Is this a wind up ? New train type.

[upsidedown]

Interesting notice at the station advertising a new "slam door" carriage, complete with instructions on how to close the door when you've got off to avoid causing delays. That's progress for you.

 

[2_Flat_erics]

I think that most of the intercity trains are slam door types still. All the intercities I see on our loclal ines are all the same as the one on the poster.

Old trains, on new routes.

 

[upsidedown]

The thing is that line is 100% new(ish) type trains now, all with automatic doors and air conditioning. Seems a bit odd to be going back to those things.

 

[Arch]

The thing is that line is 100% new(ish) type trains now, all with automatic doors and air conditioning. Seems a bit odd to be going back to those things.

I dunno. The OLD slam door stock had more legroom and comfier seats (of course the new stuff may not). What's so great about automatic doors? You still have to hope the person nearest the button is switched on enough to push it. I like the old sort, and leaning out to reach the handle. And I like the sound they make slamming, just before the off.

Coming back from a cycling weekend a couple of summers ago, in a heatwave, the nice lady guard at Berwick said she was leaving the windows down to get air into the carriages, it was lovely. Unfortunately, just after Newcastle, that train broke down, and we were shipped back to Newcastle and transferred to a modern train, no open windows, and two train loads of people on one train. Not so much fun, and the aircon did bugger all.

The only advantage of sealed modern doors I can see is to prevent Darwin award candidates sticking their heads out of the window. (and, more seriously, perhaps to help the disabled, but they still have to wait for the wheelchair ramp and help anyway).

My query is, why is the step down to the platform so huge at many stations? At Reading, it's getting on for 12-18", and I've seen old ladies having to haul themselves up with thier suitcases (I'll help if I can of course, but I can't get on at every door!). Why can't they just build up the platforms?

 

[Norm]

My query is, why is the step down to the platform so huge at many stations? At Reading, it's getting on for 12-18", and I've seen old ladies having to haul themselves up with thier suitcases (I'll help if I can of course, but I can't get on at every door!). Why can't they just build up the platforms?

Mostly because of the cost of building up the platforms or lowering the rails for 2,500 stations around the country. There is a limit to the drop, and I think it's less than 18", but the designs of trains and the height of doors has changed over the decades so it's not as much as that on every type of carriage.

Besides, Reading's upgrade got the go-ahead a short time ago, so the whole place will shortly be flattened and turned into something even more like a shopping centre with trains inconveniently running through the middle of it, much like the BAA airport building design philosophy.

 

[classic33]

My query is, why is the step down to the platform so huge at many stations? At Reading, it's getting on for 12-18", and I've seen old ladies having to haul themselves up with thier suitcases (I'll help if I can of course, but I can't get on at every door!). Why can't they just build up the platforms?

The platforms are the correct height, its the track thats at the wrong height.
When relaying track rarely is the all the old ballast removed prior to laying the new track & sleepers. Thats why the trains are getting higher, in relation to the platforms.

 

[upsidedown]

Arch I've got nothing against them either. If it was up to me we'd still have guards vans and I'd bugger off in there on my own and sit on a pile of sacks.

 

[Arch]

Mostly because of the cost of building up the platforms or lowering the rails for 2,500 stations around the country. There is a limit to the drop, and I think it's less than 18", but the designs of trains and the height of doors has changed over the decades so it's not as much as that on every type of carriage.

Here's a crazy idea. Specify that train doors must be at a certain height? Bonkers, eh?

My sister and I talked about this, and reckoned one should be issued with a set of platform flipflops (as in, with big thick soles), as you step off your train, and if you are changing trains, you walk in them to the right platform, and then step straight off them onto your train. Staff then collect them up to meet another arrival...

I'm fairly fit, and usually carrying a rucksack, so I have hands free to haul myself up, but even I sometimes look at the gap and get a bit nervous.

If it is the ballast building up, then why the heck can't they do it properly?

 

[TheDoctor]

Because it's cheaper that way.

 

[DrSquirrel]

I used to travel the trains a lot when I was younger (im still pretty young) and we had these types that you had to lean out and open from the outside.

Well some months ago, about 7-8 years on... I arrived back from a long train trip, first in a long time... I got to the door first with people behind me, wondering why the hell the door wouldn't open! I felt so embarrassed.

 

[Norm]

Here's a crazy idea. Specify that train doors must be at a certain height? Bonkers, eh?

Not as bonkers as to suggest that they don't already.

The network was built up by putting together lots of different companies, which caters for lots of different types of rolling stock, some going back half a century.

 

[snorri]

That's progress for you.

Don't knock old technology, it is progress from these automatic opening/closing doors that fail to function when the temperature drops below zero.

 

[subaqua]

Not as bonkers as to suggest that they don't already.

The network was built up by putting together lots of different companies, which caters for lots of different types of rolling stock, some going back half a century.

going back a century or more in a lot of cases.

 

[BentMikey]

Slightly sad that Hackers isn't around. Anyone know if he's OK?

 

[summerdays]

Slightly sad that Hackers isn't around. Anyone know if he's OK?

He's around ....

If you want a clue - go and read the "How has your year been?" thread.