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Author Topic: CrossCountry Voyagers  (Read 14894 times)
DevonTrains2008
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« on: April 10, 2009, 21:40:54 »

Earlier today I was travelling between Reading and Basingstoke on a voyager and I was not very impressed.  The train smelt of toilets and the seats were very uncomfortable. I have to say that FGW (First Great Western) HSTs (High Speed Train) are far superior.

anyone agree or disagree?
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Btline
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« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2009, 22:12:34 »

He he! Try and guess how I feel about Voyagers! Grin

I'll give you a clue:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2473.msg19082#msg19082

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4243.msg34743;topicseen#msg34743

Wink
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stebbo
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« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2009, 22:52:39 »

I've only travelled on Voyagers twice, a few years ago, between B'ham International and New Street - and the toilets stank. Nasty!
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Not from Brighton
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« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2009, 23:45:09 »

They're really cramped.
I can only assume that because they're designed to "voyage" all over the place, they have to fit through the smallest gaps on the entire network.
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thetrout
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« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2009, 11:31:58 »

Not a fan of voyagers myself. HST (High Speed Train)'s much better!

I find that they also give off rather offensive smells in the passenger compartments... Roll Eyes

The reclining feature on the seats in First Class is sometimes a bit tempermental... Many a time when i've pulled the leaver to recline the seat and the seat has shot off the end... Shocked
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devon_metro
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« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2009, 11:34:10 »

There is also the small problem of not being enough seats in First Class at peak times.

Such a shame the HSTs (High Speed Train) pass through this part of the world at such silly times eh!
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willc
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« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2009, 11:56:20 »

But they're not silly if you're travelling from the North East, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Birmingham... where there are rather more passengers about than on the Devon leg of the journey outside the summer season.
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Btline
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« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2009, 19:34:27 »

Yes, the timings are bad for us, but I understand why XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) have chosen them. Two reasons:

*commuters into Birmginham from the East Mids have extra capacity;

*all the trains can be kept up North overnight.
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smithy
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« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2009, 19:55:12 »

Not a fan of voyagers myself. HST (High Speed Train)'s much better!

I find that they also give off rather offensive smells in the passenger compartments


that will be because the waste is sucked through pipework that rests behind panels in side train and also behind toilet mirrors you can find a filter fitted inline in the crap tank vent pipe that goes out the roof vent they dont seal very well.
so with every flush the smell from inside tank goes through pipe and filter out to roof vent but some ends up entering the carriage.
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thetrout
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« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2009, 20:52:57 »

There is also the small problem of not being enough seats in First Class at peak times.

Such a shame the HSTs (High Speed Train) pass through this part of the world at such silly times eh!

Thats something I witness all too often...!

Just an aside, the best place to get a mobile phone signal on a voyager is in "The Rubber Bit" between the carriages! Although standing there to take/make a call does offer a complimentary look of stupidity... Roll Eyes Tongue Grin
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Btline
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« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2009, 21:20:52 »

Good - if it makes people leave the carriage when on their phone!
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smithy
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« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2009, 08:23:45 »

There is also the small problem of not being enough seats in First Class at peak times.

Such a shame the HSTs (High Speed Train) pass through this part of the world at such silly times eh!

Thats something I witness all too often...!

Just an aside, the best place to get a mobile phone signal on a voyager is in "The Rubber Bit" between the carriages! Although standing there to take/make a call does offer a complimentary look of stupidity... Roll Eyes Tongue Grin

am i correct in thinking they have some sort of coating on the windows to reduce phone signals and stop people constantly gassing on phones annoying other passengers? i have seen somewhere FGW (First Great Western) are looking to do the same in hst quiet carriages.
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paul7575
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« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2009, 12:47:05 »

am i correct in thinking they have some sort of coating on the windows to reduce phone signals and stop people constantly gassing on phones annoying other passengers? i have seen somewhere FGW (First Great Western) are looking to do the same in hst quiet carriages.

I believe the coating on Voyager windows was to do with blocking heat from the sun, it wasn't intended to degrade mobile phones, that was an accidental side-effect. It is c2c that have discussed a window coating designed primarily for phone blocking, IIRC (if I recall/remember/read correctly).

Paul
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r james
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« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2009, 14:10:23 »

Has any progress been made by XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)), as I know they said they were looing to enhance mobile reception during the coure of their franchise.

No doubt this will take the form of removing windows or something drastic!
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DevonTrains2008
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« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2009, 16:30:49 »

Glad to see i'm not the only one  Smiley

Are XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HSTs (High Speed Train) as good as FGW (First Great Western) ones?

I know some on this forum aren't fans of the FGW HSTs either  Wink
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