Intercity Railcars Will Enter Service 19/12/2007

[dowlingm]

Yeah Mark but even Monday a.m. might have been too late to get at least the politicos to come. Don't know what the IEers excuse could be.

[sean]

I took my first journey on the new railcars yesterday (the 20th). I took a short round trip from Longford to Boyle, in Co. Roscommon.

Very impressive I must say - they really are Intercity railcars.
On a scale of 1/10, with the 29ks being 0, a broken down boxcar being 1 and the German ICE being 10, I'd give these coaches a 9.

Noise and ride quality were both generally comparable to an Mk2d set. Major pluses there. Decor, much as I remember it, also very nice. No trouble getting my favourite seats either as there was a 2 car loading spread out over a 6 car set both ways

To say that these railcars beat the nuts off a 29k under every imaginable metric would be the understatement of the decade.

TBH I didn't even notice all the colours that had been changed, with the exception of the doors, and the door control buttons which have been reset to match those of the rest of the fleet/rest of Europe.

My only complaints would be these:
1: They make a powerful racket when accelerating.
2: The suspension is a bit of a mixed bag.
This may well belong in the members section, but here goes.

When I went to the show in Sligo back whenever it was, I saw that the suspension was a combination of old school springs and some posh hydraulics or air suspension setup on top of that.

Experience has shown me that when it comes to suspensions on trains destined for Sligo and perhaps anywhere in Ireland, that the simpler and more old school the suspension, the better. The 2800s and Mk2ds (both good) vs the 29ks (crap) prove that you can get a better ride by not complicating things.

The conclusions I took from that were that these trains ride would be generally solid as the whole bodyshell rested on springs, but that the hydraulic thingy on top of it would have to be watched carefully.

My journey today more or less confirmed that, as the ride was generally good but there were times when the coaches swayed for no good reason except perhaps the curves. Now, it's nowhere near as bad as a 29k, thank f***, but it still could have been done without. Methinks they can make the ride better by tightening the suspension and further limiting the role of those hydraulic thingies.

But I'm not bashing the 22ks for this because even the Mk2ds I love so much would have had some issues with curves as well - try walking through a carraige at full speed anywhere in Co. Meath for example.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by sean

.

My only complaints would be these:
1: They make a powerful racket when accelerating.
2: The suspension is a bit of a mixed bag.

The 2800s and Mk2ds (both good) vs the 29ks (crap)

I like the 29000 trains they are much better than those 2800 crap yolks I'II have the whole of Dublin Commuters eating me for saying that but I do.
I'm not surprised about the powerful racket when accelerating but when you say Powerful that doesnt sound good. I am delighted that the 22000 trains have that InterCity feeling.

[sean]

Originally Posted by KeithStephen

I like the 29000 trains they are much better than those 2800 crap yolks I'II have the whole of Dublin Commuters eating me for saying that but I do.
I'm not surprised about the powerful racket when accelerating but when you say Powerful that doesnt sound good. I am delighted that the 22000 trains have that InterCity feeling.

Well, I wouldn't wish the full-on 29k experience on my worst enemy, but hey, to each his own. Ride quality is the only thing the 2800s have on the 29000s really.

"Powerful" fierce, noteworthy what ever you want to call it, the engines do make considerably more noise when the train accelerates. However, from the inside, it's not a really big issue - no worse than sitting at the end coach of an Mk2d beside either the generator or 071 loco, and WAY better than listening to the continuous unmitigated engine noise of any class of Commuter cars.

[James Shields]

I'm sure it makes a fierce racket on the outside, but Mark and I were sitting right over an engine, and you wouldn't notice the engine noise unless you were listening for it. I agree the suspension did a couple of funny things, but on the whole it's about as good as you could hope for on Irish track.

By the way, I'm nearly sure the only track in Meath accessible by a passenger train is the section south of Drogheda and north of Balbriggan, and that's almost perfectly straight.

[turnapin]

Originally Posted by James Shields

By the way, I'm nearly sure the only track in Meath accessible by a passenger train is the section south of Drogheda and north of Balbriggan, and that's almost perfectly straight.

Who's going to tell the people of Enfield. They'll be mighty upset.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by James Shields

I agree the suspension did a couple of funny things, but on the whole it's about as good as you could hope for on Irish track..

The ride was better than what you get on the Cork line on a Mk4 a lot better. There was none of the the classic 29k low speed rolling or the scary Mk4 70-80mph sway. The only point at which things got interesting was at 70mph near Enfield we took a corner quite badly and the suspension couldn't take it and we started to bounce on the bump stops, even the trusty Mk3 does that so it is forgivable, opposite direction wasn't half as bad.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Got interesting was at 70mph near Enfield we took a corner quite badly and the suspension couldn't take it and we started to bounce on the bump stops, even the trusty Mk3 does that so it is forgivable, opposite direction wasn't half as bad.

Just to say would it not make sense to tilt the track near Enfield, Would'nt it be earlier for the train to glide around the corner.

After Kilcoole 5mins going south there is also a very sharp corner I am waiting for the train to give in and just derail before IE do anything about it...........