Worst Refurbishments?

[317666]

Whilst some refurbishments are for the better, some are also for the worst: Here are a few awful refurbishments:

FGW HSTs (Standard Class):

I refuse to believe all of that rubbish about ergonomic seats, they're rock hard and I only just managed to last London - St. Erth on one.

Anglia Class 153s:

The comfortable seats were replaced with Chapman seats, which were quite good at first, but as they grew older they became harder! The armrests - gone. Airline tables - gone.

Anyone got others?

 

[devon_metro]

Having sat on one earlier, any train with Richmond seating. Give me a FGW HST anyday.

 

[yorksrob]

That's easy - Merseyside Pacer by a country mile !

Oh' and the VOP's. Removing the compartments was vandalism to me.

 

[poshbakerloo]

Having sat on one earlier, any train with Richmond seating. Give me a FGW HST anyday.

I quite like the Richmond seating, I think its real nice and soft, its just a shame the 144s have little left room, but I'm sure it would be good in FGW 158s...

 

[MCR247]

I like FGW HSTs very comfortable

 

[yorksrob]

I must admit, I enjoyed my time on the refurbished FGW HST - but then again, I did manage to get a table seat either way between Paddington and Penzance.

 

[fgwrich]

Id actually go as far as to saying that the FGW HST refurbishments are one of, if not the best HST Refurbishments so far! MTU Power Cars, Stripped out interiors and repainted/replaced panels,new seats, new interior,new first class interiors and a very nice new Buffet Car!

As for my worst list...well here they are - in order!...

National Express East Anglia / ONE
Northern Rail
Sliverlink - Class 150/1s
Scotrail (Nat Ex) - Some 158 only
Thameslink 319s
Gatwick Express / Southern - 442s...

 

[devon_metro]

I quite like the Richmond seating, I think its real nice and soft, its just a shame the 144s have little left room, but I'm sure it would be good in FGW 158s...

Hmm, I travelled 8 miles on one today and found there was no room for my legs, this not helped by the very forward position of the Richmond seats.

 

[yorksrob]

To be fair, I've been on some very nice Northern Rail 158's and even a couple of nice 150's which have been fitted out in Northern Rail's stripey purple upholstery - admittedly there are plenty left to do but the facelifted ones are good.

 

[poshbakerloo]

Hmm, I travelled 8 miles on one today and found there was no room for my legs, this not helped by the very forward position of the Richmond seats.

I was on a 144s for 1hr 15mins Sheffield-Lincoln...The legroom was awful, but I put that down to the face that I was on a 144 which don't have much anyway so the seats are bunched up...

 

[Max]

Id actually go as far as to saying that the FGW HST refurbishments are one of, if not the best HST Refurbishments so far! MTU Power Cars, Stripped out interiors and repainted/replaced panels,new seats, new interior,new first class interiors and a very nice new Buffet Car!

They lose my vote on the complete lack of tables, which make travelling with groups pretty naff to be honest.

 

[yorksrob]

They lose my vote on the complete lack of tables, which make travelling with groups pretty naff to be honest.

Yes - I must admit, I prefer a facing seat whether in a group or not.

 

[royaloak]

Well I like the standard in FGW HSTs, I always try and get one of the end priority Airline seats, lots of legroom and a good view out the window, if I can get the seat in coach E even better, nearest the buffet

 

[starrymarkb]

I prefer the FGW HSTs over the old seats/layout.

 

[Failed Unit]

I was on a 144s for 1hr 15mins Sheffield-Lincoln...The legroom was awful, but I put that down to the face that I was on a 144 which don't have much anyway so the seats are bunched up...

They should use that as a punishment for petty crime. You have stollen something from a shop, your punishment 8 hours on pacer!

I don't like the Richmond's either, they are no more comfortable on a 158, 156 or 144 Pacer.

The FGW HST's are not bad, again the seat is the same as a Scotrail 158 and EMT 158 haven't seen anyone complain about them as a seat. However I prefer the layout of a Scotrail 158 to an EMT 158 as the Scotrail one has useful things such as baggage space and tables!

 

[37372]

Definitely the Merseyrail pacers! The Richmond seats on a 144 are reasonably comfy as far as pacers go, but yes, the legroom is poor. Just think yourself lucky you don't have to put up with them almost every day like me.
Another candidate for me is Northern's half-assed 158/8 refurbishment, aka replace the seat covers but leave the manky old upholstry, broken/vandalised seats, toilets and vestibule areas they way they've always been.

 

[fgwrich]

Definitely the Merseyrail pacers! The Richmond seats on a 144 are reasonably comfy as far as pacers go, but yes, the legroom is poor. Just think yourself lucky you don't have to put up with them almost every day like me.
Another candidate for me is Northern's half-assed 158/8 refurbishment, aka replace the seat covers but leave the manky old upholstry, broken/vandalised seats, toilets and vestibule areas they way they've always been.

And the manky old Ex Wales & West Carpets!

They should use that as a punishment for petty crime. You have stollen something from a shop, your punishment 8 hours on pacer!

I don't like the Richmond's either, they are no more comfortable on a 158, 156 or 144 Pacer.

The FGW HST's are not bad, again the seat is the same as a Scotrail 158 and EMT 158 haven't seen anyone complain about them as a seat. However I prefer the layout of a Scotrail 158 to an EMT 158 as the Scotrail one has useful things such as baggage space and tables!

Ahhhhhh

Those FSR Refurbished 158s really are the best of the class - Tables & Seats that, Shock Horror!, Actually match up with the windows, extra large lugguage space, comfortable seats and a fairly decent PA system!

Got to say, although i like FGW's 158 refurb, Those FSR 158s actually make me start to like them!

Another contender for worst refurbishment list, is :

Wessex Trains - Who of course inherited at least 90% of its fleet from Wales & West, but they seem to have ended up rather confused over the 158 Fleet ( With those HORRIBLE Chapman seats)

Do we Refurbish them, or dont we? I know, lets start a refurbishment trail with More New seats!

http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/p31067481.html

And Add ATWs 158s to that list aswell...A Change of seat covers and posters does not class as a Refresh / Refurbishment!

 

[VP185]

National Express East Anglia's 'refurbishment' of the Class 156 fleet, a new piece of badly laid carpet down the centre of the train which now acts as a trip hazard and new seat covers.

National Express East Anglia's Mk3 hauled stock. New carpet and new seat covers with a set of EMU style seats fitted in the TSOs to increase capacity, really classy. The same EMU style seats were also fitted in the FO's!

 

[fgwrich]

National Express East Anglia's 'refurbishment' of the Class 156 fleet, a new piece of badly laid carpet down the centre of the train which now acts as a trip hazard and new seat covers.

National Express East Anglia's Mk3 hauled stock. New carpet and new seat covers with a set of EMU style seats fitted in the TSOs to increase capacity, really classy. The same EMU style seats were also fitted in the FO's!

After the summer i had over there...

Seconded!

oh, and you can ad those strange Nat Ex 156 Toilets to that aswell...Seriously, What idiot had thought of plating over a window, replacing it with a few strip lights behind a panel, and painting the Ceiling Black!:roll:

 

[317666]

National Express East Anglia's Mk3 hauled stock. New carpet and new seat covers with a set of EMU style seats fitted in the TSOs to increase capacity, really classy. The same EMU style seats were also fitted in the FO's!

They still retain the original Intercity seats, apart from priority seats?

 

[VP185]

They still retain the original Intercity seats, apart from priority seats?

Yeah still the original intercity seats which they squeezed up in order to fit those priority seats in.

As for the NXEA Class 156 toilets.... someone was having a good laugh when they come up with that idea

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I know this is not a refurbisment, but the Class 378s have a pretty bad interior!

 

[CallySleeperKid]

To be fair, I've been on some very nice Northern Rail 158's and even a couple of nice 150's which have been fitted out in Northern Rail's stripey purple upholstery - admittedly there are plenty left to do but the facelifted ones are good.

I totally agree, since EMT stopped calling at Langley Mill (excecpt a couple of very early and very late services) its been Northern 158, and some may be a little tired looking, but I have yet to be sat in an uncomfortable seat, they are pretty much always clean and a comfortable ride.

 

[starrymarkb]

Another contender for worst refurbishment list, is :

Wessex Trains - Who of course inherited at least 90% of its fleet from Wales & West, but they seem to have ended up rather confused over the 158 Fleet ( With those HORRIBLE Chapman seats)

Do we Refurbish them, or dont we? I know, lets start a refurbishment trail with More New seats!

http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/p31067481.html

Those were the ones from Virgin that came with first class, Wessex being standard class only redid the interior like that, and quite nice it was too

 

[Lampshade]

Some of Northern's 158s are pretty bad, I travelled on 158909 a couple of months back and my knees were right up against the seat in front, talk about not catering for the high and mighty.

Merseyrail 142 is still an improvement over the original interior with bench seats although my vote goes to the EMT 158s, stripping out the fantastically comfortable TPE interior and replacing it with rock hard airline seat after rock hard airline seat.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I would just like to point out that if you sit correctly in a seat on any train, there is more than enough legroom.

I am one of those who likes to slouch, but i can't complain when my knees then rest against the seat in front.

The class 144's are perfectly adequate. The last one i rode took me from York to Sheffield. Apart from the rattling window frame, it was actually very comfortable.

I would like to wade in to the refurbished Northern fleet argument. Some have been done fully from top to bottom and some have just had minor updates. The fully refurbished sets are excellent. The ones that have not been fully refurbished are still clean and tidy and certainly cannot be seen as uncomfortable. In fact, my recent use of Northern has completely reassured me of how good a service can be - despite the age and lack of rolling stock.

 

[ailsa]

I would just like to point out that if you sit correctly in a seat on any train, there is more than enough legroom.

No there isn't! :roll:

 

[Louise_T]

I would just like to point out that if you sit correctly in a seat on any train, there is more than enough legroom.

I am one of those who likes to slouch, but i can't complain when my knees then rest against the seat in front.

The class 144's are perfectly adequate. The last one i rode took me from York to Sheffield. Apart from the rattling window frame, it was actually very comfortable.

I would like to wade in to the refurbished Northern fleet argument. Some have been done fully from top to bottom and some have just had minor updates. The fully refurbished sets are excellent. The ones that have not been fully refurbished are still clean and tidy and certainly cannot be seen as uncomfortable. In fact, my recent use of Northern has completely reassured me of how good a service can be - despite the age and lack of rolling stock.

I will start with 2 questions:

How tall are you and what is your inside leg mesurement?

I am 6'1 3/4" with an inside leg of 34" and sitting on most Airline seats is a no go for me as I don't fit in them. FGW Refurb HST seats are the worst as my back don't fit the seat and my knees don't fit in the hole provided. 144 seats a little better comfort wise but too close together for me to even attempt to sit in there. 185's seats like concrete not half bad leg room (I know that ain't a refurb but meh) I am not saying this aimed at you as I don't know how tall you are but what really does get me mad is if someone fits into an airline seat and they say its comfy and loads of legroom and then if someone says there is no leg room they disbelieve them.

 

[Drsatan]

Hmm, I travelled 8 miles on one today and found there was no room for my legs, this not helped by the very forward position of the Richmond seats.

Are Richmond seats fitted to FGW's refurbished 150s and 153s too?

If so, last Saturday I traveled on a 150 from Plymouth to Gunnislake and back. It's a very pleasant journey spoiled by a complete lack of legroom, even though I'm only about 5'10

Yesterday I traveled on a 153 from Westbury to Romsey (ex Worcester Foregate Street), which again had sod-all legroom. I couldn't even use my laptop because even when I put the fold-up table down there was no room to tilt the screen back to an angle where I could read what was on the screen without breaking my neck . I had the same problem with the table folded up

However, today I went on a 158 from Southampton Central back to Romsey which was an ex-TPE unit with its original seats, which are way more comfortable than the Richmond ones - I even got more legroom as well.

 

[fgwrich]

Are Richmond seats fitted to FGW's refurbished 150s and 153s too?

If so, last Saturday I traveled on a 150 from Plymouth to Gunnislake and back. It's a very pleasant journey spoiled by a complete lack of legroom, even though I'm only about 5'10

Yesterday I traveled on a 153 from Westbury to Romsey (ex Worcester Foregate Street), which again had sod-all legroom. I couldn't even use my laptop because even when I put the fold-up table down there was no room to tilt the screen back to an angle where I could read what was on the screen without breaking my neck . I had the same problem with the table folded up

However, today I went on a 158 from Southampton Central back to Romsey which was an ex-TPE unit with its original seats, which are way more comfortable than the Richmond ones - I even got more legroom as well.

The 150s retain there Ex Wessex Chapman Seats & Layout - just repainted and refreshed with neat cusions and covers - but as for the little amount of legroom, you can thank Wessex for that...

All 13 153s (bar 153329/361/369) gained the new Richmond seating during there refurbishment...replacing those horrible ex 158 Seats...

Whereas the 158s are mixed, most if not all the ex Wessex 158s have had there horrid Chapman seats replaced with the Richmond variety, whereas the ex TPE units retain there original seats...

Personnaly though, i dont mind the richmond seating and actually prefer to travel in a 158 that does - rather than the original seats...