Voyagers

[cjmillsnun]

And lets be completely fair here.

Most IC stock, be it LHCS or EMU, DEMU, or DMU don't have seats that line up with the windows.

My biggest pet hates with the Voyagers compared to the Meridians, is that they feel like they have less room inside, and that they have the infamous Virgin Trains smell (sewage), which has never been 100% fixed.

 

[Emyr]

There is some pretty nice scenery along the Voyager routes but unless you're lucky, you can't see it to appreciate it because seats are not lined up with the windows.

Plenty of glazing on a Pacer.

 

[samuelmorris]

I tend to consider not getting a good window view as an 'occupational hazard' of rail travel - I can't say it unduly bothers me as most rolling stock seems to have the same issue in standard class at least. As said, since I often travel with heavy luggage which I have to supervise if there's not considerable free rack space, I'm used to travelling in the vestibule a lot, so I'm in no position to complain about my seat not having a nice view!

On the toilet smell debate, I have to say I could smell it on the GC 180 I was on at the weekend, but only through the tunnels? Not sure why that would be, unless perhaps it forces air through a vent or something. Definitely wasn't diesel fume smell...
It is pretty unpleasant if you're right beside the toilet in the vestibule but on the handful of occasions I've been on Voyagers I haven't noticed it in the passenger cabin until the door to the vestibule opened. I don't recall smelling it on the 222 at all, but obviously a sample size of 2 journeys isn't much to go on
Both the 220/221s and the 222s make the same annoying racket in the vestibule areas though...

 

[1e10]

I've travelled all the way from Exeter to Stockport on a 221 where the engine in the car I was in was shut down. Not sure whether by design or If problematic.

I've travelled Manchester to Bristol where the engine in one coach has cut out every few minutes, with lighting dimming and plugs switching off as it's cut and then it kicking in 10-20 seconds later. Do you know if the lights and plugs stay on if an engine is shut down purposely?

 

[Ash Bridge]

I've travelled Manchester to Bristol where the engine in one coach has cut out every few minutes, with lighting dimming and plugs switching off as it's cut and then it kicking in 10-20 seconds later. Do you know if the lights and plugs stay on if an engine is shut down purposely?

Well I'm obviously no expert but wouldn't have thought that the interior lighting, plug sockets , door controls etc. would be affected as surely the supply would continue to be provided by the remaining operational power units in the train. Could understand when firing up an engine that the juice is intentionally cut to the lighting and plug sockets because of demand on the batteries, Iam sure someone will come along and explain it better though.

 

[RobShipway]

Well I'm obviously no expert but wouldn't have thought that the interior lighting, plug sockets , door controls etc. would be affected as surely the supply would continue to be provided by the remaining operational power units in the train. Could understand when firing up an engine that the juice is intentionally cut to the lighting and plug sockets because of demand on the batteries, Iam sure someone will come along and explain it better though.

It depends on how it is powered and fused.

I was on a Virgin Cross Country train back in the 1990's from Birmingham to Brighton. The carriage I was sitting in had a fuse go when we got to Rugby, which meant that we had to travel the rest of the Journey in the dark as it was winter time when I was travelling.

Now I am not sure how more modern stock is fused, but if it is done on the basis that each coach has it own fuse and if that goes there is no power, then I presume the same problem can occur?

 

[samuelmorris]

I'm surprised they didn't detrain for that, surely travelling with the cabin in complete darkness isn't allowed?

 

[ainsworth74]

The 90s were a dark and mysterious time and also a time before safety had been taken to the lengths it is this day (not that this is necessarily a bad thing!).