On 7 July, 19:48, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:57:53 +0100, "Richard J."

wrote:
1506 wrote on 06 July 2010 22:01:07 ...
How sad, the old victoria Line stock was comfortable and, in its time,
technically advanced. *From what I read here the replacement stock
lacks its level of comfort.

I don't really like the new stock - I suppose I should like it but they
are a real disappointment [1]. The seats are too narrow, the seat
"cushions" have no cushioning and they are far too hard. *The tip up
seats are little better - having had to endure one the other evening. I
pointed all this out at the mock up visit at Euston but clearly no one
took any notice.

There are also silly things like the windows are far too small and don't
stretch the entire length of the seating bay - this is a really
retrograde step in my view. Given the number of cross platform
interchanges on the Vic Line it can be important to be able to see the
opposite platform but the end seats in every bay have a wretched panel
opposite them rather than a window.

*I also noticed the other morning that the doors really move back and
forth in their runners when the train moves at speed. *Given the trains
are not running at full power I wonder if the doors will be sucked out
of their runners when the full capability of the stock and control
system is exploited.

On the contrary, it manages to stop at the right place every time
without the driver having to use the emergency brake, which makes it
much more comfortable for standing passengers than 67 stock. *

Not in my experience - one had to crawl along a few millimetres at Seven
Sisters the other morning. *I'm sure I've had other trains "micro
adjust" their stopping point.

And having
all longitudinal seating means more space for standing passengers, so
that's a comfort benefit too. *I can't comment on seat comfort as
they're always full up when I travel, which I suppose means they can't
be that bad. :-)

All the longitudinal seating means is that there are fewer seats which
is no good really. The enormous disabled bays in the centre of the train
further impinge on standing capacity because there are no head height
hand rails to hold on to - same problem over the tip up seat area. *I am
sure there are logical explanations as to why the design is as it is. To
my "non train designer" eyes it is a mistake to reduce the number of
places people can hold on to when the train is designed to carry far
more standees. The fact the trains can clearly go extremely quickly will
mean it will be more a challenge to hold on in the future when they
start to use their superior acceleration and braking capability.

The fact the seats are taken does not mean that people enjoy sitting on
them! *I have noticed a few (of the regular) people in the morning
deliberately not getting a 09 stock and waiting instead for a 67 stock -
presumably because they find them more comfortable.

[1] sorry LUL / TfL press office if you're reading this. I have tried to
like the 09 stock but I really prefer the old trains.
--
Paul C

I went in 2009 stock for the first time today. Not sure they are a
backward step as such, because was anything like them in the past?
Just a bad step.

The external display was showing "Warren Street" as it pulled into
Euston. Given the lack of windows, not helpful if it was showing the
same inside.

I've never experienced anything like those seats in a train. (A
particularly painful conference once though.) Not just hard, but at
an angle that forces one to lean forward. Or if one slumps one's bum
forward and leans back, only the top ridge of the seat is painfully in
contact with one's back.

The most striking thing of all was how tiny it seemed inside.
Narrower and lower-ceilinged than even the 1992 stock. What was all
that about them being "spacious"? Not much use basing that on them
being a couple of inches wider externally when the walls are six
inches thick. Why the hell are the walls six inches thick?

And the odd thing ... why does the voice say "The next station is
Vitcoria"? (But at least it didn't say "change for Connex" like the
new DLR stock.)