Re: 'Modern' Stock For Cornwall Anytime Soon?!

NotQuiteCornish wrote:
> Here's a post for all you insiders in the rail industry, espcially
> those living/working in the southwest region.
>
> TOCs such as FGW now have funky 175s and Adelantes, yet all we have in
> Cornwall are old HSTs which although still supremely comfortable, now
> just seem a little old.
>
> Companies such as SWT operate nice new DMUs and EMUs rather than those
> old VEPs on local and suburban services - here, local services are
> provided by ageing 150s and 153s, and the odd 158.
>
> The only trains we have which appear vaguely modern are the 221
> Voyagers run by Virgin, and they're hardly excellent.
>
> Any plans for the near future, and the more distant future too, for
> newer trains in my region? Maybe faster on the many bends on the
> Cornish lines, maybe with greater acceleration, increased capacity,
> in-train entertainment, and perhaps even more environmentally-friendly?
>
> The trains I've seen passing through Bristol and Leeds look so alien to
> me! When do Cornwall and the southwest get new stock?!
>

A lot of "modern" stock is not all that wonderful, but with classes
150/153 you have got a load of particular rubbish in Cornwall. You would
have been better off if a few of the mark 1 class 411/421 EMUs had been
converted into loco-hauled push-pull sets and used in Cornwall. They
haven't all been scrapped yet so if someone in authority in your neck of
the woods shouts loud enough it is still practicable. They have
comfortable seats, reliable air conditioning, plenty of luggage/cycle
space ride smoothly and all the seats have an unobstructed view, which
is just what is needed in a tourist area.

With the 185 DMUs coming into service, there should be better DMUs of
classes 156/158 coming available. But don't equate "modern" with
"better". Electrostars are nothing special and certainly don't represent
50 years of improvement since the mark 1s came out. The ride quality on
less than perfect track is dire, the toilets are not to be relied on,
though they seem to have sorted out the air con problems at long last.
They are badly short of luggage space and bicycles end up cluttering the
vestibules. Rolling stock is either good, bad or indifferent, its age
doesn't come into it.

Henry Law
.