Newport to Leeds HST or Voyager
Discussion
Could be either... a Voyager is quicker, more modern but very noisy inside - lots of bassy thrumming Cummins exhaust noise. An HST is slower, not so nice on the inside but blissfully quiet as there are only engines front and back. Yes the Voyager may be newer but in my view it was a step back for quiet, comfortable travel.
Some of the HSTs have been upgraded with new engines and interiors but they may all be on the west of England lines. The others mentioned are the same as the Cross Country, ex Virgin ones I think. My wife travels fairly often from Southampton to Birmingham. Every time the internal doors open, the smell of the toilets wafts in. Added to too many people on board, she hates them. Used to love the HSTs but they must date back to the 70s now.
timbo48 said:
Some of the HSTs have been upgraded with new engines and interiors but they may all be on the west of England lines. The others mentioned are the same as the Cross Country, ex Virgin ones I think. My wife travels fairly often from Southampton to Birmingham. Every time the internal doors open, the smell of the toilets wafts in. Added to too many people on board, she hates them. Used to love the HSTs but they must date back to the 70s now.
All HSTs have been re-engineered, mostly with MTU engines, although a small number are running Paxman VP185s. I travel regularly on HSTs and don't get any 'toilet waft'. I've also travelled on Class 222 Pioneers (newer version of the 220 voyager) a lot and they're comparable, but there is more engine vibration and noise.I would echo the comments above - class 43 (HST) will be quieter but perhaps a little slower as it can't travel at the Enhanced Permissible Speed (EPS) which the class 221 Super Voyager can.
Even if you're just on a 220 it should still be quicker but a bit noisy, also a bit cramped overhead, the kinetic envelope of the 221 (same shape) is larger due to the tilt action so the train's roof is narrower to give adequate clearances to lineside obstructions.
Or something.
Even if you're just on a 220 it should still be quicker but a bit noisy, also a bit cramped overhead, the kinetic envelope of the 221 (same shape) is larger due to the tilt action so the train's roof is narrower to give adequate clearances to lineside obstructions.
Or something.
Ah well cant be any worse than my journey this evening.
Mental delays from Leeds to Kings Cross, my train was 85 mins late, but luckily got on the eariler delayed train.
A few people were sent to Doncaster, then told there were no trains.
To top it all off, had no lunch as I "knew" Id make best use of first class (work paid) for food etc
Then a message (No food or drink sorry) cant even BUY a bottle of water... not good
Mental delays from Leeds to Kings Cross, my train was 85 mins late, but luckily got on the eariler delayed train.
A few people were sent to Doncaster, then told there were no trains.
To top it all off, had no lunch as I "knew" Id make best use of first class (work paid) for food etc
Then a message (No food or drink sorry) cant even BUY a bottle of water... not good
T16OLE said:
14:15 Newport (s.wales wales) to Leeds coach G
Voyager. Penzance - Leeds via Newport and Gloucester. Have fun, i'd be slitting my wrists, even in FC.Parabola said:
Why is it the Voyagers always stink of disinfectant/sewage?
They've been in service a few years now, so the problem should have been sorted.
Due to some sThey've been in service a few years now, so the problem should have been sorted.
tty requirement that all trains now must have retention tanks hold the sewage so the smell is always there! Trains of yesteryear used to dump it on the track, now it's held in a tank ALL DAY until the train goes to depot and to be emptied. fking vile.Then we have how short the trains are, 4 cars. 4 f
king cars on a CrossCountry routes what a fking joke (sometimes 5 if you're lucky with a 'Super' (sic) Voyager). Those rancid seats with no padding that dont line up with the windows. I'm sure I really want to fking look at a piller for god knows how many hours and those rancid airline trays that have never been cleaned in their life. Wouldn't make my dog eat off those. Then the lack of tables, which is just shocking. Far too many airline seats, families have to be spread out and people have no room to work.
And because of the lack of seats in your 4 carriages you have people lining the corridor make it impossible to walk around. People then stand inbetween the gangyway doors which don't have pressure/sensor pads (it's not rocket science!) so will close on people every 20 seconds!
They're bloody noisey too and it's not a nice noise either. Vibrate like anything and are too overpowered (which is stupid when they name claim how efficent they are. You don't need 1 engine per carriage, you just don't.
All in all, they're f
king st and HSTs are better.T16OLE said:
14:15 Newport (s.wales wales) to Leeds coach G
Good luck - Step-son was on this train last week, and if it repeats what has been happening for a few weeks it takes an hour and a half to get between Birmingham and Derby - apparently as it goes via Leicester (without stopping...).Nearly always a Voyager I am told.
PS. How come this thread has withstood the mods!
43034 said:
Due to some stty requirement that all trains now must have retention tanks hold the sewage so the smell is always there! Trains of yesteryear used to dump it on the track, now it's held in a tank ALL DAY until the train goes to depot and to be emptied. fking vile.
Then we have how short the trains are, 4 cars. 4 fking cars on a CrossCountry routes what a fking joke (sometimes 5 if you're lucky with a 'Super' (sic) Voyager). Those rancid seats with no padding that dont line up with the windows. I'm sure I really want to fking look at a piller for god knows how many hours and those rancid airline trays that have never been cleaned in their life. Wouldn't make my dog eat off those.
Then the lack of tables, which is just shocking. Far too many airline seats, families have to be spread out and people have no room to work.
And because of the lack of seats in your 4 carriages you have people lining the corridor make it impossible to walk around. People then stand inbetween the gangyway doors which don't have pressure/sensor pads (it's not rocket science!) so will close on people every 20 seconds!
They're bloody noisey too and it's not a nice noise either. Vibrate like anything and are too overpowered (which is stupid when they name claim how efficent they are. You don't need 1 engine per carriage, you just don't.
All in all, they're fking st and HSTs are better.
I take it you're in the industry! Thanks for the response. I too find it unbelievable that in the UK, we find it impossible to run a trains that aren't crampt and stinky. The seats not lining up to the windows is beyond a joke. They can manage it in Germany, France etc. It's not like our trains were cheap to buy either- whoever signed the cheque for them needs locking in one for a month.tty requirement that all trains now must have retention tanks hold the sewage so the smell is always there! Trains of yesteryear used to dump it on the track, now it's held in a tank ALL DAY until the train goes to depot and to be emptied. fking vile.Then we have how short the trains are, 4 cars. 4 f
king cars on a CrossCountry routes what a fking joke (sometimes 5 if you're lucky with a 'Super' (sic) Voyager). Those rancid seats with no padding that dont line up with the windows. I'm sure I really want to fking look at a piller for god knows how many hours and those rancid airline trays that have never been cleaned in their life. Wouldn't make my dog eat off those. Then the lack of tables, which is just shocking. Far too many airline seats, families have to be spread out and people have no room to work.
And because of the lack of seats in your 4 carriages you have people lining the corridor make it impossible to walk around. People then stand inbetween the gangyway doors which don't have pressure/sensor pads (it's not rocket science!) so will close on people every 20 seconds!
They're bloody noisey too and it's not a nice noise either. Vibrate like anything and are too overpowered (which is stupid when they name claim how efficent they are. You don't need 1 engine per carriage, you just don't.
All in all, they're f
king st and HSTs are better.The Voyager I was on yesterday was horrendous- the blowers were so loud people were almost shouting to be heard, one carrage's cooling had packed up so had to be evacuated.
Nope! Not in the industry (yet!). Merely a 17 year old lad who has far too much time on his hands (enough time to get about 33 thousand miles on the railways last year 
).
I went around Europe for 17 days last year going to a variety of different countries an ALL their trains were better than Voyagers. Even the single car units used on branch lines in Germany and Poland had a nicer quality, better seats etc! Voyagers are just fking st.
We've gone back in time, we really have. Some of the stories, about today's railways are unbelieveable
).I went around Europe for 17 days last year going to a variety of different countries an ALL their trains were better than Voyagers. Even the single car units used on branch lines in Germany and Poland had a nicer quality, better seats etc! Voyagers are just f
king st. We've gone back in time, we really have. Some of the stories, about today's railways are unbelieveable
Edited by 43034 on Wednesday 29th June 15:41
Parabola said:
The Voyager I was on yesterday was horrendous- the blowers were so loud people were almost shouting to be heard, one carrage's cooling had packed up so had to be evacuated.
The heating on the HST to edinburgh was malfunctioning and was uncomfortably hot, ticket inspector mumbled some st about nothing and wandered off, so we jammed the startrekish automatic door open with a beer can to ventilate it which seemed to help. The next ticket inspector saw the beer can, got grumpy and upon being told the reason for it's existence re-set the system.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff