Faults with new trains

A simple answer to the complaints about new trains and the scrapping of some old trains (not Pacers): build lots of new, updated Class 158s and ‘159s’.

OK, that’s not entirely serious, but having lived for many years in North Devon and frequently used South West Trains’ Class 159s to get to London (often with a ‘158 attached), I think the ‘158/159s’ are wonderful trains.

While I admire the design of the IC125/HST, I realise there are constraints on route availability. Like many of your readers, I’m shocked that so many of these iconic trains are now redundant and facing scrapping.

Some politicians in North Devon are crying out for HSTs to be allocated to the line between Barnstaple and Exeter (although I’d prefer ‘158s’), and RAIL’s Open

Access pages suggest there are many other lines that would welcome HSTs.

Frankly, the replacing of new and newish trains with even more new trains is a waste of money.

Having lived in Southern territory for so long, I’ve only travelled on two HSTs. The first was when Paddington was closed for major track and signalling upgrades, and an HST unexpectedly arrived at Basingstoke while I was waiting for a Class 159 to Exeter.

I jumped on board for the experience. I was very disappointed. It was packed - I spent most of my time standing in the corridor opposite the toilet instructing fellow passengers how to operate the toilet doors, and any attempt to walk inside the train was precarious as the carriages swayed from side to side.

The HST I was in was getting on for 35 years old, and even though refurbished it had had no bogie upgrades. Walking inside a ‘159’ by comparison was a casual stroll.

Tony Olsson, Nottinghamshire