TransPennine class 397

[Bletchleyite]

Its the seats that let the 397s down and the ride compared to the Class 390s. I think the 397s have plenty of table seating compared to airline which I prefer if travelling solo.

I find this an annoyance too, but seem to recall the cab end coach has more airline seating.

 

[driver9000]

I find this an annoyance too, but seem to recall the cab end coach has more airline seating.

Coach A has just 4 airline style seats out of 44 in total. Coaches B, C and D have 28 airline seats (B and D have 76 while C has 68 seats in total). Coach E has 6 airline seats although 3 are facing the wheelchair spaces intended for their companions.

 

[RyanOPlasty]

Travelling in coach E from Glasgow to Lime street this evening. The ride is a bit bouncy, but the first class seats are comfortable. Seat placement relative to windows couldn't be worse though. Nice and cool compared with the stiflingly hot pendolino that I travelled north on.

 

[hexagon789]

Travelling in coach E from Glasgow to Lime street this evening. The ride is a bit bouncy, but the first class seats are comfortable. Seat placement relative to windows couldn't be worse though. Nice and cool compared with the stiflingly hot pendolino that I travelled north on.

I was on two 397s over the weekend and actually felt the ride was much better than previously, except notably rougher (but still better than before) north of Carlisle.

Yes, alignment is ironically better in Std than 1st on the 397s!

 

[FrontSideBus]

Recently went up to Scotland on a TPE 397 and I have to say they are even worse than the Class 8**'s. The ride quality was horrific, just like the Northern 331's that rattle and shake over every imperfection in the line with your head being thrown about. If you sit over a bogie, you can hear and feel it rattling away like something has broken!
It doesn't look good for the future of UK high speed trains when the most comfortable in service (IMO) are 20 year old Pendolinos and 30 year old 225's!
I made the comment to a friend who was traveling with me that I would rather have made the trip up there on a 158! At least you get decent seats on those.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yes, certainly not my idea of fun for a long distance intercity rail journey of 3 hours. Plus, admittedly most of my mileage on these things has always been between Scotland and Carlisle or internally from lockaby, but as others have said, I'd rather go on a nearly 40-year-old sprinter or even from a personal point of view on an equally elderly pacer it doesn't look great, yet. Large chunks of the rest of the world are still building decent quality into City rolling stock. So why have we lost our way so badly?

 

[185143]

I find this an annoyance too, but seem to recall the cab end coach has more airline seating.

You're thinking of the Mk5As there.

 

[route101]

Recently went up to Scotland on a TPE 397 and I have to say they are even worse than the Class 8**'s. The ride quality was horrific, just like the Northern 331's that rattle and shake over every imperfection in the line with your head being thrown about. If you sit over a bogie, you can hear and feel it rattling away like something has broken!
It doesn't look good for the future of UK high speed trains when the most comfortable in service (IMO) are 20 year old Pendolinos and 30 year old 225's!
I made the comment to a friend who was traveling with me that I would rather have made the trip up there on a 158! At least you get decent seats on those.

Prefer the refrubished class 390s now, better ride and lighting.

 

[RailWonderer]

Prefer the refrubished class 390s now, better ride and lighting.

I wasn't initially a fan of the refurbished Pendolino seating and found the spongier original seating more comfortable, but the huge legroom gains the refurb seat gives compensates for a small loss of comfort in my view.

 

[sbrignall72]

Does anyone know which 397 is currently at Doncaster works. Yesterday was poking out with headlights on. MTIA

 

[Mag_seven]

I wasn't initially a fan of the refurbished Pendolino seating and found the spongier original seating more comfortable, but the huge legroom gains the refurb seat gives compensates for a small loss of comfort in my view.

Thread reopened

 

[800001]

Does anyone know which 397 is currently at Doncaster works. Yesterday was poking out with headlights on. MTIA

I think it is 397006. As that worked to Doncaster middle of June.

 

[sbrignall72]

I think it is 397006. As that worked to Doncaster middle of June.

Thank you