Rank a TOC's rolling stock from best to worst

[mspljd1990]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

 

[yorksrob]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

I'd put the 156 directly underneath the 158.

 

[greaterangrier]

Greater Anglia
755 - amazing acceleration + great design
745 - better acceleration + great designs. both flirts are major steps forward with accessibility
360 - best travelling environment apart from the flirts. considerably higher acceleration from the 321 makes it great whenever there's disruption
321 - I do quite like the renatus units because apart from the eyesore lighting the interior has been improved a lot. sounds quite nice
317 - as the 321 but prm upgrades weren't as good in my opinion
379 - never ridden on these. seem like a bit of a failure with all the coupler issues. great overall reliability however
and the absolute trash heap failures, the 720
the software is a failure, every single day on my commute back I hear drivers constantly complaining about these. interiors are cheap rubbish, overall design is rubbish, a step backward is reliability and basically no improvement with acceleration over the 360s

 

[YorksLad12]

What's the criteria for best/worst? The 195/331 units are good but let down by a poor interior layout.

If going on internal layout I'd put an unrefurbished Pacer above the 150...

 

[fgwrich]

GWR:

HST
158
150
143
387
Night Riviera
IET

166
165

 

[mjmason1996]

LNER is quite an easy one:
91+mk4s
800/801s

 

[mspljd1990]

I'd put the 156 directly underneath the 158.

I like the 156s, they're an icon of provincial railways in the UK, but 323s/333s are probably the best EMUs for me, and 170s have proved a fantastic addition to Northern's fleet, too bad they're only really used on local-ish services. They'd be perfect for the Leeds to Sheffield stoppers, as well as backup for the Calderdales.

What's the criteria for best/worst? The 195/331 units are good but let down by a poor interior layout.

If going on internal layout I'd put an unrefurbished Pacer above the 150...

I put the 195s/331s low down because they're pretty bland looking and the interior is poor and uncomfortable.

 

[yorksrob]

I like the 156s, they're an icon of provincial railways in the UK, but 323s/333s are probably the best EMUs for me, and 170s have proved a fantastic addition to Northern's fleet, too bad they're only really used on local-ish services. They'd be perfect for the Leeds to Sheffield stoppers, as well as backup for the Calderdales.



I put the 195s/331s low down because they're pretty bland looking and the interior is poor and uncomfortable.

The 156's were better with the previous seats IMO - should never have been changed, but they're still up there.

On the Hallam stoppers, it seems to be 50/50 whether we get a 158 or a 150. I'd be happy for the 170's to replace the 150's, but I'd keep the 158's !

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

mainland SWR

159
158
444
450
707
458
455
456

 

[mspljd1990]

The 156's were better with the previous seats IMO - should never have been changed, but they're still up there.

On the Hallam stoppers, it seems to be 50/50 whether we get a 158 or a 150. I'd be happy for the 170's to replace the 150's, but I'd keep the 158's !

In the summer I got a train from Kirkgate to Leeds. It had come from Sheffield in the form of a Class 150. Meanwhile, at the same time a 158 had pulled into the station, operating the Bradford to Castleford stopper. Thought it was odd how a fresh, clean and refurbished flagship unit of the company was operating a local stopper, while a service between two major cities was using this old, dirty and rusty tin can.

 

[yorksrob]

In the summer I got a train from Kirkgate to Leeds. It had come from Sheffield in the form of a Class 150. Meanwhile, at the same time a 158 had pulled into the station, operating the Bradford to Castleford stopper. Thought it was odd how a fresh, clean and refurbished flagship unit of the company was operating a local stopper, while a service between two major cities was using this old, dirty and rusty tin can.

Ah, the famous Northern random unit generator.

It least it can no longer sling out a Merseyrail pacer !

 

[DB]

LNER is quite an easy one:
91+mk4s
800/801s

Crosscountry equally easy!
HST
221
220

(221s above 220s because the heavier bogies make them ride slightly better, and most of them are 5-car so slightly less overcrowding under normal circumstances).

 

[Peter0124]

Scotrail

318
320
385
380
334
HST
156
158
170

I have never been on the HST or the 158/170 though but this is just my opinion based on the units I grew up with

 

[43096]

Scotrail

318
320
385
380
334
HST
156
158
170

I have never been on the HST or the 158/170 though but this is just my opinion based on the units I grew up with

I’d have a rather different order:
HST
158
334
380
170
318
320
385
156

 

[DB]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

Mostly agree, but I think I'd place 195/331 above 156.

Not actually sure about the top two - it's close and they could go either way round.

150 is definitely at the bottom!

 

[Dave91131]

Taking Thameslink / Southern / Great Northern together, my order best to worst in terms of personal preference and comfort would be as follows:

365
377/1 - 377/2 - 377/3 - 377/4
171
377/6 - 377/7 & 387/1 - 387/2
313
455
700 & 717

mainland SWR

159
158
444
450
707
458
455
456

I'd put 455 / 456 / 458 above 450 and 707 personally - not a fan of 3+2 or ironing boards

 

[Mikey C]

This type of ranking always ends up biased towards traditional long distance stock, which would be totally unsuitable for shorter distance routes

On South Western for example I'd much rather travel on a 444 than on a 450, never mind high density stock like the 455 or 707, but the 444 would be a disaster on the stopping services out of Waterloo.

Ditto the Chiltern Mk3s, where the tiny end doors would increase dwell time enormously when compared to the 168s and Turbos

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Taking Thameslink / Southern / Great Northern together, my order best to worst in terms of personal preference and comfort would be as follows:

365
377/1 - 377/2 - 377/3 - 377/4
171
377/6 - 377/7 & 387/1 - 387/2
313
455
700 & 717

For me

171
377/1-4
377/6-7/387
365
313/455 - 455 nicer but 313 has the all important armrests
700/717 - nasty horrible things

 

[DB]

Ditto the Chiltern Mk3s, where the tiny end doors would increase dwell time enormously when compared to the 168s and Turbos

The end doors aren't 'tiny' - they are actually pretty wide for single-leaf doors. I agree that they won't load as fast as a train with double doors at 1/3 and 2/3 position, but the design was clearly intended to do the best they could in this regard, by making the doors fairly wide, and removing the doors inside between the vestibule and saloon.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

What happened to the 319?
Bit early for a 769 I suppose, but they are going to be the same as 319 to a casual passenger.

 

[mspljd1990]

This type of ranking always ends up biased towards traditional long distance stock, which would be totally unsuitable for shorter distance routes

On South Western for example I'd much rather travel on a 444 than on a 450, never mind high density stock like the 455 or 707, but the 444 would be a disaster on the stopping services out of Waterloo.

Ditto the Chiltern Mk3s, where the tiny end doors would increase dwell time enormously when compared to the 168s and Turbos

As far as local services go, 323s and 333s are perfect.

 

[fgwrich]

I’d have a rather different order:
HST
158
334
380
170
318
320
385
156

I largely agree except for the 334. Some of which I’ve found to be in an awful state (not so much ScotRails fault but the traditional Alstom build quality haunts them again). I’d have to put it:

HST
“Inverness” 158
380
156
170
334
“Haymarket” 158
318
385
320

Irritating panel rattles, ride quality from the skateboard bogies and Hitachi’s choice of materials (the same easily stainable carpet as the IETs) knows the 385s down.

The former Haymarket now Corkerhill 158s could have been so much better inside if they hadn’t either; cheapened the spec of the refurbishment, moved the seats closer together or used someone better than Railcare / Gemini Springburn.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I’d have a rather different order:
HST
158
334
380
170
318
320
385
156

mines very different:
170
158
156
318
320
380
334
HST
385

 

[Peter0124]

I don't understand why you guys rate the 385 so low. It's my favourite train that isn't the 318/320 stock because of how quiet, fast and the big tables. The 318/320 are my favourite seeing as I grew up with them and going 90mph in the middle coach of one with the windows open has an amazing sound

 

[py_megapixel]

Transport for London
S7/S8 tube stock
GEC-Alsthom 1995/1996 tube stock
Metro-Cammell 1972/1973 tube stock
Croydon tram
378
2009 tube stock
315
1992 tube stock
317


Not been on the Aventras

 

[dorsetdesiro]

South Western Railway (inc. Island Line):

444
442
158/9
450
458
483
707
456
455

 

[py_megapixel]

I'll start with Northern:

Class 158
Class 170
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 195/331
Class 153/155
Class 150

I'd put the 156 directly underneath the 158.

In terms of the 170s, I think it depends on whether you're judging how suited for their routes they are. The 156s are too short, they're falling apart, and they are, by modern standards, unacceptably noisy inside. 170s are a much nicer environment for passengers, but they accelerate poorly, so they're badly suited to what Northern use them for.

I disagree that the 323 deserves to be anywhere other than on top, however. Despite being almost 30 years old now, a basic interior refurb has made it so that they still look, feel and sound modern, are reliable, and well-liked by passengers and staff. I once got chatting to a conductor on Northern who told me she'd rather work a 323 than either a 319 or a brand new 331! The only thing that lets them down is that the seats could do with more padding (and possibly reducing to 2+2 rather than 3+2) but I'm willing to give them a pass on that as the nature of their routes is such that most journeys are short.

South Western Railway (inc. Island Line):

444
442
158/9
450
458
483
707
456
455

I think I'd agree with that, except that given their reliability issues I would probably rank the 442 below the 158, 159 and 450.

 

[Harpers Tate]

My opinion about Northern using the same list as in post#1 re-ordered:

Class 170
Class 158
Class 195/331
Class 333
Class 323
Class 156
Class 153/155
Class 150

 

[FLIRTfan18]

WMR
Class 172 (Modern, quick acceleration)
Class 323 (The noise, refurbished, good acceleration)
Class 170 (Slow acceleration, getting a bit tatty)
Class 139 (Not a proper train)

 

[yorksrob]

In terms of the 170s, I think it depends on whether you're judging how suited for their routes they are. The 156s are too short, they're falling apart, and they are, by modern standards, unacceptably noisy inside. 170s are a much nicer environment for passengers, but they accelerate poorly, so they're badly suited to what Northern use them for.

I disagree that the 323 deserves to be anywhere other than on top, however. Despite being almost 30 years old now, a basic interior refurb has made it so that they still look, feel and sound modern, are reliable, and well-liked by passengers and staff. I once got chatting to a conductor on Northern who told me she'd rather work a 323 than either a 319 or a brand new 331! The only thing that lets them down is that the seats could do with more padding (and possibly reducing to 2+2 rather than 3+2) but I'm willing to give them a pass on that as the nature of their routes is such that most journeys are short.


I think I'd agree with that, except that given their reliability issues I would probably rank the 442 below the 158, 159 and 450.

I don't think the 156's are falling apart at all. They were the nicest trains on Northern after their previous refurbishment.