What is RailForums' favourite modern multiple unit?

[InkyScrolls]

An idea which occurred to me this morning is it might be amusing to ascertain what RailForums' favourite modern multiple unit is - i.e., of all the multiple units in current mainline use, which is most preferred?

To work this out, each member takes the previous member's preferred unit, and compares it either favourably or unfavourably with one of their own choosing. For example, member A prefers 156s to 390s, leaving 156s as the 'winner' for that round. Member B must then chose between 156s and another class of his choice, e.g. 801. And so on.

To avoid repeating, all previously chosen units should be listed at the end of the post. If you don't know enough about the unit to make an informed decision, leave it to someone else!

I'll start by choosing 333.

 

[tramdan]

I would certainly place the 333 above the 331.

List:
333
331

 

[m79900]

class 156 is easily better than either, I reckon.

156
333
331

 

[SuperLuke2334]

My favourite is the 175 so I'll add that to the list.

175
156
333
331

 

[John745]

My favourite is the 745.

745
156
333
331

 

[Melancholia]

387 for me

745
156
333
331
387

 

[150249]

755 and 745 are by far the best in my opinion. However, I am partial to a 387 and a 150 (not very modern I know)

I'm not sure what we are doing with these lists but I presume ranking the existing mentions in the thread

755, 745
150
387
156
331
333
175

 

[QSK19]

My favourite has to be the 180 (as evidenced by my avatar and due to my 6 year old son loving them)

I think the 755 & 745 are more favourable than the 180 though.

755
745
180

387
175
331
333
156
150

 

[bramling]

An idea which occurred to me this morning is it might be amusing to ascertain what RailForums' favourite modern multiple unit is - i.e., of all the multiple units in current mainline use, which is most preferred?

To work this out, each member takes the previous member's preferred unit, and compares it either favourably or unfavourably with one of their own choosing. For example, member A prefers 156s to 390s, leaving 156s as the 'winner' for that round. Member B must then chose between 156s and another class of his choice, e.g. 801. And so on.

To avoid repeating, all previously chosen units should be listed at the end of the post. If you don't know enough about the unit to make an informed decision, leave it to someone else!

I'll start by choosing 333.

The answer to this really, for me, has to be 365.

However in terms of what we have now a toss between 323 and 375, plus the earlier variants of 377. 387 would be okay but they have a number of niggles not least the seats.

 

[birchesgreen]

(Diesel) Chiltern 165 and (Electric) WMR 323

 

[InkyScrolls]

People seem to be missing the point of this thread rather.

It's not 'what is your favourite unit', it's 'what is the forum's favourite, attained through a process of elimination.

Take the unit preferred by the poster before you, and compare it with another, stating which you prefer. Add the one you suggested to the 'already used' list.

I suggested 333. 331 was placed below this, keeping 333 in first place, but then 156 was placed above.

At that point the thread seemed to lose the plot. So to start off on the right foot again:

156

Already used:
333
331
156

 

[Mikey C]

People seem to be missing the point of this thread rather.

It's not 'what is your favourite unit', it's 'what is the forum's favourite, attained through a process of elimination.

Take the unit preferred by the poster before you, and compare it with another, stating which you prefer. Add the one you suggested to the 'already used' list.

I suggested 333. 331 was placed below this, keeping 333 in first place, but then 156 was placed above.

At that point the thread seemed to lose the plot. So to start off on the right foot again:

156

Already used:
333
331
156

As I prefer both the 333 and 331 to the 156, how does that work in this ranking?

 

[Snow1964]

Think I am going to add the 444 above 180

755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150

 

[D6130]

Surprised that nobody has mentioned the 158s yet - particularly the eight Northern three car units, 158 752-758 with their ultra-comfortable seats....and all of them ride superbly!

158
755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150

 

[DanNCL]

I’ll add 390. The first (and likely to remain only) EMUs in the UK to implement the APT’s tilting technology, and they were a massive upgrade for the WCML compared to what came before them.

I would place the 390 above the 158.

List:
390
158
755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150

 

[InkyScrolls]

As I prefer both the 333 and 331 to the 156, how does that work in this ranking?

It's not a ranking. You're only comparing two units, the one picked by the previous poster and one you've chosen.

But that seems beyond the majority of posters, unfortunately rendering the exercise pointless.

 

[Grumpy]

I'll start by choosing 333.

As someone who must be well acquainted with both types, why would you pick the 333 over the 158?

 

[xotGD]

The thread gets off to a bad start. 331s are superior to 333s: 2+2 seating and tables. On the same basis, getting a 158 down Airedale is a superior experience to a 333, albeit with engine noise and less reliable A/C.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As someone who must be well acquainted with both types, why would you pick the 333 over the 158?

I think the issue is that different people prefer different things. For instance, a 333 is a sign of electrification, which is undoubtedly a good thing. And a Pendolino is good at what it does, but wouldn't be suitable for the Lizzie, while a 345 from Euston to Glasgow would be pretty awful for all but the strongest bladdered.

As a good all rounder I love the 350, for instance, but it's not much use without the wires (or for a /1 a third rail). And it has about the worst "First Class" going, I don't even sit there now it's Standard, the seats are terrible.

 

[yorkie]

People seem to be missing the point of this thread rather.

It's not 'what is your favourite unit', it's 'what is the forum's favourite, attained through a process of elimination.

Feel free to create a poll but 'the forum' in this sense is a collection of individuals , each with their own personal opinions. The matter is subjective and each person may use different criteria to judge this; aspects which are a positive to one person may be seen as a negative to someone else.

 

[greatkingrat]

People seem to be missing the point of this thread rather.

It's not 'what is your favourite unit', it's 'what is the forum's favourite, attained through a process of elimination.

All that does is tell you what the favourite unit of whoever was last to post is, it tells you nothing about what the forum as a whole thinks.

 

[Lewlew]

I’ll add 390. The first (and likely to remain only) EMUs in the UK to implement the APT’s tilting technology, and they were a massive upgrade for the WCML compared to what came before them.

I would place the 390 above the 158.

List:
390
158
755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150

I’d take a 150 over a 390 any day

List:
158
755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150
390

 

[1D54]

Remember being in Glasgow many moons ago on the hunt for my first sighting of a 334 not realising they went from Lower Level platforms. Loved them ever since.

 

[Milo T.K]

For me Im gonna add the 720
List:
720
158
755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150
390

 

[Sun Chariot]

The OP's criterion of "in current mainline use" - does that mean my nomination, of class 701 SWR, is invalid? My reason for nominating it, is because when one does show up on the coast, it has a nice shouty Sulzer at the front!

 

[150249]

Oh my god. Completely forgot about the 444. That throws a curveball. I think they are my favourites

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Even though this wasn’t what we are supposed to do, I quite like the idea of having a list and each member adding to it (kinda fun even if not particularly useful)

For me Im gonna add the 720
List:
720
158
755
745
444
180
387
175
331
333
156
150
390

I nominate the Class 802. Better than a 180 but prefer the 444.

720
158
755
745
444
802
180
387
175
331
333
156
150
390

 

[Sheridan]

An idea which occurred to me this morning is it might be amusing to ascertain what RailForums' favourite modern multiple unit is - i.e., of all the multiple units in current mainline use, which is most preferred?

To work this out, each member takes the previous member's preferred unit, and compares it either favourably or unfavourably with one of their own choosing. For example, member A prefers 156s to 390s, leaving 156s as the 'winner' for that round. Member B must then chose between 156s and another class of his choice, e.g. 801. And so on.

To avoid repeating, all previously chosen units should be listed at the end of the post. If you don't know enough about the unit to make an informed decision, leave it to someone else!

I'll start by choosing 333.

I fully understand what you’re aiming for and I think it would be fun, but even if everyone got it, I think you’d be on a hiding to nothing because no one is going to pick a unit at random, therefore they will always pick a unit they prefer over the victor in the previous post. You’re expecting quite a lot if you expect everyone to be purely objective in this!

 

[Ayman Ilham]

I'll take a 170 above all of them, in fact I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet. It has the perfect mix of comfortable seats (definitely among the best standard class seats of any post-privatisation unit) and sleek aesthetics (perfectly rectangular ribbon-glazed windows with matching doors plus a nice cab design), with very solid ride quality to boot. Also, their versatility in the wide variety services they've worked is insane, from intercity services out of London in the past (well, some of its sister units the 168 and 171 still do regional expresses out of London, but I'm on about the old school Anglia Railways, Hull Trains and MML) to a mix of regional stoppers and expresses, both long and short distance. You could see one working short hops between Derby and Matlock while another from the same depot runs full whack Norwich to Liverpool on a more express working.

170
720
158
755
745
444
802
180
387
175
331
333
156
150
390

 

[TreacleMiller]

Very revealing that people think anything from the sprinter family is modern?