Funny that the interior is nearly identical to the 800s but it looks so much nicer because it’s an actual commuter train as opposed to a intercity one (which DfT unfortunately overlooked when speccing out the IETs)
The 385's are a very fine class and well suited to the Edinburgh to Glasgow Route. Queen Street station has recently been refurbished and now boasts an M&S food shop. I would like to highlight the facilities for customers with disabilities on board the trains as being absolutely excellent. Punctuality is also very good with a turn around time on Glasgow of less than 10 minutes. From Queen street station it is possible to connect with Central Station via shuttle bus (no cost for rail ticket holders) and an express bus service (Fastlink) that travels out along the Clyde to BBC Scotland and then to Braehead Shopping Centre and beyond.
I remember the service in the 1980s, first when it was top and tailed by 27s and then by a 47 and DVT. It was always fast and furious but seemed to ride better than these Hitachi units. I have a recollection of reading somewhere that there are, in fact, 5 different routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow 4 of which are electrified but I may be wrong. The other Falkirk station is not called “Low”, though! I had always assumed that the “High” was a reference to it being the principal station in Falkirk, although it is somewhat more elevated than Grahamston.
Sorry! I was taking a personal break. 😐 Back to normal now.
2 года назад+7
If the Scottish govt really wants people to choose greener alternatives, they should push the boundaries as soon as possible after the takeover. Peak fares are still very disappointing when Scottish Citylink provides a frequent coach service between Glasgow and Edinburgh with flat fares and convenient season tickets. I understand that ScotRail is still not in govt hands but they should consider a huge and bold plan to make their railways more attractive to everyone.
You uploaded this a while ago, but it's just the right time for me to watch, as exactly this route and this train come to Train Sim World 3 this week (Jan 26th, 2023). I'll be looking for the Falkirk narrowboat wheel! I can see on preview that it's very near to the real life route.
A few too many table seats for my liking but on the most part I find these to be fantastic trains. Not bad looking, reasonable seating and perfectly good onboard facilities for the routes served. Not trying to be anything fancy, just good at doing what it's meant to do.
Strange to see this service travelling practically empty. When I had the misfortune to use this service in the 2000's it was frequently overcrowded and unrreliable. I wonder what its like on a weekday morning rush hour time?
Thanks for the video, looks good. "Negatives: the signs on the train aren't funny enough." ;) I thought that the sign in the toilet was weird rather than funny, and probably intended to get someone to think "What?" long enough to understand the message :)
Falkirk High was named as itt was the high level station. There were originally three stations. You get this often with the higher station being called high or upper
At the end of the trip it might even do a Cathcart Circle service although there is a risk-of traction Motors burnt due to how Cathcart Circle is set up if the Class 385 did a back-to-back Cathcart Circle service. If Scotrail has Sprinters class 170 can form longer formations you tend to see this with Class 150 with 142 143s in Wales last year
Those Fainsa ironing board seats are an insult to the travelling public. Transport for Wales have recognised this and have changed the specification for their new inherited class 197 units, so the ironing board seats are no longer specified. Unfortunately their replacements are Fainsa Sophia seats which are only marginally better. The change is costing TfW £1.9m. Good to see that they are putting the passenger first.
I'd consider the Fainsa Sophia seats to be vastly inferior to the ironing boards, especially the upgraded designs. Needless to say, I was very disappointed when I read that news article...
The interiors of the train look pretty nice, including the water wall behind the sink. The snouts are fuuuuuuuuuugly! I get that the designers were trying to combine the convenience of the passageway with the aerodynamics of the sloped nose front, but this is a marriage made in hell. Wow.
Thank you for the information, very helpful. It seems very empty. Do you recommend purchasing the tickets right before you bored? How do you purchase them, electronic kiosk, online? That would be a helpful video.
I Was Thinking Of The Class 385 Being Used On Services With GWR On The London To Didcot, London To Newbury, London To Bristol Parkway & London To Cardiff Central Route
The class 385 feels very utilitarian versus the class 170 turbostars which felt quite plush by comparison. Big cushioned seats, better ride quality, deep carpet. It could have been fitted out internally better. I’d say Gla Queen St to Waverley is about as far as you’d want to ride a 385. But I suppose it’s progress from an emissions point of view.
I have been to Edinburgh Waverley and the station looks lot better and more improved. And I like the Class 385 that Hitachi have built for ScotRail. As they are lot more greener.
Absolutely awesome a good video and nice you showed off the Falkirk wheel which was actually constructed in my neck of the woods at the former Butterley engineering works in Derbyshire England so is a good fit with the route as nicely ties England 🏴 to Scotland 🏴 as the 385 was part constructed in England at Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facilities this route is awesome as is your video and I cannot wait to buy this route and train for train sim world 3 on Thursday it’s true there is more that ties our 2 great countries of Scotland 🏴 and England 🏴 than divides us Long may that be the case Amen to that
I believe alot of the ride issues on modern units is down to reduced weight to minimise track wear and access charges.. compare to say a 158 which ride much better than these or the Northern CAF units.. its understandable to try to reduce weight but also I believe this affects ride quality as weight is one of the factors keeping a train planted on the track.. along with flanges and conical tyre turning..
You're right! That's shocking! You'd think the usually faster acceleration from electric trains and improvements in infrastructure would improve journey times! The aim was originally under 45 mins. Although to be fair, these services only seemed to stop at Falkirk, the modern day services stop at a couple more stations, but still!
I personally find the interiors to be quiet dated,a class 700 would be far nicer airy without doors between coaches and in a fixed formation would get rid of that "ugly" front end! One step forward,two steps back!!!
The ironing board seats don't seem quite so bad on these trains. If I recall, they are slightly different and give a bit of lumbar support. A decent moquette helps to create a better ambience. Horrible front end design. It must be uncomfortable for the drives, due to being so cramped. The decision to include a gangway must surely have been an afterthought. The class 158, 375 and 450 have got the design of gangway front ends right and that should have been specified from the start. Poor design management, no excuse. These trains look bad from the side, with all the clutter on the roof. All new trains seem to be rough riding. If they hammer the passengers' backsides, they are presumably hammering the track, which will be reflected in track access fees. Again, no excuse.
Well apparently the reason for the rough ride of the trains is actually... their lighter aluminium body, which is intended to _reduce_ track maintenance!
You're right about the afterthought statement regarding the cabs, they were a last minute design request from ScotRail who wanted to provide trolley service. Hitachi didn't have time to create an actual mockup so they had to simulate the design in Virtual Reality.
It depends on exactly where in Glasgow you're travelling from. City centre to city centre then this route via Falkirk is faster, around 50 minutes compared to 1 hour 10 via Livingston. The rolling stock is better quality, there are fewer stops and there used to be trolleys. However, if you're travelling from say the West End, using Charing Cross or Partick, you may find it more convenient to travel direct via Livi. If you are travelling from the South Side, then maybe a journey direct from Central would save you the walk through the city, but runs less frequently. Options! I travel to Helensburgh using the Livi line to be sure I am on the train which will actually deliver me to Helensburgh rather than risk delays resulting in missed connections and a headlong dash downstairs at Queen Street.
The front of these trains looks absolutely hideous. I don’t like gangways restricting the driver’s cabs (and drivers’ sight lines) in any train but these trains take it to new levels of awfulness. Also, isn’t it about time that Glasgow’s two main cities, the two stations of which are a mere 42 miles apart as the crow flies, had a dedicated service that took less than 50 minutes?
Professional train drivers do not require any further 'line of sight' than these (or other single windscreen) trains provide. They are looking at signals, instruments and potential hazards; only on the path ahead..... not enjoying the scenery of a panoramic front end!
@@droge192 oh I’ve no doubt that is the case otherwise they’d refuse to drive them. Maybe the blinker effect of the gangway is a help rather than a hindrance? I also know that aesthetics are not the premier issue when it comes to train design. Despite that, I still can’t help but think these trains look awful at the front.
Everything is manufactured by Scottish People, there is nothing brought from abroad. Vehicles, Ferries, and Planes. I found Planes, Vehicles manufactured. I am bringing ferries and train, all-electric
Funny that the interior is nearly identical to the 800s but it looks so much nicer because it’s an actual commuter train as opposed to a intercity one (which DfT unfortunately overlooked when speccing out the IETs)
Yes basically same train in a way, still very spartan
Well they were made in the same factory at the same as each other so not so surprising.
The 385's are a very fine class and well suited to the Edinburgh to Glasgow Route. Queen Street station has recently been refurbished and now boasts an M&S food shop. I would like to highlight the facilities for customers with disabilities on board the trains as being absolutely excellent. Punctuality is also very good with a turn around time on Glasgow of less than 10 minutes. From Queen street station it is possible to connect with Central Station via shuttle bus (no cost for rail ticket holders) and an express bus service (Fastlink) that travels out along the Clyde to BBC Scotland and then to Braehead Shopping Centre and beyond.
I remember the service in the 1980s, first when it was top and tailed by 27s and then by a 47 and DVT. It was always fast and furious but seemed to ride better than these Hitachi units. I have a recollection of reading somewhere that there are, in fact, 5 different routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow 4 of which are electrified but I may be wrong. The other Falkirk station is not called “Low”, though! I had always assumed that the “High” was a reference to it being the principal station in Falkirk, although it is somewhat more elevated than Grahamston.
There was a Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Grahamston was axed in May 22
As a driver I would find the blindspot created by that gangway disconcerting
Yes the trains do look quite hard to drive
So glad your back to uploading videos again, those months of waiting were pretty scary because I thought you stopped uploading forever
Sorry! I was taking a personal break. 😐
Back to normal now.
If the Scottish govt really wants people to choose greener alternatives, they should push the boundaries as soon as possible after the takeover. Peak fares are still very disappointing when Scottish Citylink provides a frequent coach service between Glasgow and Edinburgh with flat fares and convenient season tickets. I understand that ScotRail is still not in govt hands but they should consider a huge and bold plan to make their railways more attractive to everyone.
You uploaded this a while ago, but it's just the right time for me to watch, as exactly this route and this train come to Train Sim World 3 this week (Jan 26th, 2023). I'll be looking for the Falkirk narrowboat wheel! I can see on preview that it's very near to the real life route.
Awesome, hope you enjoy!
Thank you, superalbs travels! Your video is very informative. I really like Scotland. A big thank you to you.
Aye, thank you mate! 😃
A few too many table seats for my liking but on the most part I find these to be fantastic trains. Not bad looking, reasonable seating and perfectly good onboard facilities for the routes served. Not trying to be anything fancy, just good at doing what it's meant to do.
The airline seats have poor window views
For comfort it will be hard to beat the 80s which used 47s+MK3s+MK2f_DBSO
I loved my journey on the trains on my journey from Edinburgh to Oban
Great video as always and I enjoyed my brief journey one them ! keep up the good work
Strange to see this service travelling practically empty. When I had the misfortune to use this service in the 2000's it was frequently overcrowded and unrreliable. I wonder what its like on a weekday morning rush hour time?
Thanks for the video, looks good. "Negatives: the signs on the train aren't funny enough." ;) I thought that the sign in the toilet was weird rather than funny, and probably intended to get someone to think "What?" long enough to understand the message :)
Falkirk High was named as itt was the high level station. There were originally three stations.
You get this often with the higher station being called high or upper
Thanks! :)
I travelled on this exact route yesterday but in the opposite direction, quite a nice journey in my view
I disagree, I think the toilet sign is pretty funny
At the end of the trip it might even do a Cathcart Circle service although there is a risk-of traction Motors burnt due to how Cathcart Circle is set up if the Class 385 did a back-to-back Cathcart Circle service. If Scotrail has Sprinters class 170 can form longer formations you tend to see this with Class 150 with 142 143s in Wales last year
I wish we had more hitachi built commuter trains, they are great in design and I find them smooth riding.
Certainly better than their long-distance trains. 😭
@@SuperalbsTravels I don’t find them bad at all. Very smooth ride quality and the LNER ones are pretty comfortable and look very stylish
@@subwayexpress465 I agree with you there.
Yay! You come to Glasgow. You should do SCOTLAND more often! :D
I have a few more videos in Scotland. :)
Those Fainsa ironing board seats are an insult to the travelling public. Transport for Wales have recognised this and have changed the specification for their new inherited class 197 units, so the ironing board seats are no longer specified. Unfortunately their replacements are Fainsa Sophia seats which are only marginally better. The change is costing TfW £1.9m. Good to see that they are putting the passenger first.
I'd consider the Fainsa Sophia seats to be vastly inferior to the ironing boards, especially the upgraded designs. Needless to say, I was very disappointed when I read that news article...
The interiors of the train look pretty nice, including the water wall behind the sink. The snouts are fuuuuuuuuuugly! I get that the designers were trying to combine the convenience of the passageway with the aerodynamics of the sloped nose front, but this is a marriage made in hell. Wow.
I can see similarities to the Class 800 series though
Thank you for the information, very helpful. It seems very empty. Do you recommend purchasing the tickets right before you bored? How do you purchase them, electronic kiosk, online? That would be a helpful video.
I Was Thinking Of The Class 385 Being Used On Services With GWR On The London To Didcot, London To Newbury, London To Bristol Parkway & London To Cardiff Central Route
9:12 Not only Hitachi trains in UK, but also in Taiwan the new 3000 series is also quite bumpy
qqqqqqqqqqqq🪅
You should do the 170 from Edinburgh to Dundee
from LeviNZ...is the rough riding of the carriages due to the suspension design or the state of the tracks?
Other trains over the same route were smoother from my previous experience.
The riding is hideous, try working them, you're thrown about like a ragdoll
It's said to be the lightweight design of the trains, which is supposed to reduce wear on the track.
Train sim world 3 has these, amazing acceleration, but the drivers can is so difficult to look out of!
The class 385 feels very utilitarian versus the class 170 turbostars which felt quite plush by comparison. Big cushioned seats, better ride quality, deep carpet. It could have been fitted out internally better. I’d say Gla Queen St to Waverley is about as far as you’d want to ride a 385. But I suppose it’s progress from an emissions point of view.
I have been to Edinburgh Waverley and the station looks lot better and more improved. And I like the Class 385 that Hitachi have built for ScotRail. As they are lot more greener.
No, they were blue not green. ;o)
@@droge192 Greener as in enviromentaly friendly.
Yep concur
Thanks s125ish 🤦♂️
What a funny joke! 😃
I really like these trains.
Re: the rough ride. Is that due to the train itself or the tracks?
I found the 170s far smoother.
I find the seats less comfortable than the ones on the 170s. Maybe they were designed so passengers wouldn't fall asleep and miss their stop? ;-)
Oh they're definitely not as good, but I suppose at least the 385s don't go to Inverness! 🤣
We’ll to be fair, these units do run on short commuter lines with frequent stops, so maybe it’s better not to get comfy and miss your stop!
Absolutely awesome a good video and nice you showed off the Falkirk wheel which was actually constructed in my neck of the woods at the former Butterley engineering works in Derbyshire England so is a good fit with the route as nicely ties England 🏴 to Scotland 🏴 as the 385 was part constructed in England at Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facilities this route is awesome as is your video and I cannot wait to buy this route and train for train sim world 3 on Thursday it’s true there is more that ties our 2 great countries of Scotland 🏴 and England 🏴 than divides us Long may that be the case Amen to that
Thank you!
@@SuperalbsTravels your welcome your videos epic
I believe alot of the ride issues on modern units is down to reduced weight to minimise track wear and access charges.. compare to say a 158 which ride much better than these or the Northern CAF units.. its understandable to try to reduce weight but also I believe this affects ride quality as weight is one of the factors keeping a train planted on the track.. along with flanges and conical tyre turning..
Nicola sturgeon has already stated timetables will reflect usage,sounds like cuts to me
Great video👍
Thanks!
I Would Imagine These Trains Being In Routes On GWR And SWR And LNWR And TFL rail
Hmm, not sure, think they already have other stuff on order.
@@SuperalbsTravels Ok
I like the 385s decent trains
They're fairly good yeah!
47minutes is 1 min. less than the same train in 1986! Though to be fair they only ran every 30mins back then.
You're right! That's shocking! You'd think the usually faster acceleration from electric trains and improvements in infrastructure would improve journey times! The aim was originally under 45 mins. Although to be fair, these services only seemed to stop at Falkirk, the modern day services stop at a couple more stations, but still!
Looking at the timetable here, HSTs were doing the journey in 37 minutes! i.ebayimg.com/images/g/w2gAAOSwKyxfgcRH/s-l1600.jpg
come back 47/7 & mk3 stock ... all is forgiven.
Here on Germany we dream of such empty trains. What a good quite journey without angry loud people 👍
this was a while ago, they are more full now.
I personally find the interiors to be quiet dated,a class 700 would be far nicer airy without doors between coaches and in a fixed formation would get rid of that "ugly" front end! One step forward,two steps back!!!
qqqqq🐋
ooooooooooo🫖
wwwwwww🕳
oooooooo🚤
The ironing board seats don't seem quite so bad on these trains. If I recall, they are slightly different and give a bit of lumbar support. A decent moquette helps to create a better ambience.
Horrible front end design. It must be uncomfortable for the drives, due to being so cramped. The decision to include a gangway must surely have been an afterthought. The class 158, 375 and 450 have got the design of gangway front ends right and that should have been specified from the start. Poor design management, no excuse. These trains look bad from the side, with all the clutter on the roof.
All new trains seem to be rough riding. If they hammer the passengers' backsides, they are presumably hammering the track, which will be reflected in track access fees. Again, no excuse.
It's a slightly different cushion design yup, there are three in total.
Well apparently the reason for the rough ride of the trains is actually... their lighter aluminium body, which is intended to _reduce_ track maintenance!
You're right about the afterthought statement regarding the cabs, they were a last minute design request from ScotRail who wanted to provide trolley service. Hitachi didn't have time to create an actual mockup so they had to simulate the design in Virtual Reality.
Why does Aberdeen still have deisel operated trains and not electric one's?
wwwwwwwww🏛
@@liamphilbin7256 what
None of the lines into Aberdeen are electrified
Video's score: 10
You post that on every single video!
But he likes giving out good reviews
That's because the videos are good, right? :D
@@SuperalbsTravels Right, but I don't wanna post the video's score anymore. I'm gonna comment other things
@@pedrorubiotejero_aka_prt Okay, I look forward to these exciting new varied comments.
Subbed bro
Thank you!! :)
5:57 people that need Wi-Fi are people doing their work on the train before they reach their destination
.....and?
@@droge192 Do you have a question?
It’s a ahite service
Actually there is 5 routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Cumbernauld and Springburn.
That route is getting split soon
@@s125ish Really? Why is it getting split.
I didnt understand why the train is so empety. I couldnt see any passenger.
Of a similar design to the grossly flawed LNER Azumas? There's surely nothing remotely similar between them
Same general bodyshell, and various other components in common.
Both built on the Hitachi A train platform, I'm sure they would look pretty similar if you removed the doors at each end
One toilet for 4 carriages
Better than some London commuter trains which have no toilets! At least this commuter train does.
If I'm trying to get to Edinburgh from Glasgow what is the best train to take ?
This one! They run multiple times per hour.
@@SuperalbsTravels thank you! Do you know what the location it was traveling to from Glasgow would be would it just say Edinburgh?
@@andrewplays777 It will say Edinburgh, but it may also say Waverley.
It depends on exactly where in Glasgow you're travelling from. City centre to city centre then this route via Falkirk is faster, around 50 minutes compared to 1 hour 10 via Livingston. The rolling stock is better quality, there are fewer stops and there used to be trolleys. However, if you're travelling from say the West End, using Charing Cross or Partick, you may find it more convenient to travel direct via Livi. If you are travelling from the South Side, then maybe a journey direct from Central would save you the walk through the city, but runs less frequently. Options! I travel to Helensburgh using the Livi line to be sure I am on the train which will actually deliver me to Helensburgh rather than risk delays resulting in missed connections and a headlong dash downstairs at Queen Street.
The front of these trains looks absolutely hideous. I don’t like gangways restricting the driver’s cabs (and drivers’ sight lines) in any train but these trains take it to new levels of awfulness. Also, isn’t it about time that Glasgow’s two main cities, the two stations of which are a mere 42 miles apart as the crow flies, had a dedicated service that took less than 50 minutes?
Professional train drivers do not require any further 'line of sight' than these (or other single windscreen) trains provide. They are looking at signals, instruments and potential hazards; only on the path ahead..... not enjoying the scenery of a panoramic front end!
@@droge192 oh I’ve no doubt that is the case otherwise they’d refuse to drive them. Maybe the blinker effect of the gangway is a help rather than a hindrance? I also know that aesthetics are not the premier issue when it comes to train design. Despite that, I still can’t help but think these trains look awful at the front.
Why do your hands look like a 5 year old drew them? All your digits are the same length
Because I don't exist, and am only a drawing (by a 5 year old). 😥
@@SuperalbsTravels 🤣
Everything is manufactured by Scottish People, there is nothing brought from abroad. Vehicles, Ferries, and Planes. I found Planes, Vehicles manufactured. I am bringing ferries and train, all-electric
I'm not sure that's true...
@@SuperalbsTravels Everything was touched by Scottish hands. They are free to make things, the way they like
They have been built in a hitachi factory in England, so actually they were built by English hands and English people 🏴
@@Scottish_Transport_Explorer thank you,
@@lennymomanyi7104 No problem 👍
Siemens class 380s are better.
Have been on both, 385s win by a lot
I agree, the 380s are nicer (with better seats and ambience), but the 385s are solid units too!
@@SuperalbsTravels can you review a class 380?