How hot were the trains today?

[whole diary]

[willc]

Funnily enough, I travelled in 166201 tonight - my section was decidedly warm and all windows throughout the train were open indicating it certainly wasn't doing a decent job today! I have to say that from my observations over the years is that whilst marginally better than the 'standard' system, as soon as a hot day comes along it fairs little better (i.e. all windows opened at a stroke). It also makes a hell of a racket! 

But, as others suggest, people see a window that can be opened and open it anyway - especially if sat at a station when the sun is beating down through the windows - not realising that by doing so they cripple the a/c. This applies to 201 as much as all the other 166s. People just seem to ignore the stickers on the windows, where they survive, saying they are for use only when the a/c really has packed up.

The ultimate answer, of course, would be to fit the Chiltern a/c kit to all the 165s and 166s, but sadly there's no sign either First or the leasing company is willing to cough up for it, even though these trains are probably only half way through their working lives.

[eightf48544]

My sympathy to all you poor Thames Valley commuters who have to endure the Turbos on a hot day.

One of the many reasons I decided to retire a couple of years early and avoid the daily commute was to avoid paying FGW^▸ (First Great Western) ^2k a year a for the priviledge of travelling of hot overcrowded unpuntuctual Turbos. Plus an added Underground journey, fortunately on the Hammersmith so slighly cooler than the Bakerloo.

FGW seem to have done something about the punctuality, but the 166 a/c problems and 165 draft problems don't seem to have been cured. Also overcrowding still seems to be a problem on some services.

The ultimate answer, of course, would be to fit the Chiltern a/c kit to all the 165s and 166s, but sadly there's no sign either First or the leasing company is willing to cough up for it, even though these trains are probably only half way through their working lives.

willc comment just sums up the stupidity of the franchise system and the allocation of rolling stock. There is no incentive for either the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) or ROSCO^» (Rolling Stock Owning Company - about) to fit decent a/c to the 165/6s.

[IndustryInsider]

At one time a few years ago the windows on 166s were secured shut by plastic ties but they didn't seem to last very long. I don't know if they were cut by passengers or perhaps there were safety issues so they had to be removed?

There's been a couple of attempts with these ties over the years. They do act as a slight disincentive, but were easily broken (by passengers or staff), and of course as soon as the air-con didn't perform up to scratch the window had to be opened anyway. There are three air-con zones per carriage on a 166 - I have known one zone to be cooling well whereas at the other end of the carriage the damn thing is actually throwing out hot air on a summers day!

I would estimate that at the moment (with all windows shut) 33% of zones on the 166 provide partial cooling and about 10% provide 'proper' cooling that is up to the standards of HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s/180's. The rest just vent or in extreme cases pump out heat whatever the temperature. The passengers, many of whom travel daily, get used to the fact that windows are open on hot days -not least because they also travel in 165's without any air-con at all, and the net result is a system that is a waste of time because the windows soon get opened even if the system is working in that part of the train!

As some people on here are passengers, you can help by running the back of your hands underneath the vents which are located on the ceiling of the carriage each side of the aisle between the seats - if it feels nice and cool then close the windows. Some staff do this as well, but of course it's difficult to keep on top of due to the trains being Driver Only Operated.

[smithy]

Seeing as there's no sign of anyone spending money on a solution to the a/c on 166s wouldn't it be nice if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were to give away some chilled bottles of water to Turbo passengers at Paddington in the evening peak on the hottest summer days? (and yes that's a serious suggestion to anyone from FGW reading this! )

on the west operations they do have bottled water to give out to passengers during summer months if the a/c is knackered,but this is assuming train crew report it so either them or control can arrange for water to be put on train at suitable stations

[Btline]

Just be grateful you have air con you can (sometimes) use!

Travelling on Class 150s (or any other non air con sprinter etc.) is hell!!

In the heat when the train is stationary, the train is an oven. When it gets to high speeds, it is deafening (it is loud enough when all the windows are closed) so you have to shout. The breeze is good though....

Oh I forgot - the heaters cannot be switched off!!

When it is cold, half the windows can't shut probably anyway. But they are warm.

As for the Thames Turbos, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) should put bigger signs up, and do announcements where applicable (i.e. telling people not to open the windows when the air con is working). That would work - as people have said above, passengers don't understand how it works and just open the windows when they board. An announcement or two here and there would stop them.

[IndustryInsider]

An announcement or two here and there would stop them.

I can imagine the announcement. "For those lucky people sat in the rear section of the second carriage, please note that the air-conditioning is working and the windows need to remain closed. For everyone else, our air-con system is a load of shite so please open the windows if you are struggling to breathe because it's so hot!" 

[Btline]

An announcement or two here and there would stop them.

I can imagine the announcement. "For those lucky people sat in the rear section of the second carriage, please note that the air-conditioning is working and the windows need to remain closed. For everyone else, our air-con system is a load of shite so please open the windows if you are struggling to breathe because it's so hot!" 

[johoare]

Hhmm.. well I was on 22.53 Slough to Maidenhead tonight and it was a supposed air conditioned carriage.. All windows were shut (I checked). It was about a third full.. And it was too warm...

New air conditioning please?

[dog box]

heard someone moaning about at a/c being too cold on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) a couple of days ago!!!