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Author Topic: IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues  (Read 543815 times)
1st fan
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« Reply #810 on: August 15, 2018, 14:00:55 »

I was on a Ryanair flight at the weekend and found myself thinking how the seats were more comfortable than those on the IET (Intercity Express Train) even in 1st. I wasn't a fan of many features of the Ryanair experience but the seats surprised me.
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broadgage
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« Reply #811 on: August 15, 2018, 15:31:07 »

If I owned a budget airline, I would offer a "budget comfort class" as an experiment.
More legroom and a wider seat , for say a 50% higher fare.
If a rather cramped seat can be offered for £50, I see no reason why more space cant be offered for say £75.

No frills or complications, just more space for more money.

I refer here not just to the seat itself, but to the space around it.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
TaplowGreen
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« Reply #812 on: August 15, 2018, 16:19:10 »

If I owned a budget airline, I would offer a "budget comfort class" as an experiment.
More legroom and a wider seat , for say a 50% higher fare.
If a rather cramped seat can be offered for £50, I see no reason why more space cant be offered for say £75.

No frills or complications, just more space for more money.

I refer here not just to the seat itself, but to the space around it.

Would your airline have a buffet? 😉
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broadgage
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« Reply #813 on: August 15, 2018, 16:37:31 »

No, for a budget airline it adds cost, weight and complexity.

For a train though, I feel that a buffet should be provided, thereby illustrating the inherent superior nature of train travel, which is also a lot more expensive than air travel.

The present day trend is to make trains as bad as budget airlines, but with much higher fares.

For a few pence a mile on budget airlines I don't expect a buffet.
For approaching £1 a mile on a train I do expect this.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
grahame
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« Reply #814 on: August 15, 2018, 16:39:29 »

No, for a budget airline it adds cost, weight and complexity.

It does for a train too ...
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broadgage
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« Reply #815 on: August 15, 2018, 17:06:18 »

No, for a budget airline it adds cost, weight and complexity.

It does for a train too ...

True, but considering the premium prices charged for rail travel, I think that the extra costs and weight are worth it.
Or perhaps in view of the money saved by not providing a buffet on the new DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit), the fares should be reduced to reflect the downgraded facilities offered.

Trains in the 1970s had buffets, so with the country now more than twice as wealthy as it was then, why are buffets now an unaffordable luxury ?
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #816 on: August 15, 2018, 17:14:24 »

Trains in the 1970s had buffets, so with the country now more than twice as wealthy as it was then, why are buffets now an unaffordable luxury ?

As has been said before, it's largely due to the large number of retail outlets available at stations which are generally selling better quality produce at cheaper prices than can be offered on the train.

Back in the 70s you were lucky if you had a Travellers Fare and a John Menzies at your local large station.  Now they all have M&S Foodhall's, Upper Crusts etc. and several quality coffee outlets, and many of the smaller stations now have coffee stalls.  If you buy before you board you won't get let down when you are on the train and have no other option when they don't have what you want.

That being said, I remain disappointed that a buffet has not been chosen for the long distance route down to Penzance as I believe that should still have them.  Other routes?  Swansea perhaps, but otherwise I can see why the trolley has been chosen.
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To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
mjones
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« Reply #817 on: August 15, 2018, 17:27:52 »

5 cars for the 1700 to Bristol! Glad I'm only going Reading to Didcot.
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broadgage
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« Reply #818 on: August 15, 2018, 17:34:28 »

5 cars for the 1700 to Bristol! Glad I'm only going Reading to Didcot.

Not on journey check. A cynic would suspect a plot.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
martyjon
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« Reply #819 on: August 15, 2018, 17:51:54 »

5 cars for the 1700 to Bristol! Glad I'm only going Reading to Didcot.

Not on journey check. A cynic would suspect a plot.


5 cars in the 1715 to Carmarthen too, does this thicken the plot.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #820 on: August 15, 2018, 17:56:03 »

Very poor again from GWR (Great Western Railway)/Hitachi.  At least it's holiday time I suppose, so there will be fewer commuters.
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To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
Adelante_CCT
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« Reply #821 on: August 15, 2018, 17:58:13 »

At least the 17:15 is on journeycheck, but it does appear many more are not being recorded.
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mjones
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« Reply #822 on: August 15, 2018, 18:12:50 »

Very poor again from GWR (Great Western Railway)/Hitachi.  At least it's holiday time I suppose, so there will be fewer commuters.

It was still rammed. Luggage piled in the cycle racks, so cyclists standing in the vestibule with other passengers and their bags.
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Sixty3Closure
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« Reply #823 on: August 15, 2018, 21:30:06 »

5 cars for the 1700 to Bristol! Glad I'm only going Reading to Didcot.

Not on journey check. A cynic would suspect a plot.


5 cars in the 1715 to Carmarthen too, does this thicken the plot.

The Carmarthen train has been 5 coaches fairly regularly since it moved to the IETs (Intercity Express Train). As I've been planning on 'commuting' from West Wales I've been taking an interest while waiting for my often short formed Turbo train.
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1st fan
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« Reply #824 on: August 15, 2018, 23:05:03 »

Trains in the 1970s had buffets, so with the country now more than twice as wealthy as it was then, why are buffets now an unaffordable luxury ?

As has been said before, it's largely due to the large number of retail outlets available at stations which are generally selling better quality produce at cheaper prices than can be offered on the train.

Back in the 70s you were lucky if you had a Travellers Fare and a John Menzies at your local large station.  Now they all have M&S Foodhall's, Upper Crusts etc. and several quality coffee outlets, and many of the smaller stations now have coffee stalls.  If you buy before you board you won't get let down when you are on the train and have no other option when they don't have what you want.

That being said, I remain disappointed that a buffet has not been chosen for the long distance route down to Penzance as I believe that should still have them.  Other routes?  Swansea perhaps, but otherwise I can see why the trolley has been chosen.

Whilst I can see what you're saying it can still be bloody annoying. I had to run to catch a Cotswold line IET (Intercity Express Train) to Moreton in Marsh one night. Hadn't eaten a thing all day and had a burning desire to stuff my face. Got on and discovered there was no hot food available to purchase whatever class you were in. Had an hour and a half sitting in 1st having just a can of Coke and a packet of crisps as that's all they had. Very pleased I wasn't going to be on there for twice that going to Hereford.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2018, 23:16:49 by 1st fan » Logged
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