West Midlands Railway

[Bob]

It was any two car Tyseley could find, so it was many different classes

I remember the 115s having really comfortable seats, positively luxurious compared with the ironing boards they use now

[D10]

Their DMU shortage is getting worse, some services to be withdrawn from this coming Monday 31st March:

https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-disruptions/snow-hill-lines-amended-timetable-spring-2025

[BBS]

Their DMU shortage is getting worse, some services to be withdrawn from this coming Monday 31st March:

https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-disruptions/snow-hill-lines-amended-timetable-spring-2025

The Q&A suggested they cannot use the 730s on the SHL, but no mention of the 196

[Tony]

The Q&A suggested they cannot use the 730s on the SHL, but no mention of the 196

It does mention bringing other stock in general though saying driver training would take time and also take drivers away from operating the existing services which is why the 196s can't be used immediately

[markcf83]

I remember the 115s having really comfortable seats, positively luxurious compared with the ironing boards they use now

A lot of the older,first generation DMU's had comfortable seats. The neighbouring Chiltern line had the 115's while,as someone who lived in Berkshire as a kid,had the 117's and occasionally the 119's would sub for the first but that was infrequent due to the lack of doors on the latter.  

[Tony]

I remember the 115s having really comfortable seats, positively luxurious compared with the ironing boards they use now

They were also always extremely filthy, it them with anything and a cloud of dust fkew into the air

[Stu]

Their DMU shortage is getting worse, some services to be withdrawn from this coming Monday 31st March:

https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-disruptions/snow-hill-lines-amended-timetable-spring-2025

Some MPs really don't know what they're talking about!

West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has written to WMR and asked it to review its decision, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported on Sunday.
"The rail operator has failed to deliver a fit-for-purpose train service for many years, with successive managers blaming anyone but themselves for the appalling train service," Ms Baldwin said.
"I have asked the management to come up with a better plan that doesn't mean that commuters will simply stop to use the commuter service in the future."

quoted from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ewd8m2rmko

So what are her proposals? It's all very well writing an 'angry letter' and making demands, but if you don't have any solution yourself then it is just 'empty rhetoric'.

WMR have explained quite clearly the reasons for why they've had to remove some journeys from the timetable, but as the article explains, it is four journeys out of 48.

Would Dame Harriet be happy if WMR used defective trains in public service? Is she going to conjure up the parts that are required out of a hat? Or perhaps she'll find a few fully functional trains hidden away under the carpet in her office?

WMR's plan isn't ideal, but I'm sure they've looked at and analysed the best way to utilise the available stock to minimise disruption to commuters.

I'd like to know what Dame Harriet has as a 'better plan'. (Does she even use the rail service herself?)

[Isle of Stroma]

Some MPs really don't know what they're talking about!

quoted from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ewd8m2rmko

So what are her proposals? It's all very well writing an 'angry letter' and making demands, but if you don't have any solution yourself then it is just 'empty rhetoric'.

WMR have explained quite clearly the reasons for why they've had to remove some journeys from the timetable, but as the article explains, it is four journeys out of 48.

Would Dame Harriet be happy if WMR used defective trains in public service? Is she going to conjure up the parts that are required out of a hat? Or perhaps she'll find a few fully functional trains hidden away under the carpet in her office?

WMR's plan isn't ideal, but I'm sure they've looked at and analysed the best way to utilise the available stock to minimise disruption to commuters.

I'd like to know what Dame Harriet has as a 'better plan'. (Does she even use the rail service herself?)

Here's a first, Me defending a Tory!

Why should she have a 'better plan'? It's her job to represent Her constituents, not to run a TOC or sort their problems out, for which others are already amply renumerated for.

[Bob]

They were also always extremely filthy, it them with anything and a cloud of dust fkew into the air

Cross Country's 170s could give them a run for a money these days lol. If you can find a seat without collapsed padding

[BBS]

Cross Country's 170s could give them a run for a money these days lol. If you can find a seat without collapsed padding

Or toilets more broken and stinking than voyagers