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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2006 10:48:05 GMT
Yesterday, got in from my day out and found a letter from South Eastern Trains waiting for me. Because once I was stuck on a 375 outside Victoria in February this year for TWO hours, after seeing family. I complained. That was answered, but this time, it was a survey, asking me what I thought of thr new trains! Oh dear. So i duly type out a letter, which ended three pages in length, about EE507 traction motors, the fact that coupling up doesn't involve liasing with a computer [Mi-Trac] and the fact that VEP, CEP and CIG units had character, not a sterile plasti-coated environment of the new units. Seats were comfortable, unlike these newfangled heaps. Also, the slammers had windows which opened, so one could breathe air... I really sounded off my feelings of how much i detest these new trains. At least the old ones worked. look at the MDBF figures for a SWT VEP, compared to a Southern 377...
Gawd, I hate these new trains. Doubt I'll get a reply....
*Waits for Mr Jolly to give his impartial agreement to Slammers*
Should I have put this in the rant area?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2006 11:06:02 GMT
As a train enthusiast, well, sorta one  Slammers win hands down, always! However, as a eldest son of a single mum with 3 children, I can tell you that they were a lot less friendly than the 377's when we went on holiday. Slammers are great for journeys which are more like railtours, and aren't filled to the brim with passengers. But when I've been to Brighton, I always prefer 377's, and will pay extra to take Southern instead of FCC, because they are much more user friendly, so to speak, than slammers! (In my opinion) |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2006 11:20:33 GMT
Been brought up around Slammers, so I have to say, they win. I suppose in around 25 years time, we'll be saying the same thing about the 375/377 Electrostars...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2006 18:21:34 GMT
Well 92, I agree with you. In my opinion slammers (if Chris Jolly's gonna agree too that's cool) for comfort, reliability and user - friendliness were the best thing. I am an SWT customer and I use their trains to and from work every day (well until I move) and compared to the 450 Desiro units they were much better. The only way they would be improved was with CDL (as on Lymington line) so people couldn't fall out of them (or jump out of them, as happened in front of someone I know who was employed as an SWT guard - not nice) and maybe a new door rim design so people didn't lose their fingers. As said, slammers were comfortable, and as 92 says, an open window is always better than an air con unit which might be good, might be bad. We in Basingstoke were served for many years by slammers, especially VEPs and even though they were getting old not many people complained or grumbled about them. They were good trains, so they didn't need to. The big advantage with new stock is that 'hangers on' while a train departs a station doesn't happen now. It's a big relief to guards.
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Post by greatplum on Jul 26, 2006 14:01:34 GMT
Well...
I loved the slam door trains that used to run from Christ's Hospital up to London - especially the de-restricted first class compartments... what was even more fun was when the school used to charter a train up to London Blackfriars for St Matthew's Day and me and my friends used to sit in First Class...
The new trains however, have been a godsend to me since I have been commuting from reigate, where I now live. Theair conditioning in this weather is superb!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2006 14:59:32 GMT
Well... I loved the slam door trains that used to run from Christ's Hospital up to London - especially the de-restricted first class compartments... what was even more fun was when the school used to charter a train up to London Blackfriars for St Matthew's Day and me and my friends used to sit in First Class... The new trains however, have been a godsend to me since I have been commuting from reigate, where I now live. Theair conditioning in this weather is superb! I remember the Horsham/Christs Hospital area well. Did me Duke of Edinburghs award thingy, [Self Survival in the wild] camping on a chalk outcrop above Amberley. Got the train there, lugged the stuff up a hillside. Can remember it now, because we filled up the brake van with tents etc, much to the annoyance of the guard and three people with bikes! Also cycled along the old trackbed to Bramber on the old Guildford Line and also past Southwater to Steyning and Shoreham. Great fun it was... found a few lumps of coal, and a telegraph insulator. |
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Post by CSLR on Jul 26, 2006 15:04:48 GMT
I remember the Horsham/Christs Hospital area well. Did me Duke of Edinburghs award thingy, [Self Survival in the wild] camping on a chalk outcrop above Amberley. Got the train there, lugged the stuff up a hillside. Can remember it now, because we filled up the brake van with tents etc, much to the annoyance of the guard and three people with bikes! It sounds as if you did well to survive the wilds of the guards van. |
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Post by greatplum on Jul 26, 2006 16:06:25 GMT
Well... I loved the slam door trains that used to run from Christ's Hospital up to London - especially the de-restricted first class compartments... what was even more fun was when the school used to charter a train up to London Blackfriars for St Matthew's Day and me and my friends used to sit in First Class... The new trains however, have been a godsend to me since I have been commuting from reigate, where I now live. Theair conditioning in this weather is superb! I remember the Horsham/Christs Hospital area well. Did me Duke of Edinburghs award thingy, [Self Survival in the wild] camping on a chalk outcrop above Amberley. Got the train there, lugged the stuff up a hillside. Can remember it now, because we filled up the brake van with tents etc, much to the annoyance of the guard and three people with bikes! Also cycled along the old trackbed to Bramber on the old Guildford Line and also past Southwater to Steyning and Shoreham. Great fun it was... found a few lumps of coal, and a telegraph insulator. I used to love the old track bed - exploring the old tunnel at Baynards and wanting to own the station there when I was a kid!! |
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Slammers win hands down, always!
