Class 345 - Elizabeth Line

[Chris Date (CMPD)]

Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.

I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at 10:42. Perfect timing!

Photos:

https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913

The nice driver(s) even let me take some photos in the cab at Shenfield:

https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857

Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark (too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground 378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well done to all involved.

[Basil Jet]

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at 10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark (too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground 378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well done to all involved.

Thanks.

The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

[Recliner]

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail. In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.

TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

[Basil Jet]

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

"In 2010 they entered and won an open competition to create a new
moquette for the London Underground. This iconic design depicts various
city landmarks such as the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and
Tower Bridge."

http://www.wallacesewell.com/project/transport-for-london--underground-moquette

The infamous "Rapist" Yellow Pages moquette was also pretty detailed.

[Recliner]

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

"In 2010 they entered and won an open competition to create a new
moquette for the London Underground. This iconic design depicts various
city landmarks such as the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and
Tower Bridge."

Doesn't that rather prove the point? The city landmarks are hard to
distinguish in that moquette, even if you know they're meant to be
there and know their shapes. That's certainly not a good enough
quality to represent coats of arms like these:

<Loading Image...>

<Loading Image...>

<Loading Image...>

<Loading Image...>

<Loading Image...>

[h***@yahoo.co.uk]

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

"In 2010 they entered and won an open competition to create a new
moquette for the London Underground. This iconic design depicts various
city landmarks such as the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and
Tower Bridge."

Doesn't that rather prove the point? The city landmarks are hard to
distinguish in that moquette, even if you know they're meant to be
there and know their shapes. That's certainly not a good enough
<https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Coat_of_Arms_of_The_City_of_London.svg/2000px-Coat_of_Arms_of_The_City_of_London.svg.png>
<http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/images/f/f6/Glc.jpg>
<http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/images/d/dc/Essex.jpg>
<http://www.berkshirehistory.com/odds/images/berks_arms.gif>
<http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/images/1/17/Bucks.jpg>

Earlier M2s on the New Haven Line had, IIRC, seals of the State of
Connecticut and the Department of Transportation. The bar car on those
trains also had a very conspicuous state seal.

[Charles Ellson]

Post by h***@yahoo.co.uk

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

"In 2010 they entered and won an open competition to create a new
moquette for the London Underground. This iconic design depicts various
city landmarks such as the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben

<pedant>
The Westminster clock tower, Big Ben is the bell inside.
</pedant>

Post by h***@yahoo.co.uk

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet
and
Tower Bridge."

Doesn't that rather prove the point? The city landmarks are hard to
distinguish in that moquette, even if you know they're meant to be
there and know their shapes. That's certainly not a good enough
<https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Coat_of_Arms_of_The_City_of_London.svg/2000px-Coat_of_Arms_of_The_City_of_London.svg.png>
<http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/images/f/f6/Glc.jpg>
<http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/images/d/dc/Essex.jpg>
<http://www.berkshirehistory.com/odds/images/berks_arms.gif>
<http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/images/1/17/Bucks.jpg>

Earlier M2s on the New Haven Line had, IIRC, seals of the State of
Connecticut and the Department of Transportation. The bar car on those
trains also had a very conspicuous state seal.

Materials that are naturally averse to hi-res images (e.g. the tiling
on various parts of the Underground or cast iron street bollards)
usually bear distinctive elements such as e.g. a portcullis for
Westminster or the basic shield of the capital rather than a full coat
of arms.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

[Joyce Whitchurch]

Post by Charles Ellson
<pedant>
The Westminster clock tower, Big Ben is the bell inside.
</pedant>

<pedantplus>
The Elizabeth Tower, formerly just the plain old clock tower: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18592966>
</pedantplus>

We clocks know a thing or two.

[Charles Ellson]

On Mon, 17 Jul 2017 03:25:01 -0700 (PDT), Joyce Whitchurch

Post by Joyce Whitchurch

Post by Charles Ellson
<pedant>
The Westminster clock tower, Big Ben is the bell inside.
</pedant>

<pedantplus>
The Elizabeth Tower, formerly just the plain old clock tower: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18592966>
</pedantplus>

Still the only tower there that qualifies as a clock tower.

Post by Joyce Whitchurch
We clocks know a thing or two.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

[Anna Noyd-Dryver]

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

Prague metro moquette has images of three of the city's most famous
buildings.

Post by Recliner
In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.
TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

Is it not based on the classic District Line black/brown/orange/yellow
block pattern moquette?


Anna Noyd-Dryver

[Recliner]

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

Prague metro moquette has images of three of the city's most famous
buildings.

Post by Recliner
In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.
TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

Is it not based on the classic District Line black/brown/orange/yellow
block pattern moquette?

From memory, no, but it certainly has a purple theme:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large

[Anna Noyd-Dryver]

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

Prague metro moquette has images of three of the city's most famous
buildings.

Post by Recliner
In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.
TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

Is it not based on the classic District Line black/brown/orange/yellow
block pattern moquette?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large

As far as I can tell it looks like a purple version of the overground
moquette?


Anna Noyd-Dryver

[Recliner]

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

Prague metro moquette has images of three of the city's most famous
buildings.

Post by Recliner
In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.
TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

Is it not based on the classic District Line black/brown/orange/yellow
block pattern moquette?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large

As far as I can tell it looks like a purple version of the overground
moquette?

… apart from the colours and design?

Overground:
<Loading Image...>

Chris's 345 pic:
<https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large>

[Basil Jet]

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver
As far as I can tell it looks like a purple version of the overground
moquette?

… apart from the colours and design?
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhv1Pj7fCPc/TfN_qp55FSI/AAAAAAAAA9g/pfPrn5w9o2k/s1600/Underground+throw+1.jpg>
<https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large>

Do you think you could tell grey-scale photos of those moquettes apart?

[Anna Noyd-Dryver]

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

Prague metro moquette has images of three of the city's most famous
buildings.

Post by Recliner
In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.
TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

Is it not based on the classic District Line black/brown/orange/yellow
block pattern moquette?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large

As far as I can tell it looks like a purple version of the overground
moquette?

… apart from the colours and design?
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhv1Pj7fCPc/TfN_qp55FSI/AAAAAAAAA9g/pfPrn5w9o2k/s1600/Underground+throw+1.jpg>
<https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large>

"Purple version of" = obviously the colours are different.

Design? Looks similar as far as I can tell - similar size/shape blocks of a
small number of shades of colour, 'lines' of which extend into adjoining
blocks?


Anna Noyd-Dryver

[Recliner]

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by Recliner

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to
spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground
378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well
done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

I don't think any seat moquettes run to that sort of detail.

Prague metro moquette has images of three of the city's most famous
buildings.

Post by Recliner
In any case,
tradionalists probably wouldn't approve of scruffy passengers sitting on
and putting their feet on county coats of arms, which would soon look worn
and tatty. They counties therefore probably wouldn't grant permission.
TfL obviously wanted to feature the line's purple theme colour in an
abstract design, but it looks like it's already faded.

Is it not based on the classic District Line black/brown/orange/yellow
block pattern moquette?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large

As far as I can tell it looks like a purple version of the overground
moquette?

… apart from the colours and design?
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhv1Pj7fCPc/TfN_qp55FSI/AAAAAAAAA9g/pfPrn5w9o2k/s1600/Underground+throw+1.jpg>
<https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsIuMrXcAAOFEI?format=jpg&name=large>

"Purple version of" = obviously the colours are different.
Design? Looks similar as far as I can tell - similar size/shape blocks of a
small number of shades of colour, 'lines' of which extend into adjoining
blocks?

At that level, yes, but the actual patterns are quite different.

[e27002 aurora]

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at 10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark (too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground 378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

Doubt this sort of detail is possible on moquette. It would be great
to have the coats of arms somewhere on the trains. But, my preference
would be Middlesex as opposed to Great London.

Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

[r***@hotmail.com]

Post by e27002 aurora

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins to spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at 10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark (too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard Overground 378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but otherwise well done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

Doubt this sort of detail is possible on moquette. It would be great
to have the coats of arms somewhere on the trains. But, my preference
would be Middlesex as opposed to Great London.
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Indeed. This is even more "Underground" than the S8 stock, yet will do a much longer run (about 60 miles end to end). No loos and hard seats in longitudinal format dominating; TfL should never have been allowed to specify these cattle trucks.

Rob.

[Recliner]

Post by r***@hotmail.com

Post by e27002 aurora

Post by Basil Jet

Post by Chris Date (CMPD)
Managed to get out of the Friday morning meeting earlier with 30 mins
to spare to get to Stratford for the daily Elizabeth Line unit working.
I arrived on the Central Line at 10:41, it pulled in cross-platform at
10:42. Perfect timing!
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885811382662438913
https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/885817575158009857
Overall, I give the train a 8/10, the interior décor is a bit too dark
(too much grey) and the seats are more akin to the rock-hard
Overground 378s rather than the comparatively softer LUL S Stock but
otherwise well done to all involved.

Thanks.
The moquette is crap. The coats of arms of Greater London, City Of
London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would have made more of a
statement.

Doubt this sort of detail is possible on moquette. It would be great
to have the coats of arms somewhere on the trains. But, my preference
would be Middlesex as opposed to Great London.
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Indeed. This is even more "Underground" than the S8 stock, yet will do a
much longer run (about 60 miles end to end). No loos and hard seats in
longitudinal format dominating; TfL should never have been allowed to
specify these cattle trucks.

The S8 may have slightly softer seats, but also has no loos and an even
higher proportion of longitudinal seats. The journey times are also
similar: Reading to Farringdon will be slightly quicker than Chesham to
Farringdon is now.

[Anna Noyd-Dryver]

Post by e27002 aurora
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Within rather more recent memory, Twyford was served by noisy rattly smelly
and slow 1st Gen DMMUs, against which 345s will surely be an improvement.

Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?


Anna Noyd-Dryver

[Jim Chisholm]

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by e27002 aurora
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Within rather more recent memory, Twyford was served by noisy rattly smelly
and slow 1st Gen DMMUs, against which 345s will surely be an improvement.
Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?
Anna Noyd-Dryver

Given to slow rate of progress for the many 1st gen DMUs a toilet was
essential.
I think the poster was referring to the way some trains were 'flighted'
in that some Reading to PAD trains with Mk1 carriages stopped only at
Twyford and then ran non stop with the next from Reading stopping at
only Maidenhead.

[G***@live.co.uk]

Post by Jim Chisholm

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by e27002 aurora
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Within rather more recent memory, Twyford was served by noisy rattly smelly
and slow 1st Gen DMMUs, against which 345s will surely be an improvement.
Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?
Anna Noyd-Dryver

Given to slow rate of progress for the many 1st gen DMUs a toilet was
essential.
I think the poster was referring to the way some trains were 'flighted'
in that some Reading to PAD trains with Mk1 carriages stopped only at
Twyford and then ran non stop with the next from Reading stopping at
only Maidenhead.

And still do, eg:

1706 Paddington - Westbury, 1805 Paddington - Frome and 1847 Paddington - Cheltenham HSTs are first stop Twyford and 1749 Paddington - Worcester Shrub Hill and 1818 Paddington - Oxford are first stop Maidenhead.

[Anna Noyd-Dryver]

Post by Jim Chisholm

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by e27002 aurora
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Within rather more recent memory, Twyford was served by noisy rattly smelly
and slow 1st Gen DMMUs, against which 345s will surely be an improvement.
Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?

Meaning Twyford, obviously!

Post by Jim Chisholm
Given to slow rate of progress for the many 1st gen DMUs a toilet was
essential.
I think the poster was referring to the way some trains were 'flighted'
in that some Reading to PAD trains with Mk1 carriages stopped only at
Twyford and then ran non stop with the next from Reading stopping at
only Maidenhead.

That still occurs, to a certain extent, particularly in the down direction
evening peak, but there are some up peak trains specifically to ease the
lot of Twyford/Maidenhead commuters.


Anna Noyd-Dryver

[Paul Harley]

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver
Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?

I doubt it! There's no OHLE past Wolverhampton.

Paul Harley

[Anna Noyd-Dryver]

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by e27002 aurora
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Within rather more recent memory, Twyford was served by noisy rattly smelly
and slow 1st Gen DMMUs, against which 345s will surely be an improvement.
Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?

Twyford, #obvs.

Damn autocucumber again!


Andy Hyde-Rover

[r***@hotmail.com]

This post might be inappropriate. Click to display it.

[Recliner]

Post by r***@hotmail.com

Post by Anna Noyd-Dryver

Post by e27002 aurora
Of greater concern is the longitudinal hard seating. Within my memory
commuters from Twyford had compartment stock and conveniences on
board. Progress NOT.

Within rather more recent memory, Twyford was served by noisy rattly smelly
and slow 1st Gen DMMUs, against which 345s will surely be an improvement.
Also, presumably Telford will still be served by some gWr electrostar
services?
Anna Noyd-Dryver

The question InterCity/out suburban trains calling at Maidenhead and/or
Twyford has already been raised; some of these ran to Henley, IIRC.
Certainly the bulk of the off-peak service at Twyford and Maidenhead was
in the hands of 117s and 118s, but both had toilets and reasonably
comfortable seats pointing forward and aft. They also made fewer stops,
the two trains an hour calling at Twyford, Maidenhead, Taplow (hourly),
Burnham (hourly), Slough, Ealing and Paddington. Journey times in 1975
varied from train to train a little, but the slowest took about 50
minutes from Twyford to London. (For those who don't remember this
service pattern, the intermediate stops to London were covered by a
shuttle between Slough and Paddington from an up-side bay at Slough
that's since been filled in).
The fastest of today's off-peak Turbos now does Twyford to Paddington in
53 minutes. The seats are a little less comfortable, but still point
forward and aft and have loos.
CrossRail will reduce the journey time from Twyford by nine minutes, but
you'll be sitting sideways on most trains and won't have a loo. You might
have the convenience of getting closer to your destination in central
London, but there's a pun waiting to be exploited about "no convenience"
if you want to use a loo before you leave the train.

I've lost track of whether the central London Cross rail stations will have
loos, free or otherwise.

[Roland Perry]

In message
<1571301977.522087503.704702.recliner.ng-***@news.eternal-sept
ember.org>, at 16:16:19 on Tue, 18 Jul 2017, Recliner

Post by Recliner
I've lost track of whether the central London Cross rail stations will have
loos, free or otherwise.

Mot of them are supposed to, but I have every confidence that those
promises will either fail to be delivered, or an excuse made to close
them.

[Recliner]

Post by Roland Perry
In message
ember.org>, at 16:16:19 on Tue, 18 Jul 2017, Recliner

Post by Recliner
I've lost track of whether the central London Cross rail stations will have
loos, free or otherwise.

Mot of them are supposed to, but I have every confidence that those
promises will either fail to be delivered, or an excuse made to close
them.

Yes, I fear you'll be proved correct.