jonc

I wonder if :
a) anyone is trained (no pun in tended!) to drive it?
b) they've fixed the tracks to allow the trains to carry that sort of speed (leaning trains...remember that one!)
c) it will push up the price of tickets
d) it will ever get into service (again leaning trains...)
e) it will be used on a very limited number of routes.
f) it will deliver what the makers promise.

It certainly:
a) will cost shed loads of money.
b) won't actually ease over crowded carriages
c) won't come into service by Dec 2009

swampster

iTrader: (1)

a) Almost certainly.
b) They will be using the High Speed 1 rail link previously known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, due to be fully operational 14/11/2007. However regarding leaning trains despite the APT's mishaps, which was basically due to poor British Rail/political managment.. there are currently already leaning trains in service throughout the UK. Take a look at Virgin Rails Pendolino trains as an example which uses much of the old APT's technology. Also there are trains which can already operate at speeds in excess of 140mph, the Pendolino again is one of them, while the Inter City 225/Class 91 is pretty much the oldest.
c) probably
d) See answer b
e) See answer b
f) Considering answer b I can't see why not.

a) Agreed it won't be cheap (trains usually aren't) but then it's bought, owned and operated by a private company, so why does that matter.?
b) Considering the area in which it operates probably not, but it's not going to hurt things is it? You never know if they are as quick as suggested and they run them regularly enough they might help a little.
c) Why not? The track they're going to be using is almost complete, they're about to go into immediate familiarisation, training and shakedown service, and will be running on Highspeed 1 from later this year (albeit not on a revenue service).

spectrum48k

monorail, monorail, MONORAIL!!!

andythejock01wrx

What's its 0-60 time ? Is it good in the twisties ?

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Are leaves gonna be a problem to it???

andythejock01wrx

Not if it has AWD !

Shark Man

Spot the trainspotter in this thread

CrisPDuk

Leaves on the line does not stop the trains themselves from working

What they actually do is insulate the wheels from the track causing the train location systems (which depend on electrical conductivity between train and track) to not work properly, which in turn can cause signals to indicate incorrectly

Of course the problem wouldn't exist at all if the enviromental fundamentalists hadn't made it so fecking difficult for Railtrack to cut back any trees that overhang the lines

pwhittle

why can't we buy British trains?
can't we make anything anymore?

Chrisgr31

Thats not quite true. In the days when I commuted into London I travelled with a train driver instructor, and in the autumn the train would often struggle on the leaves, and you could hear the wheels spinning. On occasions he'd go up to the cab to assist the driver.

These however were old diesels, the modern trains may be better at adhesion, probably because generally they weigh more.

And I don;t deny signals are a problem too.

Hoppy

But who wants faster trains? The ones we've got rarely get up to max speed anyway.

What I want is a sensible fare, a seat, and a vague idea of when I might arrive. Somewhere close by to park would also be nice.

We want investment in rail infrastructure, not fancy new rice rockets.

Richard.

Shark Man

It's a good point, the infratrcture can handle only high speed on a few select lines. If the investment were in the right place (the lines/signalling etc ). they'd be doing 140mph ten years ago.

Anyway, I'm amazed the nimbies haven't piped up....speed kills, think of the trees, what about all the poor children playing on the tracks etc

fitzscoob

Because you cant get cheap labour in the uk, and no one is willing to pay the extra money to buy British. Or rather, very few are.

pwhittle

and unlike most of the world there's no incentive to be patriotic in your buying habits. Shame.

Leslie

There was a time when we used to be able to build our own trains!

Les

Chrisgr31

Well these trains will be running on brand new infrastructure and there is a nice new station at Ebbsfleet with lots of parking. Rather unfortunately it makes the nice new station at Ashford ith lots of parking osbolete!

However I do agree that I suspect most people are not terribly concerned about journey time etc. They want to know that there is a reasonable chance of the train arriving when it says it will and as long as that occurs they will arrange departure times accordingly.

fitzscoob

Totally agree, it is a shame. But unfortunately its true.

I fear most of us compound this buying habbit, take tv's as an easy example.

You want to go and buy an lcd tv, 37"

Assuming equal quality etc -

The one produced abroad costs you £700

The one made in UK costs you £4000

Which one are you going to buy?

Shark Man

Indeed, my uncle was patriotic when he ordered a new van:

The result was an LDV Pilot costing £14 (£3K more than a Transit), which fell to peices, failed its first MOT and evry one since, and just been a complete shed from day one....Thats British incentive for you

CrisPDuk

So labour in Japan is as cheap as chips then


It's more likely a result of the complete lack of quality engineering, in all fields, in the UK these days