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Transpennine Express Class 802 bi-mode diesel multiple units will be instrumental in taking advantage of the Transpennine Route Upgrade which will see the route between Manchester and York electrified and will be able to take advantage of newly electrified sections whilst running on routes which have not yet been electrified
#Rail #transpennineexpress #Clas802
22 Comments
"IETs" 👀
I don’t mind the IETs I preferred the HSTs and still prefer the IC225s but they could be worse do think it’s silly that EMRs auroras are 5 car instead of 7-8
Great video, but these AT300’s can not be compared to the iconic and still going in Scotland, HST. The HST revolutionised train travel in 1976 onwards. I remember them coming into service, shaving a whole hour off a Paddington-Swansea journey. The HST offered a then novel fixed formation Inter-City train with a Buffet/Restaurant car. The HST also saved many routes from further cuts or possible closures that were on the table in the mid 1970’s. HST’s offered a faster, more reliable and a more comfortable journey, thus seeing passenger numbers rise significantly on the major routes they served. In the 1970’s the HST was revolutionary. The AT300 is (to be polite) a very basic and in some cases, inadequate replacement for the HST. Seats are rock hard, the ride quality is poor in excess of 100mph (certainly on the GWR ones), no buffet cars (except LNER), troublesome under-floor engines (GWR ones regularly operate with at least one engine not working) and of course the cracks. GWR (more than LNER) have too many 5 car sets, which often results in short form trains and overcrowding. All in all, the AT300 (just my opinion based on 50+ years of UK train travel) is in no way an improvement for the passenger experience compared to the HST. I would certainly go as far as to say that they are a marked de-improvement considering how much these trains cost to procure.
Why? You only need 1 seat.
There's also significant benefit of running 5+5 instead of 10 for maintenance other depot stuff
Why did the manufacturers and operators decide that reducing padding and making seats hard (not firm) wad a good idea? When will they start to put back some comfort?
Great video! Speaking of electrification, do you have any thoughts on the potential for a service along the line through Mossley Hill and West Allerton, likely a Merseyrail service from Lime Street to Ditton Junction, or even all the way to Warrington Bank Quay low-level?
On a similar note, do you have any thoughts on potentially widening the Lime Street cutting, or re-quadrupling the line between Edge Hill and Roby? No pressure to answer any of my silly questions 🙂
""I orded IEPs for my rail service, worst mistake of my life" dont be like him" – one of its critics
"HOW DARE YOU COMPARE THIS FILF TO ONE OF THE GREATS" – passenger who went on tpe 802 and got delayed by 4 decades
I prefer these to 185s . An 802 also goes up to Edinburgh via the WCML once a day.
Got one up to Leeds a few weeks ago as per usual sat in front coach and so quiet,no engine underneath, they are nice trains, and the seats are ok, pity a bout all the stains on them.
once you've been on a stadler and seen what IC and bi mode trains should be in this decade, an IET will always look like a missed opportunity
I just wonder if the seats could be altered to have more padding in the cushions as this would be my main complaint. On the GWR ones ,I tried several second class examples and they were all lumpy as well, now. I had to use my padded jacket underneath my rear to mitigate against this most uncomfortable experience.
The IEPs do accelerate well compared to the HSTs but I would seriously welcome more padding on the seats. Cardiff to Paddington can be uncomfortable to say the least.
Cracking in the chassis only occurred to a limited number of IET's due to the fact that originally those particular units were supposed to be all electric and then got switched to bi-mode in a last minute change. – problems of not delivering on the promise of OHLE installation. Shocker.
Went on a IET between London and Cardiff on GWR. jesus christ is there any suspension? you can feel every little jolt or switch in the track. and the seats felt were a joke – my local networkers were more comfortable
As one driver said to me, he doesn’t think they’ll last as long as the 225
Terrible seats, supposedly borrowed from regional trains in Europe, suitable only for short journeys – maybe okay for an hour and a half to Huddersfield, but not for 5 1/2 hours to Edinburgh from Liverpool. Terrible ride quality, due to the design of the bogies. Yes, faster
acceleration and more seats than HST‘s but passenger comfort is several steps back from trains, designed 40+ years ago. No mention of on board catering for long distance services?
TPE probley did the better job with interor and layout with their IEP 800's But they are what they are and thats basical a cheap nasty product , TPE sould got six or 8 car formations to expand Bikes and lugage etc arfter all the sirvices go to airports and turist destnations as well as deal with some intencive commutor corridors . The 800 is not a game changer as in the way the intercity 125 was this realy did save BR and the intercity network from going the way of railways in Ireland and the USA goverments in the 1980 were desprate to get the albertross of rail off their backs and tax account . the 800 is a one trick ponny it can run as eletric or esial mostly as both , lets be frank GWR are running mostly on disal under the wires becoust of the power costs and most 800 struggel on east cost to keep to time as well as having engens adapted out spec…… and rember you also flying about with 3 tanks of fual under the train I am suprized that got a green light out of the H&S Ex…. sooner its all 25 kv the better then we can have some nice siemans railjets LOL
They are not bad trains – just not very good. A huge missed opportunity and a downgrade from the HSTs. The seats on the GWR trains are really bad – if you are planning a long journey, over say half an hour then take a cushion. The ride can be jittery and bumpy. Other things are silly – blinds that are shared between two seats when curtains could be used, seats without windows, overly bright and as you mention poor accommodation for cycles (something the railways should encourage). The one plus point they can switch from diesel to electric and vice versa on the move.
Imagine the 4hr trip from Liverpool to Glasgow , via Preston. I prefer making the longer journey by car to Wigan, and then Avanti to Glasgow.
Say what you want about these trains, the regular riders will tell you that they are better than the delayed, heavily overcrowded 3 carriage Class 185s they replaced and enabled TPE to double up the 185s into more chill 6 carriage services.
I think they look good externally. I’ve not had the “delight” in riding them but I have heard a lot about the quality of the seating. I wonder why we can’t have internal arrangements of trains like they have on continental long distance trains – they always seem to get luggage and bike storage right!