I think the 360s are a good, solid train - just with a little TLC and a decent refurbishment, IMO they’ll be what the Connect service needs and deserves
Solely my opinion but I find the 222s to have the nicest standard class of the UK rolling stock, worn or otherwise.
Completely agree with other operators seemingly getting refurbishments on tap - what is it at EMR that means getting a refurbishment is so difficult? Can't think of any other operator where there's been an ordeal like this - refurbishments just seem to happen when needed everywhere else with no issues - they just get on with it.
Indeed if the DFT hadn’t lost their nerve on splitting the Nottingham Liverpool service off they’d possibly be standardised on 170 for DMU routes already…
I think a genuine reason for not refurbishing the permanent Regional fleet is that the services were in such a bad state with all the cancellations and short-forms that there was no way any stock could be released for refurbishment; however there is now no excuse not to finalise the spec and get on with it.
I’ve never understood this complaint about having no signal on the Meridians. I use an iPhone with an O2 sim I’ve had for years (and Vodafone before) and I’ve always had perfect signal on them.
I think it's very much about the timing. I believe that the reason the 390s were refurbished was since the contracts had already been signed prior to the NRC commencing, perhaps this hadn't happened at EMR? I may not be correct, though.
And the 390s are a "flagship" fleet for the UK so much higher profile.
Which is where I think EMR falls down - I feel that, on the mainline side, they are not seen as having as much importance as, say, Avanti or LNER - up against the 390s and 80x, the 810s and 360s would be at the bottom of the list when it comes to profile (probably partly why the 810 build seems to be slipping behind the 805/807 build, although the fact that the 810 is a brand new style necessitates more testing).
Probably as I have explained above.
Yes, it was mentioned in post 2951; however, in the absence of concrete evidence and/or inside intel, I would take any such claim with a pinch of salt.
I was on the 20.45 last night from StP to Wellingborough (yes I had a day trip in London for the first time in years!) And it was a 4 car unit! Very full throughout but not standing room only.
On a 360 yesterday, my phone worked well enough on most of the journey. Where there were coverage gaps, I blame the mobile operators.
Just goes to show how different opinions can be, I suppose.
I must say that I have struggled a few times to get a signal (on O2) when travelling in 222s. But, as you say, that’s my experience - others have a different one.Just goes to show how different opinions can be, I suppose.
I don't think the 222's will be heading to Newport any time soon.
Unless Cross Country take them on, and use them on services to Cardiff
Yeah, when I was on the 360 coming out of London, it said it was to Corby, calling at all stations, but then it also said it was a Luton Airport Express service as well. Can't remember all of it though.
It's not "misleading" to me, that is exactly what the train does. Anyone looking for an service to Luton Airport would recognise the first listed stop, i.e. 'Lution Airport Parkway' as their destination. What happens after their stop is irrelevant. Anybody wanting stations beyond can see if their destination is called at as well.
It does call at all stations served by Platforms 1-4 between St Pancras International and Corby. What is the problem there.
I would think it’s a very well known practice that an announcement stating “Welcome on board this service to XXX **full stop**” would imply that the train terminates at XXX. If it said “XXX and continuing towards YYY,” that’d be different.
Fair enough if that's the way that you see it. I don't have any problem with a train billed as an 'a to b express' continuing beyond b to serve other locations, - much like Gatwick Express. Why do you think that it is misleading?
I think the potential confusion is that AFAIK all other train announcements say 'this is a <TOC> service to <terminus> calling at <a, b, c, etc>. Announcing the train to Luton Airport Pkwy as the terminus when the trai ndoes in fact run to Corby may cause confusion. I haven't been on GatEx that terminate Brighton, does anybody know if they announce Gatwick or Brighton as the terminus?
But do EMR actually announce the 360 services as 'terminating' at Luton Airport Parkway?
See post 3019, which seems to indicate they do:
The fact that it'll say Luton Airport 3 times back to back feels like to much, they've already named the service after the Airport, why misname the destination when it just said Luton Airport 3 seconds ago and is about to say it again in 3 seconds.
I feel like that announcement would work just as:
I think it's better since it doesn't say Luton Airport 3 times in a row.Better Announcement said:
