Are Pendolinos in line for refurbishment

[Hellfire]

I travel regularly on VTWC and have noticed over the last year or so that they are getting a little tatty inside. Carpets worn, seats not as supportive as they used to be etc.

Is there any plan for an refurbishment of these units as I would imagine they are going to be in service for some considerable time?

 

[Bald Rick]

I would expect a refurb to be a key component of the next franchise. No point doing it beforehand as the new franchisee will undoubtedly want to rebrand it and change the colour scheme (regardless of who wins it).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I would expect a refurb to be a key component of the next franchise. No point doing it beforehand as the new franchisee will undoubtedly want to rebrand it and change the colour scheme (regardless of who wins it).

I thought they recently had a "refresh" at the same time as coach G on 9-car trains was converted from First to Standard.
They are also just starting to go through the new Alstom plant at Widnes for a repaint.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...-uk-train-refurbishment-plant.html?sword_list[]=widnes&no_cache=1

At its new 13 000*m2 plant, Alstom is due to begin work shortly on a €28m contract to repaint the 56 Class 390 Pendolino trainsets operated by Virgin Trains West Coast, with the first trainset already delivered to Widnes.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wonder if the time will be taken here to do some patching up of the most warn seats and carpets?

 

[XCTurbostar]

I'm glad this was brought up. Does this mean that 390154-390157 will also be repainted even though 390157 is only 5 years old?

Thanks,
Ross

 

[DarloRich]

I travel regularly on VTWC and have noticed over the last year or so that they are getting a little tatty inside. Carpets worn, seats not as supportive as they used to be etc.

Is there any plan for an refurbishment of these units as I would imagine they are going to be in service for some considerable time?

I am sure they will be up for a 10 yearly overhaul at some point in the near future.

 

[Hellfire]

I thought they recently had a "refresh" at the same time as coach G on 9-car trains was converted from First to Standard.
They are also just starting to go through the new Alstom plant at Widnes for a repaint.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...-uk-train-refurbishment-plant.html?sword_list[]=widnes&no_cache=1

It's the insides that need doing rather than the outside

 

[MatthewRead]

I've been on them and they're still in good condition compared to Southern's trains.

 

[xc170]

I've been on them and they're still in good condition compared to Southern's trains.

Agreed. One thing Virgin have always been good with it apperance.

Virgins 390/221 fleet has aged well.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would expect a refurb to be a key component of the next franchise. No point doing it beforehand as the new franchisee will undoubtedly want to rebrand it and change the colour scheme (regardless of who wins it).

First were going to redo the interiors had their franchise gone ahead.

VT have redone 1st on the Voyagers with new seat cushions and covers (leather) but not any of the rest of it.

 

[DarloRich]

I've been on them and they're still in good condition compared to Southern's trains.

Agreed. One thing Virgin have always been good with it apperance.

Virgins 390/221 fleet has aged well.

As a regular user i think they are starting to look a bit tatty, carpets a bit grubby, things like the lights in the luggage racks and plugs are starting to fail and the thin seat cushions are starting to feel very thin.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a regular user i think they are starting to look a bit tatty, carpets a bit grubby, things like the lights in the luggage racks and plugs are starting to fail and the thin seat cushions are starting to feel very thin.

Still in better nick than the 350/1 seats despite being older (the rest of the unit being as good as new, given Siemens build quality), though the 350/1s have had a hard life!

 

[DarloRich]

Still in better nick than the 350/1 seats despite being older (the rest of the unit being as good as new, given Siemens build quality), though the 350/1s have had a hard life!

interesting to see which has had more bums on seats

 

[absolutelymilk]

Could have sworn I saw on a thread that a user here proposed using 390s for TPE WCML services once HS2 opens, but can't seem to find it now. Would using the 9 car units be viable (leaving the 11 cars for the West Coast partnership)? What would be the time saving of 390s vs 397s?

 

[driver_m]

As a regular user i think they are starting to look a bit tatty, carpets a bit grubby, things like the lights in the luggage racks and plugs are starting to fail and the thin seat cushions are starting to feel very thin.

The lights were all redone not too long ago to replace them with LEDs. Around the time when the blue LEDs started appearing. The 221 lights were also replaced with the pinky lights relatively recently.


Some of the carpets and seats do seem to get replaced in fits and starts. I've walked through sets prepping them and noticed that the carpet may seem a bit bouncier etc, but this will likely be a repair for a specific reason. Not much point doing an internal refurb when there's little time of the existing franchise left. Plus they are in fairly good condition still.

 

[Starmill]

The work done on them in 2016 as part of the Direct Award was extensive. It involved replacing or cleaning up and repairing almost all of the internal trim, and changing a huge number of seat covers. The toilets got new sinks, new bowls and the only on train hand driers that I have ever used that actually worked. All of the lighting was replaced and the reservation system was changed to make it more reliable. There were also a number of mechanical modifications. I am surprised so many learned members seem not to have realised - it was called Create Amazing, and it did make a big difference.

It was far, far more thorough than the work that (for example) Northern's 158s have yet recieved.

They also all had wifi upgrades and the 9 car ones conversion of coach G into a completely new standard coach.

I don't see any problem with them as they are now, for the next couple of years.

They also reaplced all of the cuttlery and side plates in First Class. The Voyager fleet got new seat cushions and a spruce up in coaches E and D too.

VT have redone 1st on the Voyagers with new seat cushions and covers (leather) but not any of the rest of it.

This isn't true at all. The trains may not have had a full strip and replace (and you could argue that was neccesary) but they are in better condition generally now than they were in 2014.

Some things do look quite tatty, but generally only by the standards of the new work.

I agree with the suggestion that in 2 years time (or so) the new operator (whoever that is) would probably want to strip the interior and start again.

 

[CosherB]

The work done on them in 2016 as part of the Direct Award was extensive. It involved replacing or cleaning up and repairing almost all of the internal trim, and changing a huge number of seat covers. The toilets got new sinks, new bowls and the only on train hand driers that I have ever used that actually worked. All of the lighting was replaced and the reservation system was changed to make it more reliable. There were also a number of mechanical modifications. I am surprised so many learned members seem not to have realised - it was called Create Amazing, and it did make a big difference.

Just goes to show how many armchair enthusiasts there are on here!

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's interesting that VT have done a high quality refurbishment programme on the quiet (1st in Voyagers aside), and they are typically associated with overdoing publicity, while Northern have done/are doing a poor quality refurbishment programme and shouted about it.

 

[boxy321]

The grubbiest bits about the pendos currently are the rattling window blinds and the largely broken slots they go up and down in. At some point the greasy spoon style formica-effect tables will need an upgrade too. They're worn out and a bit scratched now.

No problems with the upholstery though and the toilet responded well to something I left behind that would have caused evacuation of a voyager.

 

[driver_m]

The work done on them in 2016 as part of the Direct Award was extensive. It involved replacing or cleaning up and repairing almost all of the internal trim, and changing a huge number of seat covers. The toilets got new sinks, new bowls and the only on train hand driers that I have ever used that actually worked. All of the lighting was replaced and the reservation system was changed to make it more reliable. There were also a number of mechanical modifications. I am surprised so many learned members seem not to have realised - it was called Create Amazing, and it did make a big difference.

It was far, far more thorough than the work that (for example) Northern's 158s have yet recieved.

They also all had wifi upgrades and the 9 car ones conversion of coach G into a completely new standard coach.

I don't see any problem with them as they are now, for the next couple of years.

They also reaplced all of the cuttlery and side plates in First Class. The Voyager fleet got new seat cushions and a spruce up in coaches E and D too.



This isn't true at all. The trains may not have had a full strip and replace (and you could argue that was neccesary) but they are in better condition generally now than they were in 2014.

Some things do look quite tatty, but generally only by the standards of the new work.

I agree with the suggestion that in 2 years time (or so) the new operator (whoever that is) would probably want to strip the interior and start again.

I suppose it's easy for people to look at the interior and see that because it's essentially the same as when they first came out and assume that they haven't been touched. Fact is these sets do a lot of miles every single day and get absolutely hammered. So the fact that they they are in a good appearance is proof that they do get looked after internally.

 

[Mordac]

I suppose it's easy for people to look at the interior and see that because it's essentially the same as when they first came out and assume that they haven't been touched. Fact is these sets do a lot of miles every single day and get absolutely hammered. So the fact that they they are in a good appearance is proof that they do get looked after internally.

The best way you can tell is to compare a Virgin 221 with a CrossCountry example. I know which I'd rather travel on.

 

[route101]

One plus of the 390s is at night there cosy without that harsh bright lighting ,

 

[Silverlink]

Still in better nick than the 350/1 seats despite being older (the rest of the unit being as good as new, given Siemens build quality), though the 350/1s have had a hard life!

Class 350/1 have started to have seat covers replaced with new blue ones. But yeah the carpet inside etc looks worn

 

[MatthewRead]

Class 350/1 have started to have seat covers replaced with new blue ones. But yeah the carpet inside etc looks worn

Are there any photos I'd like to see the new seat covers

 

[Starmill]

Are there any photos I'd like to see the new seat covers

I've only seen bases replaced (neccesary because most of them had collapsed) - and it's only here and there, not even a whole unit at once.

 

[Starmill]

It's interesting that VT have done a high quality refurbishment programme on the quiet (1st in Voyagers aside), and they are typically associated with overdoing publicity, while Northern have done/are doing a poor quality refurbishment programme and shouted about it.

I do strongly agree that the Pendiolino First Class interior could do with being more 'premium'. It's good but it's a bit worn here and there and it was never 'fancy' in the way that the GW / GR one is.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I do strongly agree that the Pendiolino First Class interior could do with being more 'premium'. It's good but it's a bit worn here and there and it was never 'fancy' in the way that the GW / GR one is.

It's very comfortable, though. That said, even though leather isn't my "thing" the Voyager 1st seats are *very* comfortable.

Talking of seats, the most comfortable 2+2 public transport seat I've sat in recently (leather again, maybe my mind is changing on that ) is the newest design of National Express coach seat. Would love to see that (with a more generous spacing and probably minus the recliner) on the railway. It's a Fainsa seat, and the Anglia FLIRT ones do look a similar cushion shape and are also from Fainsa, so maybe we will

 

[bILLOO]

Still in better nick than the 350/1 seats despite being older (the rest of the unit being as good as new, given Siemens build quality), though the 350/1s have had a hard life!

Despite this, I would always pick a 350/1 over a Pendo.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Despite this, I would always pick a 350/1 over a Pendo.

Given the price difference I have on quite a few occasions now done exactly that when going north. I can cope with the extra hour due to the higher comfort level and better window view.