UNITED KINGDOM | Railways - Page 2

Jaeger · December 14th, 2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elfabyanos

I like the new livery. It's clean. The nose lets it down though. It's almost like the desing was only though of looking from the side, little thought was given to the front or three-quarter views.

The front of the train is always high visability yellow for safety reasons.

The 125 HST's have very squat noses and aren't the best looking trains, however they have been excellent workhorses and are prefered by passengers to the much more cramped DMU's.

The Class 90/91's always look good, and I look forward to seeing more of them repainted in the coming weeks.

Amongst the shortlist for the The Intercity Express Replacement Programme is Hitachi, who are also due to start running services in Kent in 2009
and the Olympic Services in 2012 with their Class 395 Javelin.

Hitachi Javelin

elfabyanos · December 14th, 2007, 05:36 PM

Of course they must be yellow, but if you look at the classic HST nose a larger portion of the front was yellow, not just the width of the window. As NX have done it it gives it a bit of an odd visual accentuation. I prefer FGW's yellow

From wikipedia (photo by Chris McKenna):

The classic Intercity executive was better too. But I still love the old blue and white with a yellow end that absolutely everything had in the early 80s (just on the HSTs though)

Jaeger · December 14th, 2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elfabyanos

Of course they must be yellow, but if you look at the classic HST nose a larger portion of the front was yellow, not just the width of the window. As NX have done it it gives it a bit of an odd visual accentuation. I prefer FGW's yellow

The classic Intercity executive was better too. But I still love the old blue and white with a yellow end that absolutely everything had in the early 80s (just on the HSTs though)

I can't say I have very strong views on how much yellow is on the front of the train. I agree though that the HST has been a good train and an excellent workhorse

elfabyanos · December 15th, 2007, 12:26 PM

Hehe, neither do I really!!! It's funny what you end up getting into discussions with on the internet!

***Svartmetall*** · December 15th, 2007, 01:03 PM

I must say the new livery has grown on me. The grey actually looks quite swish.

Jaeger · December 15th, 2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

I must say the new livery has grown on me. The grey actually looks quite swish.

I totally agree

Jaeger · December 15th, 2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elfabyanos

Hehe, neither do I really!!! It's funny what you end up getting into discussions with on the internet!

Good Train though, and with a small British nose unlike those French trains with their big French Noses.

amirtaheri · December 15th, 2007, 02:14 PM

I must agree in that I think the new livery looks very swish and refreshing!

That being said the 125's do look quite good, although I hope to see the Hitachi Olympic Javelin or ICE3 running on the lines at some point soon!

Jaeger · December 15th, 2007, 05:18 PM

The Class 90/91's should also look great when they are all repainted with the new livery

sweek · December 17th, 2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amirtaheri

I must agree in that I think the new livery looks very swish and refreshing!

That being said the 125's do look quite good, although I hope to see the Hitachi Olympic Javelin or ICE3 running on the lines at some point soon!

Really? The Hitachi trains might be fast, but they're commuter trains, not long distance trains. They wouldn't be comfortable enough for such a long ride.

amirtaheri · December 17th, 2007, 01:01 PM

Really? Shocking. What alternatives are there?

elfabyanos · December 17th, 2007, 01:54 PM

They won't be that bad - even the long distance (2+2) electrostars have decentish seats (though the 2+3 layouts are awful) - they won't downgarde the comfort on the IKF for commuters to pay a premium for. But Amirtaheri - if you're talking about new trains then if further 395s were to be procured for north of London routes there's no reason why they couldn't have luxury seating spec.

amirtaheri · December 17th, 2007, 02:28 PM

True. They do look like a fine train

Though I guess the proof will be in the pudding!

Jaeger · December 17th, 2007, 03:52 PM

The Intercity Express Programme is yet to be decided, although there is now a shortlist.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/iep/iepshortlist

As well as the valuable Southeastern contract, Hitachi was also shortlisted by the government earlier in the month to compete to build a new generation of intercity express trains for Britain's rail network that will come into full operation in 2015.

Hitachi Europe is competing against Alstom-Barclays Rail Group and the Express Rail Alliance (a consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation, Siemens, Angel Trains and Babcock & Brown) — will be invited to submit its proposal next summer, with the award of the contract scheduled for winter 2008-09.

***Tubeman*** · December 17th, 2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweek

Really? The Hitachi trains might be fast, but they're commuter trains, not long distance trains. They wouldn't be comfortable enough for such a long ride.

Yes and no... They might be commuter trains but they'll be running along the fastest stretch of railway in the country and there are only two intermediate stops between Ashford and London (Ebbsfleet and Stratford).

***Ni3lS*** · April 26th, 2008, 07:22 PM

Taken by me on 22.04.2008

iampuking · April 27th, 2008, 03:53 AM

Why are suburban stations so crummy compared to Tube stations?

elfabyanos · April 27th, 2008, 01:48 PM

*delete*

zfreeman · April 28th, 2008, 06:56 PM

the majority of suburban station were built back in the 19th and early 20th centuries and have been exposed to all that british weather throws at them, add a poor maintenance and refurbishment programme and you get what we are stuck with now.

Tube stations have the protection of metres of earth around them so don't look quite so messy, as with comments on many other threads.

We need to invest in what we have but moneys is diverted to more pressing matters like the war in iraq etc..

until the government gets serious about public transport as a way to reduce our carbon footprint nothing will happen - just look at the birmingham new street debacle.

Manchester Planner · May 17th, 2008, 12:40 AM

Two interesting recent reports into the recent (and historic) growth of the British railway network:

http://www.atoc-comms.org/admin/user...y%20090408.pdf

http://www.atoc-comms.org/admin/user...20REPORT-1.pdf

Passenger numbers are at their highest since 1946 (and when the figure goes higher this year again it will likely be the highest of all time) and freight is also massively up from 10 years ago. The network infrastructure itself may not be growing as fast (though it is growing incrementally) but numbers using the railways is soaring.

December 17th, 2007, 03:52 PM	#34
Jaeger Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,328 Likes (Received): 32	The Intercity Express Programme is yet to be decided, although there is now a shortlist. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/iep/iepshortlist As well as the valuable Southeastern contract, Hitachi was also shortlisted by the government earlier in the month to compete to build a new generation of intercity express trains for Britain's rail network that will come into full operation in 2015. Hitachi Europe is competing against Alstom-Barclays Rail Group and the Express Rail Alliance (a consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation, Siemens, Angel Trains and Babcock & Brown) — will be invited to submit its proposal next summer, with the award of the contract scheduled for winter 2008-09. Last edited by Jaeger; December 17th, 2007 at 04:10 PM.

April 26th, 2008, 07:22 PM	#36
*Ni3lS* Moderator of Mayhem Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rotterdam / Vienna / London / Colorado Springs Posts: 14,762 Likes (Received): 306	Beckenham Junction ( London ) Taken by me on 22.04.2008 __________________ Living in Vienna, Austria from 01/09 '13! ROTTERDAM - THE PORT OF EUROPE THE HAGUE - CITY OF JUSTICE LIFE IN LONDON

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December 14th, 2007, 05:36 PM	#22
elfabyanos Dracuna Macoides Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,826 Likes (Received): 0	Of course they must be yellow, but if you look at the classic HST nose a larger portion of the front was yellow, not just the width of the window. As NX have done it it gives it a bit of an odd visual accentuation. I prefer FGW's yellow From wikipedia (photo by Chris McKenna): The classic Intercity executive was better too. But I still love the old blue and white with a yellow end that absolutely everything had in the early 80s (just on the HSTs though)

December 15th, 2007, 12:26 PM	#24
elfabyanos Dracuna Macoides Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,826 Likes (Received): 0	Hehe, neither do I really!!! It's funny what you end up getting into discussions with on the internet!

December 15th, 2007, 01:03 PM	#25
*Svartmetall* Ordo Ab Chao Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Past: Northampton, UK (19 years), Auckland NZ (7 years), Now: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 9,312 Likes (Received): 323	I must say the new livery has grown on me. The grey actually looks quite swish.

December 15th, 2007, 02:14 PM	#28
amirtaheri Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 302 Likes (Received): 1	I must agree in that I think the new livery looks very swish and refreshing! That being said the 125's do look quite good, although I hope to see the Hitachi Olympic Javelin or ICE3 running on the lines at some point soon!

December 15th, 2007, 05:18 PM	#29
Jaeger Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,328 Likes (Received): 32	The Class 90/91's should also look great when they are all repainted with the new livery

December 17th, 2007, 01:01 PM	#31
amirtaheri Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 302 Likes (Received): 1	Really? Shocking. What alternatives are there?

December 17th, 2007, 01:54 PM	#32
elfabyanos Dracuna Macoides Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,826 Likes (Received): 0	They won't be that bad - even the long distance (2+2) electrostars have decentish seats (though the 2+3 layouts are awful) - they won't downgarde the comfort on the IKF for commuters to pay a premium for. But Amirtaheri - if you're talking about new trains then if further 395s were to be procured for north of London routes there's no reason why they couldn't have luxury seating spec.

December 17th, 2007, 02:28 PM	#33
amirtaheri Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 302 Likes (Received): 1	True. They do look like a fine train Though I guess the proof will be in the pudding!

April 27th, 2008, 03:53 AM	#37
iampuking Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,767 Likes (Received): 1	Why are suburban stations so crummy compared to Tube stations?

April 27th, 2008, 01:48 PM	#38
elfabyanos Dracuna Macoides Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,826 Likes (Received): 0	delete

April 28th, 2008, 06:56 PM	#39
zfreeman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cork City, formally SY,UK/LDN,UK and CT,SA Posts: 757 Likes (Received): 0	the majority of suburban station were built back in the 19th and early 20th centuries and have been exposed to all that british weather throws at them, add a poor maintenance and refurbishment programme and you get what we are stuck with now. Tube stations have the protection of metres of earth around them so don't look quite so messy, as with comments on many other threads. We need to invest in what we have but moneys is diverted to more pressing matters like the war in iraq etc.. until the government gets serious about public transport as a way to reduce our carbon footprint nothing will happen - just look at the birmingham new street debacle.

May 17th, 2008, 12:40 AM	#40
Manchester Planner Chief Bureaucrat Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,840 Likes (Received): 1	Two interesting recent reports into the recent (and historic) growth of the British railway network: http://www.atoc-comms.org/admin/user...y%20090408.pdf http://www.atoc-comms.org/admin/user...20REPORT-1.pdf Passenger numbers are at their highest since 1946 (and when the figure goes higher this year again it will likely be the highest of all time) and freight is also massively up from 10 years ago. The network infrastructure itself may not be growing as fast (though it is growing incrementally) but numbers using the railways is soaring.