgow Q St today.

103+004 on the following service at 0915.

That seems to be the current Saturday plan of late.

 

[palmersears]

Can I just clarify for my own understanding as to where units are currently being delivered to and/or stabled thereafter?

 

[92002]

Can I just clarify for my own understanding as to where units are currently being delivered to and/or stabled thereafter?

Deliveries to Craigentinny then stabled at MillerHill. Some MillerHill training and services to Dunbar, North Berwick and Glasgow.
Outbased at Eastfield for training and overnight stabling.