New batch of Class 350s
 

Hi Folks,

Had my first ride on one of the new batch of class 350s today. 350233 from Crewe to Stafford on a Liverpool - Birmingham service. New trains but the 3 / 2 seating is a definite retrograde step, not suitable for anything other than short disantce journeys. Amazingly, the seating bays line up with the windows - but there are no tables.

All the best

Martin

Welcome to the forum Martin.
Paul.

Hi Martin and welcome to thr Railway Forum.

Hi Martin, I had a ride on a 350 between B'ham Int-B'ham NSt, had to stand but was very impressed with ride and quietness and interior looks. No noise by doors when trains passed at speed either.
regards

The reason the seating is 3/2 is they are to be a direct replacement for the old Silverlink 321's and these have the same seating layout. Glad you like them. Unfortunately they are suffering reliability/teething problems, but nothing too serious.

Well we never got any class 321s on Birmingham - Liverpools !

That's true. However, there did use to be some 323s running Birmingham to Liverpool, alongside the 158s and 170s.

From my experience of the Birmingham to Liverpool service (north of Crewe) the 4 car 350s with 2+2 seating is adequate.

Yes, the 350s with 2+2 seating are fine, but 3+2 seating for a 90 minute journey between two of the country's largest cities is a bit much !

I've now posted the photo I took of that first journey on my website.

http://martin-grosberg.fotopic.net/p55936466.html

Have since had a couple more journeys on the new batch. Am impressed by how smooth and quiet the ride is - except for the loud "clunk" from the pantograph (in that coach) when passing over section breaks !

I quite enjoyed my first ride on 350236 from Birmingham International to Canley on 3rd January 2009. Quite nice ride, enjoyable really. Will get around to posting the photos soon.

I've always been impressed with the 350s, designed to shift alot of people around short distances quickly and quietly. On a trip from Crewe to Wolverhampton, I'd take a 350 anyday. I'd get a seat, rather than end up standing in a 390 which hasn't got enough standard class seating.

I quite agree. 350s are not rattletraps either !

But the alternative Crewe - Wolverhampton transport would normally be a Voyager, not a Pendolino ...

PS see me upcoming thead on Virgin train announcements too.

I was recalling a past experiance of mine on a 390 on said journey, there was no room in standard (not even standing) so I had to stand in the vestibule. Now you decide how that was doing 125mph on full tilt with a cup of coffee in your hand......

MegaAnnoyed I would be if that happened to me. I've rarely had to stand on Pendolini unless through choice, but then my last long-distance run on a Pendolini was 10th April 2008 and in First Class!

I have joined the masses and decided to avoid the Pendolini as much as possible, which means more 350 action for me when I'm up that way! :D

Good lad !:D ;) :cool:

Some more info. on the 350/2's . Due to the teething problems, being experienced, they are now being called "The terrible twos" round these ways. They have a distressingly quiet warning horn, leading some to say tapping the window would be better. Some minor faults are being flagged erroneously as serious faults via the computer screen. And even worse, when a brake test is being carried out via the computer, instead of a bleep to mark each activity required, a continuous screech is heard. The brake test is a requirement during a pre service prep. once every 24 hours.

they are definitely quieter when running that the first batch ...

Very true, that UFO-like noise is very quiet compared to 350/1s, 444s and 450s.

Shame to hear the 350/2s are not behaving at the moment though, hopefully this will get sorted pronto.