|
Pages: [1]
|
 |
|
 Author
|
Topic: West Fleet Refurbishment (Read 2300 times)
|
|
Sion Bretton
|
I had the pleasure to ride on a refurbished 158. http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1692The seats were very comfort, nice and clean the would of got 10 out of 10 but lost a point as there were no power points on the train at tables. FGW installed power points on the refurbished High Speed Services; Customers travelling up from Portsmouth to Bristol/Cardiff may want to do work on their Laptops. Come on First think again |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Industry Insider
|
I haven't had chance to see one of these refreshed units in service yet, but I quite like the refreshed HST carriages.
There were all sorts of rumours about no legroom before they came into service, and at nearly 6' 3" I feared the worst, but (although not as generous as Adelante seats) they seem better to me that the old HST seats are for room and the netting on airline seats has gone which used to irritate me. Also the moveable arm-rests means you can relax a little more in the seat if the one next to you is unoccupied.
Criticism about the removal of tables is of course valid for those travelling in groups of more than two, but how else was FGW going to increase the seating capacity? And how many people travel in groups of more than two anyway? Admittadly they are more useful as long-distance commuter trains than weeked leisure trains now, but that was a good decision capacity wise in my opinion. The fold down table seems of good design when using laptops, and in my opinion the high seatbacks give you a feeling of you having more personal space and means you don't have to sit looking at your fellow passengers - not to mention the added safety benefits.
There are minus points though. It is still quite a 'cheap' job, as in there are no in-carriage information systems supplied, though I have yet to see one of these which is designed well as they nearly always come with annoying repeated automatic announcements as on the Adelantes. The removal of the buffet cars on the 7 car sets is also causing controversy - enough for Andrew Haines to state the their implementation will now be in stages to ensure that the at-seat service works properly (his first admission that the Foster era was not being managed well?).
What do other users of the forum think?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A
|
When it's dark out, the lighting in the refitted HST carriages renders them pretty dire, especially when combined with the 'Hall of mirrors' effect from the windows - for some reason the designers seem to have gone down a route followed by few others. Perhaps this is subjective though, but the effect resembles a food preparation area temporarily in use to store furniture!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Field
|
What do other users of the forum think?
Personally I cant stand the high seat backs giving a feeling of being boxed in. Much prefer to see all around me. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Lee
|
When it's dark out, the lighting in the refitted HST carriages renders them pretty dire, especially when combined with the 'Hall of mirrors' effect from the windows - for some reason the designers seem to have gone down a route followed by few others. Perhaps this is subjective though, but the effect resembles a food preparation area temporarily in use to store furniture!
I dont think its subjective at all. Its exactly how I feel about travelling in them. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Industry Insider
|
Yeah, even when the half-lighting mode is switched on by the Train Manager at night (as I believe they are being told to do now) it is still brighter than the old carriages.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: [1]
|
|
|
 |
