Things I've Changed My Mind About

[tbtc]

The WCML bid seems to have changed some people's opinions about Virgin/ Richard Branson, which got me thinking about things I've changed my mind about over the years:

HS2. I used to be against it (I'm not a huge fan of our obsession on "high speed"), but became a reluctant convert (given the lack of realistic alternatives to improve capacity)

The Calder Valley line. I used to refer to the railway through Halifax as Calderdale and Caldervale (interchangably), but following a recent discussion I try to use the "local" name of Calder Valley.

150s. I used to really like them, but a surfiet of them in recent times (now Northern has a lot more, following the LM cascade) has got me thinking they are no better/ worse than a Pacer.

Anything you've changed your opinion about in recent years?

(without trying to get into a long argument about these things)

 

[317666]

I liked 379s when they first came into service but these days I don't like them at all, the novelty of having new trains has long worn off and they're very monotonous and boring. I used to dislike 390s but these days I like them quite a lot, they've grown on me particularly since I started using the WCML more.

 

[Lrd]

I used to absolutely despise FirstGroup but are slowly starting to like them after all this West Coast debate. Their bus companies are improving aswell.

Theree are other things but myy phones keyboard seemss too bee havinging aa fitt by doublingbuying every wordrd iI type.

 

[Yew]

156's, I used to hate them as they where worse than a 158, however they are actually pretty good units, especially if they have a refurb.

 

[calc7]

Slow end-to-end Northern services. I wouldn't want them as my commute but getting on the slow train every so often can be more pleasant than the quicker but rammed TPE. For instance, Huddersfield to Leeds on a Sunday - it only takes about 12 minutes longer anyway.

 

[370001]

Slow end-to-end Northern services. I wouldn't want them as my commute but getting on the slow train every so often can be more pleasant than the quicker but rammed TPE. For instance, Huddersfield to Leeds on a Sunday - it only takes about 12 minutes longer anyway.

I travelled on TPE from DON-MIA the other week and I would class that as a slow end-to-end service. How it can be justified to be called an "Express" is beyond me! It took 2 hours to get from DON-MIA and trundled most of the way...

 

[ainsworth74]

I used to dislike 142s but I find myself increasingly rather enjoying trips on 142s. Though that might be the Stockholm Syndrome talking

 

[F Great Eastern]

Greater Anglia Class 170's
Used to hate them on the Lowestoft to London run as it was crazy running a two car DMU on the line which was pretty much always wedged. Now they are on the more sensible local routes to Cambridge they are actually not a bad train.

 

[fgwrich]

I used to dislike 142s but I find myself increasingly rather enjoying trips on 142s. Though that might be the Stockholm Syndrome talking

I know the feeling - i miss them down on the Devon Metro now!

 

[calc7]

I travelled on TPE from DON-MIA the other week and I would class that as a slow end-to-end service. How it can be justified to be called an "Express" is beyond me! It took 2 hours to get from DON-MIA and trundled most of the way...

Sorry - what I meant was slow "all stops" Northern Pacer-operated services, where one would otherwise use TPE. But yes - the South TransPennine route is painfully slow!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Slow end-to-end Northern services. I wouldn't want them as my commute but getting on the slow train every so often can be more pleasant than the quicker but rammed TPE. For instance, Huddersfield to Leeds on a Sunday - it only takes about 12 minutes longer anyway.

I suggest reading the books 'On the slow train' & 'On the slow train again' by Michael Williams. Two fascinating and fantastic reads.

Changed my mind about most things over last few years but mostly, i used to think the newer the train the better. Not always the case.

 

[jnjkerbin]

I've began to not groan when I see a 465 or 466 coming round the corner!

Joe

 

[Drsatan]

I used to like SWT but over the years I've slowly grown to dislike them. One of the factors that started my progression towards disliking them was the decision to stop running 442s soon after their new franchise started in 2007!

On the other hand, I didn't like FGW at first, but I've now changed my mind about them, and think they are one of the better TOCs. In particular, any TOC run by an ex BR person which decides to reintroduce 180s and hire more 150s than required deserves a round of applause. I also admire Mark Hopwood's honesty in saying "We don't have any more trains!" in one letter.

 

[transmanche]

In particular, any TOC run by an ex BR person which decides to reintroduce 180s

Out of interest, why did they get rid of them in the first place?

 

[ainsworth74]

Out of interest, why did they get rid of them in the first place?

Atrocious unreliability and the availability of off-lease HSTs

 

[Welshman]

The WCML bid seems to have changed some people's opinions about Virgin/ Richard Branson, which got me thinking about things I've changed my mind about over the years:

HS2. I used to be against it (I'm not a huge fan of our obsession on "high speed"), but became a reluctant convert (given the lack of realistic alternatives to improve capacity)

The Calder Valley line. I used to refer to the railway through Halifax as Calderdale and Caldervale (interchangably), but following a recent discussion I try to use the "local" name of Calder Valley.

150s. I used to really like them, but a surfiet of them in recent times (now Northern has a lot more, following the LM cascade) has got me thinking they are no better/ worse than a Pacer.

Anything you've changed your opinion about in recent years?

(without trying to get into a long argument about these things)

Strange - I've gone diagonally the other way!

I used to be in favour of HS2 but then wondered why people should want to be in Birmingham 40 minutes sooner.

I used to avoid 150s, until I sampled a 153.

But regarding the Calder Valley - that's alway been home to me, and it is a beautiful line in the autumn, as my travelling today testifies.

 

[Drsatan]

Out of interest, why did they get rid of them in the first place?

5 off-lease 180s were refurbished at Kilmarnock works and reintroduced to Cotswold Line services to allow 165s & 166s to be cascaded to Thames Valley services.

 

[Geezertronic]

I used to be in favour of HS2 but then wondered why people should want to be in Birmingham 40 minutes sooner

What about people who want to be in the North West or Scotland "40 minutes" sooner? I could copy/paste this from other threads but HS2 (phase 1) might be London-Birmingham but is NOT exclusively about saving time between London-Birmingham due to the planned connection with the WCML at Lichfield :roll:

 

[tbtc]

Strange - I've gone diagonally the other way!

I used to be in favour of HS2 but then wondered why people should want to be in Birmingham 40 minutes sooner.

I used to avoid 150s, until I sampled a 153.

But regarding the Calder Valley - that's alway been home to me, and it is a beautiful line in the autumn, as my travelling today testifies.

Life's rich tapestry

I'm the opposite - I quite like a 153 - little difference to a 156 really (when you're on board you don't notice how long the train is)

 

[transmanche]

What about people who want to be in the North West or Scotland "40 minutes" sooner? I could copy/paste this from other threads but HS2 (phase 1) might be London-Birmingham but is NOT exclusively about saving time between London-Birmingham due to the planned connection with the WCML at Lichfield :roll:

Exactly, you can't have phase 2 until phase 1 is built.

I wonder if, back in the late 1950s, people asked "What's the point of the M1? Who needs to travel so fast from Watford to Rugby?"...

 

[WestCountry]

Life's rich tapestry

I'm the opposite - I quite like a 153 - little difference to a 156 really (when you're on board you don't notice how long the train is)

I quite like 150s, but hate 153s and 155s. The build quality's noticeably worse and they're incredibly rattly - I wasn't too surprised to hear about the problems with body sag...:roll:

 

[johnnychips]

A very obvious one. Twenty years ago, if a diesel turned up on a preserved line I was disappointed it wasn't steam. Now it's the opposite, as diesels remind me of the trains I actually used to travel on.

Mind you, the best ride I've had on a preserved railway was from Pickering to Grosmont with Sir Nigel Gresley leading and a Deltic at the rear.

 

[tbtc]

A very obvious one. Twenty years ago, if a diesel turned up on a preserved line I was disappointed it wasn't steam. Now it's the opposite, as diesels remind me of the trains I actually used to travel on.

Mind you, the best ride I've had on a preserved railway was from Pickering to Grosmont with Sir Nigel Gresley leading and a Deltic at the rear.

Good point - I jumped on a high floor bus in Sheffield a couple of weeks ago (that I didn't need to take) because I realised it might be my last trip on a high floor bus (on a regular/ scheduled service, ignoring preservation adventures etc). All of a sudden I'm nostalgic for what was everywhere a few years ago.

 

[Bald Rick]

I used to be in favour of HS2 but then wondered why people should want to be in Birmingham 40 minutes sooner.

perhaps it's for people who want to be away from Birmingham 40 minutes quicker.

 

[Welshman]

What about people who want to be in the North West or Scotland "40 minutes" sooner? I could copy/paste this from other threads but HS2 (phase 1) might be London-Birmingham but is NOT exclusively about saving time between London-Birmingham due to the planned connection with the WCML at Lichfield :roll:

Sorry, but I thought this particular thread was supposed to be soley about things we've personally changed our minds about, not a re-opening of the original debates!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Life's rich tapestry

Exactly.

 

[BestWestern]

I have to say Southern's 375/377 Electrostar units have grown on me quite a bit since their introduction a good few years back. I used to find them uninspiring to travel in and obviously far inferior to the Slammers they superseded! However, since SWT's dull Desiro's appeared, the Electrostars seem to have actually gained a bit of a personality, in comparison a least.

 

[D6975]

I used to just dislike pendos, mainly because they replaced loco hauled trains.

Now, having travelled in them a bit more I hate them because they are cramped and claustrophobic.

Regarding FGW, I agree, a few years ago they were a shambles, but now are much better. Shame the First bus services in Bristol are still so cr*p.

 

[trentside]

150s. I used to really like them, but a surfiet of them in recent times (now Northern has a lot more, following the LM cascade) has got me thinking they are no better/ worse than a Pacer.

I've gone the opposite way. Since the increase in 150s operated by Northern I've started to enjoy it when they turn up as they offer something different from the normal Pacer on the Lincoln to Sheffield services. I think it was the LM Farewell 150 tour that caused me to have a re-think.

 

[Geezertronic]

Sorry, but I thought this particular thread was supposed to be soley about things we've personally changed our minds about, not a re-opening of the original debates!

Well it is of course, but if you post an inaccurate comment you must expect to be picked up on it... so in that respect if you have changed your mind on HS2 because you believe that the sole reason for HS2 is saving time between London and Birmingham then your mind might be changed again if you are better informed

 

[cuccir]

My opinion of Cross Country has slowly improved over the years... maybe my expectations of have just been lowered!