Hi Guys and Girls Here is a question, which is the best UK high speed train in TSW? It can be down to speed or ease of use or versatility, style or even person preference. No answer is a wrong answer, just say why you have choosen that train. It would be great to hear from experts to novices, lets here your thoughts. Class 390 (Pendo) Class 395 SEB (Javalin) Class 801 (LNER) Class 43 (HST)
not really a "high speed train" though Personally the new 800s are nice (the seats are terrible), but i'll go with the Class 395 - I guess I've been on it more than the others, and it's in the southeast as well. HST would be a close second with their history, sound but of course in the Intercity Liveries though.
oh crapperonis, I missed that part. I'd then just say the class 374, since this thread doesn't seem to mean TSW ones only :P
Out of those, I'd say the 801. It looks so sleek and stylish! Also, the coaches kind of look like the mk3s you find on HSTs. If I could choose any others, I'd have to go with the as yet unreleased class 810. They took the 801 and made it better! Also I found this AWESOME picture online!
Nice photos, but it would be a lot nicer if you take some of your own photos, for you they will have memories attached to them of the day.
Oh in that case, I'd go for the 395. I like the startup noise it makes when you set the reverser: Beepbidibeepbeepbeepdibi-booooooo-ding-beepbidibip-doobeedoobeedoobeedoobee. I like power changeovers.
I am so glad you managed to put the reverser sounds into words, I wouldn't have even tried. Yes, the power changer over is a nice feature.
Order of preference probably 801 390 43/395 - prefer electric, but I don't like the sound I'm afraid - my TV isn't very good so often needs volume near full, but this is the one sound that isn't dulled down so deafens me if I forget about the volume xD
Best UK high speed trains have to be the HST (IC125) and 91+DVT (IC225). Although, the class 373s GNER had for a while were even better (White Rose services). Even sitting in standard class felt like first class. I'm not keen on the Voyager/Meridian units (220-222) and whilst the 8xx series do look good, the seats are horrible.
Before I put my answer down, I want to be absolutely sure of the question. Do you mean out of the British high speed trains in TSW which is the best in real life, or which is the best in the game?
Typing this after answering below because, as you'll see, there were no point in me asking the question before as I have actually answered both in my answer! Thanks for clarifying though mate. I would say the one that is my best in game has to be the VP185 HST from MML a joy to drive, feels like the real thing and sounds lovely. Not only that but I feel that the timetable being alive on the route makes it more enjoyable for me, though even taking it back to where I knew them from on the EC it were still lovely. However, this may come as a surprise to some on here, especially with my thoughts on modern EMUs, but in real life it is the 801 by a country mile as they are so much better overall to work and in real life that comes before nostalgia!
Yes, though not for 5 years or so now, I were more familiar with MTUs as they were what my TOC had, but we did borrow from the Midlands who had the VP 185s.
Don't know about anyone else, but I like speeding down HS1 on the Javelin. I also like using the 801, doing the non-stop runs gives a good impression of speed. I can manage the 801 better though as the gradients are easierm
In TSW.....Probably the HST because I grew up as they were being introduced and we all have a tendency to love the trains we grew up with. Outside of TSW..... Class 745, hands down. They're limited to 100mph because that's the maximum speed limit where they operate but built to be capable of 125 mph running.
I personally cannot decide. The InterCity 125 is, well, a HST, who doesn’t love those things, the VP185 variant is my preferred variant due to both engine choice and better sound design (this being because it’s from TSW3, unlike the earlier GWR one from TSW1), and the 801 is the only one I have travelled on in real life, not driven. My High school was directly opposite Heaton TMD on the ECML, so during my high school years (2016-2021) I got to see the transition of HST’s, 225’s and Pacers, to Azuma’s and Sprinters racing along the ECML. Alongside 56’s and 60’s which stopped on the freight loops. That being said, the 395’s dual voltage capability and inclusion of TVM-430 and KVB, make it stand out against the others. I don’t (and probably won’t for some time) have the Pendolino due to well known performance issue of it’s home route.
You never got to travel on an HST IRL? I feel for you, especially living so close to the ECML. I think there will be lots of railtours involving preserved ones in the coming years so I hope you do get a chance to experience it as some point. I know what you mean about periods of transition, so much more interesting, not knowing what'll pass by next.
Think my vote would go for the VP185 HST on MML, just a shame other than the very small layer on ECML we haven’t really got a route to thrash it to full potential, just free roam (no AP) or setting up an Off The Rails scenario on a longer route. Electric wise, well driving from the parcels end with the non interlocked external doors and cab door open the Azuma isn’t too bad, but the other cab is just too quiet. I like the Pendolino too but it’s hampered again by having such a short native playable route. And the Javelin, yes actually with the cab doors open quite entertaining at least until you reach that awful bus stop stage through the Medway conurbation.
I actually like the juxtaposition of this. You're driving a high speed train, then suddenly it becomes a stopping train and vice versa. The uniqueness of the Javelin's operations make it enjoyable for me. Although the Medway crawl can be tiring at times.
I may have been on one when I was younger before we got a car, but I can’t remember whether it was a 125 or 225… This was during the East Coast era before Virgin took over.
I have the same problem with the Class 306. I definitely would have traveled on one for a short time in the mid seventies but the only memory I have of them was while watching them pass by while my sister played football at West Ham's training ground. By then it was a mixture of 306s and 315s. I'm not a West Ham fan by the way, just want to make that clear. My sister played for them between 1980 and 1991.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts about the best high speed UK train in TSW, it is amazing to see people have a connection to one machine or another. I have being playing through all the timetables from release date and I have finally got as far as southern high speed Javalin and thought this is a fancy bit of kit. I then got to wondering what everybody else thought about the Javalin and the other high speed trains abd that is how the question came about. It was great reading other people's choices and why. I consider the HST to be like concorde, it was around the same time and it is fast, it probably made more money for Hornby than it did for British Rail or it certainly would seem so. The Javalin has a drivers cab like a space shuttle or a plane, the power change is confusing until you figure it out. The other two I have only stuck my nose into them as I haven't got as far as their timetable yet, hopefully by the time I get as far as the 390 pendo, all with it and the WCML will be sorted?
Agree, sometimes i feel like i'm on a spaceshuttle when driving javelin in the two london tunnels to Stratford and to Ebbsfleet
I like having a mixture, high speed, stopper services and freight. There's fun to be had plodding up a steep incline with a struggling 1,550 hp diesel engine behind you. A Class 40 of course, the antithesis of a high speed train.
Yeah, it is a what is your favourite high speed train, not we hate anything other than high speed trains. There is fun to be had from high speed to shunting in a yard.
I agree. We don't have a huge selection of high speed trains yet, so there's not a lot more we can say. In TSC my favourite high speed train is the Stadler 745.
The Stadler 745 is a nice machine for sure, you are not the first person to mention it, maybe do a post to suggest DTG put into TSW and then we can compare it to the other high speed trains.
I like all those that are atm in TSW... each is nice in its own right HST is just pure relax and chill, wish we had more routes / playground for it... and most of all, more playtime at a route with it 390 is neat, works as charm, but it also needs more space to stretch its wings... also love the tilting 801 is such a nice train, also would use more playground and 395 is an absolute unit in terms of gameplay... I rarely run it on pure highspeed run, cos I LOVE the challenge of having to change power method... both directions... recently I would do the runs to Pancras, with the added challenge of having to gradually reduce speed upon approach to Pancras, which is nice and thrilling wouldnt mind even more of those 80x kind of units, loving the shape and speed
