SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
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Post by SF07 on Aug 29, 2014 20:02:11 GMT 1
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Post by timelesstable on Aug 29, 2014 22:10:55 GMT 1
Will this mean a lot of upgrading of these elderly units to meet DDA regulations?
I always thought a lot of National2's were withdrawn too early............
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Post by Burnside on Aug 30, 2014 7:18:00 GMT 1
Apparently, all that needs to be done to make them compliant is either fitting a disabled access toilet or removing the loo altogether. The owner of the 143's and 144's, Porterbrook, has put together a document outlining possible work to fit the accessible loo ( www.porterbrook.co.uk/downloads/brochures/14x%20Brochure.pdf ) but would seem to mean seating capacity would be reduced to approx. 90, which is only slightly more than a single car 153. The alternative (removing the loo completely) is fine in practice provided it's only working a short journey (Huddersfield to Wakefield for example) or if it is worked in multiple with a unit with a loo, but in theory, there would be not a lot stopping the use of a unit with no loo on Leeds to Morecambe or Preston to Carlisle via Barrow. |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Aug 30, 2014 19:38:11 GMT 1
Another long journey that sometimes uses Pacers is Manchester - Northwich - Chester. Removing toilets from these could be dreadul for Cheshire commuters to/ from Manchester.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Aug 30, 2014 21:23:43 GMT 1
Reducing seats would be unacceptable so I can see the option being to remove the loo. Creating proper wheelchair areas would also reduce seats, so either outcome will be negative.
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Post by ianigsy on Sept 6, 2014 19:01:21 GMT 1
I wonder how much thought has been given to the loss of capacity caused by taking 150-odd units out of service for refurb over a period of years.
The other issue which the Porterbrook brochure shows but doesn't mention is the double step up into the saloon; there's a picture showing a wheelchair entering with the floor of the saloon flush with the bottom of the doors, but it doesn't say what they're planning to do in order to achieve that.
The root of the problem seems to be that nobody has a proper timescale for the Lancashire electrification to be completed and for the 319s to be cascaded in. Add to that Trans-Pennine electrification, more possible Metrolink conversions in the Manchester area and there are a lot of variables.
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Post by timelesstable on Nov 6, 2014 22:52:44 GMT 1
Latest Political news on the nothing like pacer trains........ www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29925049Commuters in the north of England are travelling in "cattle trucks that would be deemed unfit in other parts of the country", Nick Clegg has told the BBC. The deputy prime minister is hosting a summit calling for investment in rail and road links in the north. "There are thousands boarding these so-called 'pacer' trains. There is nothing pacy about them at all. They are cattle trucks on wheels. "I have, for the last four-and-a-half years, been day-in, day-out pursuing new powers to the north on an unprecedented scale," he said. Mr Clegg made clear he was speaking as the host of a summit of Northern business leaders, rather than announcing government policy. |
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kendall17
Forum Member
Justice for the 96!
Posts: 4,515
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Post by kendall17 on Nov 7, 2014 9:57:03 GMT 1
There is an election coming up.
Promises being made.
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Post by www.buseireann.ie on Nov 7, 2014 10:54:54 GMT 1
To be honest, I'd rather keep things as they are, rail fares are already too expensive for leisure travel without having all these train upgrades and new rail lines adding more on to the cost. When you look at a fare from Leeds to Halifax Mon to Fri day return at nearly £8, with worse fares elsewhere like to Hebden Bridge or Todmorden, a walk on the moors can be a very expensive thing!
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Post by timelesstable on Nov 7, 2014 11:33:19 GMT 1
There is an election coming up. Promises being made. I thought the election was six months away |
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kendall17
Forum Member
Justice for the 96!
Posts: 4,515
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Post by kendall17 on Nov 7, 2014 12:45:44 GMT 1
There is an election coming up. Promises being made. I thought the election was six months away Thats soon enough for these empty promises to be made. |
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Post by SCH117X on Nov 7, 2014 18:14:41 GMT 1
The said cattle tricks unfit elsewhere are used in the Welsh valleys north from Cardiff and around Bristol/Paignton
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Post by stevieinselby on Nov 8, 2014 19:21:49 GMT 1
To be honest, I'd rather keep things as they are, rail fares are already too expensive for leisure travel without having all these train upgrades and new rail lines adding more on to the cost. When you look at a fare from Leeds to Halifax Mon to Fri day return at nearly £8, with worse fares elsewhere like to Hebden Bridge or Todmorden, a walk on the moors can be a very expensive thing! Leeds to Halifax is only £5.50 for an off-peak day return (not departing before 0930 on weekdays), which is about the same as the marginal cost of driving a 35 mile round trip (not taking into account parking or getting to/from the station). At £6.60 for Leeds to Hebden Bridge, it's considerably cheaper than driving. Sure, the train is a cost per passenger rather than per group, but it is hardly as ruinously expensive as you make out! You have, of course, got the advantage of cheap Metro tickets on those routes. The journey to Harrogate takes the same length of time as to Halifax, and is about the same distance, but costs £8.10 for an off-peak day return – nearly 50% more just because it goes outside Wet Yorkshire. |
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Post by www.buseireann.ie on Nov 8, 2014 20:12:08 GMT 1
To be honest, I'd rather keep things as they are, rail fares are already too expensive for leisure travel without having all these train upgrades and new rail lines adding more on to the cost. When you look at a fare from Leeds to Halifax Mon to Fri day return at nearly £8, with worse fares elsewhere like to Hebden Bridge or Todmorden, a walk on the moors can be a very expensive thing! Leeds to Halifax is only £5.50 for an off-peak day return (not departing before 0930 on weekdays), which is about the same as the marginal cost of driving a 35 mile round trip (not taking into account parking or getting to/from the station). At £6.60 for Leeds to Hebden Bridge, it's considerably cheaper than driving. Sure, the train is a cost per passenger rather than per group, but it is hardly as ruinously expensive as you make out! You have, of course, got the advantage of cheap Metro tickets on those routes. The journey to Harrogate takes the same length of time as to Halifax, and is about the same distance, but costs £8.10 for an off-peak day return – nearly 50% more just because it goes outside Wet Yorkshire. You've got no choice but to get the normal day return if you want a day out in Halifax and the Calder Valley thanks to these stupid restrictions Mon to Fri. You can't seriously say you can have a day out in that area during the off peak period, well ok you can but it means your having to really stretch your time and wait until after 6.30pm to return home. A lot of people like myself also have family or other commitments in the evening so it's really restricting how long you can spend out unless your selfish. |
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Post by Burnside on Nov 10, 2014 14:28:27 GMT 1
The peak fare from Hebden Bridge to Leeds (£9.30) is not bad when compared with the amount of fuel needed to drive there and back, cost of parking in Leeds Centre and costs that are hard to quantify such as wear and tear on the car (tyres, clutch etc) and not getting stuck in traffic etc.
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