Two ex460s have been running together on Reading services throughout this past week.
Agreed about the inter unit gangways. They're rarely open these days and even they are passengers tend not to realise they are for public use.
There's also been some grumbles from both passengers and guards about the lack of toilets, ie that generally all a re locked out of use. A guard remarked to me that he hoped that First would take notice of staff complaints about this unlike SWT.
I was on the 17.20 WAT to RDG yesterday, as far as Ascot. Train heavily delayed but even on the unrestricted sections after Feltham there was no improvement in performance over a Desiro, or indeed a 4VEP. From Feltham to Staines initial acceleration was pretty good but then seemed to dawdle just below the 70 mph limit. 5m 16s start to stop whereas the slammers could do it in under 5, although admittedly with a tad over 70 through Ashford.
Guard made a point of announcing that you could walk between the two units "at this time of day". I was sat next to the non disabled loo with a long queue, and which had run out of water.
Yes I do hope First will do more to keep the loos in use, otherwise not point in fitting them to all trains in the first place!
Finally, I'm off with family to see the athletics on Sunday and have only just realised the absurd SWT pricing policy on Sundays, which effectively has a peak hour going up to London. I still can't work out whether I need/can get an off peak / super off peak / weekend super off peak and whether its valid via Richmond and North London line, via Waterloo / Liverpool Street or indeed via Jubliee line from Waterloo. I hope First stop this nonsense too!
