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.