Warming Stuff from Northern

[Bevan Price]

Really? When was the last time you were in a Northern train with no heating?

Not exactly no heating, but on 150.277 yesterday, one of the hopper windows refused to stay shut, and blasts of cold air were entering the coach. Not the first time I have seen this happen on a 150.

 

[bb21]

For a twenty minute joruney? Of course not! In any case, by the time the guard came around to check tickets we were only ten minutes away from the terminus.

If you bring this matter to the attention of the guard (not complaining), the unit can be repaired asap. This can benefit other passengers, and yourself if you come across the same unit again in the near future.

 

[Darren R]

If you bring this matter to the attention of the guard (not complaining), the unit can be repaired asap. This can benefit other passengers, and yourself if you come across the same unit again in the near future.

Well I had to sit in the cold (briefly) so every b****r else had to as well!

(And yes, that really is only a joke for the irony-impared!)

 

[WillPS]

Apologies if this has been mentioned before - but when getting off a Northern 'luxury' 158 at Alfreton yesterday, I saw a poster. It read something like: You said "I want new trains", we're listening [then some guff about how they've improved their trains].

Anyway, the poster had 3 pictures. A Class 333, a bloke fixing some doors and a Class 180. Amusing that they use pictures of a train they don't even have any more and a train which they have 16 of (out of however many hundred trains); they've actually illustrated the point that they have nothing vaguely new rather nicely.

 

[xfield]

I don't understand the complaints on heating not working on northern trains. Who cares if its not working? Heating on Northern's trains is either off, or tropical - nothing in between. You'll be dressed suitably for your journey on foot prior to and after your ride on the train where you have no heating, so why do you need heating at all?

I can also predict that Northern will wait until mid summer before they decide to turn off the heating on all their trains (I believe this is a maintenance issue on most of the trains, and the switches just don't work in the cabs).

 

[Bantamzen]

Eeeh, I don't know all you so called Northerners complaining about t'cold? Remember, we are a tougher breed up here, you're letting t'side down.....

Anyway, this topic got me thinking about the 333's. Overall these are reasonably warm in winter, although it can soon get a lot colder when an Arctic blast barrels down the valley towards BDQ when the train is waiting for it's departure time. Which got me to thinking, didn't Northern trial an automatic door closing system on these? I'm sure I remember at least one unit fitted with the system (it was advertised on the doors, and possibly inside the cars?) so what happened with that trial? Obviously it didn't get the thumbs up, but does anyone know why?

 

[Nym]

It's all these long distance commuters and escape t' country lot...

 

[DynamicSpirit]

If you bring this matter to the attention of the guard (not complaining), the unit can be repaired asap. This can benefit other passengers, and yourself if you come across the same unit again in the near future.

Out of interest, why would a passenger need to inform the train crew that the heating isn't working? Wouldn't that already be obvious to the train crew, since they would presumably be feeling the cold just as badly?

 

[bb21]

Out of interest, why would a passenger need to inform the train crew that the heating isn't working? Wouldn't that already be obvious to the train crew, since they would presumably be feeling the cold just as badly?

I didn't say they have to, but things get missed sometimes.

 

[LowLevel]

Different people feel temperatures in different ways - also the driving cabs on these units have independent heating so you might not notice the difference if you normally have it very hot or very cold. If you're constantly bouncing in or out of the train it mucks up your perception of temperature as well, particularly if you have your coat on and off.

 

[northernchris]

Eeeh, I don't know all you so called Northerners complaining about t'cold? Remember, we are a tougher breed up here, you're letting t'side down.....

Anyway, this topic got me thinking about the 333's. Overall these are reasonably warm in winter, although it can soon get a lot colder when an Arctic blast barrels down the valley towards BDQ when the train is waiting for it's departure time. Which got me to thinking, didn't Northern trial an automatic door closing system on these? I'm sure I remember at least one unit fitted with the system (it was advertised on the doors, and possibly inside the cars?) so what happened with that trial? Obviously it didn't get the thumbs up, but does anyone know why?

It was 333011 and was during the summer (possibly 2010?). The doors didn't have the hustle alarm before closing so would quite literally close without warning. I seem to remember reading somewhere that a passenger was injured and the idea dropped. I also seem to remember the cost of adding the alarm was a factor of Northern not rolling out the scheme

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Different people feel temperatures in different ways - also the driving cabs on these units have independent heating so you might not notice the difference if you normally have it very hot or very cold. If you're constantly bouncing in or out of the train it mucks up your perception of temperature as well, particularly if you have your coat on and off.

True. Fair points.

 

[Clip]

Nice to know Northern have enough spare cash to give passengers hand warmers! :roll:
Pity they dont fix the heating on their trains instead, that way the passengers wouldnt need hand warmers.

Whilst I know your comment was meant to be flippant, you do realise that comercial funding - I.E promotional material, comes separatly from the maintenence budget dont you.

But anything to have a dig

 

[RAPC]

Really? When was the last time you were in a Northern train with no heating?

In my case, this morning on my commute in to Manchester on a Blackpool service. Doesn't happen very often, but when it does you notice it.

 

[Bantamzen]

It was 333011 and was during the summer (possibly 2010?). The doors didn't have the hustle alarm before closing so would quite literally close without warning. I seem to remember reading somewhere that a passenger was injured and the idea dropped. I also seem to remember the cost of adding the alarm was a factor of Northern not rolling out the scheme

Ah that rings a bell now, thanks.

 

[455driver]

Whilst I know your comment was meant to be flippant, you do realise that commercial funding - I.E promotional material, comes separately from the maintenance budget dont you.

If these were advertising items supplied by a 3rd party free of charge then fair enough but there is nothing in the thread to indicate that is the case.

But anything to have a dig

Takes one to know one!

 

[Carlisle]

I don't understand the complaints on heating not working on northern trains. Who cares if its not working? Heating on Northern's trains is either off, or tropical - nothing in between. You'll be dressed suitably for your journey on foot prior to and after your ride on the train where you have no heating, so why do you need heating at all?

I can also predict that Northern will wait until mid summer before they decide to turn off the heating on all their trains (I believe this is a maintenance issue on most of the trains, and the switches just don't work in the cabs).

Yes and you hear very similar complaints on some other TOCs older DMU stock and quite a few busses too by both drivers and passengers :roll: