Highest temp train air con can cope with

[AzureOtsu]

Was sat on a 175 last week from Shrewsbury on a very hot day and had to put my jacket on. They’re not always like that though.

I was on a 175 a few summers ago during a heatwave and the air con was broken, heaters on full blast so I totally agree

 

[trebor79]

With air conditioning it's not so much the heat more how humid the air is. The air has to be humid for it to work. In places where it's humid like rainforests it can work very well but in places where it isn't such as the desert it's often better to use a swamp cooler.

No that's not right..it might appear to work better in humid environments, because walking from humid into dry air will ampkify the effect of the cooker air.
It's just a fridge in reverse, the heat is dumped to outside air through a heat exchanger. It's not an evaporative process (usually) so humidity makes no difference. If it is an evaporative process, high humidity would make it less effective.

 

[Wolfie]

With air conditioning it's not so much the heat more how humid the air is. The air has to be humid for it to work. In places where it's humid like rainforests it can work very well but in places where it isn't such as the desert it's often better to use a swamp cooler.

So there is no AC in the Gulf states or Arizona (to give two examples) huh? Methinks you are wrong. Admittedly decreasing the water content in already dry air can cause other problems.

 

[superkev]

Ive never quite understood how railway philosophy seems to be that is as long as trains wheels turn and the brakes work they go out in service.
I really think that unless things like all the engines, all the toilets, all the Heating/ Air con are not fully filinctioning they should stay in the depot.
This may encourage some improvements in the maintenance.
In this age of litigation I wonder if operators are liable to "damage" to passengers in hot weather caused by not operating air con. When I last used trains a few years ago I remember quite a few occasions where an ambulance had to be called due to heat.
K

 

[Bikeman78]

Was sat on a 175 last week from Shrewsbury on a very hot day and had to put my jacket on. They’re not always like that though.

The 175s are strange beasts. There are typically three temperature zones within the same carriage.

Yesterday I found the two IETs I travelled on to be perfect. The 345 I went on was far too cold. I felt uncomfortably cold at the end of my 10 minute journey. In a heatwave, 23 or 24 degrees will still feel pleasantly cool compared with outside.

 

[357]

Ive never quite understood how railway philosophy seems to be that is as long as trains wheels turn and the brakes work they go out in service.
I really think that unless things like all the engines, all the toilets, all the Heating/ Air con are not fully filinctioning they should stay in the depot.
This may encourage some improvements in the maintenance.
In this age of litigation I wonder if operators are liable to "damage" to passengers in hot weather caused by not operating air con. When I last used trains a few years ago I remember quite a few occasions where an ambulance had to be called due to heat.
K

If you think that the trains that go out are bad, you should see some of the ones that stay in the depot!

Unfortunately I think for the depot staff it is sometimes a case of sending out the "least bad" units

 

[syorksdeano]

My Skoda Superb is good too

Do they still have the heaters on the outside of Skoda's to keep your hands warm when your pushing it.

 

[stj]

I remember 1976 and you were lucky if you even found a coach with air con fitted!

 

[dgl]

One thing to remember is that whilst it might not seem like the train AC is not working that well once you get out of said train you may realize that it's actually doing very well.
Nwot on the railways but going to longleat a few years ago at this time of year it was again really hot and going round the safari I though our Micra's A/C wasn't working very well, until I got out and walked into an oven!

 

[MattRat]

The best air conditioning is opening a window. Tech is fantastic until it breaks, which in the UK it often does.

 

[trebor79]

The best air conditioning is opening a window.

It really isn't.

 

[stuu]

The best air conditioning is opening a window. Tech is fantastic until it breaks, which in the UK it often does.

Presumably you have extensive statistical data to back up this assertion

 

[387star]

377s are normally lovely and cool

158s and 166s are often dreadful

 

[fgwrich]

You might say that your Skoda's AC is superb!
(sorry)
I'd add as well that the system in my parent's Skoda Enyaq is even better than when they had a Superb- because with electric cars you can normally start the AC with an app before you get to the car.

I am heading up to London from Salisbury tomorrow- I'm not looking forward to it. It's going to be toasty on the 159. I might go for the 'stopper' which only goes as far as Basingstoke, and get on a Desiro from there! Definitely going to take a bottle of ice water with me from home!

I've not had any issues with most post-privatisation stock, I've never had an issue with the Pendos when I was living up in Manchester. The old 159s though....

The 159 I took back from Woking yesterday wasn’t too bad at all. The unit I had up on Saturday was a different matter though!

But, of all the 158s, it’s the GWR fleet I wonder how will fare over the next few days, with those lovely heat absorbing, Matt black roofs.

 

[375610]

I was on three EMUs yesterday (17/07/22) 390, 395 and 375. The 390 was cool, but not cold, with one coach having a totally failed A/C pack. The 395 was acceptable and the 375 was like an ice box, which I thought was ironic as it was the oldest with the biggest windows (although some cars had failed A/C packs).

 

[prod_pep]

The air con was dreadful on three of the four 350s I used over the weekend; 350402 especially was like an oven.

 

[Taunton]

One would really have thought that WHY air-con packs fail, or are regularly not up to it, would have been identified by now. Proper engineering would do a failure analysis of them, and over all the years would have a complete resolution for what ever components (and it generally is just one part of the whole) fail. This includes components designed by the manufacturer down to a minimum spec when new, which then deteriorate over their operating life because there is no contingent amount or redundancy provided.

Part of the issue is that what constitutes an "engineer" nowadays is no longer someone who understands the mechanical components, their interaction, and devises proper once-and-for-all fixes, but far more someone desk-bound who is presented with a spreadsheet of budgeted costs, and returns to HQ a listing of actual costs that comes in inside this.

 

[ashkeba]

Presumably you have extensive statistical data to back up this assertion

It depends how you define 'Best's. Opening windows not facing the sun is good, especially at night. See tips like https://evapolar.com/blog/cool-small-room-without-ac/

Not many UK houses built later than 1987 should need air con if managed well. Maybe a few with big south facing windows that transmit too much heat. Trains will need air con so they should get the power without competition from selfish home aircon used unnecessarily.

 

[RollingStock19]

How is the AC on the Hitachi class 800 series?

I assume they fixed the problem it had on the first day causing it to fail and give some of the seats a nice soaking...

the 80x isnt amazing... basically its only capable of cooling the air 10 degrees cooler than what it brings in... so today and tomorrow are going to be interesting.

 

[AM9]

One would really have thought that WHY air-con packs fail, or are regularly not up to it, would have been identified by now. Proper engineering would do a failure analysis of them, and over all the years would have a complete resolution for what ever components (and it generally is just one part of the whole) fail. This includes components designed by the manufacturer down to a minimum spec when new, which then deteriorate over their operating life because there is no contingent amount or redundancy provided.

Refrigeration kit does break down, just visit your favourite supermarket this week. There no failproof way of preventing failures completely.

 

[Bletchleyite]

the 80x isnt amazing... basically its only capable of cooling the air 10 degrees cooler than what it brings in... so today and tomorrow are going to be interesting.

This 80x is pleasant enough temperature wise. 34 outside.

Edit: seems the normally pretty good 350s are struggling. 80x definitely the hero of the day!

 

[greyman42]

Refrigeration kit does break down, just visit your favourite supermarket this week. There no failproof way of preventing failures completely.

That's a very good point. You see it all the times in supermarkets and it is the last thing they want as food spoils.

 

[TW1306]

I've got a trip down to London on Thameslink planned for this weekend, so I'm hoping the 700s have decent climate control

 

[MattRat]

I've got a trip down to London on Thameslink planned for this weekend, so I'm hoping the 700s have decent climate control

It'll also be cooler by then. 'Heatwave' is only going to have lasted for 2 days.

 

[Agent_Squash]

I've got a trip down to London on Thameslink planned for this weekend, so I'm hoping the 700s have decent climate control

They’re Siemens trains, they will have better than most!

 

[Hadders]

I've got a trip down to London on Thameslink planned for this weekend, so I'm hoping the 700s have decent climate control

It's pretty decent, to be fair. You're more likely to have comfort issues with the seats rather then temperature!

 

[Strathclyder]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the air-con retrofitted to the Class 334s in weather like this? I've only done one extended trip with them in weather approaching what we're seeing now (Edinburgh to Partick/Hyndland in June 2018) and from what I remember, it seemed to cope rather well and was a pleasant break from the heat; was like walking into a fridge. A bit noisy though!

 

[modernrail]

I remember 1976 and you were lucky if you even found a coach with air con fitted!

That’s why coaches had roof lights that opened, unlike modern sealed units. That’s what makes trains with failed air conditioning particularly unpleasant. I have been in many such carriages and it is bloody awful. A completely unpleasant way to travel. If it breaks down so often in regular service god knows how much of it will break tomorrow.

In countries with hotter temperatures, but still cooler than we saw today and will see tomorrow, pre-air conditioning trains had massive opening windows and curtains on all windows.

 

[trebor79]

In countries with hotter temperatures, but still cooler than we saw today and will see tomorrow, pre-air conditioning trains had massive opening windows and curtains on all windows.

I remember travelling round Europe on an inter rail ticket. We discovered that at night the choice was cook, or have the massive window open, cook slightly more slowly and have the din from outside coming in. My friends managed to sleep through it somehow, I couldn't and ended up getting very grumpy on the trip.
Also convinced you'd be able to fall from the top bunk straight out of the window.

 

[Bikeman78]

I remember travelling round Europe on an inter rail ticket. We discovered that at night the choice was cook, or have the massive window open, cook slightly more slowly and have the din from outside coming in. My friends managed to sleep through it somehow, I couldn't and ended up getting very grumpy on the trip.
Also convinced you'd be able to fall from the top bunk straight out of the window.

22 years ago I could get a few hours sleep in the leading seat on a mark 1 or 2 behind a class 37 on an overnight train. Couldn't do that now! I'm lucky to get six hours at the best of times.