Actually yes that's sound advice for the quieter life; much less last minute drunks on the 2nd to last train, and much less bags of random Burger King foodstuffs being consumed in the carriage.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
New trains for Edinburgh-Glasgow
(50 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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currently the last train back is very busy. Aim for second last for sure. Also applies to the other trains (e.g. slow train back from Glasgow was mobbed after the Chvrches Gig last sat, bantz great, everyone very high according to eldest daughter who can jazz up a story no end)
Posted 8 years ago # -
' If it's REALLY good, you say "Sod it, we'll get the first train home in the morning". '
Nah. If you're having a really good time you'll be getting a train back at some point the next afternoon.....or maybe a couple of days later. :-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Interestingly, changes to railway health and safety regulations means that new trains fitted with daytime running headlights no longer need the ubiquitous BR yellow hi-visibility front.
I think operators can now put forward front colours of their own choosing, although not sure if these need approved first before we start putting Thomas the Tank faces on them all.
Anyway, these could (potentially) be the first new Scotrail trains without a yellow front. I'd like to see a return to "speed whiskers".
Posted 8 years ago # -
Surely if it's a *really* good night you wake up in a foreign country with no idea of which train you took?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Tim Peake had a brilliant night out in Wigan, was getting the train to Oldham, and look where he ended up. Now that is a good night.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I used to work in glasgow and get the second last train back after my shift finished (11pm) Indeed I was often allowed to knock off 15 mins early to catch clockwork orange from hillhead at 10.45 which just about got you on the 11 o'clock, bno gates etc in those days. Because I had been scarred for life by the antics on the last train. [People not getting off at Haymerket if you know what I mean, Pete Kravitz nice londoner who was the new edinburgh review editor trying to eat a fish supper when drunk etc] Horrible images.
On the plus side Glasgow had shut up sho, I caught he late train and arrived in Edinburgh just as things were getting going. Liquor licencing being more liberal through here, later opening and selling bevvy in fish and chip shops etc
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I'd like to see a return to "speed whiskers"."
White multiple ones??
Posted 8 years ago # -
Apologies for missing this and niot getting the nudge from @chdot or @arellcat. Tou've just missed a presentation to CRAG by Jon Veitch of Hitachi on the AT200.
However an appeal goes out to get a bit more recognition and oompfh behind the Scotrail Cycling Forum - unlike the Anglia and Northern ones it has no regular presence from any Scottish Council, or local cycling groups.
Spokes (Ewan) attends and presses the tandems issue, I try to get there for Cycling UK, and we usually see a Cycling Scotland, Paths for All or Sustrans presence but not on such a regular basis.
Discussion on the protocol for HST boarding has been taking place, as the access to the van space on the 125mph tramcar (relating to the racket the traction motor drives make - liaka tram only faster and noisier) will not be available at intermediate stations from outside, and through the train without staff unlocking the connecting door.
Technically (the PRM TSI regulations) the wheelchair spaces are inviolate and the MUST be 2 per train of more than 2 coaches - that means no bags bikes prams etc can use the space .. in theory. However I'm pretty sure commonsense prevails in most cases - until there is a spat with a PRM (wheelchair user) denied access to the space or a guard ticked off by a nit-picking superior...
Scotrail (and Transport Scotland) manage the approvals for Scottish trains, including the safety case for cycle carriage in each type of train (ROGS - Rail & Other Guided Systems). The key issue for safety is controlling excursions within the train, especially in a crash, so that bikes don't fly around and passengers flying around don't land on bikes.
The space on the new trains is comparable with that on the Class 380 (5 tip-up seats, roll in access from door vestibule). Layered 'herringbone' this takes 4-5 bikes, and it is long enough for a tandem (2.3-2.5m).
Stacking/hanging 2-high may be (unofficially) possible, a detail which might be developed in time.
Last year I observed bikes coming of trains at GLQ and counted at least 32 bikes off a 6 coach train, which seemed about right - 12 doorways @ 2 per door and 4 bikes spaces @ 2 per space's
For a separate post POP-ing home on 23/04 plus bike carrying coach services.
Worth noting too that for the Dunwich Dynamo Abellio tweaks the Norwich-London trains to stop for 10 minutes at Ipswich on that day, where pre marshalled groups of 50 bikes & riders are loaded per train.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks for this info tulyar. Also Easter egg at end. I always wondered how the peloton returned from dunwich which is a long way from London on busy roads
Posted 8 years ago # -
Good that the bike space is equivalent to the 380s. This is what I had assumed, and I find the system quite manageable on the North Berwick or Bathgate services. Also worth noting that sometimes bikes are bungeed to the hand rail near the disabled loos: I've done this before with a bike + tagalong tandem on Bathgate service, no hassle from the conductor either.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Seemingly still time to lobby for improved layouts if necessary
"He said that interiors will be finalised in February, and that the first four trains to receive them will be T5 and T6 in Kasado (Japan) and T7 and T8 in Newton Aycliffe."
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
It will be used for driver training over the next few months, but has still to be refurbished before entering passenger service.
"
Any info on cycle space(s)?
Posted 7 years ago # -
He's been quite keen to bang the 40 year old drum the last few days
I might sometimes agree the HST/Mk3s are long in the tooth, particularly if you're sat on old bogies I find they ride very badly, but as cascades go this is a top tier catch.
Careful what you wish for
Posted 7 years ago # -
From the article:
Nigel Harris, managing editor of RAIL magazine, said: "Don't be fooled by all this 'old train' nonsense. The HSTs are great trains as they stand right now. Once they have been refurbished, they will be 'as new' and offer some of the best quality long-distance travel in the UK. They will play a key role in giving Scotland not only the railway it deserves but the best railway it's ever had. If passengers don't love them I'll eat my hat."
Good for you, Nigel Harris!
I like HSTs personally. Plenty of leg room usually and a good solid feel about them. I Hate the Virgin Pendolinos with a vengeance (though First Class is quite nice).
Posted 7 years ago # -
Mk 3 coaches have a coil spring primary suspension and airbag secondary. Coil springs, unlike leaf springs have no 'rubbing effect between the leaves that acts like a damper, so added damping comes in the form of shock absorbers, attached through rubber bushes, and these wear out, some earlier designs faster than others. VTEC especially had 'bad' parts and these deliver a 'zebedee' ride as the carriage pitches as it moves over undulating track. GWR HST's have been using a better model of damper unit
Posted 7 years ago # -
I can recommend OS Nock's "Two Miles a Minute" if you want exhaustive detail on the story of HST bogie design.
(I actually bought it for the APT content, but the HST is pretty much 90% of the book)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Or an interesting tendency to the +5% of the +/- 5% as the
GPS speedo app or the Garmin clocks 131mph, as you read off the train speed on your journey (as you do)Posted 7 years ago # -
I once clocked a HST at 129mph; that was the fastest speed I recorded (with Garmin).
Posted 7 years ago # -
Have only ridden a western region HST once so happy to find out they're better than the ECML ones. The ride has been pretty much my only concern.
Posted 7 years ago #
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