Track saw - worthy investment?

Am I right in saying this (TS55R) is the latest version of the saw and associated guide rail, incidentally does the guide rail pack come as two 1400mm lengths? (1400/2?)
The TS55R is the latest version. Unless you intend to undercut doors (laminate flooring, etc) I don't see a lot of difference between that and the earlier TS55. As others have said the FS 1400/2 is the current version of the 1400mm track. Festool moved to their second generation track (the /2 bit) about 8 or 9 years ago. The main difference is that it requires a PAIR of joiners rather than the single joiner of the original track system.

A point about tracks: there are at least three alternative suppliers of compatible tracks: Protool (who are owned by TTI, Festool's parent company), Makita (the track for the SP6000K is compatible, and cheaper - check out their 3 metre track), Metabo (who's KSE55 Vario Plus saw uses a compatible track) and Hilti (which has a cut out at the start of the track to accommodate their saws). There's also a guy over on eBay Germany (search for "Führungsschiene" or Alu-Führungsschiene) who sells compatible tracks, although the carriage might put that out and I don't know how competitive he really is these days

On your advice about the working environment, I have looked on youtube and I think the first step is to construct a box section sacrificial table like this 'dude'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4VTxEGyU0Y[url]
Nice if you have the time and are static, but that's a heck of a lot of weight to lug around, not to mention a lot of space in the back of the van which is why I don't bother (you've got to remember that Americans tend to have dirty great pick-ups with 8 to 10 ft beds and 6 ltr plus engines - I drive something a lot smaller). I generally just cadge-up 3 no. x 6 or 7ft lengths of CLS for the tops of my folding trestles and I'm away
 
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Am I right in saying this (TS55R) is the latest version of the saw and associated guide rail, incidentally does the guide rail pack come as two 1400mm lengths? (1400/2?)
The TS55R is the latest version. Unless you intend to undercut doors (laminate flooring, etc) I don't see a lot of difference between that and the earlier TS55. As others have said the FS 1400/2 is the current version of the 1400mm track. Festool moved to their second generation track (the /2 bit) about 8 or 9 years ago. The main difference is that it requires a PAIR of joiners rather than the single joiner of the original track system.

A point about tracks: there are at least three alternative suppliers of compatible tracks: Protool (who are owned by TTI, Festool's parent company), Makita (the track for the SP6000K is compatible, and cheaper - check out their 3 metre track), Metabo (who's KSE55 Vario Plus saw uses a compatible track) and Hilti (which has a cut out at the start of the track to accommodate their saws). There's also a guy over on eBay Germany (search for "Führungsschiene" or Alu-Führungsschiene) who sells compatible tracks, although the carriage might put that out and I don't know how competitive he really is these days

On your advice about the working environment, I have looked on youtube and I think the first step is to construct a box section sacrificial table like this 'dude'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4VTxEGyU0Y[url]
Nice if you have the time and are static, but that's a heck of a lot of weight to lug around, not to mention a lot of space in the back of the van which is why I don't bother (you've got to remember that Americans tend to have dirty great pick-ups with 8 to 10 ft beds and 6 ltr plus engines - I drive something a lot smaller). I generally just cadge-up 3 no. x 6 or 7ft lengths of CLS for the tops of my folding trestles and I'm away

Again I cannot fault the level of advice on this forum. Thank you. I am static and have a two large rooms to panel (the work is actually to my own house) so I think its worth the time invested as the table will stay in my developing workshop. I take your point about those pick up trucks, there is often one parked in my local Tescos taking up 2 spaces lengthways and 1.5 sideways!
 
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I take your point about those pick up trucks, there is often one parked in my local Tescos taking up 2 spaces lengthways and 1.5 sideways!
I knew they were big but a few years ago when I was in the States (visiting relatives) I met a cousin who worked for a utility company and ran her own (yes, HER) Dodge Ram - bright red, crew cab, something like an 8ft bed at the back, twin rears and an 8 ltr V-10 engine that did 9mpg US (might not be right on all that, but it was a massive V-10 under the bonnet and sounded tremendous - downrated Viper engine, apparently). Made the jumped up "builders specials" I see round here at times with "Animal" or "No Fear" on the back look just a wee bit sad (if that is anyone reading this, then tough!). I'm almost sure I could have parked my mucker Derek's Ka van in the pickup with room to spare!
 

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