Which rolling stock is most in need of refurbishment/replacement?

[HST Power]

Which rolling stock in the UK do you believe is most in need of either refurbishment, or complete replacement?

Furthermore, what improvements would you make to rolling stock had you been given the chance to refurb it?

To get things started off, I think I would like to refurbish the Pacer with a better seating arrangement. The previous refurbishment has improved it, but I don't like the airline style.

Or I suppose, as GNER 373 believes, we could just scrap it.

I would also like to see something done to the styling on the FGW HST's, but I'm still working on that one.

 

[GNER 373]

The 142's surely have to be replaced! Although I'm not a hater of this class the time of the railbus must be coming to an end?

 

[Voyager 2093]

142s I agree need to be disposed of. The trains I think in most need of a refurbishment are 319s and 321s. All in my opinion remember .

 

[GNER 373]

Thanks for the include in the header post

Although I think they should be scrapped, I believe that at least one of every class of train/loco should be preserved for f

 

[WestCoast]

Well, it's looking very likely that the 142s will be with Northern until 2019. They have all recieved a refubishment in varying styles, but the ones that were done by First North Western (now with Northern and FGW) still retain bus benches and the Merseytravel refurb made them worse with rock hard seats. So, in short, some high backed seating can do wonders for comfort as seen in the ATW and ex-ATN 142s.

Other than that some of East Midlands Trains and Northern's 150s, 153s and 156s are extemely tatty and are crying out for a decent refurbishment.

I'd also nominate the 319s and 321s, especially as they are only at mid-life.

 

[Lampshade]

Some of the 314s look a bit tired inside, the new ScotRail livery looks great though.

 

[Blindtraveler]

14x's are and will be fine for a good bit if the bench seats are seen to. I'm keen for this to not turn into another debate on paser interiors however so I'm going to shift to 156's - these units are in some areas e.g West highland line in Scotland doing longer runs and if I were in controll I'd be looking to change the seating onboard units doing such trips to something high backed and wel padded to improve cumfort.

Many tocs are doing wonders with there 158s, but some are still in v bad condition so maybe those too?

Finally any ideas on refits for voyagers/pendos/early 170s?

 

[Minilad]

Lets me guess, most people will say Pacers and Voyagers

 

[HST Power]

I don't actually mind the Voyager carriages, nor the styling on the Pendos!

 

[Lampshade]

Lets me guess, most people will say Pacers and Voyagers

Refurbishment won't cure inherent design problems.

 

[Minilad]

Refurbishment won't cure inherent design problems.

Hence the title of the thread being refurbishment or replacement

 

[HST Power]

Refurbishment won't cure inherent design problems.

Though it can cure quite a few eyesores, as I learnt very well in the '50 Years of the A Stock' thread today!

 

[GNER 373]

Agreed with West Coast o

 

[anthony263]

the class 142 & 143 need replacment urgently , i agree that a lto of the class 319 & 321's need refurbished ment, however i believe the thameslink class 319's will be getting air con etc when they are replaced by new stock.

 

[GNER 373]

Can I quickly ask are my posts showing? I'm using my iPhone at the moment and everytime I post I can only see part of it! Thanks for any replies

 

[90019]

so I'm going to shift to 156's - these units are in some areas e.g West highland line in Scotland doing longer runs and if I were in controll I'd be looking to change the seating onboard units doing such trips to something high backed and wel padded to improve cumfort.

I'd like to see improved seating in the 156s. I've used them a few times in the past year, and they're not particularly nice. The seats are too low down and they gave me a sore back

 

[Lampshade]

Can I quickly ask are my posts showing?

Nope, can't see anything.

 

[SWTDesiro]

156s are OK, but the railbuses need to be literally chucked in the ocean they're that sodding crap. They should be replaced with 172 Turbostars. The Southern 455s could do with an interior refresh.

 

[Lampshade]

The Southern 455s could do with an interior refresh.

They're not that bad, although SWT did a much better job refurbishing theirs.

 

[jopsuk]

Simple. The 14x classes and the "1972 design" EMUs- 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508. The former being more needed than the latter.

The Sprinters and the Mark 3-based EMUs will be fine with decent refurbishments for a good while longer. 323s, 158/159s and Networkers are still relatively youthful.

Obviously, the post-privatisation stock doesn't actually need replaced- though if any were to be, I'd suggest that the "micro classes" should either be scrapped, have conversion work done on them (similar to the proposed 460 into 458 project, maybe 180s could become 175s?) or consolidated.

 

[GNER 373]

Nope, can't see anything.

Thanks for the reply! Must have a problem! Bugger

 

[Yew]

I think pacers need replacing. and all multiple units based on the MK3 could do with a big refurbishment they could be made to look like brand new trains, and mechanically most of them are sound. Maybe new engines in some? Some 153/6's currently having a midlife refurb, however I think that by the time the Mk3 stuff is done, it could be suitable to tack some of the unrefurbished ones onto the end of this.

Has anyone noticed that EMT seem to be painting their 156's at the minute? (still in the ugly regional livery though, not their mainline livery)

 

[rail-britain]

Agreed, irrespective of refurbishment / overhaul the following should be replaced as a matter of urgency (for all kinds of reasons)
Class 14x DMUs
Class 313 / 314 / 315 EMUs

LHCS with tread block brakes, although ATW and ScotRail appear to be the only TOCs now operating these (permanently, the others are temporary /contract)
ScotRail operated several Mark 2 coaches with disc brakes, so why not make this modification to the benefit of customers...

 

[GospelOak117]

Not mainline but LU Central line's 1992 stock. Graffiti everywhere, faded dirty seats and what look like big rust patches all around the windows. The C stock is not much better but the end is in sight for them.

 

[HST Power]

I want the 377 moved to operate selected services on the Great Northern, or alternatively, the 313 refurbished.

 

[Drsatan]

I want the 377 moved to operate selected services on the Great Northern, or alternatively, the 313 refurbished.

I'm guessing when Thameslink's completed some of the 377s subleased to FCC might transfer to FCC permanently for use on Great Northern services.

 

[tbtc]

Pacers are getting withdrawn in the next eight and a half years, so there's little to say really.

However, with each TOC doing their own thing, its hard to keep track of which units have gone the longest without any refurbishment? Some of the work EMT and ATW are doing to their Sprinters is long overdue (a legacy of what they inherited, of course)

 

[lm321412]

Agreed, irrespective of refurbishment / overhaul the following should be replaced as a matter of urgency (for all kinds of reasons)
Class 14x DMUs
Class 313 / 314 / 315 EMUs

Whilst I agree with 14x DMUs, why do the 313/4/5 EMUs need to be replaced urgently?

Still got some life let in them and given a good refresh will continue for a few years to come...

 

[swt_passenger]

I'm guessing when Thameslink's completed some of the 377s subleased to FCC might transfer to FCC permanently for use on Great Northern services.

They almost certainly won't. They are already earmarked for strengthening more SN services to 12 car, and the MK - Croydon WLL service to 8 car - the SN interiors they were delivered with should be a big hint...

In any case, a high proprtion of FCC's Great Northern services will be re-routed onto Thameslink, so they'll have plenty of their existing GN units spare at that stage.

 

[HST Power]

I'm guessing when Thameslink's completed some of the 377s subleased to FCC might transfer to FCC permanently for use on Great Northern services.

Really?!!!

That's great news!

I'll keep an eye out, thanks for the information. I wonder which services they'll operate them on, I think to and from London to Cambridge and Peterborough would be best, I can't see much use for them between Hertford and Moorgate.