ECML Azumas

The Azumas are in service, Leeds - London.
There was one on the 13:45 service ex Leeds yesterday.
So at last we've got a bit of new kit oop north.
Other signs of optimism are the 170's, they'll do nicely thank you) , the refurbed 156's, AND 180 TE Express sets doing the local Leeds - Huddersfield shuttles.
We've still got the Pacers but they are 'diminishing'
How the hell can a crew face a full shift on Leeds -Southport (hundreds of stops) with a 2 car Pacer?

 

Plenty of 142s still out there on the Morecambe run Victor. I came back on one in Tyne and Wear colours with bus seats the other day. Rode like a bucking bronco on the jointed track.

 

Please, pretty please, don't mention Pacers and Morecambe. Only this last week 'you know who' said " It's nice weather can we go to Morecambe on the train"

 

We're doomed, finished,etc etc. What is the world coming to? us misters might just as well throw the towel in and go to the pub. (which i did)
I have some disturbing news. Whilst traversing Leeds station today there the 13:45pm Leeds - London service was loading, a new Azuma, all shiny new and sparkly (and very nice it looked), 13;45 came, doors closed and it started to glide quietly and smoothly on it's way to London BUT........................now brace yourselves lads...............THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN DRIVING IT

 

You obviously don't get out much victor. On this side of the Pennines women drivers have been present for some years - on Merseyrail; Northern and Virgin services.

 

I know Fred...........it was just a bit of banter. Just my strange sense of humour

 

You know that, I know that, but I'll lay a pound to a pinch of excrement that someone, somewhere, will be offended.

 

Worry not - I knew it was banter but had you said "the driver wasn't from Yorkshire...." I might have thought you were being serious !

 

Impressive.............nay...........VERY impressive.
A Leeds- London Azuma service today from a standing start the acceleration had to be seen to be believed. I don't know what speed it was doing when it cleared platform 8 but it sure was 'nipping on' a bit.

 

Are the seats as bad as those on the GW?

 

Personally I didn't mind the GWR seats when I used the Class 800's going to and from Didcot back in April. However I've had some very uncomfortable seating on journeys on class 91's out of Kings Cross on a couple of occasions on trips up to the NRM.

The acceleration of the Class 800's are very impressive. Not been on an Azuma version yet but clocked my first one last weekend.

 

Speed and seat comfort aside, am I the only one who thinks that the GW's name for the 800's, IET, sounds more like a surgical procedure than the name of a train?

 

They are the same seats. Traveling in one of the LNER sets is to a GWR unit what travelling in an SWT 707 is to a Thameslink 700 - same but without the colour deprivation.


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Not quite, there are two subtlety different versions of the seats, GWR has both. The seats with the original plain grey/black cover are the very unpleasant ones. The LNER ones and GWR ones with new cover are slightly better because, don't quote me on this, I think they have a slightly different base cushion which makes them more comfortable.

Old: https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4462/37961722321_399e107e7e_b.jpg


New: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...02_Interior.jpg/1280px-Class_802_Interior.jpg

 

I believe the difference is just the covering.


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Poor old Monty!

 

I wonder how the Azumas would fare against the 8th Army taking offence...???

 

Is one of the others to be named “Field Marshal William Slim”?


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