These little trains are used across northern England, south Wales and the south-west on local services. They became a hot political topic before the last General Election with the Conservative Party pledging to ensure they would be removed from the Northern network by 2020.
The origin of these trains goes back to the 1970s, with research into the interface between rail and wheel, and the development of a long wheelbase freight vehicle chasis that could run at significantly higher speeds than had previously been possible.
At the same time there was an urgent need to replace trains dating back to the 1950s that were becoming life expired, and to find a way of doing so as cheaply as possible.
These projects merged, with the freight chasis being fitted with a diesel engine and a body added composed of bus body panels. In the mid 1980s, large numbers of these trains were built, and they have now been in use for around thirty years.
They can't be described as comfortable, and they are far from reliable. Recent new train orders should see a substantial reduction in their numbers over the next three years, but I have to admit that in some respects I will miss them when they go.
They remind me of the little steam engines with a couple of coaches that used to run on 1950s branch lines that used to bounce and rattle along (though they are rather less photogenic than steam was!). The new trains will be faster and more comfortable, but somehow it won't be quite the same.
Nice story about "little trains." I would think they are used more as a commuter train for those who rely on them for local travel. I realize that the "heavy" trains are much more reliable in the UK than in the US. The costs of updating older rail cars is always an issue in the US, but updating them is getting more popular since usage is growing.
Denver is opening a new light-rail line to the north of the city on Monday, about 12 miles long (many more miles to be added later). There will be about 4 new light-rail lines opening this year. A medium weight line from downtown to the airport opened several weeks ago and is about 30 miles long.
Pretty or not, I love the idea of rail travel wherever it is available. Our networks have been largely reduced to suburban service with most country lines now served (?) by buses.
Thank you all for your comments, they are appreciated!
These trains were a cheap way of acquiring new trains at a time when they were urgently needed. They have provided 30 years of service, well beyond their design life (20 years), and they are certainly a better way to travel than a bus! They will need to be replaced or have significant and expensive work carried out on them in the near future to allow them to run beyond 2019 when disability regulations come into full effect.
Ferry, I had heard about the Fyra, and since your comment I've read more about it. What a disaster! - very expensive for both your country and the train builder!
Bob, thank you for the info about your local rail developments in Denver. These trains were designed originally for operation on branch lines and local commuter routes, although some are used on journeys of up to two hours - not very pleasant! Re-engineering is becoming more popular here too, and there are workshops in Doncaster (30 miles south of York) which specialise in such work.
Tony, it's more common here to replace trains with buses when track engineering work is taking place, rather than diverting trains to alternative routes. I keep a careful watch on planned engineering work when I'm due to travel!
Denver is opening a new light-rail line to the north of the city on Monday, about 12 miles long (many more miles to be added later). There will be about 4 new light-rail lines opening this year. A medium weight line from downtown to the airport opened several weeks ago and is about 30 miles long.
Thank you all for your comments, they are appreciated!
These trains were a cheap way of acquiring new trains at a time when they were urgently needed. They have provided 30 years of service, well beyond their design life (20 years), and they are certainly a better way to travel than a bus! They will need to be replaced or have significant and expensive work carried out on them in the near future to allow them to run beyond 2019 when disability regulations come into full effect.
Ian
Ferry, I had heard about the Fyra, and since your comment I've read more about it. What a disaster! - very expensive for both your country and the train builder!
Ian
Bob, thank you for the info about your local rail developments in Denver. These trains were designed originally for operation on branch lines and local commuter routes, although some are used on journeys of up to two hours - not very pleasant! Re-engineering is becoming more popular here too, and there are workshops in Doncaster (30 miles south of York) which specialise in such work.
Ian
Tony, it's more common here to replace trains with buses when track engineering work is taking place, rather than diverting trains to alternative routes. I keep a careful watch on planned engineering work when I'm due to travel!
Ian