Which you think is the loudest multiple unit in the UK?

[Uk125]

Loudest 'new' train is definitely the loco class 68 for the TPE nova 3? . It's bloody loud when leaving the station. I could even feel the vibration on the ground when I sit in Costa having coffee at lime Street station.

Extraordinary loud.. should be banned!

 

[py_megapixel]

Loudest 'new' train is definitely the loco class 68 for the TPE nova 3? . It's bloody loud when leaving the station. I could even feel the vibration on the ground when I sit in Costa having coffee at lime Street station.

Extraordinary loud.. should be banned!

yeah I'm not sure how they get away with that, it's physically painful to listen to in an enclosed station such as Manchester Victoria.

 

[_toommm_]

A 319, with the windows open in summer, under the pantograph, in a tunnel. That's the one reason why I used to hate the 319s when my commute switched over from 323s to them.

 

[hexagon789]

A 319, with the windows open in summer, under the pantograph, in a tunnel. That's the one reason why I used to hate the 319s when my commute switched over from 323s to them.

Pretty much the same for all 1980s Mk3 EMUs, the motors are quite loud under full load and at speed but I don't find it too intrusive as you don't normally get prolonged tunnel running at speed.

 

[Tynwald]

Class 104 DMU with some of the silencers removed, were/are outrageously noisy.
373 are pretty loud as well, before they had the noise reduction mods they were loud all the time.

 

[YorksDMU]

I’m going with the Cravens Class 105 first generation unit, as already mentioned too. The power cars were exceptionally loud, with the two engines roaring and making everything rattle and vibrate. It really was quite an experience.

 

[Gricer99]

Remember the old Class 127 Bedpan units Back in the BR days? They were horribly noisy

 

[NoMorePacers]

After accruing some miles recently, I would add 156s to the list. At the very least I enjoy the noise they produce (beats any loco-hauled out there in my opinion), although I understand many do not share my view.

 

[Bletchleyite]

After accruing some miles recently, I would add 156s to the list. At the very least I enjoy the noise they produce (beats any loco-hauled out there in my opinion), although I understand many do not share my view.

I'd say 156s were the noisiest current MU, with 150s being close behind, though an idling 185 makes a right racket from outside. 158s inside have a horrid whining noise, though, which while not as loud as 156s hurts my ears more. If I had to choose between 5 hours on a 156 or 158, the 156 would win - the deep engine throb is far less unpleasant than the whine.

 

[dk1]

Remember the old Class 127 Bedpan units Back in the BR days? They were horribly noisy

But wonderful all the same. A 12-car formation accelerating out of Harpenden and the fog from the exhausts was something to behold

 

[E27007]

Nothing beats a Thumper departing a station, not only does the noise and vibration cause the platform to move beneath your feet,with their negligable rate of acceleration the spectacle lasts for an eternity

 

[Halish Railway]

I had a ride on a Perkins 158 on the Tyne Valley today and I’m glad that we mainly have the Cummins equivalents in West Yorkshire as the engines are so much more refined - Quieter & doesn’t vibrate nearly as much.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But wonderful all the same. A 12-car formation accelerating out of Harpenden and the fog from the exhausts was something to behold

For some reason the engine note of classic mechanical transmission DMUs used to resonate nicely. Noisy but a nice sound.

 

[Richard Scott]

For some reason the engine note of classic mechanical transmission DMUs used to resonate nicely. Noisy but a nice sound.

Must admit to a little penchant for the 0680 engine and the derived TL11. Didn't mind a 142 when had a TL11 engine!!!!

 

[Sean Davidson]

317 on fast Liverpool Street to Cambridge, windows open sat in the motor coach, lovely, I'll miss them when they are gone, if I win the lottery I will buy one.

 

[Peter0124]

Anything that travels through London St Pancras platforms A and B. Therefore I am going to give it to the 700s for noise, atleast when they are travelling over the curve in that station.

 

[Jozhua]

150s and 156s make a horrific racket

Yep, 153's are probably the worst, followed by 156's and then 150's. The 156's make no sense to me as a unit, they seem set up for long distance, but massively lack the comfort to do so.

I have to say, a 150 tends to sound louder to me. But I'm going to say a Network Turbo might actually be louder still.
I can't really understand the appeal in the sound of a Sprinter though. To me it's just a constant nasty rumble which makes it imposssible to have a journey in peace and quiet.


Definitely. You can hear (and recognise!) a the acceleration of a Voyager some distance from the railway.

Oh god yeah, the sprinter noise is just awful. Me and my friend were on one a few weeks ago and we couldn't hear each other or read lips as we were wearing masks. Through a tunnel, those things definitely exceed 80dB when the windows are open.

Voyagers and Meridians are noisy outside, sure, but inside they are perfectly acceptable. People who complain about them have clearly not experienced a 15X!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yep, 153's are probably the worst, followed by 156's and then 150's. The 156's make no sense to me as a unit, they seem set up for long distance, but massively lack the comfort to do so.

They have the comfort in keeping with when they were designed - they have no less comfort than a Mk1 (other than the noise) and they replaced the likes of Mk1s and non-aircon Mk2s on medium to long distance services. They do feel a bit basic now, but the big windows and fresh air are nice on a scenic route.

 

[dk1]

Yep, 153's are probably the worst, followed by 156's and then 150's. The 156's make no sense to me as a unit, they seem set up for long distance, but massively lack the comfort to do so.

The class 156 was built as a medium distance unit. Initially however they operated longer distance Provincial routes to eliminate expensive loco-hauled services. This went on longer than expected due to the delayed introduction of the class 158. They where then cascaded to operate routes they where built for such as Manchester-Blackpool.

 

[py_megapixel]

Voyagers and Meridians are noisy outside, sure, but inside they are perfectly acceptable. People who complain about them have clearly not experienced a 15X!

Voyagers have something in them which resonates at a frequency the engine produces at one point during it's acceleration, which creates this rather distinctive - but very annoying - buzzing noise for a second or two every time it accelerates... I can't find a good example of this in a youtube video but if I find one subsequently I'll edit this post to include it

 

[CBlue]

I once had the pleasure of a EMT 153 from Newark North Gate to Lincoln with what seemed to be a knackered gearbox, spending pretty much the entire journey at maximum revs. Unpleasantly noisy wasn't the half of it.

 

[Jozhua]

Voyagers have something in them which resonates at a frequency the engine produces at one point during it's acceleration, which creates this rather distinctive - but very annoying - buzzing noise for a second or two every time it accelerates... I can't find a good example of this in a youtube video but if I find one subsequently I'll edit this post to include it

Yeah, I ride on 22X's quite a bit, I know what you're talking about. Ultimately it's just not at the volume of the 15X trains and the units stay much quieter considering the speed.

 

[dk1]

Yeah, I ride on 22X's quite a bit, I know what you're talking about. Ultimately it's just not at the volume of the 15X trains and the units stay much quieter considering the speed.

Just a gentle purr at speed. I quite like the initial growl.

 

[mightyena]

Voyagers have something in them which resonates at a frequency the engine produces at one point during it's acceleration, which creates this rather distinctive - but very annoying - buzzing noise for a second or two every time it accelerates...

Yes, I've found 222s especially seem to have a sort of metallic rattling noise as they accelerate. Not too noticable from the inside (the vibrations are usually what everyone is paying attention to rather than the noise - had one with an engine out and it was a very pleasant journey!), but from the outside it sounds alarmingly like something important is coming loose...

 

[mspljd1990]

Not many mentions of the infamous 158 roar!

 

[dk1]

Not many mentions of the infamous 158 roar!

Is there one?

 

[LowLevel]

Is there one?

The Perkins ones make a right racket. How good the sound proofing is on the particular unit impacts how loud it is in the saloon though. If you get one with warped emergency windows that don't seal properly they're very loud.

 

[dk1]

The Perkins ones make a right racket. How good the sound proofing is on the particular unit impacts how loud it is in the saloon though. If you get one with warped emergency windows that don't seal properly they're very loud.

Only thing I recall about them was the naff whining sound as the engines powered down.

 

[LowLevel]

Only thing I recall about them was the naff whining sound as the engines powered down.

I seem to remember that's the alternator running down. I had one with a fault one day and instead of whining down every time the driver shut off it went *bang* and the lights flickered

 

[Halish Railway]

Yes, I've found 222s especially seem to have a sort of metallic rattling noise as they accelerate. Not too noticable from the inside.

That might be the sound of the flex-eco bogies fitted to some of Bombardier’s DMUs (172, 220 & 222).