Sprinter vs Turbostar

[me123]

Which one wins for you?

Personally, I prefer the turbos. They are fast, quiet (on the inside), very comfortable (on FSR anyway) and generally pleasent trains to be on. I do like sprinters, but turbos provide a better ride.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Which one wins for you?

Personally, I prefer the turbos. They are fast, quiet (on the inside), very comfortable (on FSR anyway) and generally pleasent trains to be on. I do like sprinters, but turbos provide a better ride.

Depends what class of Sprinter and what journey it's for!

 

[The 158 Man]

As said, it depends on what unit it is, and what diagram it's working.

For instance, a 158 (even though not technically a 'Sprinter' or a 'Super Sprinter') wouldn't be much good working an all station stopper, due to having slower acceleration, than other 15x units and their higher speed capability that could be better utilised on faster services.

In comparison, a 150 wouldn't be too clever on an express service would it?

For the poll, I voted Sprinter as I've grown up with them. Turbostars are (in some ways) nicer trains, but Sprinters, Super Sprinters and 158s are like old friends to me!

 

[me123]

For arguments sake, a 156 vs 170 on a 1 hr journey.

 

[Nym]

156, done that and 158 on HBS BDT to CTN loads, and I prefer the 158, an turbostars are boring!

 

[The 158 Man]

For arguments sake, a 156 vs 170 on a 1 hr journey.

Well if it's a non-stop high speed service then I would say the 170. But if it's a slower speed (say up to 75mph) with a few stops then I would say a 156.

I think it comes down to personal choice.

 

[Callufrax]

I chose the 170, due to them being more comfortable, and quieter, than a 156.

 

[Spaceflower]

whats a turbostar (im being serious)

 

[Callufrax]

whats a turbostar (im being serious)

Classes 170 and 171, as well as the forthcoming class 172.

 

[Spaceflower]

err.....ok??

the new newcastle - manchester trains?

not been on one yet

 

[tedted]

err.....ok??

the new newcastle - manchester trains?

not been on one yet

The new Newcastle - Manchester trains are Class 185 aka Pennines. These aren't turbostars.

 

[Spaceflower]

err.....ok??

the new newcastle - manchester trains?

not been on one yet.

i can vaguely remember these trains were loco hauled once by small blue diesels with scottie dog symbols on them?

i rather liked the new? 158's though:?

other sprinters seem to take on an extremely pungent odour, anyone else noticed this?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
ok cheers ted, probably not get on a turbostar for a while then:diabloan:

whats the difference between a sprinter and a turbostar? i.e. why the names

 

[The 158 Man]

whats the difference between a sprinter and a turbostar? i.e. why the names

I believe the different names are the original desgin names given to the trains as they went into production.

150/1, 150/2, 153, 155 - Sprinters.
156 - Super Sprinters
158, 159 - Express.

165 - Turbo.
166 - Turbo Express.
168 - Clubman.

170, 171, 172 - Turbostar.
175 - Coradia.

180 - Adelante.

 

[AlexS]

Prefer 158s to 170s - they vibrate less and have an intercity layout as opposed to a more suburban one.

Never thought I'd say it but most of Central's are also less wrecked than quite a lot of their Turbostars.

The 170s are also a bit of a jack of all trades master of none thing - performance worse than a 150 on suburban diagrams, and worse than a 158 on express, unless you get extended 100 mph running.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I've been around 150/156's etc for most of my life, and prefer a 156 to a 150.

I prefer 156's, because of the nicer seating layout, and they also have tables, which [Northern] 150's don't.

I once had a return journey between Manchester & Liverpool. Outbound: MML 3-car 170, sat in small section behind front cab- Couldn't hear the engines at all, and it was very good.

Return- 2-car CT 170- Sat in the middle of front carriage- VERY noisy indeed- Slightly less comfortable seating, but the thing which put me off was the very bad excessive engine noise.

I don't know why their was such a contrast between the 170's- Maybe someone could explain to me why?

 

[ChrisCooper]

The noise difference is just down to where you were sitting. On the way out you were at the front of the train with the engine some way behind you, wheras on the way back you were right on top of it. Sprinters are just the same, sit at the front of the coach and they are fairly quiet, but sit over the engine and they are much noisier. The back end of both types is noisy aswell due to the exhaust, infact I've had a few very noisy journies on Turbostars where the gangway doors had failed leading to both track and exhaust noise, and drafts, getting into the carriage. As for the comfort, the front section of the ex MML 170s was first class so has slightly better seats. Really, you can only compare two trains if you sit in the same place. Ride quality is another thing, over the bogies is rougher than in the centre of the carriage, and the back of any train tends to be rougher aswell.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The noise difference is just down to where you were sitting. On the way out you were at the front of the train with the engine some way behind you, wheras on the way back you were right on top of it. Sprinters are just the same, sit at the front of the coach and they are fairly quiet, but sit over the engine and they are much noisier. The back end of both types is noisy aswell due to the exhaust, infact I've had a few very noisy journies on Turbostars where the gangway doors had failed leading to both track and exhaust noise, and drafts, getting into the carriage. As for the comfort, the front section of the ex MML 170s was first class so has slightly better seats. Really, you can only compare two trains if you sit in the same place. Ride quality is another thing, over the bogies is rougher than in the centre of the carriage, and the back of any train tends to be rougher aswell.

Many thanks for the reply ChrisCooper, it explains why the 170's were different. The MML 170 didn't have FC branding around the area i was sat, so was probably declassified.

 

[ChrisCooper]

That particular section was the original first class when MML bought them in 2 car form. They had a lot of complains from people about the poor quality of the 1st class (particularly the 2+2 seating), aswell as general overcrowding and other issues. When the centre coach was added they had a proper 1st section with 2+1 seating and the old 1st in the ends was declassified, giving proper first class and extra standard class (infact a 3 car Turbostar has more standard class seating than a 4 car Meridien). Of cource, that bit was still nicer than the normal standard, not only with slightly better seats, but also being it's own compartment and the fact that people didn't tend to know it was declassified so didn't sit there. Bit like "premium economy" on longhaul flights, but without the premium. Not all Turbostars got an extra coach and those that didn't retained the old first class at the ends. When they transfered to Central, the end first class on the 2 car sets and the centre first class on the 3 cars was declassified. Sadly the quality of particularly the old 1st class behind the cabs has dropped a lot, with reclining mechanisms often broken (so they won't lock upright), the partition doors usually failed, and the general tiredness of the ex MML sets (which were introduced around this time 9 years ago, and are therefore at least a third of the way through their lives). I wouldn't be suprised if when Cross Country take over the Birmingham based Citylink routes from Central they don't use the 3 car ex MML Turbostars and bring back 1st class.

 

[Harry Douthwaite]

Null vote for me, I like both of them equally. I remember when I first saw a Class 170 at Norwich. Dad thought it was going to Sheringham! But I knew for a fact that it goes the other route to London. We took a Class 150 to Norwich and Back, and I quite enjoyed it. They may be slightly old but they are adequate.
I have never been inside a turbostar as of yet, but I am thinking about it when I next get over to England.
It depends what you're talking about really, the interior, exterior, or both.

 

[175001]

Sprinters always for me, nothing like a 153, might be a bit useless and heavy, but it sounds superb!

A 156 is the most comfortable out of the lot thought!

 

[westcoaster]

Ride quality is another thing, over the bogies is rougher than in the centre of the carriage, and the back of any train tends to be rougher aswell.

the back of the train has the worst ride quality, i can vouch for that, not just diesel's but emu's as well, as for the vote turbostars for me just an all round better ride/quality/and visual experience.

 

[CraigS]

Turbostars for me however I find the seats on the 171s quite hard and uncomfortable.

 

[Dennis]

Bricks all the way for me :razz:

 

[Mojo]

Dad thought it was going to Sheringham! But I knew for a fact that it goes the other route to London. We took a Class 150 to Norwich and Back, and I quite enjoyed it.

Won't be able to take a 150 on that route any more now. 'one' swapped their 150s with 156s from Central Trains, so 156 'SuperSprinters' now operate those services. You can find the 150s supplimenting Central's other 150/0s mostly on suburban services in the former West Midlands County.

 

[Harry Douthwaite]

I remember a wierd date actually, I was standing at Sheringham waiting for the train to come in, and a three car turbostar came into the platform! (This was in Anglia days (2002)). I have pictures as well! I'll upload them somewhere in a while, but for now, I have to find them first.
I think I prefer the sprinters to the turbostars, but I like both of them. I have been on a few sprinters before, but I have not been on a turbostar as of yet.

Harry

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Sprinters for me! I've always had a soft spot for 158's and I even find 153's a bit of fun. I hate riding on turbo's but they do look nice I suppose.

 

[support-uk-rail]

The class 150-156-158 all sprinters are better than any turb-star in my opinion.

The sprinters have always been EXCELLENT workhorses, yes they are loud, rattle like a snake and their first acceleration sounds like a broken motorised pencil sharpner, they've always proved themselves worthy of the branch line.

I have to admit the Turbostars are comfy, smooth, and since One Anglia began, they've been used between London-Peterborough (via Norwich) ever so much, but I hear they are very unreliable and expensive to run.

Mainline: TURBOSTAR

Branch: SPRINTER

 

[merseytrains]

There are 150s working the Liverpool-Manchester Airport expresses (), so in that case i'd rather wait for a 170, but the again, if a 158 or 156 turned up, i'd rather catch that, so its sprinter for me.

 

[Daniel]

When traveling simply as a passenger, I prefer tubrostars.

When traveling as an enthusiast - sprinters.

 

[Broken Viking]

Hail All!
Had to be Sprinters for me - I dunno why, but the Sprinter fleet just seems to be a whole lot more "Metal" to me...Probabally something to do with the surprisingly deep (For a DMU) growl from the engines, and the deeply relaxing feeling of flying between Woking and London in one as they are very comfortable after all!

Incidentally, I thought that the Turbostar family also included classes 165 and 166, as used on the FGW Link services running Reading/Guildford/Gatwick Apt?

Farewell...
>> Death <<