What is your favourite train?

[XAM2175]

Please can the train designers bring back trains where passengers can see out of the front?

You would also need to bring back drivers who are prepared to allow it.

 

[alexf380]

Class 158s, by a long way. Sturdy regional express units, good seat layout as built and as refurbished by the likes of Scotrail. Wonderful noise from the Cummins engined lot. I'd take one anywhere.

 

[MattRat]

So, I know I said the PEPs in my original post, but since I've been thinking about it, I'm really going to miss the 175s on TFW services. As much as I hope they find a new home, I have to accept that they might now, and that makes a little sad because they are lovely to ride on, and very unique over other bigger fleets that we keep moving more and more towards, like the 19x and the 80x.

 

[sw1ller]

Class 197 as that’s by far the newest and most comfortable train I’ve ever driven. Also the livery triggers people who think the end door shouldn’t be red for some mad reason!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

As some others have done, I'm going to have to split my answer into categories. I'm also going to give both my enthusiast answer and my normie passenger answer. No normie answers for locos of course, because normies don't care about such things!

short/medium-distance DMU: Enthusiast- 155s because of the "garden shed engineering" elements which I find somewhat charming. They're also probably the most endangered units left. Normie: 172s.
short/medium-distance EMU: Enthusiast- 321s, as the very 90s styling is nostalgic for me, and they're not long for this world now. Normie: 333s.
long-distance/intercity DMU: Enthusiast and normie answer- 180s simply because they aren't the awful 22x series, so win by default.
long-distance/intercity EMU: Enthusiast- 444s simply for going against the standardised layout that almost every MU had since the late 1990s. Normie: 397s.
Diesel Locomotives: 47s, partly because they're often overlooked by enthusiasts because of 1970s-era prejudices ("Duff" haulage etc.) but also because they were the mainstay for expresses on my local line when I was young.
Electric Locomotives: has to be the flying badger, though class 85s come close for some reason.

 

[prod_pep]

Having grown up with the 507s and 508s, I could nominate any of the five PEP-derived classes (not the actual PEPs as they were before my time) but the best iteration of the design is probably the 315. The thyristor control of the 314s and 315s provides a noticeably smoother ride than the camshaft 313/507/508 classes and the fact the 315s have enjoyed such a long goodbye in outstanding condition has been superb. The 314s provided a reason to visit Glasgow and I'd likely have overlooked a fantastic city without their presence.

The 158s remain my favourite DMU class, particularly the TfW units which I prefer to the 175s. Other favourite EMU classes are the 323 and 465.

 

[miklcct]

My favourite is the 800/801/802 when running under electric power. These are the most luxurious trains I have taken, and they are surprisingly stable even at 200 km/h that I don't feel much shake (in contrast, it's so shaky travelling 160 km/h on the 444s).

 

[bramling]

The Class 700's definitely are not my favourite train by any stretch, but they aren't that bad, they are very quick off the mark, have massive information screens, the seats have never been a problem for me, with the lack of armrests, and tables being my main complaints about the trains. All of my issues with these trains are solved by first class (which is always declassified at the rear of any Class 700), the wider seats, the large tables, and the armrests.

Yes agreed that if they had done the whole train out in the same style of first class (perhaps with half tables and without armrests), and ditched the walk-through then they would be fine. But they didn’t, so they aren’t. In the meantime it shouldn’t have to be a lottery of being lucky enough to get declassified first, or having to pay for actual first.

 

[Richard Scott]

Class 50 on fresh air stock. No contest I'm afraid, wins hands down every time!!!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

For trains in service today...

For travelling, early batch 377/1
For prosperity, Southern 313s
For engine noise, probably Class 67
For looks, jury still out but Class 69 a contender

 

[Lewlew]

For engine noise, probably Class 67

I think you mean 37

 

[greyman42]

My favourite is the 800/801/802 when running under electric power. These are the most luxurious trains I have taken, and they are surprisingly stable even at 200 km/h that I don't feel much shake (in contrast, it's so shaky travelling 160 km/h on the 444s).

What do you find luxurious about the 80x?

 

[miklcct]

What do you find luxurious about the 80x?

I just feel that it's much better than Voyagers, the other intercity stock I have used.

 

[MattRat]

What do you find luxurious about the 80x?

What they don't say is their normal train is a Pacer

 

[Class465pacer]

Nothing beats the Pendolinos. For surburban trains I’d take a 377 or 700

 

[Some guy]

The pendos are the best. They’re a fun ride to be on when tilting around the bends and are extremely fast. One of the best things Branson has done is order these workhorses

 

[Ilovetrains43]

Class 150/2 - Northern Rail (before Arriva)

 

[LT02 NVV]

DMU: The Class 170 Turbostar, I love the sleek design, and how they are really good to ride.
EMU: This might be an unpopular choice, but I am gonna say the Class 334 Juniper, growing up, these units have always been a favourite of mine, and they have such an interesting history too.

I also love the Class 318s, Class 158 Express Sprinters and the Classes 220 & 221 Voyger units too.

 

[Ilovetrains43]

I like the Aventras. Especially 701s, their South Western Railway branding and livery and naming of 'Arterio' is original.

 

[Ilovetrains43]

DMU: The Class 170 Turbostar, I love the sleek design, and how they are really good to ride.
EMU: This might be an unpopular choice, but I am gonna say the Class 334 Juniper, growing up, these units have always been a favourite of mine, and they have such an interesting history too.

I also love the Class 318s, Class 158 Express Sprinters and the Classes 220 & 221 Voyger units too.

I love the 170s too. The 158s are pretty annoying to be honest, they seem to be everywhere. The Voyagers are good if they operate for CrossCountry. 318s are original. Thank you for your comment.

 

[150249]

I like the Aventras. Especially 701s, their South Western Railway branding and livery and naming of 'Arterio' is original.

Plastic

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I like the Aventras. Especially 701s, their South Western Railway branding and livery and naming of 'Arterio' is original.

They do look cool, a shame they don't work though!

'Arterio' is an awful name, mind. It can't be just me that associates it with er... gushing wounds, surely?

 

[Citybreak1]

170 or Eurostar trains

 

[BDLhouston]

It would provably have to be the 156s, preferably with the old first scotrail seats sound great especially over joints, they feel sturdy, i feel the rumble whenever they rev up which is always fun, they look great, this is probably just me being biased because they were what i grew up with

 

[HST274]

Shorter distance I would say 170. Comfortable, nice interior with the tables and good all round.
For a long intercity route, I would say 43 (basic but I just love them and still look for one where I can) then pendolino which are fantastic. The 80x and 22x are behind by a little way though I like the former.

 

[dakta]

185 for me - largely because it's relevant around where I live, powerful enough for - anything and everything - it rides nice and isn't actually that noisy. If it was practical to have them everywhere then 'that'd do'

Class 68 nearly got a mention just for the noise it makes coming past my workshop though I won't as haven't travelled behind one yet

 

[Intro298]

The Class 377’s are very nice, they have comfortable seats, they are fast, and they have a nice sound, which isn’t too noisy.

 

[gordonthemoron]

DB Metropolitan, which DB have used as an IC(E) substitute between Munich and Berlin, amongst some other routes. Failed luxury Cologne-Hamburg sets from just before ICEs, mainly business and first class seats, second class was dreadful

 

[43096]

DB Metropolitan, which DB have used as an IC(E) substitute between Munich and Berlin, amongst some other routes. Failed luxury Cologne-Hamburg sets from just before ICEs, mainly business and first class seats, second class was dreadful

They weren’t from just before ICEs, they were built around the same time as the ICE2 sets.

The two sets have only recently been taken out of service (last year): it’s been reported that they are to be sold to RegioJet for use on their Prague-Vienna service.

 

[gordonthemoron]

They weren’t from just before ICEs, they were built around the same time as the ICE2 sets.

The two sets have only recently been taken out of service (last year): it’s been reported that they are to be sold to RegioJet for use on their Prague-Vienna service.

well that's a very good reason to use RegioJet