Comparison of trains in Birmingham

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[@DudeLuqYL]

Beno, I just want to say thank you sooooo much! For making my childhood the best it could be with your videos. Keep it up, your the best! You’re the reason I love lifts! Thanks!

[@Trident4370]

Brilliant video, nice (and unexpected) to see you up in the WM. Bonus points for starting with the best train we have!

[@TheeSurfer]

Safety break the trains

[@bigtrainguythore]

15:46 it's called a "Gangway Corridor"

[@balmar3]

The 323 is the absolute best. But hearing the resistor braking on the Voyager is not bad either.

[@lrvproductions]

10:48, The T69 type trams (the ones in this video) were newer than both the Alsado Breda T68 and T68a type trams. I dont know if the T69 and T68a had the same type of pulsing but i presume it did.

[@anfsabc_busotto]

-I find it funny and pretty strange that the 323 would have it's GTOs replaced with IGBTs that sound exactly the same, because IGBTs are seen as the more "power consumption-friendly" option compared to the GTOs, but leaving the same exact sound of the GTOs that they're replacing feels very weird, AFAIK i've never heard of any other such case anywhere. -Pendolinos may be boring (well, it's Alstom we're talking about) but that hasn't been always the case. If you look up at older Pendolinos (when they were made by FIAT Ferroviaria, basically Italians) like the ETR 450s and 460s, they looked much better and had much more character, and that was before it became a phenomena across Europe. And the tilting thing is made to take corners at very high speeds, by tilting the carriage while the bogies remain on track, so the track doesn't get damaged by the train-wheel dents and that the train itself wouldn't derail. On Hitachi trains it isn't a thing because from what I've seen in the UK the speed isn't high enough to implement tilting in the first place because there aren't that many high-speed sections, unlike in the rest of Europe. But Pendolinos have it included anyway because they gotta keep true to the nature of the train name.

[@benolifts]

It is incredibly strange that they did this to the new VF drive. As far as I can tell there is no way to partially replace a VF drive while keeping the old pulsing controller (as everything is too proprietary to be interchangeable like this). So on the new VF drive they had to make a specific decision to program it to run the same pulse generation modes as the old one. The new VF drive would have been designed completely differently to the old one, and there would be no easy way to do this. The only way they could have done this is to have gone back to the designers and programmers of the equipment and ask them to make a custom firmware just for these trains. This would have been a very specialist task that only the experts that designed the product would be able to do. In other words, this was not some easy option, this had to be specially arranged. None of this makes any sense.

[@gabrielstravels]

The only reason why Pendolinos tilt unlike other British high speed trains is because the line they're used on (West Coast Main Line) has far more curves requiring tilting trains in order to be able to run at high speeds. Other UK high speed lines (East Coast Main Line, High Speed 1, Great Western Main Line & parts of the Cross Country Main Line) don't have as many curves as the West Coast Main Line, therefore no need for tilt.

[@SamsVlogstrainsmore]

Nice video a collection of trains/transit modes.

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Class 323 such an amazing sound, I miss hearing them.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Wish I had Class 323s in Essex lol

[@whizzbtw]

Good to see some videos about birmingham cus thats where i live

[@nelsonahlvik6650]

Those 323s sound very similar to the M100 trains in Helsinki, Finland. Like the 323s, the M100s have very primitive VF drives that only have pattern pulsing. Unfortunantly, the M100s will be decomissioned when the system gets automated, as they are "not eligable for automation".

[@BAGGIES6677]

gotta love a class 172 with a 'regular' gearbox, they sound ace tbf

[@xxalexaviation]

I KNOW RIGHT ITS NOT JUST ME

[@CallumSpotting]

24:06 casually just opening the guards panel lmao

[@jonathanosunde2822]

Nice video, love your channel. Are you planning to create footage of the new Elizabeth Line in London, and the trains? The stations in particular are stunning to look at, and there is a lot to explore!

[@benolifts]

I am not sure when I will have time. I am very rarely in the UK at the moment.

[@azuma892]

I have a former classmate who lives in Birmingham now, really envy the trains he gets to see daily, stark improvement over the boring MTR trains we have here XD.

[@azuma892]

I know the Hong Kong MTR is probably one of the most reliable railway systems out there but their trains are so boring.

[@benolifts]

@@azuma892 I find Hong Kong MTR very interesting. One of the most modern train systems in the world. And the trains have fast acceleration.

[@legoisthebest001SCR]

As a hong konger that is living in Birmingham right now. I found the trains are diverse in Birmingham, with the 390/221 to the 323. And for me, the MTR is kinda boring after they replace the MLR and introducing more of a metro like train and making them look similar. Both both networks are interesting!

[@fr33dyfazb3ar]

@@benolifts Thank you so much for visiting our country’s metro, Hong Kong.

[@fr33dyfazb3ar]

@@legoisthebest001SCR they had to retire due to the platforms must be 12 cars.

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Aaah class 323 and the old trams❤️ when I was young I saw the 323 and the trams had ‘Centro’ written on them, I thought the tram was a baby 323!

[@BuddyClubP1]

Here here. I feel so nostalgic when thinking about the T69 trams, I would go on them always rather than the national rail, when I saw this and saw the interior it took me back

[@unknown547]

I miss the green centro liveries. Used to go to school on 150’s and visit family on 323’s. I also remember the original clown coloured metro trams.

[@jakewynn]

I love the class 323. I have a choice between that and the class 350 from Lichfield Trent Valley Station to get into Birmingham. The class 350 is o the lower line with the pendilinos and the class 323 is on the upper line. Pretty boring station apart from that unfortunately.

[@SAMIEWALLFORD756]

Roddy Wallford: Wow, nice train! Part of the Centro, but now looks so different, isn't? Cool video thought! 😎👍

[@randlofs]

My favorite of these is the Class 323. It has an amazing VVVF drive.

[@LiamsTransport1]

Nice video, on regards of when the 323s had the VF drives changed, the reason which the system sinulates the older verison was due to safety case

[@kieranstravels]

Honestly, I didn’t know that about the 323, I thought they just always had the same GTOs - It’s nice that they kept the unique sound! If you didn’t know, they’re due to be replaced in Birmingham with yet more aventras soon, and said 323s are coming to join our ones in the north to get rid of our old ex Thameslink 319s. I do agree with you on the T69s, They were lovely, 6 of them still exist and are stored at long marston, apparently 2 are due to go to a museum at some point? I’m not quite sure. As for the turbostars, I quite like them - Fun fact that you likley didn’t know, the 168/3 subclass are actually the old Transpennine Express Class 170s modified with a new coupler, so it’s pretty cool! As for sprinters, I really like the 153s, and think they sound great, where as the TFW 158s do actually sound quite boring, but, the ScotRail and Northern 158s sound pretty good actually, as they have different engines. The pendolinos are decent enough from a passenger point of view, same with the refurbished Avanti voyagers, but the CrossCountry ones are beyond awful. I hate them. Honestly, the Parry People Mover doesn’t need to go fast when it’s on a branch line with a 20mph speed limit, they’re quite unique really, so rather interesting, as for your comment on locohauled sets, that is very much not the case, they’re some of the most comfortable trains you could take between Birmingham and London, and for a absolute steal of a price normally too, plus, 68s sound great - It’s a shame they removed the drop light windows that you could open, because 68s sound great from right behind them.

[@jakewynn]

well 2 years later - the 323s are going to Northern and it is true, the 323s run on Hitachi IGBT thyristors but they wanted to keep the original charm.

[@tunneltrain96]

I do admit, loco hauled trains can be a bit meh, but I like the looks and sounds of the class 68 and the DVTs. The 68s have an interesting acceleration, while the DVTs have multi-tone horns. Multiple units are better for a lot of things, but railways *did* get their start with locos and coaches/wagons.

[@frankieepurr]

You missed the class 43 hst, do they still do those at Birmingham?

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video. ☺️

[@theblockybanana5537]

They’d keep the VF drive pulsing the same for driver familiarity I presume. Drivers learn the speed of the train and how it correlated to noise just by pure exposure to it. Good for knowing if you have wheelslip or not.

[@Looiiss37]

25:06 I'm a bit confused here since the first train would of been a loco hauling some carriages, so technically that is a proper train. I do like the aspects of Multiple Units being able to sit the motor coach however. And the very good sounds that come from 90's EMU's Annoyingly due to some stupid twats getting their head decapitated you can't open the door windows on the Mark 3 anymore to listen to the HST. But even then the MTU were quite boring to me. The Valenta Paxman sounded amazing though. Glad to hear 125 Group are bringing it back in a real HST.

[@Andrewjg_89]

The West Midlands Railway Class 323 does have such incredible and brilliant traction motors which sounds so amazing to hear. But unfortunately they are to be replaced by the Class 730 later this year or next year on the Cross-City Line.

[@jakewynn]

The line between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street still has them!

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@jakewynn Well yes but West Midlands Railway are still replacing the Class 323 and 17 of them are to be cascaded to Northern and other 9 are going for storage.

[@xxalexaviation]

@@Andrewjg_89 the snow hill lines are getting new trains I think too

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@xxalexaviation Yep. Class 196 Civity.

[@xxalexaviation]

@@Andrewjg_89 hopefully the services won’t be delayed as much when they come, personally my local line operates 172’s (snow hill line)

[@bigtrainguythore]

The pendolinos are my true fav! I love their motor and also, "their smell of wee" but I respect your opinion.

[@jakewynn]

They are boring and I feel cramped in them. They are like riding in an aeroplane lol but at least they are fast

[@cantliff9]

Always described the 350 as the house alarm

[@luisstransport]

Great video

[@avorica]

CAF Urbos 3 in Birmingham?????

[@ReubenAshwell]

The class 323's are brilliant trains. Also how can you not like the Pendolino's? They are brilliant. Also loco hauled trains are propper trains.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I also do like the Class 390 Pendolinos.

[@bigtrainguythore]

They're my favourite!

[@gabrielstravels]

Virgin Pendolino for the win!

[@joemercedeschannel196]

Pause at 25:44 There is an original MK3 slam door.

[@ZLDSmogless]

You should come to Glasgow and do this quickly before the old Subway trains are gone. Edit: never mind, the Subway is ruined now

[@jakewynn]

28:00 ohhhh! How disappointing. It used to play such awesome corporate style music in the trains :D

[@benolifts]

I remember that from many years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqW5q4Roq8aod9k

[@bigtrainguythore]

How would you make the 390s more interesting?

[@benolifts]

Replace them with something better!

[@bigtrainguythore]

@@benolifts do you think the HSTs are just as boring?

[@benolifts]

@@bigtrainguythore HSTs were worse. With all loco pulled trains, from the passengers perspective, you can only sit in a trailer carriage. It is not possible to sit in a motor carriage which is why I find them dull. When a carriage is designed to be pulled by a loco, it doesn't have all the features that make me take interest in it. As far as I am concerned, the carriages are just dead weight. They are just uninspiring things to sit in while the loco does all the work. Plus the acceleration of them was very bad.

[@bigtrainguythore]

@@benolifts what high speed trains do you like?

[@gabrielstravels]

​@@bigtrainguythoreHis favourite UK high speed trains are the IETs/Azumas (Hitachi 800 series)

[@axolotlgamer615]

323 sounds robotic when they stop

[@ZLDSmogless]

On the Pendolino (lack of) sound, Alstom can make good trains, like the RER NG in Paris or the Dutch ICNG. But not in Britain, we get junipers and Aventras. I also disagree with the statement about the original turbostar being slow. It's acceleration is actually fast, the drivers just don't use full power a lot of the time. As well as that, most of the examples you used were in areas where the speed limit was low

[@milkandduckrailway323]

3:12 slow train

[@SejLifts]

Nice trains

[@xxalexaviation]

West Midlands railway have the best trains

[@officialmcdeath]

The modelling of the newer 323 drive is to allow it to interact with the other legacy systems without complete system retesting - tl:dr grandfathering \m/

[@benolifts]

The 465 networkers that have had their VF drives replaced with Hitiachi still are able to work coupled to units with original VF drives.

[@officialmcdeath]

@@benolifts sure - was talking about recertification of what might be seen by authorities as a completely new system at a higher cost than might be justified by the remaining service life of the 323 as a class - 465s were still quite young when they were retractioned so such a cost could be absorbed with relative ease - was never suggesting that interoperability between old and new units was at issue \m/

[@380sTLshorts]

Trains are good

[@frankieepurr]

24:40 this sprinter sounds like it's electric or is it just me

[@CallumSpotting]

what do you mean the class 158 is boring and not very exciting are you crazy????

[@benolifts]

All of the Sprinter trains are dull

[@Andrewjg_89]

Class 158 and Class 159 are quite good trains but they are some what getting old.

[@bb-3653]

Honesty i cant fathom why some modern trains are so quiet with regards to VF drive. No ones gonna have a seizure if they hear motor /gearbox whines, they can actually be quite nice for acceleration ambience. This is an example of where british specifications go overboard. Im glad trains like the class 331s are loud and CAF didmt give a shit about making them quiet..thank you CAF. we needed a modern train with some sort of interesting sound's. Aventras are dogshit when it comes to VF /motor/gearbox sounds honestly.

[@harryelliott4310]

Trains Station 🚉

[@Andrewjg_89]

*Railway Station 🙄

[@wm_jaida]

why did you put yourself through the hell that is Birmingham lol

[@benolifts]

Birmingham is one of my favorite cities

[@wm_jaida]

@@benolifts To be honest I dont blame you. It is quite interesting. I just like it as much as other cities just cause im used to it now, being local

[@ΝικοςΠοδας-τ7ξ]

@@benolifts the train at 6:21 sounds like the heathrow metro

[@windowsxpnt2347]

hey austin this is guys

[@Andrewjg_89]

Hey guys welcome about this Austin Midlands Railway to Austinham New Street.

[@ReubenAshwell]

Hey Austin, I have no interest in your comments that are the same one over and over again.

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@ReubenAshwell Tell me about it.