What is your controversial railway opinion/idea?

[Kite159]

The 769 is a load of hot air & will never run. GWR will order new DMUs to do Gatwick in the long run!

Agreed, I would put 15p on the 769s being not a lot of good in terms of gaining any sort of speed and GWR will decide to order 4-coach CAF DMUs for remaining Turbo services within the Thames Valley to send the remaining Turbos out west.

 

[iantherev]

The 769 is a load of hot air & will never run. GWR will order new DMUs to do Gatwick in the long run!

When GWR do this, every thread with a passing reference to Gatwick will be clogged up with posts about how bad the new units are and calls for the Turbos to be brought back.

 

[DaiGog]

I wouldn't say that was universally the case. I'm a fan of good quality modern rolling stock (such as the Class 350 or 387) but not of poor quality modern rolling stock (such as the Class 800, or at least its awful Standard interior).

Same here. I'm an enthusiast, of the type that likes old rolling stock, noisy diesels and so on - almost anything 'real'. I do, however, accept that time marches on and things can't last forever - but I do take issue when rolling stock is replaced by something inferior to what went before it in the name of progress. For example, back in the late 1980s replacing comfortable mk2s with a 150 was several retrograde steps, as was replacing XC HSTs with Voyagers, West Coast mk3s with Pendolinos (speed isn't everything to everybody), and so on. All of the above also had the disbenefit of replacing old trains with smaller trains, so the overall effect is worse for everybody.

 

[Ianno87]

No sensible case exists to reopen the Woodhead Route.

And had it survived, few people would be particularly dew-y eyed about it.

 

[yorksrob]

Where a train isn't available for a whole journey for whatever reason, be it strikes, engineering works etc, the nearest route which is fully available by train should automatically be valid on any open ticket that is available for the original route.

As an example, say I want to get from Leeds to Lancaster. If the routes via Bentham and Blackburn are unavailable due to strikes, and the routes via Wigan and Bolton are unavailable due to engineering works, I should be fully entitled to travel via Warrington on an ordinary Leeds to Lancaster return with full Dales Railcard discount.

This should also be the case where services stop ridiculously early, for example on strike days.

 

[stut]

These "anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated" signs on trains have gone too far.

Do the people who put these up have any idea how long it takes to go and introduce yourself to everyone on a packed 12-car class 700?

 

[B&I]

Now this is a good one! I wouldn't say it's just within the industry I think it exists within the DfT to an alarming extent. It shows up, I think, in their willingness to make life a misery on key routes throughout the South and North in their fight over DOO (lets not forget that this comes from the DfT, the details might be left up to the TOC on the ground but the impetus to bring about these changes is from the DfT) which I reasonably certain has done lasting damage to passenger figures in the most heavily effected areas (primarily Southern and Northern) and in their interior specifications on fleets like the 700s and 800s which (whilst I don't think they're as bad as some make out) have clearly been designed without much regard to passenger facilities and instead a focus on price and, in the case of the 700s, squeezing as many passengers in as possible.

I do have a serious concern that we're going to having low/zero growth and possibly even contraction in some areas thanks to a toxic mix of high fares, poor reliability (even if it recovers it will take years to gain back the trust that has been so carelessly squandered) and poor quality interiors.

And that's going to be potentially quite damaging to the industries finances.

Here's a controversial opinion. Maybe a Tory-run DfT doesn't want the railway's finances to be on a sound footing. Perhaps the party of the private motorist and the road haulier doesn't feel that boundless growth in rail patronage is a good thing

 

[Clip]

Here's a controversial opinion. Maybe a Tory-run DfT doesn't want the railway's finances to be on a sound footing. Perhaps the party of the private motorist and the road haulier doesn't feel that boundless growth in rail patronage is a good thing

Are you sure about that - even though they are increasing the road user levy by 20% for vast swathes of the road haulier industry

 

[The Ham]

These "anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated" signs on trains have gone too far.

Do the people who put these up have any idea how long it takes to go and introduce yourself to everyone on a packed 12-car class 700?

Please can the admins please provide a like button for just this post!!!

 

[bussnapperwm]

All train companies who take public subsidy should be forced to respond to FOI requests.

 

[Clansman]

I think most of it is an attempt to knock modern rolling stock, they know by any objective measure new stock introduced is far superior, so they go all princess and the pea over the seats. IMO it is shorthand for 'I hate everything that isn't Mk1 corridor stock'.

A prime example of this can be seen all too commonly on Twitter, and it's just not with seats, even the littlest of detail no matter the purpose. Quite comical and ridiculous really.

Edit: See link in #822

 

[Esker-pades]

A prime example of this can be seen all too commonly on Twitter, and it's just not with seats, even the littlest of detail no matter the purpose. Quite comical and ridiculous really.

This guy tops the lot.

The link you provide doesn't load for me. Could you provide the text in a post on this thread please?

 

[Kite159]

The link you provide doesn't load for me. Could you provide the text in a post on this thread please?

Here you are

What a way to spoil HST Mk3 couch’s. The whole idea of a Mk3 couch is to pull the window down and exit the train via the Handel on the outside of the train. (In my opinion). As part of the refurbishment for Scotrail’s HSTs they are being fitted with Electronic button releases.
This means that the door will automatically open after you push the button. This in my opinion takes the fun out of travelling on a HST if all you do is push a button to exit the train. That’s just like being on any normal model train. The HST has been around for over 40 years
I would like to see what Scotrail will do to the inside of the Mk3 couch’s. I still think it would of been a more sensible idea to leave the Mk3 couch’s as they were without spending millions on refurbishments. This will spoil my experience on a HST until they are decommissioned.

 

[CC 72100]

Mk3 couch

 

[The Ham]

Oh dear, another person who doesn't like the fact that the HST's are changing/being replaced. I hope they sulk and threaten not to travel on them, as that means more space for the rest of us.

 

[yorksrob]

Complaining about/discussing seating on trains is entirely natural/sensible, given how integral seat comfort is to the passenger experience. Those who complain about this are out of touch with the travelling public.

 

[B&I]

Are you sure about that - even though they are increasing the road user levy by 20% for vast swathes of the road haulier industry

I don't think increasing tax on older, dirtier lorries, before we all choke to death on their fumes, is exactly a huge change in direction for them. A side effect of this policy will probably be an increased competitive advantage for larger hauliers, who'll be better able to fund the purchase of new vehicles

 

[Cowley]

Trains.
Are they that important really?

 

[Cowley]

Hm..?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Complaining about/discussing seating on trains is entirely natural/sensible, given how integral seat comfort is to the passenger experience. Those who complain about this are out of touch with the travelling public.

However, expecting everyone to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of past and present seating types/manufacturers is a bit much!

Here's a controversial opinion: it is possible (perhaps even widespread among the forum community) to get misty-eyed and nostalgic about older rolling stock and also, at the same time, be realistic about the needs of the modern railway.

 

[yorksrob]

However, expecting everyone to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of past and present seating types/manufacturers is a bit much!

Here's a controversial opinion: it is possible (perhaps even widespread among the forum community) to get misty-eyed and nostalgic about older rolling stock and also, at the same time, be realistic about the needs of the modern railway.

I think as a forum those who get misty eyed about old stock tend to be more realistic about the needs of the passenger. A comfortable seat, working toilets etc - are these not what normal passengers want ?

It's those who are overly concerned with trivialities such as the decor looking a bit old fashioned, or having to use a manual door handle (shock horror) or having to wear a jumper in the middle of winter (heaven forfend) because the carriage has opening windows, who are out of touch with the needs of passengers.

 

[tbtc]

Some enthusiasts get far too “binary” in their classifications, very black/white. They can’t just accept anomalies (e.g. an HST must be either a DMU or loco hauled, a route like Nottingham – Cardiff must be either InterCity or not-InterCity - they won’t tolerate grey areas).

So, a 350/1 is dismissed as a “suburban” train (despite the top speed of 110mph being faster than a Deltic was ever allowed to do – plus 2+2 seating, air conditioning etc) because apparently everything has to be defined by door positions.

 

[Journeyman]

The Mark 3 coach rides extremely badly, and compares very poorly to more modern designs. I won't cry any tears when it disappears from service.

 

[_toommm_]

Mk3 couch

I've had him on my train before - noisy bugger needs to learn to stop talking once in a while

 

[xotGD]

Why are some people so keen to have a 'Metro' service on more routes? This just means poor quality stock with uncomfortable seats and no toilets, and every service being an all-stations stopper.

No thank you!

 

[swt_passenger]

Mk3 couch

...and “Handel on the outside of the train”. Are no other composers available?

 

[Cowley]

...and “Handel on the outside of the train”. Are no other composers available?

You Mozart mit it’s a bit Bach wards though...

 

[tbtc]

...and “Handel on the outside of the train”. Are no other composers available?

You Mozart mit it’s a bit Bach wards though...

Will there be level access to allow people to push their Chopin trolley from the platform onto the train?

 

[Cowley]

Will there be level access to allow people to push their Chopin trolley from the platform onto the train?

Will there be level access to allow people to push their Chopin trolley from the platform onto the train?

Verdi good.

 

[B&I]

Will there be level access to allow people to push their Chopin trolley from the platform onto the train?

Perhaps, but there is unlikely to be enough room for unfolded Brahms