Re: Connex refurbished train at Flinder Street Station

["James C" <idonthavemail@noemail.org>]

Johann Fan <jyfx@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
397c2f62$0$11202$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:397c2f62$0$11202$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> So did any gunzels get pictures so that we can all see and not have to
wait
> around at FSS for the train to arrive just to have a look inside? =)
>
> cheers
> Johann
Are you a member of <Vicrailnews>??
if you are there are 2 dozens of photos there for you to enjoy and
impress:-)

Cheers
James


>
> "HXP1" <hxp1@dingoblue.net.au> wrote in message
> 397bf5c9$0$11208$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:397bf5c9$0$11208$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> > James C <idonthavemail@noemail.org> wrote in message
> > 397bec95$0$11187$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:397bec95$0$11187$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> >
> > > I visited Flinder street just after 11am saw 3 refurbished comeng
> > > carriages stable at platform one towards Spencer street side. The
> > > train looks quite smart actually and already attract lots of
> > > attension, most of the visitors are either rail fans(with camera)
> > > or Connex employees(especially drivers)
> >
> > This gunzel had been & gone by 11.00. |-)
> >
> > > The exterior painted yellow and blue with Connex symbol near the
> > > doorway. 2 level LED sign replaced traditional destination sign.
> >
> > This is probably my only gripe on a massively better train.  The LED
> > units used for the Desto appear to be the same unit used for the
> > internal display.  This unit is OK for the internal display, but a
> > mechanical dot matrixas used on the Trams & Busses IMHO would have
> > been better.  The text from the LED Desto is not particulalrly visible
> > unless the lighting conditions are good; glaring sun, distance & angle
> > causing the Desto to become inditingushable.  The text on the LED
> > display is also physically smaller than the roller blinds that they
> > replace.
> >
> > > The interior looked somewhere in between recent Yarra trams
> > > refurbished trams and QR's SMU2 .Looks quite pleasant I must say.
> > > Similar to Yarra trams the handles painted green color instead of
> > > yellow.  LED sign on the celing telling passengers the route
> > > (destination) and next station,  plus prerecorded PM system inform
> > > the stopping pattern and next stop. Security cameras also been
> > > fitted on the celing.
> >
> > Internal PIDS is a big improvement, this is driven automatically from
> > I beleive the POTS transponders.  All the driver does is enter the TD
> > number into the keypad and the system does all the rest.  At todays
> > launch they were uncertain of how the system would cope with altered
> > stopping patterns, like converting an express into a stopper.  It
> > apears from talking to the people that the programming for the PIDS is
> > not finished.
> >
> > > The new seats somewhat firmer then current Comeng seats, this
> > > maybe a vandal prevention. There are intercoms for passengers in
> > > case of emergency. At the end of the carriage extra 2 windows were
> > > fitted so you can see through to the next carriage, this maybe a
> > > security measures and simplify transit police's job. Also 1 public
> > > phone been fitted each set(just behind the cab)
> >
> > The phone uses a proprietry phone card, presumably obtainable from
> > Connex Booking Offices.  I was unable to find out (due to the fact I
> > forgot to ask...) what technology these phones use to access the PSTN,
> > (GSM/CDMA or Sat).
> >
> > > Lots of drivers came to checked out the new driving cab with Video
> > > fitted so drivers can see inside the passenger saloon.
> >
> > The screens automatically turn off under normal running, and the
> > correct screen is called when the Driver answers a duress button.  The
> > reason that the screens are off normally is to avoid distracting the
> > driver from driving (especially in summer).
> >
> > The vision (from each camera?) is kept on a hard disk, for 7 days.
> > The vision can be downloaded if required onto a laptop computer, and
> > has a watermark/timestamp.
> >
> > > Overall I must say Alstom did a good job, this will definitely
> > > impress new and old users of Connex.
> >
> > When you consider this train as apparently 6 months earlier than
> > originally planned, it's not bad...
> >
> > --
> > HXP1
> > (now with V6.08 software)
> >
> >
>
>