Why aren't Pendolinos articulated?

[CosherB]

Having recently travelled to south of France by Eurostar and TGV, I noted that high speed trains outside UK use articulated bogies (that is, instead of two bogies per coach, each bogie supports one end of two adjacent coaches). This reduces weight and cost, and in the event of derailment the train is less likely to jack-knife. Also, passengers are not sitting over a bogie so enjoy a better ride.

Why weren't Pendelinos designed the same way? Of course, it does mean train sets have to remain permanently coupled, but Pendos are anyway. On TGVs, the power cars have conventional bogies so they can be taken off the train for maintenance, but the coaches are usually left in permanent rakes so the articulation is not much a problem.

CS

 

[Guinness]

IIRC Articulated Bogies aren't great on Curves, the WCML has many a curve.

Something to do with Tilting Equipment too?

 

[gingerheid]

Doesn't Talgo do articulated tilting trains?

Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick?

 

[CosherB]

TGV are looking at tilt for the next generation of even faster trains (TGV tracks are superelevated on curves for about 300kph).

CS

 

[Coxster]

IIRC Articulated Bogies aren't great on Curves, the WCML has many a curve.

Something to do with Tilting Equipment too?

The APT had articulated bogies: http://trains-are-hell.photos.me.uk/p34833452.html

 

[voyagerdude220]

How can i tell where to sit on a Pendo (in FC off course- never been SC yet)
without sitting above the bogie, for a smoother ride?

I once sat on a nice table seat in coach H once, and whenever the driver applied the thottle, instead of the normal noise they make, it made an odd loud buzzing sound. [maybe it was the additional power being used to cook my great british breakfast on the way down to Euston? ]

Also, where would the best place for me to sit on a Friday Evening Pendo , on a Pendolino Primo peak time service?

I'm just thinking that if i walked all the way up to coach G, away from the buffers at Euston, it would be a long way from the kitchen. (Would it effect the hot food service from Euston / snack trolley on the way towards Euston?)

 

[Tom]

That loud buzzing sound was probably from the pantograph....

 

[voyagerdude220]

That loud buzzing sound was probably from the pantograph....

I didn't think about that!

 

[CosherB]

On my way to France I travelled down to Euston in the leading coach (K) of the Pendo for the first time, in the rearmost single seat (1st class). The ride was very rough - far rougher than the normal smooth ride I've experienced in these trains. Whether this is because it's the leading coach, or whether it's because the seat was over the bogie, I don't know.

I pointed it out to the catering guy when he came out of the kitchen and almost lost his footing as we crossed some points (so maybe the bogie theory is a red herring?). He laughed, and said "it's because you're closer to the driver".

CS

 

[Daniel]

Whenever your closer to a carriage end, you always get more. On HST's im less likely to fall over in the middle of a coach, whereas I know someone who accidentally let the trolley fall over in an FC vestibule as we passed trent junction...

 

[voyagerdude220]

On my way to France I travelled down to Euston in the leading coach (K) of the Pendo for the first time, in the rearmost single seat (1st class). The ride was very rough - far rougher than the normal smooth ride I've experienced in these trains. Whether this is because it's the leading coach, or whether it's because the seat was over the bogie, I don't know.

I pointed it out to the catering guy when he came out of the kitchen and almost lost his footing as we crossed some points (so maybe the bogie theory is a red herring?). He laughed, and said "it's because you're closer to the driver".

CS

I know that coach K is always very rough, due to the way the tilt system recieves the message to start tilting around curves, making the very front carriage alot more rough than the rest of the train.

I travelled Coventry to Preston, in coach K (very REAR), on the Saturday before the Pendo derailment in Cumbria, and was only in that carriage, because the train was so full, with the only empty seats in the other FC carriages either occupying someones bag, or facing backwards.

Within just a minute or two from pulling away from the station, I noticed the shakes, and the couple next to me, on the table I sat down on, commented that their journey down to Euston (in SC) was alot smoother, and the woman was struggling to fill in her crossword without making squigles. Also to note, was the excellent accleration of the train, with the first intermediate station hertled through very quickly.

I've never noticed the tilt on Super Voyagers, and actually really enjoy the feeling of being in coach A (First Class), and tilting along the WCML, especially the curves between Crewe and Stafford, at Madeley.

I'm really looking forward to next Friday's Primo journey, (for just £22.10) although it will only be Fish on Friday. (Is the fish any good?)
I've still got the question of where to sit though, because it will be busy at that time of day.

 

[CosherB]

I'm really looking forward to next Friday's Primo journey, (for just £22.10)

I take it that's not a Euston trip. How do you get a primo 1st class for £22.10?

 

[djw1981]

I know that coach K is always very rough, due to the way the tilt system recieves the message to start tilting around curves, making the very front carriage alot more rough than the rest of the train.

I travelled Coventry to Preston, in coach K (very REAR), on the Saturday before the Pendo derailment in Cumbria, and was only in that carriage, because the train was so full, with the only empty seats in the other FC carriages either occupying someones bag, or facing backwards.

Within just a minute or two from pulling away from the station, I noticed the shakes, and the couple next to me, on the table I sat down on, commented that their journey down to Euston (in SC) was alot smoother, and the woman was struggling to fill in her crossword without making squigles. Also to note, was the excellent accleration of the train, with the first intermediate station hertled through very quickly.

I've never noticed the tilt on Super Voyagers, and actually really enjoy the feeling of being in coach A (First Class), and tilting along the WCML, especially the curves between Crewe and Stafford, at Madeley.

I'm really looking forward to next Friday's Primo journey, (for just £22.10) although it will only be Fish on Friday. (Is the fish any good?)
I've still got the question of where to sit though, because it will be busy at that time of day.

Facing backward can help, as does sitting near the middle to rear of the train - not always possible on Northbound trains due to half the train being used for FC. The best ride I ever had on a Voyager was sat on the 'side on' seats by a toilet. Apart from people going past, the ride was super smooth.

If it's busy just find the first available seat and steal it?!

Personally I like the virgin idea at weekends - on trains where they run two voyagers together, one ois reserved and the other is free for anyone - personally i think that 50% of seats should be unreserved at all times.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I take it that's not a Euston trip. How do you get a primo 1st class for £22.10?

£22.10 R/C fare- Euston to Preston Virgin Value First C single. 17:15 London Euston to Glasgow Central, with stops at just Warrington and Wigan, providing a journey time of 2 hours 22 minutes- try to do that by car, at that time of day, silly motorists

 

[devon_metro]

Personally I like the virgin idea at weekends - on trains where they run two voyagers together, one ois reserved and the other is free for anyone - personally i think that 50% of seats should be unreserved at all times.

I don't! If i've booked tickets from Exeter-Dundee I want to ensure that I can get a reservation as if it comes from Penzance its likely to be busy.

 

[djw1981]

But if you booked you could choose a reservation.

 

[rail-britain]

How can i tell where to sit on a Pendo (in FC off course- never been SC yet)
without sitting above the bogie, for a smoother ride?

I once sat on a nice table seat in coach H once, and whenever the driver applied the thottle, instead of the normal noise they make, it made an odd loud buzzing sound. [maybe it was the additional power being used to cook my great british breakfast on the way down to Euston? ]

Also, where would the best place for me to sit on a Friday Evening Pendo , on a Pendolino Primo peak time service?

I'm just thinking that if i walked all the way up to coach G, away from the buffers at Euston, it would be a long way from the kitchen. (Would it effect the hot food service from Euston / snack trolley on the way towards Euston?)

May I suggest you search out my Pendplan.gif

Here are my recommendations, for views, in order of preference :
Southbound
G45, G15, G9, J35,
Northbound
J28, G1, G6, K3

I prefer coach G, as it is the furthest from the Kitchen, however, more people pass you to/from the shop
Coach J is my next choice, less people pass you but it is nearer to the Kitchen
Obviously at weekends this isn't a problem
Seat K3 is really good, is this is the only seat that lets you see the entire train as it tilts round corners

Another hot seat is C1
This is a good seat northbound, it is the only single-seat in Standard
However it is right next to the shop, which may be annoying for some people
C2 isn't so good southbound

 

[CosherB]

£22.10 R/C fare- Euston to Preston Virgin Value First C single. 17:15 London Euston to Glasgow Central, with stops at just Warrington and Wigan, providing a journey time of 2 hours 22 minutes- try to do that by car, at that time of day, silly motorists

Just looked on The Train Line at prices for that journey for Friday 14th and Friday 21st September. Cheapest FC ticket is an open single at about £165!

 

[voyagerdude220]

Just looked on The Train Line at prices for that journey for Friday 14th and Friday 21st September. Cheapest FC ticket is an open single at about £165!

Yep, £170 FOS!

You can normally get the Value First A on the 16:46, but not for those dates.

The 18:08 usually has rip-off, but good if your a bussiness traveller, £126.50 Advance First B.

As i always say however, the longer the journey, the better value it is*

*Not relevent on VXC south of Bristol in general, where Value First C's are NEVER available from north of Crewe/Preston-

Even if you book 6 weeks in advance- ALL tickets available, APART from value first c :roll: