Train Plug Sockets - The best and the worst

[craigwilson]

have never found them on the 395s, but my lack of eyesight can be blamed. When you say they are between the seats, are they in a similar0place to the (now redundant) entertainment controlls on pendos/voyagers?

Not quite...they are further forward. The socket face is parallel to the front edge of the seat, and is directly between the two seats, below the horizontal line of the bottom of the seats.


....not sure if I explained that well?

 

[Blindtraveler]

good description. You should get a job doing it. Thanks to other posters also

 

[swtandgw]

First Great Western HSTs Airline seats are the best socketts for use .

I've experienced them, and I do have to agree, because it did keep my trusty MacBook Pro in charge with no fail whilst travelling to-and-from uni.

 

[Fincra5]

On a 377 the ones next to the door are for cleaners use at Depots. Some of the later units have Plug Sockets in First Class. Silly that 442s don't at all (bar depot ones).

 

[Lampshade]

Best: Voyagers/Meridians

Worst: 185s

 

[brianthegiant]

I've seen people use them on 377s even though they have big notices on them saying they're not for public use (apparantly they are only earthed when at a depot). If they aren't earthed when the units are running I'd have thought the sockets should be covered up to prevent unauthorised use.

Hmm, not sure what we mean by not earthed? surely the 'hotel power' to AC, lighting etc would have to be either bonded from neutral to the train chassis (as is usual for uk building wiring), or else all breakers would have to be 2-pole ( as used in many mainland european countries). The issue of touch & step potentials would apply to fixed equipment & wiring on the train not just to sockets?

Either way, it's probably a bit superfluous, since the majority of equipment used by passengers (laptop & mobile chargers) are Class II (double / reinforced insulated), in which case even if it has a connection to the earth pin of the 13A plug its only used for the noise filter & doesn't serve any safety function since there no metal case.

From other threads, I think the issue on older trains not originally designed for passenger socket use is that the voltage is unregulated, so might damage some equipment if there are votage spikes. However most laptop/mobile chargers are typically designed with quite a wide voltage/frequency range so it would ahve to a long way out of limits to cause a failure.

 

[CardiffKid]

Absolute worst - Arriva 175's and similar trains: Used for long distance services but no plug sockets!

I am under the impression, two sets of 2 coach 175s have plug sockets.

Never been on them.

Bob

As part of ATW's 158 refurb, plug sockets are being installed. No idea about the 175

 

[Mutant Lemming]

The £5.49 kettles that Wilkinson's sell (other cheap kettle retailers are available) work on LM trains - useful considering their long journey times and lack of onboard catering facilities.

 

[jaigee]

Has anyone noticed that on LM's 350's the labels on the sockets refer to them as "plugs"!

 

[A-driver]

The plugs in 377 vestibules ave been known to damage phones etc whilst the train is moving-are only designed for hovers. The ones in first class of the 400s should be fine. I usually leave my phone in the lockable cabinet at he back of the DMOS as that has a plug in it designed for phones etc and should be fine whilst the train is in motion-just have to remember to take it out when I leave the train!