What is your best train company?

my best train company is first scotrail

Central Trains

170399 wrote:Central Trains

it isn't central trains anymore its EMT=East Midland Trains

kk then picky i like central as they had 170s but now i like NXEA

How about explaining why you like these companies??

I like Northern because they gave me a train driving licence

I liked GNER because they were a shining example of how the privatised railway should be

fair point i like NXEA because they are very good operated company and have fantastic stock

Southeastern 'cause their trains rarely ever break down and rarely ever suffer long delays.

You may think i'm mad but my favourite is FGW (First Great Western), everyone complains about how the services are late and to compact, okay sometimes they are but they run a regular High Speed service from London-Bristol, The loco's are great, it's a shame their not Valentas but still, They are unusually late and they are extremely compfy to sit in. The local service trains are also very good now that they have been refurbished, they are sometimes late because of the timetable and the High Speed services get priority over them. The only problem i have against them is that they have got rid of 10+ class 158s and brought in 10+ 142s! Whats going on there?

Liam43172 wrote:You may think i'm mad but my favourite is FGW (First Great Western), everyone complains about how the services are late and to compact, okay sometimes they are but they run a regular High Speed service from London-Bristol, The loco's are great, it's a shame their not Valentas but still, They are unusually late and they are extremely compfy to sit in. The local service trains are also very good now that they have been refurbished, they are sometimes late because of the timetable and the High Speed services get priority over them. The only problem i have against them is that they have got rid of 10+ class 158s and brought in 10+ 142s! Whats going on there?

first scotrail have 10 more 158's although i heard they are from northern it's the weesex trains ones although, it could be wrong and maybe they are from First great western. i need to admit on a hot summers day i would prefare to sit on a class 142 than a 158 because 158's have bad brakes, the aircon is really bad which i can't stand the heat on trains and the leg room as bad although don't get me wrong 142's have there faults as well HAHA too many to mention. Hit the wrong button on one of them your most likley to go boom. if i had to drive a 142 i would stick a bag over my head going into stations as i would be ashamed to drive a 75mph bus lol

S Fraser,
you say that 158's could be replaced by 142's because they have bad brakes but the real shocking thing behind that decision is that they are running the Devon/Cornwall locals, and yet it was when they were first introcduced and used down there that the Cornish rebelled against them; and theyre going to do it again! It's also wierd how they get rid of X amount of 158's that were used on Portsouth-Cardiff's and then bring down 142's for Cornwall/Devon workings - that's a mistake by FGW. FGW have wallet's tighter than ducks arses. They're only spending 1% of their yearly turnover on rolling stock! Which, i suppose could explain why the 142s are here. I guess the rest goes on bills & fines for the year !

My favourite company would have been Central Trains (until they were split up into XC & London Midland etc etc) but i think i'm going to say Arrive Cross Country (Although they'll never be as good as Virgin !!)

Steve

Steve34041 wrote:S Fraser,
you say that 158's could be replaced by 142's because they have bad brakes but the real shocking thing behind that decision is that they are running the Devon/Cornwall locals, and yet it was when they were first introcduced and used down there that the Cornish rebelled against them; and theyre going to do it again! It's also wierd how they get rid of X amount of 158's that were used on Portsouth-Cardiff's and then bring down 142's for Cornwall/Devon workings - that's a mistake by FGW. FGW have wallet's tighter than ducks arses. They're only spending 1% of their yearly turnover on rolling stock! Which, i suppose could explain why the 142s are here. I guess the rest goes on bills & fines for the year !

My favourite company would have been Central Trains (until they were split up into XC & London Midland etc etc) but i think i'm going to say Arrive Cross Country (Although they'll never be as good as Virgin !!)

Steve

i didn't say anything about them having bad brakes, it's because first scotrail needs more 158s? not a clue why but anyway...

Class 142s were originally introduced to Cornwall to try to save money on loss making rural lines and to replace ageing 1st Gen DMMUs. They didnt last long as their long wheelbase and 4 wheels gave excessive rail wear and they were going through wheel sets every 4000 miles. They were sent north and 150s replaced them.

The fact that 142s have returned is because there is no other rolling stock available to lease - everything useful is in traffic with other operators. The DfT ordered the 158s off to pastures new, and the extra ones that ScotRail received are sub-leased from NorthernRail. Surely it is better to have something providing the service than having yet more cancelled services?!

Class 158s do NOT have bad brakes, they are disc braked to cope with braking from higher speeds. I like driving 158s when I get the chance and find the brakes to be just as good as tread brakes - at high speeds they are excellent - they can be light at low speeds (I mean 5mph) but any good driver that knows his traction can compensate this - dont forget we are highly trained professionals!! Until you have driven a real train you cant have a true view on train handling. Travelling in the passenger saloon and driving in the driving cab are two totally different worlds.

Favorite rail company, any that's operated by First. Reason, I get discount rail travel for myself, family and friends

Transpennine express - Why: because i like their color scheme on trains and also ive never seen any or heard of any breaking down plus they used class158 but now have the amazing growling class185